Why, God?

Why, God?

Why does God allow tragedy? We've all heard it stated in many ways. Why does He allow babies to be born with disabilities? Why does He permit wars to rage? Why does He seem to turn the other way when innocent people are being killed? What about all of those horrible injustices in our world? This hurricane. That epidemic. This wildfire. Why do these horrible things afflict our world? If God can prevent such tragedies, why does He allow them to take place?

Here is the classic statement of the problem. Either God is all-powerful but He is not all good, therefore He doesn't stop evil. Or He is all good but He is not all-powerful, therefore He can't stop evil. And the general tendency is to blame all of the problems of the world on God. To say that God is the one who is somehow responsible.

"If God is so good and loving," people will say, "why does He allow evil?" Now the first part of that question is based on a false premise. By even stating it in that way, what I'm really saying is that I don't believe God to be good and loving.

By questioning God's goodness and love, I am in essence saying that I know more about it than He does. The fact is, God doesn't become good because that's my opinion of Him, or because I happen to personally agree with His actions or His words. Nor does He become good because we vote on it and all agree that is the case.

God is good because God says He is good. And it's not up for a vote.

Jesus said, "No one is good except God alone" (Luke 18:19 NIV).

You see, God is good whether I believe it or not, and He alone is the final court of arbitration. As the apostle Paul said, "Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Romans 3:4 NKJV).

What, then, is "good"? Good is whatever God approves. And by the same token, bad is exactly what God says is bad.

Some might say, "That's circular reasoning." Yes, you could say that. But I would describe it as biblical reasoning. The Word of God is our source of truth, defining right and wrong, and what our values ought to be.

In Isaiah 1:18, we read: "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord" (NIV).

Or as another translation puts it, "Come let us argue this out, says the Lord" (NLT)

God is saying, "Here's the way I see things. You need to see it the way that I see it." And He goes on to tell us that His thoughts are above our thoughts and His ways are above our ways.

So God is good. Period.

Let's come back to the second part of that question. Why does He allow evil? The first thing we have to remember is that mankind was not created evil. Man and woman were created innocent…ageless…immortal. Their responsibility in the Garden of Eden was to tend it, watch over it, and discover all that God had created. But of course we know that our first parents made the wrong choice, ate the forbidden fruit, and everything changed down to this day.

But don't be too hard on Adam and Eve, because if you had been in the Garden, you would have done the same thing. And so would I. We might have fallen sooner or we might have fallen later, but we would have surely gotten around to it, as evidenced by the fact that we all make wrong choices throughout our lives.

The result of that original sin (we know all too well) was that death entered into the human race. As we are told in Romans 5:12, "When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone for everyone sinned" (NLT).

So we need to keep in mind that humanity, not God, is responsible for sin.

In light of that, one might then ask the question, "Why didn't God make us incapable of sin?" Answer: Because He didn't want puppets on a string. He didn't want windup robots. He didn't want preprogrammed people with neither choice nor will.

Right Where You Are

Right Where You Are

"So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field with a team of oxen. . . . Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and walked away again."

— 1 Kings 19:19

What was Elisha doing when Elijah called him into the Lord's service? Was he walking around saying, "I wonder if God ever will do anything in my life?"

No. He was busy. He was plowing a field.

You will find this pattern throughout Scripture. The people God uses are people who are faithful with what He has put before them. The people God uses in big things are people who are faithful in little things.

A lot of people of think that, one day, they would like to perhaps dedicate their lives to Christian service. They say, "I would like to go to another country and maybe become a missionary."

That is great, but how about serving the Lord where you are right now? Do you think that some mystical thing will happen the moment you step onto foreign soil? Seize the opportunities around you today.

If you want to go to a foreign land where people speak a different language, I know of such a place. The people indigenous to this region are small of stature and hard to understand. They try your patience. They are called kids, and the mission field is called Sunday School.

When we are busy looking for distant opportunities, we might miss the ones that are right in front of us.

Are you serving the Lord right now with what He has called you to do? If so, be faithful in that. Hang in there. Do it well. Do it as unto the Lord. He sees you, and He will one day reward you openly.

India too will embrace gays, says Indian-American lesbian

Toronto, July 28 (IANS) Indian American researcher Pamela Roy raised quite a few eyebrows at a seminar during a North American Bengali Convention here by openly debating homosexuality among Canadian-born Indian youth.

The first second-generation Indian woman in North America to declare her lesbian orientation a few years ago, Michigan University researcher Roy wanted to fathom changes in sexual outlook among second-generation Bengalis here.

To her surprise, Roy found a few boys and girls talking openly about their sexual orientation.

'I was happy that a couple of them revealed their gay and lesbian orientation in front of everybody. There is definitely some change in attitude among second-generation Indians,' the Kolkota-born Roy, who came to Canada when she was just one, told IANS.

She felt that in time all cultures, including India, would embrace gay and lesbian people.

'To come out is a painful experience in any society,' said Roy, who kept her lesbianism a secret from her family and friends for years.

'I knew I was attracted to them. At the age of 14, I had my first lesbian experience in school,' she recalled.

Immediately after her first lesbian encounter, Roy said she told her brother and her friends about it. 'But I told my parents when the timing was right, which occurred after I had gone away to college, I was 20 years old at this point,' she said.

'But my brother, mother and father have always loved me and are supportive. I have been able to bring home girlfriends and partners ever since I started dating women. Ultimately, my family wants me to be happy,' she said.

And to be really happy, she added, 'I do plan on getting married/being in a committed relationship and having a family and children.'

Roy moved to the US in 1994 and is currently conducting a nationwide study on South Asian Americans who are LGBTQQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning).

Excerpts of her interview:

Q: How difficult was it to come out and reveal your sexual orientation?

A: Coming out is a continuous process - coming out to oneself, family, friends, colleagues and co-workers at school and work. I have had good experiences and also traumatic ones. Coming out is a daily occurrence.

Q: When did you realize that you were different and how long did you keep it a secret from your family?

A: I do not consider myself different. I knew that I had feelings for women when I was 7 or 8 years old. My first lesbian experience occurred in high school at the age of 14. I came out to my brother immediately and told him about the relationship. I also told many friends, some of whom I lost.

I told my parents when the timing was right, which occurred after I had gone away to college, I was 20 years old at this point.

Q: What was their (family's) first reaction?

A: My brother, mother and father have always loved me and are supportive. I have been able to bring home girlfriends and partners ever since I started dating women. Ultimately, my family wants me to be happy and have educated themselves throughout the years about queer topics. I have also been intentional about educating them and have bought books and watched queer movies with my family. With my recent research in this topic, I have been very open and shared findings from my study.

Q: You said about 10 to 15 percent people have this sexual orientation. How prevalent is it among South Asians?

A: It is commonly believed that 10-15 percent of the population has had thoughts, feelings or interactions (emotional and physical) with members of the same sex; however there is no current research about the prevalence among South Asians.

Q: Do you think Indian culture will one day embrace gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people?

A: I strongly believe that in time, cultures around the world, including India, will embrace it. People need to be educated on this topic and have an open mind before cultural perceptions and attitudes are changed.

My co-researcher Raja Bhattar, University of Redlands, and I have conducted a study on South Asian LGBTQQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) in the US to understand the issue and future trends.

Q: Finally, have you any partner now? Will you marry her?

A: I am currently not in a relationship. But like most people, I do plan on getting married/being in a committed relationship and having a family and children.

Make the Right Choice

Make the Right Choice

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

— Matthew 16:16

As we look over the pages of history, it's interesting to read the statements that have been made about Christ.

Pontius Pilate said, "I find no fault in Him." Napoleon said, "I know men, and Jesus was no mere man." Strauss, the German rationalist, said, "Jesus was the highest model of religion." The

French atheist, Renan, said, "He was the greatest among the sons of men." Theodore Parker said, "Jesus Christ was a youth with God in His heart." Robert Owen said, "He is the irreproachable one."

Yet all of these titles and descriptions fall short of identifying Jesus for who He really was: the Son of God, God in human form, the Messiah.

Many today would describe Jesus as a great moral teacher. But in his book, Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis responds to such a statement by saying that if this were the case, then Jesus was either a lunatic or a devil. He goes on to say, "Let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

We don't have the option of saying that Jesus was a great moral teacher. How could He merely be a teacher and say the things He said with His exclusive claims of divinity? And what about saying He was the only way to God the Father? Certainly, that would be wrong if it were not true.

So Jesus really leaves us only two choices: to either accept Him, believing that He is indeed God the Son, or to reject Him. But to say He was a great man or a religious man is simply not an option.

it rained fish in Norfolk

Heavens above - it rained fish in Norfolk on Sunday. Yet for all the biblical resonance of the tale, there is a rational explanation for this rare phenomenon, writes BBC News Online's Megan Lane. The doomsayers would have had a field day in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on Sunday - the heavens opened, unleashing a storm of sprats upon the seaside resort. Yet the residents need not fear plagues of locusts, the death of their first-born and other threats of biblical proportions. The storm of two-inch fish was likely to be the latest example of a rare - but not unheard of - weather phenomenon. Freak storms Pliney the Elder mentioned storms of frogs and fish in the first century 1841: Live fish fell from the sky in Aberdare 1864: A Quebec farmer found a frog inside a hailstone 1930: An 8-inch turtle fell during a Mississippi storm 1976: Olympic yachts pelted by live maggots At least four Scottish fish-falls recorded in the past 20 years - in Fife, Ross-shire, Perthshire and Argyll Falling frogs reported in Llanddewi, Wales, in 1996, and two years later in Croydon, south London Reports of falling fish, frogs, tomatoes and even coal date back to the dawning of the millennium. The phenomenon also featured in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 film Magnolia, which went further and explained how an underwater diver - a frogman - could also fall from the sky. Weather experts explain the freak showers thus - powerful updrafts generated during thunderstorms form mini-tornadoes, which can suck up and carry away debris in its path. If the storm brews out at sea, or crosses a river, the tornado can scoop up water and small fish swimming close to the surface. In the Norfolk case, the fish were probably carried along in the storm clouds and dumped when the rain fell. Met Office spokesman Andy Yeatman said it was quite common for cloud bursts to open and release a hail of fish or frogs. "It's impossible to say where the fish came from, but often these clouds can be carried a distance of one or two miles." Ten plagues It all may be a scientific explanation for the plague of frogs which the Egyptians of the Old Testament experienced. Two US scientists, Dr John Marr, a former chief epidemiologist, and Dr Curtis Malloy, a medical researcher, certainly think so. They have also explained the 10 plagues of Egypt as a series of linked natural disasters. According to the Book of Exodus, Moses warned Egypt of divine retribution should the Israelites not be set free. The resulting plagues wiped out the Egyptians' livestock, agriculture and finally their eldest sons. The scientists found that the first plague - in which the Nile ran red with blood - could have been caused by water-borne organisms called dinoflagellates. Locusts - one of the more common afflictions The single-cell creatures release toxins that leave fish bleeding and helpless, and the water undrinkable. The same organisms account for modern-day "red tides" in rivers in Japan and the US. The poisoned water could also have been the cause of the second and fourth plagues - toads most likely fled the Nile only to die on land, leading to an explosion in the population of flies, their prey. As for plagues seven and eight, the scientists pointed out that locusts and devastating hailstorms continue to plague the Middle East to this day. The final blow - the death of the first-born - could have been a direct result of both tradition and attempts to deal with plagues number one to nine. Any crops surviving the hail and the locusts could well have been hastily harvested and stored while still damp - perfect conditions for growing deadly toxins. As the favoured offspring, the eldest child would have been fed two helpings of any food going, thus getting a double dose of the contaminated grain. It all makes the falling sprats of Norfolk less than appetising.

Rick Warren snagged Obama

Rick Warren snagged Obama and McCain to attend a leadership and compassion forum in CA:

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain in August will be on the same stage for the first time in the 2008 presidential campaign. The Rev. Rick Warren has invited them to appear at a leadership and compassion forum in his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, on August 16. Warren, the author of the best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life” spoke with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer by phone Tuesday from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

That Rick Warren sure is a moderate thinking preacher who doesn’t identify with the reigious right, or does he?

Dr [Rick] Warren said that homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right. “We shall not tolerate this aspect at all,” Dr Warren said.

Warren was speaking in support of Ugandan Anglicans who intend to boycott the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, and this harsh rejection of tolerance for gays and lesbians may have serious consequences in a country where homosexuals face harrassment and and the threat of imprisonment.

Warren’s comment is of a piece with his support for Martin Ssempa, the Ugandan evangelist who has been a keynote speaker at a Warren conference, and who has received US global AIDS prevention funds. As I wrote in August, Ssempa wants to ensure that homosexuality remains illegal and that gays and lesbians are identified in the public mind as sexual abusers.

The Cost of Commitment

The Cost of Commitment

"So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. . . . Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant."

— 1 Kings 19:21

When Elijah threw his mantle, or his outer garment, on Elisha, it was a symbolic gesture that said, "I'm passing on my calling to you."

From the account we find in 1 Kings 19, we discover a few things about Elisha. First, we know that he was a relatively wealthy man and came from an affluent home.

How do we know that? Because the Bible says that he had 12 yoke of oxen. Back in those days, owning one pair of oxen meant that you were pretty well off. To have 12 would mean that you had a considerable acreage.

For Elisha to follow Elijah was not an easy life.

Elijah's invitation was not to a leisurely life on easy street. Elijah's life was a hard one. He had many enemies. He had people who hated him, most notably, Queen Jezebel. For Elisha to follow Elijah would mean that he would have the same enemies. The same people who hated Elijah would now hate him.

Many people are surprised to find that the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground. The day that you decide to follow Jesus Christ, you begin to face opposition from the devil. He doesn't want you to grow spiritually. He doesn't want you to move forward. So he will use every trick up his sleeve to try and pull you back.

We must recognize that to follow Christ means there is a price to pay. We may lose some friends. We may have to give up a few things. It may be difficult at times. But certainly, it is worth it.

Dance Training

DANCE IN WORSHIP

The nation of Israel has used dance as a form of worship throughout their history. Several places within the Bible make reference to the use of dance as a form of worship.

Many Christians are opposed to dance because of what the world has done with it. However, just because Satan has perverted something, doesn’t mean that we as Christians should stop using it for God’s glory. The Bible says: “...all things were created by him, and for him” (Col 1:16).

The earliest mention of dance as a form of worship in scripture is in the book of Exodus, when the nation of Israel had just crossed the Red Sea. It says:

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”

Exodus 15:20

It is interesting that Miriam (the sister of Moses and Aaron) was called a prophetess, yet nowhere in scripture does it record a single prophecy that she brought fourth. However, praise dancing was taught in the school of the prophets. Apparently, the nation of Israel viewed dance as a prophetic gifting, and treated it as such.

One of the things that King David is known for in the Bible is his praise and worship. Much of the book of Psalms (songs of praises) was written by him, and the Davidic style of worship has been practiced in Israel for many years, even unto today. Today, the resurgence of dance, and other forms of the arts being used in worship in Christian churches is referred to as the reinstatement of Davidic worship. King David himself danced before the Lord, when he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.

“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”

2 Samuel 6:14

David also refers to dance as a form of worship in some of the Psalms he wrote. For example:

“Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”

Psalm 149:3

“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”

Psalm 150:4

Okay, you might say, but this is all in the Old Testament, not the New Testament. Well, let’s stop just a moment and think about that. Jesus, and Paul both said that in numerous places that they taught from the scriptures. What was that? It couldn’t have been the New Testament, because that hadn’t been written. No, in fact they were referring to the Old Testament, specifically the books of the Law.

The New Testament church gained most of its style of worship from the Jews. Since the Jewish believers were used to dance as a form of worship, they naturally taught it to the gentiles. Therefore, the early Christians understood dance as a normal part of worship. In fact, one of the original deacons, elected in the sixth chapter of Acts was Prochorus. If you dig into his name, it means “the leader of the circle dance.” This implies rather strongly that the early church accepted dance as a part of worship.

Dance has existed to some degree all through church history. Just to show one example, let’s look at what could be considered one of the most structured, legalistic Christian denominations ever. Who is this? The Shakers. They were a offshoot of the Quakers in the early years of our country. The Shakers (or Shaking Quakers) lived in their own communities, remained celibate, denied themselves of physical pleasures, and danced before the Lord with all their might!

There is something about dance that will take any worship service into a higher level than it can otherwise reach. One person truly dancing before the Lord (not before man) can take the entire congregation farther into His throne room, than they would otherwise have gone.

WHO CAN DANCE

Often, we find that praise dancers are women who have been abused, raped, or hurt sometime in their past. It isn’t the people who have it all together that God uses, it is the ones who make themselves available to Him.

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Isaiah 6:8

The only true requirement to be a praise dancer is a willingness to be empty of self, so that you can become full of Him. Ability, training, talent, or gracefulness aren’t requirements, just a heart that truly wants to worship the Lord. In fact, training, talent, and ability can get in the way, because they can be the tools that Satan uses to bring pride into our dance, instead of a heart of worship.

That doesn’t mean that training isn’t helpful though. Just like singing, or playing an instrument in worship, it is necessary to learn it. When you sing, you are using the vocabulary of the language, and the notes to express your worship. If you play an instrument, you need to learn a vocabulary of notes for each instrument you learn to play. Otherwise, you won’t sound a clear note.

“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

1 Corinthians 14:8

To praise the Lord in dance, you should learn the vocabulary of movement. This will give you the necessary “words” to use in expressing your love to Jesus.

Many people say that you shouldn’t have to learn to dance, only be led by the Spirit. This is okay for as far as it goes. However, you learned English before singing praises, and you learned to play an instrument before they let you in the worship team, so it is reasonable to learn to dance.

DANCE AS WARFARE

The vast majority of the people you see dancing before the Lord today are women. Men are less comfortable expressing themselves in this manner. However, there is something that happens in the Spirit when one man dances, that cannot happen when a whole troop of women dance.

God has given strength, authority, and warfare to men. It is part of His plan, and is built into the nature of man. Women, no matter what their personality, or spiritual maturity is cannot bring the same strength into something that a man does. If you are dancing for warfare, men are an essential ingredient.

If you are dancing for warfare, flags, banners, and streamers are an essential ingredient. These items symbolize the sword of the spirit, and the military banners that went before the armies of Israel when they went to war.

CHILDREN IN DANCE

Dance is a great way to get children involved in worship. Instead of just sitting, and squirming, this gives them a way of expressing love to God, and using their nervous energy. However, I must caution you that children, being children, will have a tendency to play, instead of worship. They may also have a tendency to show off, and look to see who is watching them.

It is imperative that parents explain the role of dance to their children before allowing them to dance during worship. Periodic reminders of why we dance are also necessary. This will prevent the children from looking at it as only an opportunity to play, and help them to be focused on the Lord.

Don’t be discouraged if the children get distracted during worship, and slip from praising into playing. They, just like their parents, need to learn how to truly praise and worship God. Part of the learning process is making mistakes. Just correct them, and go on.

Dance during a worship service must be done only to worship the Lord. If we are trying to get attention, or seem more spiritual by dancing, then we are taking glory from God, instead of giving glory to God. A child who is trying to get attention by dancing is operating in the flesh, and should be taken aside for instruction and correction.

Dance Training:

It is easier for children to praise in dance if they use one of the praise objects shown in this booklet. Of those shown, the finger rings are the easiest to use, after that, the hoops, and then the streamers are most difficult. We recommend starting children off with the simplest, and as they improve, allow them to graduate to more complicated praise devices.

Although there is a certain amount of leading of the Spirit that is required, practice is also helpful. Allowing a child to practice with praise music at home is extremely helpful.

WHEN TO DANCE

Dance, just like anything else done in a worship service, must be led by the Holy Spirit. A tremendously annointed and talented dancer, steping out without the leading of the Holy Spirit can take a service downhill, instead of into the glory of God.

When God directs, He does it in detail. Ask Him to show you how to dance and allow Him to teach you the movements to make. If God does it, anything that you do will fit the music, the tone of the meeting, and the flow of what the Holy Spirit is working to accomplish in that srevice.

Our daughter, when she was 3½ years old was taught by the Holy Spirit in this way. When we asked her, she said that Jesus had been dancing with her, and showing her how to dance.

TABERNACLE COLORS

We usually make our praise and worship items using the tabernacle colors. These colors have certain significance, and were established in the wilderness tabernacle to show God’s people different things about Him, and His character.

Tabernacle colors:

• Gold - symbolizes deity

• Silver - symbolizes redemption

• Purple - symbolizes royalty

• Blue - symbolizes heaven, also Jesus

• Red or Scarlet - symbolizes blood, savior

• White - symbolizes purity, holiness

Combinations of colors also work well, such as gold and blue, symbolizing the Royal Deity. Or, red and white can symbolize our cleansing by the blood of the Savior.

Another color combination that isn’t exactly considered tabernacle colors is red, orange, and yellow. When in motion, these colors together can look like fire, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit which comes to purify us.

Balance

Balance

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant."

— 1 Corinthians 12:1

Through the years, I have made my periodic trips to the gym to get back in shape. On one such occasion after I joined a local gym, a trainer took me on a tour to show me the various machines and how they worked. (Some of them are a little difficult to figure out these days!)

One thing the trainer mentioned especially caught my attention. He explained that it is important to work out every part of your body so you have a balanced physique. To fail to do so, he said, causes imbalance. A person needs cardiovascular exercise as well as strength training.

As the trainer began to describe the importance of balance and how the entire body needed exercise and needed to be trained for good overall performance, I began to think about the body of Christ. We, too, need overall balance. And in our own personal lives as Christians, the key is balance.

In Romans 12, we find that God has distributed gifts of the Holy Spirit into the lives of believers for the benefit of the whole church. Because of the abuse of some, many have recoiled from these wonderful gifts that God has given. Some have seen the excesses and those who have gone too far in one direction with these gifts, and they think, "I don't want anything to do with that kind of activity."

However, you can go too far in the other direction as well. The gifts of the Spirit are real, and they are available for Christians today. Not only should we be using them in our lives, but we also should be seeking the gift or gifts He has placed in our lives.

prayer dance

The Song Finally Sung

Carolyn

My friend Cynthia contracted leukemia ten years ago. I interrupted my performing career and teaching obligations as a dancer and went from Connecticut to California to teach her what I knew about dietary changes and visualization as tools to combat the disease. She listened carefully to all I had to say, but finally rejected my message. She chose to stay with more traditional forms of therapy.

From that moment on, my main function was to be with her and to support her and love her no matter what her choice of treatment was, to be with her if she chose to get well or die.

During the two months we were together, I watched while this debilitating illness took life-energy away from my beloved friend. I also watched as the cancer gave back a most remarkable and beautiful gift.

One spring day after I arrived in California, we sat on the beach three blocks from Cynthia's house. It was a beautiful day - not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, not too still. Her dog, Tramp, a stately blue Great Dane, ran circles around us as we watched the gulls glide in the sky. Cynthia asked questions that I knew she had been thinking about for a long time.

"Do you believe there is a God"

"Yes," I answered, "but not the kind of God I learned about in Sunday School. My God is in here." I pointed to my solar plexus.

"What do you call it"

"Lots of different things. Never God. Sometimes I even call it, Who Ever You Are."

Cynthia looked skeptical. Clearly the answer I gave her was not the answer she wanted.

"After I'm gone, do you think we will ever see each other again"

Cynthia turned and faced me. Her red scarf slipped off her hairless head. She looked like a very sick and frightened twelve-year-old.

"I expect so, but I don't know for sure," I answered.

I reached over to my friend and we hugged and cried. Tramp came over and licked away our tears with her warm, pink tongue.

"Do you ever pray" Cynthia asked.

"Yes, dance is my form of prayer."

"Dance" she exclaimed.

"Yep!" I answered. "I haven't knelt or closed my eyes and pressed my hands together since I was a little girl."

"Why not"

"Because that kind of prayer doesn't comfort me."

"Nor me," she said wearily as she looked out onto the water. "I wish now, though, that I could pray. I think it would help."

"I think you're right. When I was growing up I used to turn on my radio and dance in my room every night before going to bed. I dance in my living room now. These moments with myself always make me feel better."

"What did your parents say"

"Nothing. Although they tell me now that they were very curious to know what was going on behind my closed door!"

"Will you show me how you pray"

"I wish I could. Unfortunately, I can only do this kind of praying when I'm alone."

"But I'm your best friend!"

"I know! But the dance I do as prayer is different than the dance I do for fun, or the dance I do professionally. When I dance to pray, I need to get real quiet inside myself, so quiet that I don't even know when I start to move. If anyone is watching me, I automatically start performing."

Cynthia leaned her head against my shoulder.

"If you were to watch me pray, first of all, you would be very bored - you would say, 'Nothing is happening!' Secondly, you would have to be very patient. I say that because I have to be patient, too. When I start to move I mustn't be aware of the movement - that's why I need to be alone. Instead of my creating a dance, I let the dance create me."

"Is it hard"

"The hard part is relaxing and concentrating enough to let the movement be born. I need to clear my mind of everything I ever learned about dancing or making dances. I do this to avoid all superficial movements - you know, steps."

"But you know so many!"

"I know. That's why I need to concentrate. I can show you something like a dance prayer."

"Can you teach me to pray - you know, the way you do"

"I can try ..."

"No, that's okay. It probably wouldn't work anyway. I'm too weak to try dancing," Cynthia said disconsolately. Her head felt heavy on my shoulder. I could feel her fatigue.

"Why don't you create your own form of prayer" I asked tentatively.

"How"

I shrugged my shoulders helplessly. Had I ever decided that dance was going be my form of prayer? I doubted it.

We sat silently for the next twenty minutes. The only sound was the water lapping gently on the shore. I could feel Cynthia silently teaching me about the beauty and the uniqueness of each passing moment.

Suddenly, without a word, Cynthia stood up and walked down to the waters edge. In that moment, she displayed more energy than I had seen since my arrival.

I was thankful I was wise enough not to accompany her, or interrupt her in any way. I watched and listened with amazement as she paused and then threw her arms up towards the sky and shouted "Okay, God, if you're up there, now's your chance to teach me to pray!"

Cynthia looked so frail standing there, the wind whipping her trousers around her thin legs. Her hands looked translucent as the reached toward the sun. And then, without any warning or discussion, she started to sing.

Oh my, how she sang! She sang a song that came from a place deep inside her, and it sounded very old. She sang in a voice I had never heard come through her lips before. Instead of words, she sang sounds, sounds full of power. And as she sang, I cried, because for the first time I could imagine her flying away.

When Cynthia stopped singing, she turned and looked at me with the same delighted smile that I saw when she rode her two wheeler bicycle for the first time years before, and more recently when she received a graduate degree from Sarah Lawrence with honors. I'll remember that smile forever.

Cynthia's singing sustained her during the remaining three weeks of her life. It created a magical energy that made her soul glow, even though her body grew weaker and weaker.

I believe the energy she received through her singing released the fear that kept her from letting go of her pain and kept her from dying. Once I heard the quality of her song, I knew that she would be fine - better than fine, and that it was only a question of time until she died. It felt as if she had received what she had been looking for her whole life.

Cynthia was still alive when I said my final goodbye.

"Goodbye dear friend. Thank you," I whispered.

I-m not sure that she heard me. She was quietly humming a song, a song that was ushering her back into the life of spirit. When her singing stopped, she squeezed my hand and was gone.

Circle Dancing

Circle Dancing - Meditation and Prayer in Motion

Circle dancing can be enjoyed as an uplifting group experience in its own right, or as part of meditation and prayer celebrations. It is a way to experience a fuller spiritual connection with others in the deeper meaning of the event being celebrated. Music, rhythm instruments or singing are all appropriate accompaniments.

I have choreographed these circle dances (the main instruction with variations) so the action changes every 16 counts. The number of counts can be adapted to the music or song used, to coincide with the end of a phrase. No dance or musical training is necessary; loose clothing is best and shoes are okay

To begin, participants stand shoulder to shoulder, about 2 feet (60cm) apart, facing center, in a large circle.

A. All join hands - right hand up to receive the group energy, left hand down to pass it on. Counts 1, 2, swing arms up in front. Counts 3, 4, swing arms back down and slightly back. Repeat this sequence for counts 5 - 16. When arms swing forward look up, and look down as arms come down. While facing in and rocking arms up and back it is easier to balance if one foot is placed about one step in front of the other (as in the sculpture at right).

B. Still holding hands turn to the right slightly so all are facing someone’s back and move in a counter-clockwise circle for 16 counts. Step first on the right foot and bend just the right knee every time for accent.

C. Repeat B. except turn left to face the back of your neighbor and move the 16 counts in a clockwise direction leading with the left foot and the left leg doing the knee bend for accent.

D. Repeat A.

Repeat the sequences as often as desired to fit the music or song.

A nice ending is to stay in the circle, facing in, still holding hands for a few moments while enjoying the after-tones and group communion.

Variations

E. As a substitute for A. Hold hands and raise arms while walking forward to the center 4 counts; still holding hands and lowering arms walk backward 4 counts. Repeat sequence to equal 16 counts.

F. As a substitute for B. - continue to face center, holding hands, while moving to the right in a counter-clockwise direction. Count 1. right foot steps or slides to right side with a bent knee. Count 2. left foot takes a step or slides to meet it and both legs straighten. Continue in this way for the remainder of the 16 counts.

G. As a substitute for C. - continue to face center, holding hands, while moving to the left in a clockwise direction. Count 1. left foot steps or slides to left side with a bent knee. Count 2. right foot takes a step or slides to meet it and both legs straighten. Continue in this way for the remainder of the 16 counts.

The song “Let There Be Peace on Earth and Let It Begin With Me” by Sy Miller and Bill Jackson works well with the circle dance.

Music, song and dance are opportunities to express joy; their spirited expressions energizing body, mind and soul - truly meditation in action!

When God Seems Distant

When God Seems Distant

"John the Baptist, who was now in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 'Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?' "

— Matthew 11:2–3

Have you ever had something happen in your life that caused you to say, "Where is God?" No less than the greatest prophet who ever lived, John the Baptist, faced this struggle.

John had put it all on the line for Jesus Christ. He had baptized Him in the Jordan River. He pointed his own disciples to Jesus, whom he believed was the Messiah. John had clearly pledged his complete loyalty to Jesus.

Yet a strange series of events took place after that. One moment, he was out preaching to the multitudes and baptizing people. The next moment, he was in prison.

The great John the Baptist began to entertain some doubt. So he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, "Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?"

Jesus' disciples and John commonly believed that Jesus would establish His kingdom then and there. But they failed to recognize that before Christ would establish His kingdom, He would first come to suffer and die for the sins of humanity. John misunderstood the prophecies of Scripture, and therefore felt that Jesus was not doing what He was supposed to do.

Sometimes we, too, misunderstand God and His Word when He doesn't do what we think He should do or when He doesn't work as quickly as we would like Him to. But even when we cannot understand God's ways, His methods, or His timing, He still asks us to trust Him. And He is trustworthy.

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

— 2 Chronicles 16:9

A conversation took place many years ago between D. L. Moody, before he became the great evangelist, and another man. The man said to Moody, "You know, the world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man who is totally committed to Him."

Those words went deep into Moody's heart, and he prayed, "Lord, I want to be that man." He sure came close.

The Book of Acts is a story of ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things because they allowed God to have His way in their lives. In the same way, God wants to use you to turn your world upside down for Christ.

It starts with you saying, "Lord, I want to make a difference. I don't want this world to turn me around. I want to turn it around. Use me."

The world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man or woman who is totally committed to Him. Will God find such people today? I wonder if you would say, like Moody, "I want to be that person."

If you will, then your life can make a difference. It will be exciting in the days ahead to see what God will do through and with you. But He wants you to be available to Him.

One of these days, your life will come to an end. What will you say of your life? What will others say?

How great it would be to say, like Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful" (2 Timothy 4:7).

What will you say?

Unwavering Faith

Unwavering Faith

"And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!"

— 2 Timothy 4:18

One of the things that amazes me about the apostle Paul is how he always seemed to rise to the top of every situation and seized every opportunity to preach the gospel.

We read in the Book Acts that when Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they began to sing praises to God at midnight. An earthquake struck, the walls fell, and the next thing you know, the very jailer who was responsible for chaining them up and whipping them asked, "What must I do to be saved?"

Then, when Paul was brought before the various dignitaries of Rome, he became master of every situation. For example, when he was before Felix, he reasoned with him regarding righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. When he stood before Festus and Herod Agrippa II, he said, "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?" He posed the question to Herod Agrippa II, "Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." He was a prisoner on a ship, and in a short time, the crew, the captain, the soldiers, and the Roman centurion were taking orders from Paul---and everyone was listening to him!

Paul was bold. He didn't seem to be afraid of anything. He never seemed to get down. His life wasn't always easy. In fact, it was very difficult. But the words he penned to the believers at Philippi seemed to always hold true: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11).

He was fully convinced of the faithfulness of God and was sustained by that conviction.

Never Alone

Never Alone

"For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. ' "

— Acts 27:23–24

Time and time again, God reminded Paul of His presence, no doubt when he needed it the most. God knows what we need, and He knows when we need it.

He knew when Paul could use that extra assurance. When he was in that prison cell in Jerusalem, the Lord appeared to him and told him to be courageous (see Acts 23:11). Then from prison in Rome, he wrote to Timothy, "But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength . . ." (2 Timothy 4:16).

In some special way, God reassured Paul of His presence. Acts 27 tells us that the Lord sent an angel to reassure him.

You can take heart in the face of danger or uncertainty because of your awareness of God's presence with you. When your heart sinks, when it seems as though your life falling apart, you must remember the Lord is there with you.

You are not alone. No, there are not always easy answers. But we can be sure of this: He will be with us through the storm.

God was standing by Paul's side, and God is with us in our storms as well. He may not necessarily send an angel. We may not necessarily hear an audible voice. But if we pay attention, we can hear the still, small voice of God. And certainly, He will speak to us through His Word.

Then we, like Paul, can reassure others that the Lord is in control.

Never Alone

Never Alone

"For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you. ' "

— Acts 27:23–24

Time and time again, God reminded Paul of His presence, no doubt when he needed it the most. God knows what we need, and He knows when we need it.

He knew when Paul could use that extra assurance. When he was in that prison cell in Jerusalem, the Lord appeared to him and told him to be courageous (see Acts 23:11). Then from prison in Rome, he wrote to Timothy, "But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength . . ." (2 Timothy 4:16).

In some special way, God reassured Paul of His presence. Acts 27 tells us that the Lord sent an angel to reassure him.

You can take heart in the face of danger or uncertainty because of your awareness of God's presence with you. When your heart sinks, when it seems as though your life falling apart, you must remember the Lord is there with you.

You are not alone. No, there are not always easy answers. But we can be sure of this: He will be with us through the storm.

God was standing by Paul's side, and God is with us in our storms as well. He may not necessarily send an angel. We may not necessarily hear an audible voice. But if we pay attention, we can hear the still, small voice of God. And certainly, He will speak to us through His Word.

Then we, like Paul, can reassure others that the Lord is in control.

Striking at the Root

Striking at the Root

"For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross."

— 1 Corinthians 2:2

Over the years, I have received many letters inviting me to get involved with a certain cause or to join a boycott or a march. I admire people who get out there and want to stand up for what is right, and I think that we as Christians need to make our presence known in this culture and society.

But I personally have chosen to strike at the root of the problem, which is sin. I have chosen to seek to help this society by preaching the gospel, because I have found that a change in one's lifestyle does not bring about salvation. But true salvation will always bring about a change in one's lifestyle.

When the apostle Paul went to Rome, there were many social ills that he could have addressed. Instead, he chose to strike at the root of the problem.

Rome was a city filled with slaves, yet Paul would not center his preaching on slavery. Rome was a city of rampant immorality, but Paul's message did not center on moral reform. Rome was a city of financial corruption, but Paul would not center his preaching on the problems of the day.

His message was simple. He struck at the root. He gave them the gospel.

I can work to bring reform and morality to my culture and society. I can even work to help get laws passed that would slow down the spread of sin and corruption.

But if I can lead others to Christ, then their morals and their lifestyles will ultimately change. Not only will they have the hope of heaven, but they will also be different people in our society and culture.

Contemplating the Cross

Contemplating the Cross

"How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

— 1 Corinthians 15:57

I heard about a man who was trying to start his own religion, but it wasn't going very well so far. He decided to approach the French statesman, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, and ask him what he should do to gain converts. The statesman told him, "I recommend that you get yourself crucified, die, and then rise again on the third day."

Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection on the third day is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is what sets our faith as Christians apart from the faith of all others.

Many view Christ's crucifixion as a rude interruption of what was an otherwise successful ministry. But the cross was at the forefront of the mind of Jesus Christ from the very beginning. This is where He knew He was headed, and He spoke of it often.

The Bible even tells us that before He even came to this earth, a decision was made that He would ultimately go to the cross. Scripture calls Him "the Lamb who was killed before the world was made" (Revelation 13:8).

It was at the cross that the righteous demands of God were satisfied. It was at the cross that God and humanity were reconciled once again. It was at the cross that a decisive blow was dealt against Satan and his minions. It was at the cross that our very salvation was purchased.

Therefore, we cannot talk about the cross too much or contemplate it too often.