Frankly, What Would Happen Is…

Frankly, what would happen is a mess.  First, we wouldn’t know what we’re doing.  Second, we wouldn’t know how to talk with others in light of faith, hope, and love.  Then we wouldn’t have the time.  We wouldn’t get along.  Our histories would conflict.  Our dreams wouldn’t be the same.  Our ways of engagement would ruffle each other’s feathers.  We’d have to pray, confess, repent, forgive, and fight on with people as diverse as Matthew – who was a tax gatherer and a lackey of the state – and Simon – a zealot, a terrorist committed to the destruction of the government.

Would such a “mess” be a bad thing?

While we’re on the subject, can we get real for a minute?  Does going to church with several dozen or a hundred or a thousand other people ask that much of you?  It’ll never expose you – reveal who you really are, “warts and all.”  But in a family – by that I mean an intimate community, small group, home fellowship, Bible study, your “band of allies” -  you won’t be able to hide who you are.  You won’t be able to conceal where you have yet to become holy.  Or fake your story.  You may even get close enough to others so that you’ll be seen and known beyond a plastic grin and a handshake.

When we live in community, you’ll now my story.  The real one.  I’ll know yours.  Also the real one.  That’s where the power and the danger of “family life” lie.  Maybe that’s why many people prefer the Sunday-morning, go-to-meeting, put-my-happy face-on routine?

“All in the Family”: The 10 Essentials

Josiah is speechifying to beat the band.  He passed up CW’s basic plot, characters, and theme twelve exits back and has flown into camping, hiking and campfires at warp speed.  Where does the kid get this stuff?  He recites the Ten Essentials accurately and persuasively.  I didn’t know he knew the Ten Essentials, which in case you’re wondering – and even if you’re not – are:

1. Navigation (map and compass)

2. Sun protection

3. Insulation (extra clothing)

4. Illumination (flashlight/headlamp)

5. First-aid supplies

6. Fire

7. Repair kit and tools

8. Nutrition (extra food)

9. Hydration (extra water)

10. Emergency shelter

Josiah may not think of it this way, but while he’s spring-boarding off of a Walt Morey novel and pontificating about our camping adventures, he’s sharing his story.  Someone else shared His story.  Because of what the Lord Jesus accomplished on a lone hill on a stormy Friday, Christians have another family besides our physical one.  We belong to the family of God.

For a lot of Christians this means going to church, singing some songs, a group prayer, announcements, and a sermon.  If they’re really committed, they go to a Bible study or a small growth group.  If they’re amazingly disciplined and committed, they’ll take on another ministry in the church like teaching Sunday school or helping out in a youth group.  All these activities are wonderful.  But is it “family”?  What would happen if we took this “family of God” stuff seriously?  If we shared our stories the way Josiah shares his?

See ya next time for Frankly, What Would Happen Is…

“All in the Family”: Faith in Humanity

Speaking of faith in humanity and stories, I got an earful yesterday.  Son Josiah and I hiked through snow and freezing rain to the local library for our monthly book discussion group.  We spend so much time at the library that it’s our “home away from home.”  We’re on a first-name basis with all the librarians – which can be good and not-so-good in the overdue fines department – and consider the library our literary, bookish family.  Josiah’s favorite is his monthly book discussion group, Page Turners.

This group is led by Lisa, our bespectacled, effervescent and intrepid children’s librarian.  Yesterday seven fourth through sixth graders clustered around a fold-up table in the library’s basement and dove in to a rip-roarin’ discussion of an outdoor adventure novel, Canyon Winter, by Walt Morey.

This may not mean much to you, but around here Walt Morey is a celebrity.  I mean, really famous.  That’s probably why I’ve never heard about his legendary local status until today.  (If I was less alert, I’d not have heard about ‘ole Walt until next week.  The fact that he’s deceased proves my point.)

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Continued next time.

For more “stories,” check out Jots & Tittles, our Children’s Ministries blog.

“All in the Family”: Sharing Stories

“Why, I’m surprised at you!” Stella hissed.  “All this time I thought you were such a nice, sweet teacher’s daughter.  I’d no idea you’d gone liberal.”

In case you’re wondering, that is “teacher’s” daughter – with a “T” – not preacher’s daughter.  If the latter were the case, my goose would really be cooked.

I love these church folks, every last endearing, eccentric one.  They’re honest and forthright enough to assure me that they aren’t gossiping or being judgmental in their observations.  They’re just sharing their concerns about certain other sheep in the fold so I might uphold them in fervent prayer.

Picking up where we left off last time…

I usually smile and nod, thanking them for their interest in the spiritual health of their fellow Christians and their confidence in the earnestness of my prayers.  Sometimes I say I might contact the object of their interest and convey their loving concern and attach their name.  At this point the speaker’s eyes usually turn glassy.  They insist that no public recognition is really necessary in the interest of humility and Christian charity.  I smile and nod some more.

Yep, it’s a high privilege to serve in the midst of such tuned-in, responsive and loving saints.  In fact, it’s a little like getting an electrical shock.  We all need a wake-up call from time to time.  There’s nothing like a shared prayer request when you’re checking kids into the toddler room or preparing an outline for a teacher training seminar to restore your faith in humanity.  They’re sharing their stories.

Continued next time!

For more “stories,” check out Jots & Tittles, our Children’s Ministries blog.

“All in the Family”

As a  Children’s Ministries co-director, I often have the unique privilege of sharing life’s ups and downs, trials and triumphs and lives of families and kids and other rare gems.  I hear a lot in this capacity, particularly from some parents and kids about other parents and kids.  Some of it I try to forget.  Really hard.

“I’m not sitting next to Billy Fontaine in Sunday school again!”  Rita Mitchell wails, arms crossed in adamant adamancy.

“Why not?”

“Because he hasn’t brushed his teeth for like a year and he has dog breath!”

I make a mental note to offer Billy a stick of Juicy Fruit chewing gum or surreptiously slip him some Tic-Tacs next Sunday.

“Gag me with a spoon!” howls Donny Watson.  “I’m not going back to that children’s church class again.  And you can’t make me!”

“Hold on there, Donny.  Tell me what happened.”  It seems that fourth grader Flora Davis has a crush on Donny Watson the size of New York, and his friends tease him to death about her “love eyes” during class.  I talk to sweet little Flora about the improprieties of fourth grade amour on church property.  Things are going swimmingly until Billy Fontaine shows up with a wadded-up piece of Juicy Fruit stuck to the back of his head.

Then there are the parents.  Florence Majors claims to have seen Jerry Miller’s oldest son go into the corner drugstore and emerge with a “suspicious looking” magazine.  She advised me to have a talk with the elder Miller and make sure he kept son Elmer on a short leash in the way of uplifting reading material.

Milt Brenner heard that Bill and Doris Drake let their sixth grader watch American Idol.  Worse yet, he “suspicions” that the Drakes also let their daughter watch Dancing with the Stars.  “What’s this world coming to?” Milt moans.  “Everyone’s gone liberal or even worse; they’re in league with the devil and his strangle-hold on Hollywood.  Next thing you know, they’ll be voting Democrat!”

“I can’t be certain” Beatrice Willis whispered, “but I heard that Mae Morrison told her husband to ‘put up or shut up’ last week, and that’s hardly the biblical model of a virtuous, submissive wife now, is it?”

Icing the cake, Beatrice claims to have witnessed Mae purchase an entire tube of My Passion lipstick, “and we all know where that can lead.”

The Snyder boys run too fast.  The Patterson’s daughter wears her skirts too short.  The Swensen’s oldest son has long hair and is probably captaining the next Hells Angels motorcycle convention.

“Why, it’s past his shoulders” Stella Scott murmured recently, lips trembling.  “

“But Stella, the Swensen’s oldest son is twenty-one years old.  Legally, he’s an adult and can make his own decisions on hair length.”

She eyed me like a calf at a new gate.  “Now dearie, I know you know your Bible better than that.” Stella waggled her index finger at me.  “We all know what the Bible says about men and short hair.”

“Yes, but I’m not sure that having long hair is a necessary pre-requisite for salvation… or sanctification” I added, noting that the Swensen’s son, Karl, keeps his shoulder-length hair clean and neat and combed back in a sweeping ponytail.  I wish I could get my hair to do that.

—- To be continued — (we’re just gettin’ warmed up.)  See ya back here soon!

“The Prize”

Body and blood swirling over our palate compel us to remember the body of Christ hanging on a cross on a shaggy, refuse-strewn knoll outside Jerusalem.  He was betrayed.  He was powerless.  He was put to shame.  Yet Christ was faithful.  He refused to despair.  Instead he cried out to his Father and sacrificed himself in obedience to his calling for the sake of joy.

Worship is the prize for leaving our home and cleaving to our friends.  Worship is eating and drinking and dancing at the party where we are honored guests when we ought to be despised outcasts.  Worship is the rest that strengthens us to serve.

It’s time to set out, pack up our stories, check our compass, and move together into a world of betrayal, powerlessness, and ambivalence for the sake of more stories, more awe and gratitude, and more God.

In the pipeline: All in the Family – stories of family life in the Body (including reflections on Juicy Fruit, Christian charity, The 10 Essentials and Real Life.)  Stay tuned!

Just released!

Step into the pages of this historical novel of Faith. Meet beautiful Yo-hannah, whose tortured past has imprisoned her body and heart. Walk in the stooped steps of Veronica, whose mysterious malady has made her ceremonially unclean. Thirst for living water with a half-breed whose checkered past is about to catch up with her.

Thrown together from dead-ends, each woman seeks answers to her own desperation. Will Yo-hannah find the peace she craves? Can an unclean woman receive a touch of mercy? Where can a despised half-breed go to be made whole? And what about old Hadessa, whose enigmatic past is as mysterious as the young rabbi who crosses each woman’s path?

Each woman’s life and future hinges on the Nazarene’s answer to one question: Who are you?

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Click here to order.

What readers are saying:

Akeldama is a book rich in descriptions of Bible history. If there is one thing I want when I read a book, it is to feel as if I am there, tasting every taste, smelling every scent on the breeze and, yes, even feeling the agonizing emotions that the characters are feeling. Through Akeldama I experienced the forgiveness, the healing power and the heartbreak that each woman who encountered Christ felt. I could place myself in their lives and sing the Hallel right along with them! Thank you, Kristine Lowder, for allowing me to encounter Christ in such a powerful way.

– Joyce Cunningham, Director,
Child Evangelism Fellowship
Pacific Harbors, Washington

I have read only a few Christian novels worthy of the name. My favorite Christian authors are C.S. Lewis, Stephen R. Lawhead, Joseph F. Girzone, and now Kristine Lowder. I must tell you that her book, Akeldama, touched me so deeply that I cried like a baby as I read the final chapter. Yes, the final chapter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ—not a new subject. But something in her telling of it blessed me with joy, gratitude, awe, and wonder. I cannot remember a time when I wanted to re-read a book as soon as I finished it. Treat yourself to a great book!

– William C. Oakes, Senior Pastor
Living Stones Fellowship
Warrens, Wisconsin

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Click here to order.

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Coming soon from Living Stones Publishing:

How I Got to be Fifty and Other Atrocities:

A Baby Boomer Reflects on the Boom and Other Splashes of Everyday Life.

“The Vision”

What was the vision Jesus communicated to his band the night before he died?  After celebrating Passover with his disciples and teaching them to remember him through bread and wine, Jesus gave them this stunning assignment;

You are those who have stood by me in my trials.  And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have preayd for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your bothers. (Luke 22:28-32)

Wow.  Wouldn’t one would expect a moment of transcendent ecstasy to lift the disci0les to the seventh heaven in Christ’s presence at this point?  Instead, they begin to bicker and boast…

And, in response, Jesus serves.  He takes the bowl and the towel and he washes their feet.  He serves more food and drink.  He does not confront or chastise.  Instead, he disrupts his followers’ hearts by looking directly at Peter and naming his betrayal, inviting him to return even before he departs.

Worship is an anticipation based on a remembrance that exposes our petty, quarrelsome, prideful hearts and then welcomes us to dine with him and feed our brothers and sisters.  `When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’  There is no question: You will return.  There is no question: He will receive you, empower you, and send you back to serve those you have harmed.

Is that what goes on in the average Sunday morning “worship” service?

“If all men…”

“If all men are offended because of Christ, let them be offended; but where is the sense of their being offended at something that is not Christ and is nothing like Him? We do Him singularly little honor by watering down His personality till it could not offend a fly. Surely it is not the business of the Church to adapt Christ to men, but to adapt men to Christ. It is the dogma that is the drama-not beautiful phrases, nor comforting sentiments, nor vague aspirations to loving-kindness and uplift, nor the promise of something nice after death- but the terrifying assertion that the same God who made the world lived in the world and passed through the grave and gate of death. Show that to the heathen, and they may not believe it; but at least they may realize that here is something that a man might be glad to believe.”

- Dorothy Sayers, Creed or Chaos?

Originally posted at Et. Elle.

“Faith Like Potatoes”

“Where there’s love, there’s hope.”

We saw this remarkable new movie recently.  Starts slowly, but once it gathers steam, buckle up!  This is a terrific, faith-building movie on the order of Facing the Giants or Chariots of Fire.  Faith Like Potatoes is available for rental at Blockbuster.  Filmed in South Africa.  Based on a true story.  Five stars!