The Biblical character that Christian men "hate"

Okay...so hopefully "hate" is too strong of a word and not applicable whatsoever.
However it occurred to me today, in church, that in my mind, Boaz is the perfect Biblical man (besides Jesus, of course). Not literally perfect because only Christ was and is perfect. But figuratively perfect.

He is the "Mr. Right" of the Bible...the man's man who had prestige, integrity, and respect in his community.

He was devoted to following God and doing what was right. We see that in how he obeyed the laws of allowing widows and strangers to glean the edges of fields or the grains that had fallen to the ground. We see that in how he took care of Ruth, offering her both food and protection, upon learning that that she was a widow supporting her widow mother-in-law. We see that in how he honored the kinsman-redeemer laws.

Moreover, in the short book of Ruth, we see attributes of kindness, leadership, and wisdom. As a single girl, I can't help but think "I want a Boaz too." He is the Biblical Mr. Charming.

I think because of that we, and I mean I, tend to read this as the ultimate love story. However, I think it's easy to overlook the reality for the romance. Beyond providing for Ruth (and Naomi), did Boaz have any affection for Ruth? We don't really see any action or pursuit out of Boaz until Ruth mentions his kinsman redeemer role. Did he not pursue anything out of lack of interested? Was it a lack of belief that Ruth would be remotely interested? Or was he simply too busy overseeing his harvest that it just wasn't the right time?

Another element is that Boaz was the cousin of Ruth's father-in-law. We have no clue on the age span between Ruth and Boaz but it could have easily been 20-40 years. While Boaz might make me swoon, did Ruth have any interest in this guy or just pursue marriage to him to obey Jewish laws and find societal protection? And for the sake of this post, let's say she didn't have any romantic thoughts towards Boaz when she married him. Did they come to have a deep love for one another? Did Ruth realize that Boaz was a gift to her? Did Boaz realize Ruth was a gift to him? Perhaps this story will be fleshed out when we get to heaven...I sure hope so!

But the part of the story that I do know and love the most is the part that isn't written in the book of Ruth. Why was Boaz so kind and accepting of an outsider? Why did he so quickly welcome her in, without really knowing her first? Because of his parents.

You see, his mom was also an outsider to the Jewish family. His mom was Rahab, a prostitute who recognized that the God of the Hebrews was the only true God and asked two spies for protection and salvation. Once the walls of Jericho and its inhabitants were destroyed, only Rahab and her family were saved however because they were outsiders (and Rahab was a prostitute!) they set the family outside the camp. However, in Joshua 6, we see that Rahab remained with the Israelites and ended up marrying one of them.

If you go to Bible Gateway and do a search on Rahab, of all the references that speak about her, the only time we see any mention of her WITHOUT her former profession tied to her name is in Jesus' lineage, in Matthew 1:5. Every other time, she is Rahab the prostitute. Does this mean that even though she married into the Jewish family and accepted their God as her God, that most people only saw her for who she was? Perhaps. If so, Boaz grew up seeing his mom treated as an outsider. But he would have also seen his dad treat Rahab as his chosen wife and a part of God's chosen. What a legacy they left him! God prepared Boaz to meet and marry Ruth through the orchestration of his own lineage. I love that!

The book of Ruth provides a great story and perfect or not, it gives men today a wonderful godly example in the life of Boaz.

Tomorrow, the Biblical character that Christian women hate. :)

Thesis paper...personal application

You don't what you've got til it's gone...
Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

Wednesday morning
Sitting at work...doing my thing...minding my own business.
I stand to fax an order when my back starts having spasms.
I clutch my desk quickly, holding on for dear life
Telling myself to breathe slowly while simultaneously thinking "NOOOOO" and "OOOOWWWW"

(Two years ago, I had this happen for the first time ever.
I think I was laid up for about a week but in pain for about a month.
I started going to a chiropractor, at my sister's recommendation and have gone ever since.
He keeps me aligned. And pain-free. And moving.)

I called my chiropractor and asked demanded pleaded for a squeezed-in appointment.
It took me 15 minutes to get up from my desk and ready to move out to the parking lot.
Then next morning was worse.
It took me 40 minutes to get up from bed and moving, to get ready.

Today, I am (thankfully and mercifully) about 50% better. I can move more freely. Spasms are less frequent (thank you Jesus!) and I am padded with ice packs and prayer!

Like most times of pain and suffering, when you go through something, you become that much more grateful for the times when you don't. Having a whacked-out back makes thankful for the usual circumstances when I don't even have to think about my back, when I can move freely without wondering what will trigger the next spasm. Also, this minor (hopefully) passing incident makes me more sensitive to others who deal with back pain or any other bodily pain.

Now, I know people out there go through significantly greater times of suffering than my current back woes, so please don't think I'm trying to boast myself up. But I guess what I am learning, not only in my thesis paper studies but also in life, is that in the midst of pain, I am mostly grateful that God knows my pain, is very much present and in control, and will use it (however big or small) to bring glory to Him!

To that, I say, amen and amen!

The Winds of Change

My friends are leaving.

I've talked about my good friends, Brian and Erin, who go to my church (our church's youth pastors) and are missionary candidates like me. While I knew them and enjoyed their company prior to my German experience, it was after I came back that these two became among my closest friends. They have offered me so much laughter, encouragement, prayers, and fellowship in the last five years.

And they confirmed to me three weeks ago that they have accepted a missions position in Ensenada, Mexico.

The church is being emailed today and an official announcement made on Sunday.
Their last day at my church will be March 26th.
They have to be in Ensenada by May 1st.
The countdown has officially begun.

Honestly, I'm thrilled for them. And I have every intention of trying to visit Ensenada at some point or two in the future. And our church will see them again as we will become one of their supporters. And this is what they have been waiting for...I'm happy to be their cheerleader!

(Yes, this means that my church will soon be without a senior pastor and youth pastor...ahh, transition!)

This change will bring sadness, of course, but overall, it feels okay. I guess it's because I trusting/hoping that there is change on my horizon too...a shift into full-time ministry some time this year. But I'm still waiting for God to reveal that path to me.

Destruction with a promise of redemption

Yesterday I had a little surprise.

(My church has two services: 9am and 10:45am. If I'm not slated to teach Sunday school, then I normally go to the first service, as I did yesterday.)

I sat down in the sanctuary, ready to be there and to worship. But I never had the chance. A couple moments before the service started, a friend came up to me and asked if I was aware that I was supposed to teach Sunday school for the middle schoolers today.

Me: WHAT??? No!!! (I started laughing)
Okay, so what I am teaching on?

Friend: Joel and Obadiah (oh sure...piece of cake...I last studied these about umm....5 years ago or more!!!)

Me: (still laughing) Okay then...let's do this.

So I walked into the room full of expectant youth and told them I only just learned that I was supposed to teach so I have nothing planned. Therefore, we were going to dive into the books and learn together. Between the two books, there are only four chapters. So I broke the group into four groups and had each group tackle one chapter to determine what the message and main points are, if there are any key verses, and if there is any application to be seen!

(They did such a good job. And God did a good job of providing a lesson where there hadn't been one...reiterating that His word is living and active!)

Anyhow, one of the youth was explaining Joel 2 and she said that the theme of that chapter was "destruction with a promise of redemption." I loved that...could not have said it better myself!

The book of Joel opens with a picture:

What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten;
what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten;
what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten. Joel 1:4

A picture of barrenness. The vegetation of the land was stripped bare. No longer was there any sustenance. But then there is the promise:

I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; Joel 2:25-26

The land that was destined for deprivation, longing, and even death, now becomes a land for the living. A land of promise and life. A land full of abundant provision.

I love this imagery. I know there are times when I feel like I'm stripped bare...empty...nothing to offer. Whether it is emotional emptiness (too tired, no creativity, no community, stressed relationships, not worshipping God) or physical emptiness (loss of job or unsatisfied with job, not enough finances to meet needs, injuries/illnesses, car/house problems, overtaxed with commitments), it takes a toll. We wonder if we'll survive, if things will ever get easier/better, if this is all we're made for, and where is God is all this!?!

What Joel teaches us is that God has not forgotten His people!
Earlier in chapter 2, Joel reminds us of what God is like:
Gracious...even when we don't deserve it.
Compassionate...He knows our frustrations. He can be our oasis...our healing balm.
Slow to anger...goodness knows, when I'm tired and empty, I am usually quick to anger.
Abounding in love...not just a little but abounding, overflowing with love for you and me.
Quick to forgive...all I can say is thank goodness!

As we choose to trust Him and to worship Him, He fills us. This doesn't mean that our problems necessarily go away but there is support, encouragement, peace and wisdom where there once was not. Suddenly we open our eyes and find that life isn't so dry and barren around us but lush and full!

If you are in a time where it feels like there is nothing left to offer, I pray that God will repay you that time and you'll find yourself amazed with His restoration, as He promised. In the meanwhile, I pray that you will continue to trust in Him and spend time in worship. He has not forgotten you!

Sweet Discussions

Warning: more awana stories...are you sick of them yet?

I had such a great time at Awana last night. Two years ago, I was an Awana leader for the first time and loved it! But this year, I'm loving it in different and better ways.

This year I've tried to be more intentional about talking to the girls about the verses they are memorizing and quoting to me.

You see, for every section they say, which has approximately 2 verses, they get one "Awana dollar." They save these dollars and then have store twice a year in which they can spend their dollars for prizes. Of course, the goals of us leaders and the program itself, is that they take these verses to heart. That they remember them for the rest of their life.

So last night, one girl quote me:

"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God."
II Corinthians 5:20

I asked her if she understood that verse to which she said "no idea." So we talked about what reconciliation means and what ambassadors mean and what that verse means to us. I loved seeing it all click together in her eyes.

Another girl quoted:

"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." John 21:25

I asked her "isn't it cool to know that Jesus did so much more than what is written here? Maybe when we go to Heaven we can watch everything He did on a movie screen?" She laughed delightedly.

And a third girl was working on her section and lended over to ask me what redemption meant. So we talked about buying back and how when someone is redeemed they suddenly have a purpose, a belonging, and a future. I don't know if I explained this well to her but I love the fact that Awana gives me these little opportunities to share Christ with them and to help make these verses go from their heads to their hearts.