Bible – Page 7 – A Writer's Daughter

Lexicon – How Do You Say It?

Lexicon is a word that may not be in your lexicon. Though it sounds like a type of unicorn, the word means the collective vocabulary of a person. As a teacher of English language learners, words and language intrigue me.

I am intrigued by a new phrase that seems to have crept into the modern lexicon. The phrase “of course” is now used as a response to “thank you.” The words “of course” are not new, but this context and connotation is a recent development. I have experienced this response especially in service situations. I say “thank you” to someone for ringing up my transaction or providing information and “of course” is the reply. Typically, the response to “thank you” was “you’re welcome” or in a service situation, “my pleasure.” The “of course” I have heard carries an air of arrogance as in, “Don’t degrade me with your gratitude” or “Wouldn’t you expect me to do this – it’s my job.” Is some of it tone? Is it generational? Probably yes to both.

Tone of voice is everything. Not too long ago I answered a family member with what I thought was a respectful reply. Unintentionally however, my words sounded terse and communicated impatience. Looking back, I could attribute my tone to both physical discomfort (overeating) and frustration with this same kind of request in the past. I spoke acceptable words but said them with an air of irritation and it was wrong. With my manner of speaking, I wounded a relationship.

God tells us that the right words spoken at the right time, in the right tone, paint a lovely still life portrait:

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11

May God give us grace and wisdom for our speech. I believe that gratitude (thank you) and courtesy (you’re welcome) should continue to be “apples of gold” in our daily lexicon. Please teach these phrases to the little ones in your life. Thank you.

I received this dictionary as a gift for high school graduation. I have used it ever since.

See and Taste

Last weekend I prepared a salad to take to a couples’ dinner. As I shopped in the produce aisle, I hunted for colorful salad additions. I bought two shades of green lettuce, red cherry tomatoes, a yellow pepper, carrots and purple cabbage. The bold vegetable hues of the finished salad lit up my eyes and heart with pleasure. The raw veggies provided both nutrition and joy. Even the recognizable shapes of irregular peppers, cylindrical carrots, tomato spheres, and frilly lettuce and cabbage seemed playful to me. The featured photo is my salad two days later, but it still looked and tasted fresh and delicious!

I usually identify a blog idea and then follow-up with appropriate pictures to insert. This time, it was the visual beauty and happiness of the salad bowl that inspired me to write. The title “See and Taste” is a play on a Scripture verse found in the Psalms (Psalm 34:8). It states: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

Tasting and seeing the Lord is a good challenge for the new year. How might we “taste” God? The metaphor reminds me of a poem entitled “How to Eat a Poem.” The point may be to be proactive: to intentionally search for God, to be in His presence, to read His book, to be around others who also are tasting and seeing His goodness. Attending church and getting involved with Christian believers provides the spiritual nutrition we need to grow and be healthy. Reading the Bible regularly and thoughtfully also nourishes us so much more than other worldly junk food that might be in our diet. For ideas and Bible reading plans, see this blog post from last year https://brendaproulx.com/2019/01/

There is a pivotal Bible event about seeing and tasting without good judgement. Genesis 3 tells the story of a beautiful world forever corrupted by the eating of an enticing but forbidden fruit. But if you continue on reading the Bible, you will find out about God’s love and His plan to restore us. In addition to reading God’s Word this year, I’ll be reading a book my daughter gave us for Christmas called Taste and See by Margaret Feinburg. It focuses on Scripture themes of feasting and food – sounds delicious!

Happy New Year!

As a teacher, I’ve used many early reader books about salad, fruits and vegetables. And who can forget the Blockbuster series Veggie Tales?

Written by My Father

This summer, while sorting through papers with my parents, we came across a short devotional written by my father. It was published in a devotional periodical but inquiries to both Our Daily Bread and Guideposts confirmed that it was not their publications. Since we have the original page with a date, we know the piece appeared somewhere, yet I couldn’t determine its source.

As you may know from my blog bio, my father had a career in journalism, launching with a wire news service, then joining the staff of the newly founded Christianity Today, and eventually becoming the editor of Christian Herald magazine. His writing featured current events and issues mostly within the Protestant church, including magazine editorials. His style usually wasn’t homiletic, so the short piece quoted below is unique. I don’t know if the prayer and Thought for the Day were my dad’s or added by an editor.

Wednesday, December 1, 1976

Read John 1:43-51

Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? John 1:46

My wife and I were charmed by a visit to the village of Oberndorf, Austria. It was there that Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber first introduced what has come to be the world’s best-loved Christmas carol, “Silent Night.” The church organ was broken, so a guitar was used for accompaniment at the Christmas Eve Mass.

That was in 1818 when communications were such that the song could not be readily shared with the world. Yet it not only found its way out of that obscure place, but became the most renowned of all Christmas songs.

Jesus Himself came out of what from every worldly standard would be considered obscurity. God actually ordained that His Son take on humanity in that way, and then suffer an ignominious death so that all who trust Him might have forgiveness of sin.

Doesn’t this tell those of us who have trusted Him as Savior something important about our work for the Lord? Everything we do, no matter how humble the context, has a great potential if we do it well – as God ordained.

PRAYER: O God, help us to keep in mind that the quality of performance is so much more important that what we deem to be ideal circumstances. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thought for the Day

The most humble became the most famous.

David E. Kucharsky (Arlington, Virginia)

I hesitate to add much commentary to this piece; his words speak for themselves. As he says, he always valued doing quality work, and that included work that was service, things done for Christ’s sake. Even recently my dad spoke to me about continuing to be useful and cognizant of what ministry God would have for him in this stage of his life. This Scripture was not quoted but it fits his intent: ²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV).

An epilogue to the fame of “Silent Night” is an event from World War I. During the war, an unofficial truce occurred on Christmas Eve 1914. That night enemy soldiers joined in singing “Silent Night.” The movie “Joyeux Noel” (2005) retells the story. The humble carol, composed because of an obscure church crisis, holds a world stage.

Some vintage piano sheet music similar to what I played as a child.

It’s Fixed

I am happy to report that many of our previous problems have been fixed!! The septic system was overhauled, and new grass is growing. An extra blessing from the Lord was that our insurance company covered much of the repair cost. The cars are working fine, we said good-bye to a kitty, and usually our technology cooperates, except for tonight when I am trying to work on this blog. A recent flood of the washing machine indicates that the 18-year-old appliance needs to be replaced but I think we got our money’s worth.

This is not the picture I intended to feature but photos wouldn’t download this time. I do like the candy cane vine.

I update this short blog to assure you that we press on even when things go wrong. And as I said before, we dealt with some nuisances but some of you are experiencing serious relationship, health, job or financial crises. Whether we are facing a series of setbacks or a season of blessing, there is a reality check. Romans 8 describes frustration in creation, a waiting for liberation, and a groaning for future hope. You can read the whole interesting passage in Romans 8:18-27. Put encouragingly, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) That is the renewal of walking daily with Jesus.

Football Season and Extra Yard for Teachers

I like football season. I barely understand the way the game is played, and I don’t closely follow any team, but I enjoy the rhythm of the season. Fall Saturdays feature the college games with traditions like Homecoming and tailgate parties. The sportscasters and programming of pro football games feel familiar to me also. We’ve had fun attending college football games, especially at our kids’ schools, and have made it to a few professional games. Football has been momentous for my husband and me. We officially met at my college Homecoming game and we became engaged after attending a Navy football game in Annapolis.

On the right, my son and I chat at a pre-game cookout back in his college days. GO FLAMES!

Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) is an initiative leveraging the college football program to honor teachers and inspire people to become educators. EYFT just finished an 8-day blitz of events, but each week of the collegiate football season, players share about a special teacher who inspired them. As a teacher, I appreciate higher education athletics recognizing the formative contributions of educators.

I came across a remarkable football story reading a waiting room magazine. Rob Mendez is a young man without arms and legs, the result of a rare congenital condition. From a young age he loved football and passionately learned all he could about the game, dreaming of becoming a coach. Understandably, securing a coaching position proved challenging given his extreme physical limitations. Mendez said this:

“Two years ago, I rolled out of a church service dejected, out of work, wondering if I’d ever get a chance to become a head football coach. I remember finding a quiet spot near a bush and just asking God to give me a sign that I wasn’t wasting my life, that there was a place for me in football. A few days later, I got the phone call for the interview at Prospect. And now all this has happened.” (ESPN, July 2019, p. 60)

Mendez got a JV Head Coach job, coached an 8-2 winning season and was awarded ESPY’s “Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.”

Mendez’s turning point followed his participation in a worship service. He shares how he felt very down but it seems that time spent in church strengthened him to plead to God regarding his dreams and despair. It wasn’t long after that his coaching opportunity came along.

Rob Mendez coaches a JV football team in Saratoga, CA.

Church has a way of doing that. Joining worship, leaving the concerns of life at the door, experiencing fellowship, being lifted in song, and hearing the Bible preached, result in change and produce healing. Many people think they can experience God without going to church. You can experience God on your own, but church is God’s vehicle for fully encountering Him and Christian community. Corporate worship uniquely offers connection with other believers and a focused time learning through Scripture. Psalm 73: 16-17 describes frustration thwarted by joining others in the place of God: “it was oppressive to me until I entered the sanctuary of God.” God’s design is for us to “flourish” as we enter “in the house of the Lord … the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:13). The New Testament restates it clearly: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (Hebrews 10:25). Leave your excuses at home and go to church next Sunday.

It’s Broken

I can’t tell you how many things have broken recently. My lovely kitchen faucet handle isn’t working after installing all new parts. A week ago today, my car battery died. One of our kitties is living its very last days but the mother of all hassles for me is computer issues! Much of last weekend my husband was on the phone or at the store trying to solve problems that surfaced as email problems. If you talk to the internet provider, they blame the software. When you call for tech software support, they tell you to fix the router. On and on it goes! I spoke to them again this morning.

An encouraging note from a prisoner today.

Pictured with this blog is a photo of our side yard. Last Sunday night we discovered an issue with our septic system. Again, my dear husband altered his plans, working from home for two days to be there as workers came out to determine what’s wrong. Our property is aging so repair for a septic system is not unexpected but it sure will be expensive to fix. And as I went outside to take the photo today, I noticed that our small pond had lost a lot of water. I turned off the pump, refilled the water for the goldfish and added ‘leak’ to the to do list!

So why do I write this short blog about these inconveniences? A couple of thoughts cross my mind. It is good to share concerns with others; it brings some relief. Also, I know that many of you have problems too. My little annoyances pester me but some of you are experiencing serious relationship, health or financial crises. Whether our problems are minor or overwhelming, comfort and strength can be found in God. A verse that I have gone back to many times this summer is, “You are my God, the Rock my Savior” (Psalm 89:14) and for those experiencing true calamity, my favorite Scripture is Hebrews 4:16.

Buried; Alive

You might think this post features some paranormal experience. That’s the intent of my title and I hope you will continue reading even though there is nothing bizarre to tell.

Last week my friend’s mother passed away unexpectedly. As soon as I could, I got some flowers and visited her. A few days later as her family began to arrive in town for the funeral and burial, I assembled a food tray and took it over to her. We chatted on her front porch. She shared about her siblings, nieces and nephews who would be present and about her brother who would lead the service.

She told me that her mother had been cremated and her remains would be buried in a rural cemetery near the Shenandoah Mountains. Her father was buried there decades ago. We discussed the technicalities of cremation and burial. Until we face the situation, we don’t consider the logistics of these things. She felt the graveside service would be short and simple. I assured her that it would be very meaningful for family to gather and lay their parents to rest side by side. I expressed my sympathies and went home.

It was now late morning and I had not yet taken time to read the Bible, as I aim to do each day. I follow a simple Scripture reading plan*. I don’t choose a passage each time; I just go to the next one on the schedule. As I began my Bible reading, the day’s chapter detailed the deaths and burial of three people: three very significant figures in the Old Testament. In Joshua 24, Joshua dies and is buried, Eleazor (son of Aaron, who was a priest and Moses’ brother) dies and is buried, and the bones of Joseph are finally interred after being transported from Egypt more than 40 years prior! This connection to my conversation just minutes earlier is not coincidental but completely amazing! Scripture is ALIVE; the Bible teems with purpose and relevance.

Just landing on a topic that previously came up in a conversation may not seem applicable or practical to you. However, a deeper look into the passage and its context shed more light onto its relevance and value. The passage tells us that during Joshua’s lifetime and throughout the span of his leadership team, their nation, Israel, “served the Lord” (Joshua 24:31). What a lifetime legacy: Joshua’s leadership and influence inspired an entire nation to faithfully follow God. The conclusion of Joshua’s leadership era also displayed God’s character. Twice in the final chapters of the book of Joshua, Scripture states that God kept all his promises to His people (Joshua 21:45 and Joshua 23:14). God guided, protected and provided for His people under the hostile conditions of life in the desert and the conquest of new lands as He had promised to do at the outset (the accounts of this are told in the book of Numbers). We can aim to leave a legacy of faithfulness and my friend’s mother lived a full life, God having kept all of His promises to her.

Truly, “the Word of God is alive and active.” Hebrews 4:12a

*In my post “Speak Your Truth, Really? – A Plan, Part 2” January 2019, I shared about various Bible reading plans that are available.

I took this too-grainy photo of a large mulberry tree in the Shenandoah Mountains.

Morning at the Laundromat

This morning I am at a laundromat. It’s an annual chore that I enjoy. Bedspreads are too heavy for my home washing machine so once a year I trek over to a neighboring community to give the bed covers a thorough cleaning in large professional machines.

I love the bright atmosphere and fresh scent of this well-kept laundromat. It intrigues me to observe people as they complete the task of laundry together. Moms and sometimes Dad keep up the loading, transferring and folding. Kids find ways to entertain themselves. Today, two toddlers push around wheeled laundry carts. A teenager babysits her younger sibling in front of a too loud TV. The Spanish channel (any channel!) blaring is the only unpleasant part of this experience for me. As I entered, an older woman left in a taxi with her morning’s work all done. It is good to see how others do life in ways different than my own.

I thrive on task completion. Checking off a job or errand on my “to do” list feels satisfying to me. This chore signifies that summer is in full swing; winter is packed away for a while. I am grateful for a measurable accomplishment in a life season that seems to have many unknowns.

My good friend Robin designs in textiles, including the quilts pictured. When my daughter worked for her, I learned much about the qualities, care and beautiful possibilities of fabric!

I was surprised on Sunday when my Pastor mentioned being “clean” in his sermon. Of course he was referring to spiritual cleanliness, not the clean that comes after a shower or even being free from substance abuse. I don’t think modern American culture emphasizes feelings of shame or guilt much, even when they may be appropriate. Some cultures do value honor and use shame as a deterrent. My pastor’s use of the term, however, indicates that we are self-aware of an unworthiness in ourselves, a falling short. In fact, the definition of sin is missing the mark. We have a sense that we should be cleaner. Across time, mankind has attempted to achieve purity in order to reach God. But as my pastor pointed out, God doesn’t ask us to get cleaned up for Him. Instead He allowed Jesus to get dirty for us. The task on the cross is accomplished and we have only to access the fresh life He offers. “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9

As I leave the laundromat, a woman and her adult son enter with their laundry baskets. I hope they will enjoy working together today, sharing conversation, and maybe taking a break at the nearby McDonald’s or the Dollar General next door. Such treats I also enjoy.

Robin hand-dyes cloth to produce custom pieces. She possesses amazing creativity and skill which she now uses to bless a community of women in Uganda. Find out more at Gloryboundministry.org

Spring into Summer

This blog post is long overdue. Originally I planned to title it “Spring Makeover” but that is now outdated. My busyness a year ago at this time came as our two kids married within seven weeks of each other! This year I find that springtime still kept me hopping. In education, testing and the associated preparation and paperwork all happen in the second half of the school year. Personally, we have travelled a lot and celebrated most of the family birthdays and anniversaries in the past few months.

It’s not quite meteorological summer but with the end of the school year and hot temps, it is summertime! Many of us think ‘makeover’ after the winter months. We want to get healthy, brighten our look and spiff up the wardrobe! As I mentioned, a year ago our family experienced the back-to-back weddings of our son and daughter. This meant that within a very short period of time I was both Mother of the Groom and Mother of the Bride. Though I didn’t go to a royal beauty spa as Queen Esther of the Bible did, I experienced an untypically high number of beauty appointments during those wedding months.

Two local beauticians handle my normal routines. Both women are similar in age and background and each of them own their small beauty business. With repeated visits, some patterns have emerged. One of them regularly shares about business hardships, difficult customers, high rent bills and bad employees. I try to be understanding in my response but much of her concern is the nature of the service industry and dealing with the public. She works hard and her business is successful. I like supporting her small enterprise.

I had a costly, time-consuming manicure for a beautiful occasion.

The other shop owner radiates sweetness. She too is a very hard worker which has kept her in business alone for many years. As a single parent, she is proudly sending her son off to college. She’s always grateful for customers and she’s friendly with everyone in the building. In fact, I met her through my husband, whose office was directly across the hall from her salon. It is truly a treat, not just a beauty treatment, to patronize her business.

And then there is Annie at the Clinique counter. Unlike some of the other Vogue-like models at make-up counters, Annie is maturing but cute and down to earth. She gives helpful make-up advice and calls to remind me when there’s a sale, because make-up is expensive and rarely discounted in department stores. I notice that Annie’s customers come from all walks of life and many greet her with a hug. I too feel pampered and prettier after my infrequent splurges there.

These three ladies remind me that how we do our work matters. Most of us choose the work we do, paid or not. We can approach our work and our coworkers and clients with joy and gratitude, even when the work is hard, the hours are long, the pay is low and . . . the people! Only God’s touch will perfect us, but a ready smile and a heart of thankfulness will be a beautiful blessing to those around us.

Romans 12:2a, 11 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Irish Carpenters

A couple of Saturdays ago, my husband headed out for his regular weekend errand to the hardware store. I reminded him that we were in search of replacement feet for a new couch. The couch, an on-line purchase, cost us very little but it needed nicer legs.

He returned finding none at the store but suggested that he could easily make some. Checking a pile in the shed, he located some wood scraps to use. “They’re black walnut,” he raved. He then sketched a drawing with measurements, making sure the size fit the wood and that I approved. The design seemed to ideally suit the sofa.

Within an hour, my husband cut and fit a prototype and then completed the other three. Wood stain and varnish were applied and he let the pieces dry. By afternoon the legs were ready to be attached but special screws were needed. He took care of that too and the little couch wore perfect new shoes!

The sofa looked amazingly better with shaped wooden legs than it had with the original black plastic knobs. Sitting on it was also surprisingly more comfortable with another inch or two of height. I smiled that my husband had so easily crafted the new legs, seeming to enjoy every step of the project.

My husband learned his wood-working skills from his Irish grandfather. As a boy and teen he spent many hours accompanying his grandfather on handyman jobs. Most of his grandfather’s contracts were for painting and carpentry. My husband gained valuable skills over those years and, like his grandfather, had natural aptitude and found pleasure in wood-working.

Wood-working skills run in my family too on the Irish side. Although my grandfather was in business and retail, his store eventually specialized in “fine furniture” so he and my uncles became experts in furniture design and wood types and finishes. Two of my cousins continue in the wood-working business and I think my brother has “the knack” too.

All skills have value but carpentry is particularly useful and creative. Building brings satisfying results to both the maker and the eventual user. Basically all work, a job well done, rewards the worker and benefits the recipient (see blog post “The Work of Your Hands” March 2, 2017)

Jesus probably spent about twenty years in a carpentry shop working alongside his earthly father Joseph (Matthew 13:55). Though he needed no human fulfillment he experienced the tension of a puzzling project and the contentment of a finished product. He also knew about cutting errors, deadlines and nasty customers. I imagine that Jesus built as attractive a piece as Joseph’s small shop could sustain. Jesus was a carpenter before he traveled and preached, taught, healed, and performed many miracles, and then was nailed to a roughly constructed wooden cross for our sake.

One last thought that occurs to me regarding the little couch is the big difference just new feet made. The simple sofa looked and felt so much better! It causes me to ask myself, what small changes should I make for a noticeable improvement, especially considering Jesus’ death for me? It’s a prayer worth asking. “So then, since Christ suffered … you will be anxious to do the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1a, 2b