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by Sally Matheny
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| Students with Bibles |
The effect of supporting “Bring Your Bible to School Day,” is greater than you think.
There are 195 independent countries in the world, plus approximately 60 dependent areas and five disputed territories.
According to Open Doors USA, the following countries are where Christians endure the most severe persecution for their faith:
1. North Korea
2. Iraq
3. Eritrea
4. Afghanistan
5. Syria
6. Pakistan
7. Somalia
8. Sudan
9. Iran
10. Libya
Bibles in their native languages are banned in many of these countries. Persecution includes oppression, imprisonment, and death. While we sympathize, many of us choose to isolate ourselves from the terrors abroad. Those countries are far away from us.
Guess which country ranked #40 on the list for persecuting Christians?
Our next-door neighbor, Mexico.
But, what does all that have to do with our country and Bring Your Bible to School Day?
Read more »
by Sally Matheny
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| Photo by Pixabay |
Why are some Christians afraid to speak the truth of Jesus Christ when they are at school, at work, or even at church?
I believe it boils down to three fears. Fear of rejection, fear of persecution, and fear of inadequacy. How do I know? A few of them have crept up on me, too.
Let’s consider our “what if” fears and talk about ways to squash them.
Fear of Rejection
You’ve heard these—maybe even said a few.
“What if kids stop talking to me, because I’m talking about Jesus?”
“I could be ostracized in the group.”
“If I talk about God, won’t people say I think I’m better than everyone else?”
We may see eyes roll, hear snide remarks, or feel as if we’re invisible. We may be denied access to the popular group at school. Overlooked for a job promotion.
Former friends now
keep
their
d i s t a n c e.
Rejection may lead to persecution.
Fear of Persecution
“The kids will make fun of me if they know I’m a Christian.”
“If I speak the whole Truth, they’ll say its hate speech.”
“No one will respect me. They’ll think I’m a fanatic. I might even lose my job.”
Persecution to most American Christians means being singled out, harassed, perhaps bullied.
Persecution to Pakistani, Asia Bibi, meant a beating for sharing her faith to Muslim women. Imprisoned for violating subsection C of Pakistan’s 295 blasphemy law - blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad, she was sentenced to death. The death sentence was not carried out, but she’s been imprisoned since 2009. Even though she is sick and misses her family, she will not renounce her faith.
Asia's story takes our perception of persecution to another level.
Read more »
by Sally Matheny
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| Enthusiasm fresh as the morning |
My enthusiasm was fresh the morning we began serving a meal at the project. People slowly filtered into the commons area. My cheerful greetings were not returned. Instantly, I sensed a divide greater than the table of food between us. They had come for the food. Nothing else.
An unexplainable heaviness stifled conversations. Icy silence, as well as sharp tongues, sliced my attempts to interact. It was obvious. We were not welcome.
After helping distribute the food, I retreated under the outstretched branches of a tree, thankful that I’d thought to bring a lawn chair. It provided a secure place to perch and watch the crowd. Most of the missions team stayed under the shady tent. Two or three pastors mingled and tried to chisel out conversations.
Then I saw her.
A young woman, probably in her early twenties, stood off to the side, alone. She was looking around as if searching for something, or someone.
I hesitated. The last woman I had approached, gruffly informed me she was waiting on someone. Perhaps this young woman was waiting as well.
Yet, she continued to stand there, sweat flowing down her face. She hugged her drink and chips in one arm and her hamburger in the other. What was she looking for?
Seating was limited. Most people grabbed their food and hustled back to their homes. Could this woman possibly be one of the few who wanted to sit and stay awhile?
Slowly, I eased out from under the tree’s protection. Would she be like the others and berate me for being there? I was an outsider—different ethnicity, different economic level, different worldview.
“Hi. Are you looking for someone?”
She shyly shook her head no. I didn’t recognize any anger in her face. It appeared to be more like discomfort.
“Would you like to sit down to eat?”
A simple nod yes.
I look around at the few tables provided. No empty seats. I scan the grassy area under the trees. An empty chair sits beside mine.
“Would you like to sit under the tree? It’s cooler.”
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| Sharing the Son Means Leaving the Shade |
She nods and follows me to the tree. The distance is short, but we don’t arrive in time to claim both chairs. Only my chair is left.
“Here. You can have my chair.”
As she sits down, I introduce myself. She tells me her name. But I could not hear her well over someone yelling. I did not ask her to repeat it.
I smile, trying hard not to be insincerely cheery. “It’s nice to meet you. I hope you like your burger.” I motion toward the tent. “I’ve got to go help serve.”
She smiled with another silent nod.
As I stood under the shade of the tent, I kept looking back over at the tree. The woman ate silently. A young man, with a mental illness, chattered away beside her but she wasn’t responding.
Something inside told me to go tell her why we were there. We weren’t just giving away free meals. We were sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
But the earlier rejections of the crowd stifled my response.
The crowd dwindled. Only a few remained in line. I decided handing out napkins to folks would be helpful.
“Would you like a napkin?”
A few minutes passed. Another expressionless face approached.
“Would you like a napkin?”
Another five minutes passed before anyone needed my valuable napkin distribution service. This is ridiculous. I should just go talk to her.
I neatly stack the napkins on the corner of the table and turn back towards the tree.
She is gone.
As quietly as she slipped into my life, she slipped out. As well as my opportunity to tell her how much God loves her. And how He gives a joy so great, that she’d have a hard time staying so quiet.
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| Plant a seed of hope. |
And for my silence, I am sorry.
Perhaps she already had a relationship with Christ. I hope so.
I understand when we first meet someone, it’s not always the best time to share Christ.
Although often,
it is.
”But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared
to give an answer to everyone who asks you
to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Have you ever had a child who wanted to do something, but he was just too shy or scared to do it?
Our family decided to participate in a one-day community outreach event at a local laundry facility. Our eleven-year-old son expressed apprehension about his involvement. Although amiable, he’s shy with strangers—especially adults.
At first, he eagerly looked forward to the event. Then, as the event drew near, he tried to find reasons to be excused.
Unfortunately, there have been too many times when I’ve kept him within his comfort zone. It was time to do brave things. Since he is a Christian, I appealed to his heart.
I reminded him how lost people are without Jesus, and how Jesus wants us to share His love with others. I assured him it’s normal to be nervous. Even adults are a little uneasy when encountering new situations. Together, we prayed for God to give us courage and wisdom.
Then, we talked about things he could do that did not require a lot of talking.
Smile, make eye contact, and say “hi."
Open the door for people.
Offer to help carry laundry.
Offer a Christian magazine, Bible, or gospel tract to someone.
Suggest quietly playing with young children while waiting on their laundry.
Offer a bottle of cold water to someone.
After we practiced how we would say and do these things, our son felt more comfortable.
Once we arrived at the laundry facility, I didn't push him, but simply allowed him to observe how the mission team members interacted with the patrons. I was proud of him for just being there and showing support. He was the only team member under the age of 45.
However, he quickly caught the purpose-driven enthusiasm from the others, and set in doing everything we had practiced. He even helped children to and from their cars by holding an umbrella for them in pouring rain.
At the end of the night, my heart melted when he asked if our family could continue a monthly ministry at the laundry facility.
I’m thankful we had a good experience that night. While our son is capable of showing God’s love through service, he is not quite ready to share the gospel with someone. But he’ll get there. It takes time and practice—, which means we need to continue creating opportunities for him to watch and learn.
To be honest, there are many times, I’m not comfortable sharing Christ with strangers, either. I like building a relationship with someone first and then having those important conversations. Yet, there are many people whom we only meet once.
Not every experience will be a good one. We may encounter indifference, resentment, or anger. However, each time, we will learn how to express more effectively, what we believe. All we can do is share what Jesus means to us. The rest is in God’s hands.
Sadly, I’ve missed a multitude of opportunities to share the hope of Christ because I’ve stayed within my comfort zone. Not even sharing Jesus with some friends and family.
But I can’t bear to think of anyone suffering through this life without Him, someone not living an abundant life full of joy, or drawing strength and true peace from the only One who can give them.
My husband and I want to grow stronger and more courageous in the Lord. We want to raise our kids to be strong and courageous Christians boldly sharing the love of Jesus.
The funny thing is it scares me to ask for God's help to grow strong and courageous! I’m afraid what opportunities He will provide to stretch me out of my comfort zone. I like easy comfort. He may ask me to do hard things—things I know I can’t do.
Ah. And there it is.
Strength and courage will not come when we always stick to the things we know we can do. The only way to grow strong and courageous is to stretch beyond our perceived capabilities, and have faith in His.
by Sally Matheny
Did you know Thursday, October 8, 2015 is “Bring Your Bible to School Day”?
Legally, your child can take his Bible to school any day—you may not have known that either.
Students have the freedom to take and read their Bibles, talk about their religious beliefs, pray, and ask others if they’d like to join them as long as the actions are voluntary, student-initiated, not disruptive, and take place during non-instructional time.
Focus on the Family initiated the first “Bring Your Bible to School Day” in October 2014. Approximately 8,000 students participated in the event. This year that number is expected to increase.
So, how can parents help their children prepare for this special day?
Read more »
by Sally Matheny
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| Tell a Great Story |
At the end of each day, we all have stories to tell. The neighbor’s kid vomited on the front porch. The boss ranted for an hour at work. The doctor called with good news!
Most people are eager to share what’s going on in their lives. I want to encourage you to include a crucial ingredient when you tell your stories. This element will turn your good story into a great one.
Read more »
by Sally Matheny
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| Talking About Life and Death |
We were seventeen years old and looking forward to graduation when it happened.
Our friendship began only a year and a half earlier. Her family had recently moved to North Carolina from Ohio. The school year had already begun. She was the new kid without friends and she had cancer.
Our Junior Civinettes club went to her house to welcome her to the neighborhood and to introduce ourselves as her new friends. We were nervous about going because we didn’t know anyone our age with cancer. I knew my boyfriend’s mother had survived Hodgkin’s. That’s what this girl, Jan, had so she was probably going to be alright.
Jan and I became good friends. We hung out at school and visited each other’s homes. We never talked about cancer or life and death. We didn’t talk about it when her sandy blonde hair began to fall out. She only asked if I’d help her brush off the loose hairs from her sweater. I did.
We didn’t talk about life and death when she came to school one day wearing a wig and people began to whisper. And stare. I just walked with her.
We didn’t talk about life and death when she grew weaker. She only asked if I’d help carry her books. I did, and when I couldn’t, I enlisted others to help. Jan had many friends. She always smiled and made conversation easy for those who dared to come close to her. A teen with cancer is a difficult thing to understand. I tried not to think about that. Jan was fun to be with and I knew she would get well.
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| A teen with cancer is a difficult thing to understand. |
So, we didn’t talk about life and death. Not when we had to stop and let her rest a lot when playing tennis, not when she missed school, not when I drove her to chemotherapy, not when she had to have a hysterectomy.
I thought life and death were things people talked about when they got old.
Except Jan did not get old. She died.
Then, I panicked because Jan and I had not talked about life and death. As nice as she was, I didn’t know if my dear friend believed in Jesus Christ. And then, it was too late.
Sure, I had considered talking to Jan before. But, I was afraid that if I talked about such things, she would think that I assumed she was going to die. I didn’t want her to think that because I didn’t think she was going to die.
My heart grieved the loss of my friend and ached because I had failed her. The burden became too great. Before the funeral, I asked Jan’s mom. She assured me Jan was a Christian. Relief came, but not peace. I still failed my friend. I could have been more encouraging to her during her difficult journey by talking about the hope in Christ we shared. Why had I not prayed withher instead of just for her?
I was given a bittersweet gift my senior year in high school—a glimpse of how quickly things pass— opportunities, friends, life. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. No one.
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| Life is fleeting. |
Today is the day to talk about death and eternal life.
by Sally Matheny
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| Smushy Kisses at Family Reunions |
Is there cringing, wincing, and gnashing of teeth at just the thought of a family reunion? Perhaps you had an agonizing experience as a child. Some crinkled stranger planted smushy kisses on your cheek. Then, pulling you away from your mother, the stranger weaved you through a chattering sea of unfamiliar faces. Finally, she anchored in front of another foreign body and the torture began.
“This is your mother’s great aunt’s, second cousin, Bertha, who first married Joe Schmitt, who was a tire salesman, but then he died, and about ten years ago she married John Brown, who manufactures straight pins in Detroit and he just so happens to be your dad’s podiatrist's first cousin! How about that?”
Excruciating. But you’re an adult now and here are three crucial reasons why you need to attend your next family reunion.
Remember
When multiple generations gather, there will always be times of remembering special moments from the past. Births, school days, weddings, funerals. While certain memories will mean more to some than others will, this is your heritage.
Even if you’re attending your spouse’s family reunion, you can learn a great deal. Maybe listening to your mother-in-law’s childhood memories will give you a better understanding of why his family celebrates Christmas the way they do. What annoyed you in the past, you may perceive differently now.
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Too often, an unforgiving spirit
is a person's only legacy. |
Pausing to reflect on the past brings joy, knowledge, and healing. Perhaps the reason many people resist a family reunion is due to a past hurt.
Aunt Bertha said or did something she shouldn’t have five, ten, or fifty years ago and for whatever reason people chose to hold onto that strife rather than letting it go. Bitterness was chosen over forgiveness. Pain over joy. Too often, an unforgiving spirit is a person’s only legacy.
What healing might take place if you go to your next family reunion?
Record
If there’s emotional or physical healing in the family, record it! Everybody has a story. A family reunion is a wonderful time to record those stories. Make a scrapbook or journal. Better yet, make a video.
Are there any veterans willing to share their experiences? Those who survived a war can instill fresh perspectives on freedom.
Who survived an accident or a disease? A problem at work or their first day of high school? Survivors bring strength and hope to the family.
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| Survivors bring strength and hope to the family. |
Ask the older ones to recall interesting tidbits about the family’s ancestry.
Even recording opinions on current events will be an interesting piece of history for the next generation.
No family reunion will ever be the same. The dynamics change. People come and go, jobs vary, and events alter our lives.
So often, we never submerge past the friendly greetings. Families need to go deeper conveying their life experiences. They inspire us and we can encourage them to keep pressing onward. Everybody has a story that can affect others. You need to share your story.
Recount
If nothing else, family members need to recount God’s blessings to the next generation. How have you seen God working in your life and the lives of others?
Describe times when God answered your prayers, when he brought healing, and when your needs were met.
Share experiences where your faith was tested and God was glorified. Consider the value others could glean from lessons you learned through setbacks and poor decisions.
If you carve out time for your next family reunion, and share the love of Christ, what eternal rewards are possible? It is not within our power to fathom how God can use us. He is quite capable of making transformations we never thought possible.
…which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
Psalm 78:5b-7 (NIV)
Is it time for a family reunion?
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| Live out your faith at the next family reunion! |
Reflect on what’s worth remembering, and what things are best left in the past.
Record family stories to share for generations to come. Recount God’s blessings and faithfulness.
It’s quite possible, family reunions will have a quirk or two. With a large gathering of imperfect humans, we’ll experience occasional flawed moments. For some, showing love to family is more difficult than it is to friends. God freely offers His assistance with that. He’s the master demonstrator of mind-boggling grace.
If you truly believe you’ll attend a perfect, glorious, and joyful heavenly reunion one day, then live it out at your next family reunion.
by Sally Matheny |
| It Was Awesome and You Missed It! |
“You missed it!”
Don’t you hate hearing those words? Perhaps you went for a hotdog and missed the best play ever made at home plate—by your child—the one who hasn’t scored a run in three years. You could hardly believe how everyone thought it was awesome. And, you missed it.
Or maybe you had plans to meet some friends at a restaurant. At the last minute, you decided not to go. You had your reasons, but they didn’t seem so good when you heard about the amazing time they had. A celebrity ate at the table beside them, an exciting conversation took place, the celebrity treated them to desserts, and they each received a free backstage pass to his upcoming concert. Each of your buddies called to tell you their version of the incredible evening. And, you missed it.
We’ve all had sinking moments like this. Don’t feel bad. Even one of Jesus’ disciples, Thomas (a.k.a Didymus) missed the most amazing miracle of all time.
Three days after Jesus died on a cross, all of his disciples, except for Thomas, sat in a room, the doors locked for fear of persecution. Bewildered by recent events—the death of Jesus, finding his tomb empty, and hearing that a few had actually seen Jesus alive—the disciples were overwhelmed.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared among them comforting them with words of peace! Awestruck by Jesus’ pierced hands and feet, they first thought he was a ghost, until he asked for some fish and ate it before them. He spoke to them and opened their minds so they could understand, and they believed.
All except Thomas.
Where in the world was Thomas? Was it his turn to retrieve water from the well? Did he send a message to the rest of the guys that he needed a day off? Perhaps he awoke that morning with a headache from all the stress. Whatever the reason, Thomas missed it.
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| Praising Jesus |
Don’t you know Thomas had to listen to each, of his ten friends, share their personal experience of what happened? While Thomas’s heart was still grieving and his confused mind reeling, he endured quite a bit. It might have been Luke’s constant, beaming grin, Matthew singing at all hours, and John’s spontaneous praise dancing!
Did Thomas think all ten men hallucinated at once? Was he angry? Did he put on an attitude of bitterness? All we know for sure, is Thomas said he would not believe it until he saw Jesus’ scars and touched the spear-penetrated side himself. Ever since then, and for the rest of time, he’ll be remembered as “Doubting Thomas.” Poor Thomas. Perhaps, there is something else to consider.
Even though Thomas had his doubts, he did not turn from God. He did not flee from the other disciples. The enthusiastic sincerity of his friends compelled him to hang around. Perhaps the other disciples showed empathy to Thomas, encouraging him to remember the words Jesus’ spoke during his ministry on earth. Recollecting their own qualms, they showed Thomas kindness and loved him with grace. Each day, they reminded Thomas of all Jesus’ miracles they had witnessed. What if, every night, while the others slept in peace, Thomas cried out to the Lord to help him remember, to help him believe?
A whole week passed—10,080 minutes.
Between listening to accounts of the miraculous event over and over again and lying awake at night trying to make sense of it all, most of those 10,080 minutes Thomas struggled.
However, even though he was skeptical, Thomas stayed close to the disciples. All he knew was when he left his friends they were fearful and confused, and the next time he saw them they were drastically changed, full of joy and anticipation. Whatever wonderful thing happened to them, Thomas wanted it, too. He was on the brink of believing.
Then, it happened. One week later Jesus appeared to the disciples again and this time, Thomas was there.
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.
(John 20:26-27, NIV)
By then, Thomas did not need to touch Jesus’ scars. As Christ came across the room, Thomas allowed Him to come into his heart. He believed and cried out, “My Lord, and my God!”
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| Don't give up sharing your faith. |
Is there someone you know who is strugglingg like Thomas? Perhaps he expresses his doubts yet, he still hangs around, intrigued by the way you live your life; fascinated by your sincere belief that Jesus is alive and rules in your heart.
You’ve shared your Christian beliefs with him repeatedly. No matter how wonderfully you present the gospel, you cannot make him believe. Keep praying and allow the Holy Spirit to work. Don’t give up. Perhaps your friend realizes he’s missing something miraculous and is on the brink of believing.
Share with us. Have you had an experience with a “doubting Thomas”?
