Pet Stress and Character

As I write this, I am feeling stressed about my husband leaving me for almost a week with all three dogs (and the three cats—but they don’t count) while he travels to California to judge a dog field trial. Caring for three energic Labradors—well, at least two since one is almost 11 years old—is not something I’m looking forward to. They are mostly indoors unless they are out in the field doing training. That is indoors in a single story, about 1,200 square feet, ranch style house. It will be days of early mornings, so I’ll need to get used to early to bed nights to compensate. Oh, and did I forget to mention one of them is pregnant and has been having the effects of occasional bouts of nausea? The 11-year-old has learned that if he doesn’t want to go outside, he rolls over and plays like he’s a log. And as of yesterday, he has bandages and boots on two feet, each with an infected toe. Sigh.

A quiet moment.

As I wrote, I’m feeling stressed and a bit irritated about it all. And then…well, then, I read these words in the book, “Jesus Followers.” ---- “The phrase small irritations brings to mind the many pets we’ve had over the years, which were not only sources of pleasure but also sources of aggravation that God used to develop our character.” Catch that last phrase? “To develop our character.”

Isn’t that just like God to make a point drive deep? It’s not like He and I haven’t already been having conversations about this upcoming week of dog care. So, He knows my attitude isn’t what it should be. “Our faith is walked out in our everyday attitudes and actions,” (“Jesus Followers”) which includes being the caregiver for these three pet children.

The Lord used Rachel-Ruth Lotz Graham’s words to remind me that I need to reshape my attitude since He’ll be there to see me through being their sole caregiver. So, in my reading journal, I jotted, “Lord, help my stress with pets develop godly character.” That’s the hope for every trial/struggle/problem we face—that as we walk with Jesus through them, He will shape us into His likeness. He’ll give us His attitude, His character.

I am reading an advance copy of “Jesus Followers,” by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright. The focus of their book is leaning into Jesus in all parts of our lives, striving to run our race of faith with responsibility, diligence, and perseverance so that we pass that Baton of Truth onto the next generation, to those who are watching how we live out our faith, especially when we are stressed and irritated by the struggles of life or when we are in pain and suffering.

“Jesus Followers” is brimming with real life examples from both the authors’ personal lives and their observations of those with whom they did life with, particularly close relatives, which include Billy and Ruth Graham. And I do mean “real life” examples. Their stories reveal lives lived that modeled what it is like to walk trusting the Lord in difficult situations, worshipping Him when all your humanity wants to do is complain and/or cry.

Anne and Rachel-Ruth's book reminds us that we who have that identity are to live “aware of life’s brevity” so as to “prompt us to live each day with greater intention so that we leave a legacy of faith for those who follow” and in order that they, too, will carry forward the Baton of Truth.” A pew research of university students recently revealed that it’s long before students go to college that this baton slipped out of their hands. That means it was starting to slip before they left their parents’ home and their home church. “Parents, hands down, are the biggest influence on a child. Our children imitate whatever they see us doing.” (“Jesus Followers”)

It’s vital for each Jesus follower to live out an intentional, moment-by-moment, totally committed, totally surrendered walk with Jesus in every circumstance that proves He is our strength and joy. That’s how that Baton of Truth is passed. That’s what helps the next generation grasp that baton firmly and run their race.

I recommend that you make this a must-read book to encourage you as you follow Jesus so that you are helped to hand off the Baton of Truth to those in your life. As I write this, the book is in preorder status. But if you preorder, you’ll benefit by receiving some bonuses which are available until October 4, 2021.

Adequate Versus Inspiring

Have you ever wondered why so many Christian church buildings are beyond just what is adequate, beyond what simply will work or be sufficient to get the job done? Have you ever said to yourself that money could have been used for the poor, the homeless, the needy?

Hmm. I’ve often thought that myself when looking at cathedrals like Notre Dame, the Crystal Cathedral, or even my own church’s castle-like structure. 

However, as I read “Person of Interest,” J. Warner Wallace’s new book, I had to rethink my opinion that these churches were wastefully elaborate and overly costly. My perspective was changed when I read J. Warner Wallace’s chapter on how Jesus’ followers influenced art—which would include architectural design.

As with our own church building and those I mentioned and many, many others, the desire of early Christians as well as Jesus’ followers today was and now is to worship in buildings that represent well the light, the glory, and the majesty of the Lord of lords, the God of gods, and the King of kings. The latter is said to be the reason our church building looks like a mini castle.

Additionally, what stood out me in this portion of “Person of Interest” is not just that Christians built such beyond the adequate buildings but how, in the process of constructing buildings that inspired, they made advances in structure that have transformed architectural design itself. The use of domes was mastered by Christian builders. The use of windows, large windows, purposed for great beauty and to stream in light necessitated structural innovations. Christians also mastered the art of stained-glass windows, something my church boasts of in all shapes and sizes.

All this occurred because Christians were motivated to move from the barely adequate meeting houses to places that “better reveal the identity of Jesus and the reality of heaven.” They wanted their surroundings to help them set their minds on God’s heavenly throne as they worshipped. And they wanted to create something that would honor Jesus…not just in their eyes but in everyone’s eyes.

When I was dwelling on this, I thought of Mark 14:3-8. Jesus tells us there that to make the opportunity to honor Him is worth it, is noble. He said the poor would always be with us. That’s not sidestepping caring for the poor. I think Jesus is pointing out that we always have that responsibility to help the needy. But, at the same time, we can choose to do what’s in our hearts to reveal His glory in practical ways, such as the Lord God had the Israelites do in building the tabernacle and in building the temple. One does not negate other. That’s most likely the attitude of our forefathers in the Christian faith. It is our purpose to glorify God with all parts of our lives.

So, our forefathers choose to move from tiny, dark crowded houses to meeting together in larger groups in more suitable buildings. As they did so, they progressed in building structures with domed and arched ceilings, perfecting how to bring in light using hidden light wells, strategically placed windows, and even secondary walls with windows. History shows their desire to create buildings that spoke to the glory and splendor of God forever changed architecture. Additionally, these cathedrals became places that displayed artwork painted on the ceilings and walls, and statues that stood tucked into niches. Not only that, these buildings became places where musical expression was encouraged and even transformed. That’s another cultural “fallout,” as J. Warner Wallace calls it, that is demonstrated in “Person of Interest.”

J. Warner Wallace wrote that worship centers “became monuments to the impact Jesus had on culture in the common Era. In fact, no person of interest in the history of persons of interest had the kind of impact Jesus had on art and music.”

The evidence is laid out clearly in the book, not just in print but in detailed illustrations. There is no one, not one person in history, who has had the influence, the impact on our lives today that Jesus has. If you take Jesus out of history, today’s culture globally would be unrecognizable. Every person on earth owes so much more to Jesus, history’s Person of Interest, than just our salvation that John 3:16 speaks of.

Want to expand on this truth? I’d advise picking up a copy of “Person of Interest.” You’ll want to read and reread it and keep it as a reference book when others ask you, “Why does Jesus matter to me?”

For the Love of Education, Jesus Matters

I just finished reading an advance copy of J. Warner Wallace’s new book, “Person of Interest,” in which he notes that studies show—contrary to what parents often think—that many youth who are raised in the Christian faith reject Christianity by the time they are surveyed in their university years, meaning this is something that began much earlier in their lives. Youth start questioning between the ages of 10 and 17. That means their falling from faith isn’t a university thing. It goes back several years prior to the time they pack their U-Haul and head to college. This is crucial for Christian parents to understand. It is they who have far more impact on the beliefs of young Christians than professors. And I think that is also key for the Church to grasp.

Today’s universities and colleges are no longer the places most were created to be. Most now promote the ideas and theories of the world. That’s today. But not so in years gone by.

I wrote “created to be” because our education system owes much to Jesus’ followers. The top 15 universities today were all fruit of Christians who wished to use education as a means to advance the values of their Master, Jesus, our Person of Interest. J. Warner Wallace notes that Christ followers not only celebrated the use of intellectual and rational abilities, but they also protected and collected knowledge, holding education in high regard. Jesus’ followers embraced teaching as a cultural part of Christianity and a responsibility towards living in truth. They used education to spread the Word of God and the Gospel; and in doing so, they ignited the education movement as something that should be available to all people.

Take a moment to think on this. To share the Word of God, people had to be able to read. And, to read, people had to have a written language. The Cyrillic alphabet was created and used to translate the Bible for Slavs without a written language. This alphabet is still used for more than 200 million people representing over 100 languages around the world. Just this one invention has opened doors for a global education movement. Thus, as J. Warner Wallace writes, “Jesus’ followers are largely responsible for advancing literacy across the globe.”

How many books are in your home? If you’ve read a book you’ve been impacted by this educational movement. Jesus’ followers, among other things, were behind the invention of the printing press, were behind the organization of public schools and compulsory education, promoted the education of the poor, of children, and of the disabled. Within the pages of “Person of Interest,” the evidence is laid out in a way that once you see it, you can’t unsee it. It will impact the way you not only look at the venue of education but also the way you look at music and the arts and, yes, even science.

You’ll enjoy reading the depths of the research done by J. Warner Wallace and his team of researchers, highlighted by artwork done by J.W. himself. The book is easy to read even as you take in all the evidence that is recorded within its pages. And it won’t take long for you to see that Jesus matters because truth matters. And this is truth. God has orchestrated history—what is described as the “fuse”—leading up to Jesus’ arrival as the “Person of Interest,” so that His coming would be noticed. Our historical timeline is even divided by His arrival. After His arrival, the “fallout” is clear. No other person in all of history has had the impact, the influence on all venues of life as has Jesus.

Yet one of the researchers told J. Warner Wallace that Jesus doesn’t matter because He influenced the world. Jesus influenced the world because He matters. The Truth turned the world upside down!

“Person of Interest” is available now at your favorite outlet. Be sure to pick up a copy and a study guide and stay tuned as the study DVD will also be available soon.