God’s love – The Thinking Christian Woman

Better than a pot ‘o gold

God's love, Gospel, holidays, life purpose, love neighbor as self, prayer, service. loving sacrifice, Witness Comments Off

Mar 172015

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Many will celebrate this festive day by wearing green, decorating with 4-leaf clovers and leprechauns, and maybe even a good bit of drinking, but is that all there is to be known and celebrated today?

Who is St. Patrick?

Patrick was born to a wealthy Roman/British family. At 16, Irish raiders dragged him off to serve 6 years as a slave in Ireland. Patrick found God while a slave, and in prayer, God told him to flee for freedom. After becoming a priest in what would later become England, Patrick responded to God’s leading to return to Ireland and share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is said that Patrick often used the 3-leaf clover to help explain the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Patrick died on March 17, 461, and is buried in the homeland of his servant’s heart – Ireland.

A reason to celebrate

Patrick became Ireland’s patron saint because of his love for the Irish people. Patrick’s heroic obedience to God’s call, and his courageous self-sacrifice to return to the land of his captivity, brought the penetrating light of God’s love and truth to clear the spiritual fog engulfing Ireland. Heroism, courage, self-sacrifice, love and truth – all good reasons to celebrate!

So, even though this has become a day for dyeing the Chicago River green, drinking green beer (perhaps to excess), and laughing at the antics of leprechauns, YOU know the real meaning of this day, and YOU can celebrate better than ever based on that deeper, richer, more fulfilling knowledge.

As the Good Book says, “…add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge…” (2 Peter 1:5)

Better than a pot ‘o gold!

Folklore spins a tale about leprechauns secreting away a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. Folklore also says that if you catch a leprechaun, it can grant three wishes in exchange for release. But are leprechauns really as silly, playful and harmless as portrayed in our common culture?

First of all, leprechauns are not real, they are not part of God’s creation. Secondly, leprechauns were understood to be the offspring of evil spirits (demons) and mischievous fairies. Current depictions of leprechauns are based on derogatory 19^th century stereotypes of Irishmen.

As a college literature major, I learned that fairies, elves, trolls, genies, etc. were invented in literature to represent actual spiritual beings. Those that do good represent the angels who remain loyal to God. Those that do evil or mischief represent the fallen angels whose aim is to destroy mankind. What do you think? Were leprechauns invented to represent benevolent spiritual beings? And if not, do we really want to populate our homes, cubicles, or even church fellowship halls with them?

The Good Book says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

As we think about St. Patrick today, we don’t have to settle for drowning our sorrows, or hoping for leprechaun wishes or their gold. As the warm light of God’s uncommon love and truth burn away the spiritual fog perpetrated by common culture, we can celebrate this fun day with knowledge and wisdom and genuine faith, all of which are much more valuable than gold! (Psalm 19, 1 Peter 1:7)

And if there is sadness, heaviness, worry on this day, the Thinking Christian Woman can take it to God in prayer (James 5:13), and throw it over onto Him, because He cares for her (1 Peter 5:7). And as for wishes, I believe God when He says in Psalm 37 verse 4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”

I won’t settle for anything less! How about you?

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Rich toward God

God's love, Gospel, life purpose, mercy, power of God, praise, service. loving sacrifice, spiritual journey, stewardship Comments Off

Oct 212014

Fifty-nine years ago today, baby “Wayne” (as his family called him) was born in Reid Memorial Hospital, Richmond, Indiana, home of the Purdue Boilermakers, due east of Indianapolis near the Ohio border.

It’s a rare and wonderful experience to meet and interact with a “famous” person, without knowing who they are. That’s how I met Wayne, forty years later, in March of 1995, in the Navajo Nation near Window Rock, Arizona, during a week-long stay at Hilltop Christian School on the reservation with my mother and father, Christian author and film maker, Ken Anderson. Our purpose: to collaborate with local Navajo believers on an exploratory Teen Missions video script with the working title, “Forgiveness.”

I was alone at the guest house one morning when he burst in like a prairie twister, looking for someone who wasn’t there. We talked briefly. He looked scruffy, wearing only a white t-shirt and tattered denim shorts (even though it was snowing outside). He seemed uncomfortable, nervous, distracted, and out of place. I had no idea who he was.

Over time, I learned he was a fellow Hoosier, just two years older than I, and, more significantly, that he was Richard Wayne Mullins, better known as Rich Mullins, the extremely gifted musician through whom God had produced such classics as Sing Your Praise to the Lord (Amy Grant’s first hit), Awesome God, and Step by Step (Sometimes by Step).

What I didn’t know, was that Rich was actually living in a hogan on the reservation. Though nearly 40, he was about to graduate from Friends University with a degree he pursued just to officially qualify to teach music education to the native children at Hilltop.

One evening, I sat on the living room floor at a small youth group gathering as Rich talked about writing Awesome God, and Step by Step (with Beaker), then played guitar and led us in those, and other, worship songs.

I noticed him several times that week, working on various service projects around the compound with college students who had come to minister on spring break.

The last night of our stay, Rich generously played piano and shared from his heart for about a hundred people in the school auditorium. It was my first exposure to the more innovative spiritual insights and incisive music and lyrics of this agitated, eccentric, poet-prophet. Rich seemed ill-suited in his own skin and misplaced on the planet. I found his spiritual transparency and musical talent alarming and magnetic. As a delightfully childlike treat, he divided us into sections and taught us to “make rain” using just our hands to produce simple sound effects, which, when combined, did sound remarkably like rain.

Though his music made millions, Rich gave everything away to Christian ministries and the poor, except for an allowance equal to the average American salary. Following in the bare footsteps of St. Francis, he literally accepted the same invitation Jesus gave to the rich young ruler in Luke 12:15-21, to give up everything and become rich toward God.

When I learned of his death in a traffic accident two and a half years later, my first reaction was relief. It seemed he didn’t really want to be here anyway, and now he was released to explore the boundless love of God unfettered by earth’s limitations.

Once when a friend told him that the friend’s grandmother had just died, Rich simply replied, “Good for her.”

In his own words, from the song “Elijah”:

When I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
It’ll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won’t break my heart to say goodbye

Be sure to check out Ragamuffin, the 2014 movie on the life of Rich Mullins. As of this posting, it can be found on Netflix, Amazon, and Google Play. Also, here’s most of a Wheaton College chapel concert at my alma mater, just 5 months before he died.

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Goldilocks and the four bookcases

abundant life, answers to prayer, God's love, power of God, praise, prayer, stewardship Comments Off

Sep 102014

Pictured two bookcases for the newly-finished attic to hold journals and such. Not important enough to spend money on, but a want none-the-less, so I asked the Lord to provide them in a way that would glorify and please Him, if it was His will for me to have them. (remembering back to things like the gardening table in Convicting Blessings – a webfession)

Within a week, I was driving down the alley and saw one perfect bookcase in one block, then two more about a half block on down, and finally a fourth! Came back later with the wagon and picked up the best two. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

The thinking Christian woman knows that the Lord doesn’t always answer with a “Yes.” He always answers, but sometimes the answer is “No,” and sometimes “Not now.”

This time, it was as if He was saying, “Take your pick my love, or take all of them! I came to give you abundant life!”

I am giving Him glory for being such a sweet, attentive, and faithful friend, and for giving me more-than-enough (abundant) bookcases!

There’s NO God like Jehova!

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Stop…Sigh

abundant life, God's love, victory 1 Response »

Jul 182014

By guest blogger Sara Clarke

Yes, I texted at a stop sign, letting family know I was heading home.

“Driving. Stop sigh. Home soon.”

Autocorrect pointed the way to a godly pause built into every commute. I don’t have to continually carry cares. Every red octagon can be a reminder to stop, sigh, and cast all of my cares on Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7).

The Thinking Christian Woman can use these common visuals as opportunities to breathe (sigh) her cares to her Lord, who loves her so!

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The People’s Race Car

God's love, Gospel Comments Off

May 012014

You’ve heard of “March Madness”? Well, today begins what is known simply as, “The Month of May” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, initiating the arduous process of preparing 33 contenders for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday, May 25. This year, after decades of domination by corporate sponsors, the 98th running of the Indy 500 might include a largely fan-funded entry, #67, driven by Josef Newgarden, owned by CuttersRT (named after the bike team in “Breaking Away” – an homage to Indiana limestone cutters), and teaming with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

Newgarden, an Indy resident, is an up and coming young driver with great potential. While he is working hard to be ready, here’s also his lighthearted look at “The Life of a Race Car Driver”.

If #67 qualifies, it will be the first ever crowd-funded (crowd-sourced) Indy 500 entry. For as little as $100, sponsors, like me, can have their names written right on the car.

(btw – “racecar” is a palindrome – same forward and backward)

The last time I joined 300,000+ fellow race fans at the 500 was the first time Honorary Hoosier Jim Nabors sang “Back Home Again” at Indy. Nabors announced that this year, (42 years later), will be his last Indy 500 performance. I plan to be there singing along with him, from my seat on the front straight-away.

It’s so exciting to anticipate watching #67 fly by and knowing that The Anderson Family is written somewhere on it: The People’s Race Car.

Even better, the Thinking Christian Woman knows that God has engraved His people on the palms of His hands! (Isaiah 49:16). Jesus the Christ bears huge iron spike scars on His palms today, because of my sin. By His love, I’m engraved on His glorified body. He is:

The People’s Savior!

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I see you!

answers to prayer, family, God's love 7 Responses »

Oct 242011

There’s a standing joke about the patient in a drafty hospital gown struggling in vain to keep the back flaps closed and thinking, “Now I know why they call it – ICU!”

Last week, after visiting my hardy and relatively healthy Mom for several days with the specific purpose of helping her and local family proactively prepare for the time, down the road, when she might need in-home caregiver and skilled help, we were all somewhat surprised by a health event that sent her to the Intensive Care Unit.

When I first got to town, before Mom’s ICU trip, the daily reading included Proverb 6:20, which encourages us, “…do not forsake the law of your mother…” so I asked Mom if there were any “laws” that she particularly wanted me to follow in life. She thought a while, then revisited a teaching she had consistently shared since my early childhood – God sees everything you do (Proverb 5:21 and 15:3).

That reminded me of a story in Genesis about a runaway pregnant slave girl who encountered the Angel of the Lord by a spring in the wilderness. He told her to return to her harsh mistress, and promised to multiply her descendants. In response, she called Him El Roi “The-God-Who-Sees.” (Genesis 16:13)

When Mom’s husband of 67 years died in 2006, she stood alone in her big, empty house and asked God, “Who am I now?” In that moment, El Roi answered her heart,

“You are My child, and I will walk with you.”

Mom’s hospital stay was painful for her and stressful for us, but so many blessings emerged that it soon became abundantly apparent that God’s watchful presence hovered over all. Here are just a few examples:

Strong spirit of love and cooperation between family members as the Body of Christ. Good opportunities to improve communication and understanding.

Multiple opportunities for family members to express honor and love in ways that Mom can feel.

The hospital’s Director of Imaging bought my lunch! (a story unto itself).

Bumped into a high school friend who just happened to be the hospital’s Director of Engineering and Security. He personally made sure that the annoying intermittent loud whooshing sound in Mom’s room vent, that had steadily been getting worse (we had nicknamed it “The Whale”), stopped that same day.

Mom gave us all a priceless example to follow when she mustered the poise and courage to allow a procedure she greatly feared, but that brought instant relief and vastly hastened her recovery.

Mom came home from the hospital just 15 minutes before I had to leave for the airport and I had the joy of seeing her comfortable in her recliner again.

No one wants to be in the ICU, or to see a loved one there, but for the Thinking Christian Woman, the acronym “ICU’ can be transformed into a confident reminder that El Roi, The-God-Who-Sees, constantly affirms – “I see you!”

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God so loved the world

family, God's love, Gospel, life purpose 5 Responses »

Sep 052011

My parents had a vision and a passion for sharing the Good News about Jesus the Christ with the whole world. They started out wanting to be missionaries, and ended up equipping foreign and national missionaries on a far broader scope than ever could have been realized serving in one mission post.

My father traveled to over 120 countries (there are currently about 196 countries in the world) researching and filming evangelistic audio visuals for Ken Anderson Films and International Films. My mother and various siblings sometimes accompanied and assisted him.

I remember seeing my father lay his hands on a globe of the world and pray for everyone at one time, trusting that God knew individual needs. Visitors from around the world were frequent guests in our home. We were raised to be world Christians.

During college, rather than accept Walt Disney World’s offer of a dream summer job, I toured Mexico, Central and South America with Sports Evangelism’s women’s basketball team. While our opponents rested during half-time, we presented God’s love through music, talent and testimonies.

My family’s vision continues today in the form of InterComm, a non-profit ministry that works with national Christians around the world to translate existing Ken Anderson Films audio-visuals into their heart language.

I have traveled to 17 countries and seen first-hand some of the ways God’s Spirit is fulfilling a worldwide mandate. This website is one expression of my desire for people around the world to experience, and share about, God’s love.

So far, the Thinking Christian Woman has received visitors from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, India, Jamaica, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.

If your country isn’t listed, please leave a comment and let us know where you’re visiting from.

And if English is not your heart language, you might enjoy checking out the newly-added “Translate this Page” feature in the right column of the blog.

Thank you for visiting. God bless you! If you enjoy what is offered here, please tell your friends about the Thinking Christian Woman. Thank you!

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His Star-Spangled Banner Over Us is Love

God's love 2 Responses »

Jul 042011

Here in the U.S. we are observing 235 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Yesterday, my pastor shared a quote from John Adams (statesman, diplomat, patriot, signer of the Constitution, who, btw, died on July 4, 1826!) “Independence Day…ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.”

On this day there will no doubt also be repeated singings of The Star-Spangled Banner, written by a young attorney in 1814, and later adopted as our national anthem in 1931. Francis Scott Key sailed down from Washington, after the city was captured and the White House burned to the ground, on a British vessel to secure the release of a prisoner of war. Key was detained on board ship until the bombardment of Ft. McHenry was completed. Throughout the rainy night, and in the light of dawn, Key, and eventually an entire nation, was inspired that the battered flag was still there – Baltimore had not been captured.

Key’s second verse praises “the Power that made us and preserved us a nation,” and proclaims that, with this as our motto “in God is our trust!, the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

There are some in this country who want to change our national anthem to America the Beautiful, which is vastly easier to sing and invokes the blessing of “God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.” Others, especially since 9/11, prefer God Bless America.

I can see the merits of each, but before we wave goodbye to the Star-Spangled Banner, here are a few selling points for the Thinking Christian Woman to consider:

It’s difficult to sing – freedom doesn’t come easy.
It’s violent and edgy – our freedom, both as a nation and as Christians, was won in a perilous fight through struggle and sacrifice (if we want to do away with the Star-Spangled Banner, we might as well tear all of the bloody cross songs from our hymnbooks too)
It proclaims our national identity – telling the world that this is the land of the free and the home of the brave.
It tells an important story – reminding us that, many times, our attempts to establish this new nation hung by a thread. There were countless setbacks, but we never gave up on our vision. The lively knowledge of victories of the past brings a wisdom and courage to overcome challenges of today.

In 1931, the great march composer John Philip Sousa wrote in favor of the Star-Spangled Banner as our national anthem saying, “it is the spirit of the music that inspires as much as it is Key’s soul-stirring words.”

I support the Star-Spangled Banner forever waving as the national anthem over the land of the free and the home of the brave because it is difficult and edgy, and because it identifies us and tells our story.

But more important than any national anthem, every Christian, everywhere knows that the Lord of Love has hung His banner over us, claiming us as His beloved, and calling us to freedom from wrath and citizenship in heaven through the power of His blood. Now that’s something to sing about!

“He brought me to the banqueting house,

and His banner over me was love”

Song of Solomon 2:4

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