Sabbath Year

I'm not sure how well I understand the Sabbath Year (every seventh) described in the Old Testament Law. Does it mean that for a whole year you don't work so much? You eat what you stored? In the weekly Sabbath you rest, your animals and servants rest, and you eat food prepared the day before.

Exodus 23:10-12,

"And six years thou shalt sow thy land,

and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still;

that the poor of thy people may eat:

and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat.

In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard,

and with thy oliveyard.

Six days thou shalt do thy work,

and on the seventh day thou shalt rest:

that thine ox and thine ass may rest,

and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger,

may be refreshed."

Leviticus 25:3-7,

"Six years thou shalt sow thy field,

and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard,

and gather in the fruit thereof;

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land,

a sabbath for the LORD:

thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest

thou shalt not reap,

neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed:

for it is a year of rest unto the land.

And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you;

for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid,

and for thy hired servant,

and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee,

And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land,

shall all the increase thereof be meat."

Leviticus 25:20-22,

"And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year?

behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:

Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year,

and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

And ye shall sow the eighth year,

and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year;

until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store."

Just to spark your imaginations (and perhaps even the elusive comment), I would share an idea I had. In the Old Testament, men worked six-day work weeks. In America today the middle class man works five-day work weeks and takes Saturday to watch sports or do odd jobs around the house: clean the garage, install shelves, fix leaky faucets. Sundays are, to the pious, devoted to church and thoughts of God and family. Oh, and eating. That seems to be big on Sunday. And football, in the fall.

In the Old Testament it would seem that every seventh year a man has only to care for his animals. The poor may glean in the fields what grows without being tended. The middle class man, who has been working very hard for six years and saving his food (or becoming poor so he has to glean) is now resting for an entire year. What would that be like?

I can see some advantages. People would be taught to save on a seven year plan, but not necessarily to hoard their goods for some fabled retirement or splurge of luxury. Families would get a sort of vacation every seventh year. Wouldn't that be neat? To have Dad around for a whole year? And on the six-day work week plan, there is not as much time given to dissipation.

Apply this lifestyle to today's world. You don't go into debt to begin with, so you can start saving money right away. For six years of hard labor by the head of house (while women are preparing meals, saving money, earning money from home, keeping the house, supporting the husband) everyone saves enough, on a plan, that they could eat and keep electricity and water for a seventh year. A man tells his boss he will be quitting, taking a year's vacation, enjoying an extended leave of absence (or if he is self-employed, he shuts down for a year; think: no income tax that year!). Six years is a long time. The year-long vacation wouldn't happen all that often.

After the year off, a man goes back to work refreshed, perhaps more educated if he has used his time wisely, and ready to work hard again for another six years. His family knows him better, and knows how to better care for him as he works. They are refreshed and taught and encouraged to go on working and saving. Everyone talks about their vacation and looks forward to the next one.

So, would it work? Would anyone dare try it? What if God actually knows what He's talking about?

To God be all glory.

Beautiful House

As I was reading through the blogosphere today I encountered an ad, yes, an advertisement on which I had to click. What I found is the website above, supplied with pictures from an expert photographer. The house is for sale, and though I don't have the money to buy such a lovely house, one of you might, so I'm providing free advertising.

The reason that I linked it, though, is because the house is so fantastic. You feel like you might visit one like this if you visited a very important but hospitable family. Go, look at all the pictures. Dream. And, if you can afford it and want to live there, you might even buy!

My little imagination is always collecting aspects of homes to be added into the custom home I will probably never own. Some of the things, happily, would be usable for any house or apartment: what to do with each room, how to organize, how to decorate, installing shelves. One thing I would love to have is a high windowseat (one you could either jump on and kick like a counter, or that you could access by a short ladder) with storage underneath.

For some of my ideas I actually keep a little folder titled "Lisa's Hope Chest." Hey - if you can't embroider, you might as well hope for ideas, right? You might try it. Write out ideas for your home and family. Decorate the outside with pictures that inspire you. Put only the best (and only the handwritten) in your folder.

To God be all glory.

Paid Vacation - Students Pay Schools

Crystal has a post on a proposal made in a California school district to charge parents about $35 a day to withdraw their kids from school for a vacation. Yes. Your kids are not in school, because they're your kids doing things with you, and because the school didn't have to spend any money teaching them that day, the purse-holders won't pay the school for your child that day, so they want to get their fair share of money from you instead.

The article has some interesting comments by Crystal's blog readers. What does a policy like this mean for homeschoolers? Should parents be more responsible and let school district schedules govern their vacations and lives instead of withdrawing students from oh-so abundant class time? Where is the money from the taxes going? Why can't public schools make do with the money they already have? Is public school a welfare program?

I also wanted to link to an article written by Douglas Gresham, the stepson of C.S. Lewis, which I found to make a lot of uncommon sense. This article, which points out some logical flaws in traditional schooling, comes to me from Scott Brown via Matt Chancey.

My thoughts are summarized as follows: there should be no public schools. There should be very few private schools (for orphans or very poor children - as charities run by churches, etc.). Parents have primary responsibility for and control over their children. They are liable for their children's educations. The everyone-pays-taxes-which-are-distributed-to-provide-an-inefficient-education-for-anyone public school system is welfare and socialism. Socialism has been proven to drain itself. Children can be educated for much less money than public schools receive per child every year. Family vacations are good for families. Children should never do homework over vacations. Families are not dictated to by public school schedules. A school has no right to charge parents for not using their services. Teachers in public schools are sometimes very kind, dedicated, talented people. They are there for the service of the students, and cannot complain about the bit of extra work helping a child make up work if necessary that they missed while sick or on vacation.

To God be all glory.

Whom are You Willing to Marry?

I know that many young women would be fascinated by a title like this. Is it a list, guidelines, or admonitions against settling for an unworthy young man?

Actually, when I was writing my post on The Good Life, I had a thought. One advantage, seemingly, to being a self-sufficient farmer is that you get to be around your family, in fact working at your family's side, all day. Your wife makes your lunch and you can come in for meals, even if you spend your day plowing or walking your goat. Then I thought that many women I have met have commented - when their husband was on vacation, retired, got laid off, or was injured - that they drove each other crazy. They love each other, enjoy each other's company during the limited times in the evening and on weekends when he is not at work, but if the situation is full time, there is a break down.

As a single woman with slightly rose-tinted glasses, I can't speculate on why they don't enjoy each other's company for long periods of time. Is that good or bad? I don't even know. Probably God made men to work, and women ought not expect husbands to behave like (or listen to them like) a good female friend. But I had a thought.

How many men or women, when considering marriage, if they asked themselves: "Could I spend nearly every waking hour with this person for the rest of my life?" would say yes? Some couples very smitten with love would dreamily say yes. Some may even be able to seriously say yes. But how many would say, "That's not what I'm signing up for! What are you talking about?" And then if something did happen, or if he did decide to keep a job that had him home, what would they do?

In the interest of being real and personal, I'll tell you that I think I could spend a lot of each week with my husband (when I marry him, whoever he will be) because I intend to marry a man who is very interesting and funny and whom I can adore and tease and consult. In fact, I appreciate the marriage of the couple on the show I mentioned. My only objection is their disdain for children. Kids seem unpopular and conveniently non-existent. As God wills, I also plan to have children who will mix up the company if the entire family is at home.

Let me also tell you, not to disappoint the starry-eyed young ladies who are reading this post because of the title, that I am having a dilema I would like to share: Should I try to marry a man who is outgoing and funny and such a leader - or, should he be a quiet, thoughtful, strong leader? I worry sometimes that all the good-humored young men are silly boys with too much past in the area of relationships; and that the only place I will find a strong, principled, faith-filled conservative is in a rigorous, solemn young man who always asks his father's advice (or his mother's) and wears a tie.

The problem, perhaps, is that I do not often meet the incarnation of the character and principles I would like to find in my husband. So imagine being married to a list. Yet God, amazingly enough, I am convinced, has made human men who love Him, rejoice, and still have an incredible faith and dedication to godliness.

As I shrug my shoulders over all of this, I remember that whoever he is, he's out there, and when I know who he is, I'll find out if he is more one type than another. God is in control, and God is so good.

To God be all glory.

Changing Church Part XVI

Anne excused herself to fly to the door. After kissing her beloved hello, she let him know that Rachael had stopped by – just to visit. Her voice was full of excited awe. It was a miracle, a gift, her eyes seemed to say. At a time like this, to have a friend. “Look, I made a pie. Would you like to have your dessert first? We are!”

“Love to,” he said. A weight lifted off his shoulders at hearing that the visitor had come without questions. For a few hours, he would forget the controversy and have some fun. “Mm.” He took his first bite. “Where’s this recipe from?”

“From whence is this recipe?” she corrected.

“Yes, Anne. From whence. You do know my congregation is going to look at me quite strangely if I use words in the order you wish.”

“They’re already looking at you strangely, dear. The recipe is off the internet. Rachael and I liked it.”

“Did she help you make it?”

“No, but she helped try it!”

“I don’t want to keep you.” Rachael stood. She brought her plate and fork to the sink.

“Don’t go. You’re fine.”

“No, I had a nice chat. You guys need some down time. And I don’t want to keep your dinner.” The water sprayed over her plate. Anne rose from the table with such energy that the paper napkins blew to the floor. Will watched them float down. His wife embraced her new friend, and thanked her earnestly for coming.

“I thought I’d better,” Rachael answered. Anne saw her to the door. “Bye!”

Anne drew the dinner from the oven, where it had been warming. “You know what I think we should do tonight?”

“No.”

“We should read the Bible,” she said intimately. “We need refreshed. We need promises. We need praise.”

“After dinner?” Will asked.

“You know, I think we’re the weirdest couple ever. We think that reading the Bible is as romantic an activity as anything.”

“Ever since you told me I’m going to be a father…”

“That makes you sound so old!” Anne exclaimed.

“I haven’t wanted to study any of this church stuff. I want to go through the whole Bible and find every verse that talks about parenting.”

“Seven and a half months. Do you think you can make it?”

Will smiled. She took everything in stride. “We might have to divide and conquer.”

“Give me easy ones, like Proverbs, then.”

To God be all glory.

See the index for first and additional chapters.

Good Life

In my life I've made several decisions based on idealism, activism, and faith. This leaves my life a little unique. As I told a friend this summer, as long as I can afford to make stands on principle, I will. The world will never change if people who could make a difference didn't bother because it was only temporary. Besides, one might discover that you can do things - forever - differently than society would teach.

My parents loved an old British comedy called The Good Life or Good Neighbors (depending on the season or the country in which its on television) when they were first married. In fact, when they got a VCR, they taped them off TV. Now they're on DVD (the old VHS now being of less than high quality), and I am watching them courtesy of my local library. The plot is that a couple in suburban England decides to be free (quit the corporate world) and become self-sufficient. They decide to do the sufficiency experiment in their own house and yard, to the surprise and humorous objections of their neighbors. Growing vegetables and raising chickens and goats, making their own butter, and even their own gas for their homemade gas-powered generator have their bumps. However, the spirit - the true flaws pointed out in the Western civilization corporate world - is very inspiring.

There may be other ways to become self-sufficient to lesser degrees than by keeping goats. Some modern families really are doing as much as they can to leave behind the additives, preservatives, secularized work week, and luxuries (like a massive clothing allowance). They learn to live frugally, to do most things for themselves, to work hard. Whether you have a vegetable garden or not, what a challenge to the rest of us!

From myself and my experience I want to admonish you to question your assumptions about what you must do with your life. A practical example is that wives can keep a home instead of working outside it, the income of one can support a family, and it can be a good, fulfilling thing to do. Another area in which there can be many questions is the educational system from preschool through college, and if you're at the point of graduate school already, even there. I'm not saying everyone should abandon these things or take up these principles: only that you might consider the why's and other options.

To God be all glory.

Disclaimer: There is some crass humor and immodesty fairly typical of British comedies, so I'm not necessarily recommending the show.

Trumpets

Sometimes I wish I could make my font bright, glittering gold. How do you get text to say "Celebrate! Rejoice! Laugh!"?

This weekend I got curious and read about the Year of Jubilee as described in Leviticus 25. Verses 9-10 say: "Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family."

I don't have anything really deep to say; just to encourage you to imagine what it would have sounded like to hear trumpets blowing throughout a whole country. That is the way to start a Jubilee!

One day there will be a trumpet the whole world will hear. It will sound the return of Jesus for His Church. All who believe Jesus died for their sins and rose again will be part of that Jubilee: freedom, restoration, redemption, and eternal celebration. Think how those trumpets will sound.

To God be all glory.

Gladdening

Etymology of glad:

O.E. glæd "bright, shining, joyous," from P.Gmc. *glathaz (cf. O.N. glaðr "smooth, bright, glad," O.Fris. gled, Du. glad "slippery," Ger. glatt "smooth"), from PIE *ghledho- "bright, smooth" (cf. L. glaber "smooth, bald," O.C.S. gladuku, Lith. glodus "smooth"), from PIE base *ghlei- "to shine, glitter, glow, be warm" (see gleam).

This weekend I'm glad. Gladness has been a theme. Friday night I attended a ladies retreat through my church where we had lessons focusing us on God and preparing our hearts for spending most of the day alone with God on Saturday. On Friday we worshiped. A song came to mind, We Will Dance, by David Ruis. If you click the link and read the lyrics, can't you just envision the glad Bridegroom, Great King of Kings, dancing at His wedding feast with the thousands of people who make up His bride?

Saturday was spent, then, for me, focusing on the relationship of Christ and the Church as Groom and Bride. I don't know how much you have thought about this or studied it. Recently I've become more aware of the betrothal connotations of the Lord's Supper, of the promises in John 14:2-3, and of course the direct references like that in Revelation 19.

Picture a man engaged to a woman who is far away. He calls her on the phone and reassures her of his love. He sends her gifts. They share delight in their love. She renews her resolve to be the most deserving bride she can be. They spend time building the relationship. And there is the anticipation of the wedding that makes them almost giddy. Closing her eyes, the bride-to-be can envision her Beloved celebrating at the feast. Ah, the dancing and singing and glad shouts. How she will glow!

So, translating those things spiritually, that's what I did on Saturday. Scripture testifies mightily of God's love for us. It challenges us to faithfulness and pure living. Books especially of prophecy provide us with inspiration and hope by painting pictures of the victory and fulfillment and restoration at the End. And then there is praise for the incredible, unspeakably undeserved love God lavishes on us.

Today in church people said I seemed to shine. Moses shone after he'd been with God. Can you really see it?

Be glad. Be with God. Shine.

To God be all glory.

Parable in the Brown Grass

A few days ago I wrote about the ugly ground under the snow. This morning as my eyes fluttered slowly towards awake I looked out the window and recalled a conversation I had with a friend yesterday. She reminded me that all that snow by melting had watered our lawns and would soon produce lush green grass.

One of the most gripping moments in Scripture to me is the period between the crucifixion and the resurrection. What did Jesus' followers think? Were they scattered or together? Did they cry? Did they try to talk through what happened and figure it out? I can only imagine most of them were devastated. Their lives the past few years had been wasted, they thought, on a false Messiah. Or maybe He had been Messiah, and God had lost. What did they think? How did they deal with these huge questions as well as the painful loss of a teacher and friend?

Going through those thoughts and questions is to me ideal preparation for Easter. We hear the whole world sing about the glorious resurrection, and our hearts leap with returned hope. The despair fades. Joy and faith tumble over one another in response to the undeniable truth.

And every spring, the season of Easter, the seeds in the ground and the brown dormant grass, so gloomy and lacking in evidence of hope, explode into verdant, fresh spring green. Flowers come. New life after the old dies. That's the parable written into the world.

So every time you see the ugly brown grass, think with hope. There will be green. Jesus did rise. As a born-again believer in Jesus you have been crucified with Christ and are a new creature. At the resurrection of the saints you will be given a new body for the old. Take hope!

To God be all glory.

Tomb of Jesus???

If you're curious about the show whose advertisements and hype have been blasted all over TV and other mediums, purporting to show you the tomb of Jesus - you know, with the casket and the body and everything - then you should read this article by Chuck Colson. He explains what even the typically anti-Christian "experts" said to discourage accepting the imaginative story presented in the documentary.

To begin with, if you find a tomb marked Joshua (which I'm sure is translated to English improperly, and should be Yeshua, which is Hebrew for Jesus) wouldn't be a big deal. If you remember there is a large book of the Old Testament featuring a warrior-leader of Israel both bearing that name. In the New Testament we find other references to men with that name.

Second, the tomb called this man "son of Joseph." If you remember, Jesus wasn't the son of Joseph. Joseph was his mother's husband.

The mother's name was Mary. So is the name inscribed on a nearby coffin. Of course, that must be the wife of Joshua. And of course, there were no Mary's except Mary Magdalene. Whoops. I just said there was a mother named Mary. And the mother of some of Jesus' apostles was Mary. And Lazarus' sister was Mary. In fact, Mary is the Greek form of Miriam, Moses' sister and famous prophetess of the Exodus. The name is also close to Marah, which Naomi takes to herself. It means bitter. At the time of the Roman occupation, to which these bodies date, surely the Jews found their lives a bit bitter.

Also found was a coffin labeled Judah, apparently. This is supposed in the documentary to be Jesus' son.

The problem? If you look at these facts from a Bible-believing perspective, as I do, then Jesus is not Joseph's son. He was not married. He did not have children. He rose again. So this could not be his body. The argument that Jesus did not rise is as old as the day He rose. But there is no explanation for how the body could have been removed, who removed it, why, or why they would not tell anyone. Most of the apostles died in horrible martyrdom refusing to deny the resurrection and deity of Jesus Christ. Liars don't die for their lies.

If you are a Bible-hating "expert" who has consulted on many anti-Christian investigations into the Bible, or if you are a Hollywood director looking for a shock, if you are one of millions who read The DaVinci Code as a novel but didn't quite shake the feeling that the author made some good - no, great points; then you see these facts differently. Since Jesus was only man, he could not have risen or ascended. We "know" he was married to Mary Magdalene, who was with him at a banquet (while the apostle John or one of the others is then curiously absent) depicted like a photograph by a Renaissance artist over a thousand years later. If he was married, it is only logical that he had a son. When we find a sarcophagus marked Joshua son of Joseph near one marked Mary, so that must be them.

The convincing factor is, which perspective has more consistency, more evidence, more first-hand records? Do the research, if you're wondering. Try Josh McDowell's books: Evidence that Demands a Verdict, More than a Carpenter, and The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answers.

To God be all glory. Jesus lives!