GQ's Article About the Bible Is Partly Right

GQ Magazine recently claimed the “Bible is overrated.” In an article entitled, “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read,” GQ lists some of the classics they think you can pass over. One of those mentioned is the Bible, the all-time bestseller.

Facts and Trends magazine reported Lifeway Research “found only 45 percent of those who regularly attend church read the Bible more than once a week. And a little more than 40 percent of the people attending read their Bible occasionally, maybe once or twice a month. Almost 1 in 5 church goers say they never read the Bible.”

So, I partially agree with Jesse Ball at GQ who wrote, “The Holy Bible is rated very highly by all the people who supposedly live by it but who in actuality have not read it. Those who have read it know there are some good parts, but overall it is certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced.”

The pretense of those who say they live by biblical principles but have not read the Bible alarms me. What standard guides their life?

The Lifeway research changed my writing several years ago. When I use scripture in my manuscripts, I usually quote the verse rather than list the reference. I count several novel writers as my friends. Whether it be a preacher sermonizing, a note passed, or a character reading the Word, they include the scripture.

Any author will tell you, Paul wrote exhaustingly long sentences and some epistle writers were uneducated fisherman. Although the grammar is not perfect, the message is clear.

Yes, the GQ Magazine article, which encouraged their readers not to read the Bible, should disturb believers. However, the fact that so many regular church attenders do not read their Bible should set our hair on fire.

Celebrate the Resurrection

For the believer, the grandest day of the year is Easter. We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord in various ways. Some gather with family and friends at church. Certain songs remind us of the resurrection. Remember: “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.” (Robert Lowry) Listen Here

Later, we may meet with family or friends for a special dinner. Some get up early for a Sunrise (Sonrise) service. Cantatas, plays, concerts remain popular. We sing with the choir, “Hallelujah, what a Savior!” (Philip Bliss) Sing Here

Some like to rejoice as a family making colored eggs. Others prefer Easter egg hunts. If you need some fresh ideas to party, try this link Scavenger Hunt, which describes how to do a scavenger egg hunt. As we hunt, we can sing: “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!” (Alfred Ackley)  Sing Along

Because the eggs symbolize the ancient god of fertility, some families prefer to not use eggs or chocolate rabbits. No problem. Use small plastic bags and chocolate crosses. Together as a family, we can watch and sing: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” (Bill and Gloria Gaither) Video Here

Other families play volleyball, badminton, or softball. Some folks shoot targets or skeets. By hiking or fishing, some enjoy the nature our Savior created. Whatever you do for fun, do it with great gusto this Easter. Join together to sing and dance: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Worthy is the King who conquered the grave.” Join In 

Please do not ever, positively never forget: He is risen. Celebrate!

What is Lent?

By February, I am done with winter. It is time to think of preparing the ground, to consider what seeds and seedlings to order, and to calculate how much bark mulch I will need for my flower beds.

In a similar way, Lent is a preparation for Easter and a time for removing obstacles that impede our spiritual growth. Christians celebrated Lent many years before they added Christmas as a holiday. Both are part of the Christian calendar Christian calendar explained.

During the 40 days of Lent, some Christians fast or skip chocolate. Some get up early and vow to pray more. I know of others who give up social media or unplug the TV. I read about one gal who worked to give up sarcasm her story.

As children, remember when we played hide-and-seek? The object was to be found. My cousin whistled to make sure she was found. God wants to be found. He will help us to keep our commitment to find him in a more meaningful way.

We can pray now to find what obstacle needs to be removed. Then when February 14, 2018 arrives, we will be ready for Lent. Many express the death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) seem much more profound after 40 days of self-sacrifice.

Fifty in the Faith

Socrates said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” On January 17, 2018, I will celebrate my fiftieth birthday as a believer. Hooray!!! While I think of the many blessings, I also wonder if my life exemplifies fifty years of growth in the faith.

I’m not into the hype the world puts in to New Year's Resolutions. But, every January, I do set personal and ministry goals for the year. This year for personal goals I plan to use Luke 2:52 as my guide. Luke chapter two chronicles twelve-year-old Jesus getting left at the temple. When he is found and the family journeys home, the chapter concludes with: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Jesus grew mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. When I set my personal goals, I divided a piece of paper into four blocks. I placed one growth area in each quarter of the page. My analysis included looking at my strengths and weaknesses in each growth area.

Then I placed a goal in each quarter that I want to work on this year. This paper is placed in my devotional materials and I check it routinely. Below are some possible goals. Notice each of these example goals are measurable so you can check how you are doing. 

                                            2018 Personal Growth Goals

                                                          Luke 2:52

          Mental                                                                Physical

          Read 12 books.                                                   Get to bed at 11 pm.

          Take knitting class.                                             Lose ½ pound each week.

                                                                                              

                                                                                              

                                                                                              

          Spiritual                                                              Social

                                                                                              

          Update prayer notebook.                                    Weekly lunch with a friend.

          Start verse memorization.                                   Monthly couples dinner.                                                                                                           

The Worst Mother's Day Gifts

Most moms are too polite to complain, but 40 percent say they have received a Mother's Day gift they didn't want. The British paper the Mirror reported on March 5, 2016 thirty terrible gifts that moms had received. Here are some of those worst gifts:

                * Deodorant

                * Fire extinguisher

                * Cleaning supplies

                * A loaf of French bread
                *  Salad dressing
                * Popcorn
                * Ants (hopefully in an ant farm)
                * Hair dye
                * Screwdriver
                * Toilet roll
                * Calculator
                * Car parts

If you're struggling what to get your mom, please do not consider any gifts from this list. Instead you could print Proverbs 31:28, "Her children arise and call her blessed." Then have it framed and gift wrapped for mom. Unless she's allergic or on a diet, chocolates work well as a present. Flowers are a winner too.

Why Are So Many Christians Unhappy?

Have you read 1 Peter 1:8 lately? “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 

 If you believe the scripture to be true as I do, then why are so many believers sad?

I suppose I could understand how a terminal cancer patient in horrific pain or a parent who stayed up all night with a sick child might suffer melancholy. In his classic book, Spiritual Depression, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, writes some by nature tend to exhibit a sad personality. As a counselor, I have observed that to be true. Also, we can’t forget the evil one thrives on stealing our joy.

However, the Christians who I have noticed to be the most miserable are those who live on the fence. They seek pleasure and satisfaction from the world but when that fails they hop back to God for security and fire insurance. This tango of tangled affections leaves them exhausted and confused.

Think back to the Garden of Eden when the serpent duped Eve into thinking the world had the pleasures of life not God and his plan. Is he not trying to trick us into the same sorrow today? My advice is to do as David did and declare, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). Our steadfastness will lead us to a soul soaring with joy.

Code Blue-Gray Proposal

What a great conference last week! I have finally caught up on my sleep from the "Called to Write Conference" in Pittsburg, Kansas. Some nights I was so inspired to write, I couldn't settle down to

close my eyes. Sleep evaded me another night when I stayed up late to write a book proposal.

Debra L. Butterfield, CrossRiver Media

Code Blue-Gray: Hope and Humor for the Ill (a working title for now) was given to CrossRiver Media for consideration. The bulk of this book will chronicle my health journey from the end of 2013 to the present. Interspersed there will be one-liners, cartoons, and humorous poems. My hope is Code Blue-Gray will be marketed in hospital gift shops to give the dying and depressed some comic relief and hope for healing. Please pray with me as CRM reviews my proposal . I have met two editors from CrossRiver and was impressed with both. Debra Butterfield, Nonfiction Acquisitions Editor for CRM, presented several workshops at the conference. One I especially enjoyed was "Creating Captivating Characters." Deb is pictured to the left. If you would like to get updates about this upcoming book, please leave me a comment and I will add you to the growing list.