Authenticity Challenge: Christianity in the Raw



Tomorrow I will be posting a recap about the two week journey I have been on with my two blogging companions, @AndreaMoriarty of Autism Unplugged and
@PaulaWiseman of Sage Words: Engage, Enlighten, Encourage.  Paula, Andrea and I have been writing about the Christianity in the raw: What it really looks like on any given day.  The good – like finding 10 reasons to praise God – and the bad – like keeping it cool when your son smashes your iPhone — each day brings new challenges that test our Christian faith.  But what does it all mean?

Let’s talk tomorrow!

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Who Let the Dog Out?



Ever notice how the flavor of any given day can turn sour on a dime?

In today’s Authenticity Challenge post, I have to fess up and get real here.  Sometimes I am amazed at how quickly a small incident can change my attitude.

Let’s take a look at today: Everything was running smoothly.  Matt was off on a trip. The kids had been exceptionally good, and everything was under control.  Elise was invited to a birthday party and it was nearly time to go.  Just as I was about to give the call for coats and shoes, the doorbell rang.  I looked out of the upstairs window and saw three neighborhood kids at the doorstep.

“We’re late for the party. Don’t answer it!” I called out to Elise and Alec. I waved at the kids and called through the window that we were leaving and that my kids could not play.  Just as I was doing that, however, I heard the front door open. Apparently, Elise had not heard me.  As I watched my little Shih Tzu scuttled past her legs and bolted out into the muddy front yard.

The kids squealed and began chasing our dog, Pogo, up and down the street. Elise ran out in her party clothes to join in the chase.  Unfortunately, two other neighbhorhood dogs were out, too, and were eager to play.  By the time I got out the door to join in the mud parade, Pogo was bounding up a hill after a dog into a neighbor’s backyard.

Now mind you, it has been raining here – no, let me rephrase that – it has been pouring here for two days. The ground is drenched.  So here we were, four kids and one mom, chasing three unruly dogs up and down hilly front “yards” (actually mudhills) trying to catch a little runt of a dog who can run like a jack rabbit.

Here is where I could have stopped and had a good belly laugh at how idiotic we all must have looked, coated in mud, running from house to house after a pack of wild dogs. But no, I was exasperated, yelling to all of the neighbhood kids, “GET THAT DOG!” at the top of my lungs.

By the time I could get my hands on Pogo I must have had steam coming out of my ears.  I grabbed my little guy and trudged back down the neighbor’s hill, through the muddy front lawn and into my front door.  I looked down and notice I was wearing heels… muddy, soggy heels.

Mama was not happy.

But now, I’m thinking it probably was a funny scene to watch. Life is messy.  I need to learn to roll with it.

Right now, I need to sign out and give Pogo, the muddy pile of fur in the corner of the room stinking something awful, a good, long bath.

Unique visitors to post: 12

Living an ‘Upside Down’ Kind of Live: Authentic Christianity



Paula Wiseman and Andrea Moriarty are teaching me a thing or two about authentic Christian living! They’ve been writing about how their faith plays out each typical day, giving readers an inside look at real Christianity.  Each day as I have read their posts, I have learned something new.

Today Andrea posted a clip from Mary Poppins. I hope she doesn’t mind, but I going to pick up on that theme and include my favorite clip from this movie, one that reminds me of the contrast between worldly living and Christian living.  Here, executive and father Banks has just been fired from his banking job and is bemoaning the loss of his dream:

So, what does this have to do with authentic Christianity?  Let me explain:  Authentic Christianity means living in an upside down world.  Things that seem important in the typical world are usually the least important things by Christian standards.  For example, power, prestige and money mean little when compared to showing compassion and love to those in our circles.  Christian economics is based on a heavenly exchange rate, one the world simply does not understand.

But here is where things get tricky for me as I live out my faith:  I can’t shut out the world.  The pressure to succeed and get ahead is preached at me every day through commercials, magazine articles, on billboards and in all of the over-the-fence conversations with the Jones’, you know, that family down the street that I can never quite keep up with.  So it is often a daily struggle to keep my priorities in check:

For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

Luke 12:30-32 (Amplified Bible)

Almost every day I wonder if I am doing all that I could be doing. I wonder if I am missing opportunities because I choose to work out of my home as a part-time consultant (rather than work full time) so I can be here to help Elise and Alec with their homework after school.  We have financially struggled so much this year that I have nearly thrown in the towel and sought full-time work.  I have questioned myself and my motives.  But all the while I know that God has me right where He wants me: here at home.  Working part-time may not be your God-given calling, but it is mine.

Authentic Christian living is upside down living:

“But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.”

Luke 22:26 (New Living Translation)

That kind of living makes no sense to the world.  It’s crazy living.  Radical living.  But living this way brings the divine into life.  It’s like God miraculously squeezes more life into each day. By living this way, Christians find joy that is often missed by others, as God makes sure that we don’t miss out on the sweetest moments of life.  Our friend Burt (in the clip above)  knows this truth and as he shares the following precious advice to Mr. Banks:

You’ve got to grind, grind, grind
At that grindstone
Though child’ood slips like sand through a sieve
And all too soon they’ve up grown
And then they’ve flown
And it’s too late for you to give…

When I look around and fear that I am not getting ahead, I have to remind myself that I don’t have to measure up to the world’s standard of success.  My treasures are not of this world, but every bit as real.

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Authenticity Challenge: Overbooked



Whoops.  I did it again. I’ve overbooked my time for tomorrow. Again. I need to make a decision about which appointment to honor, and which to let slip.  I hate missing appointments, but authentic Christians mess up sometimes. Thankfully, Jesus sends grace, grace, grace.

How to decide? One appointment for tomorrow is located at my home church and feeds my spirit immensely.  I long for the comfort of being with the ladies who share this appointment with me each Tuesday morning.  The other appointment involves donating some of my professional skills to a worthwhile cause that is very close to my heart.

Which to appointment to honor? Today’s Bible study helped me decide:

I’m completing the “Experiencing God” study this winter. Just this morning, the study asked me if I would interrupt my personal plans–even plans that meant a lot to me– if God called me to do something for His Greater Plan. Hmmmm. Authentically, I probably would want to go do my own thing.  I would reason away God’s call to His work around me.

And then today comes the test. (I should have seen it coming!) Sometimes I wish God would come and sit on my sofa with me and spell it out for me, tell me exactly what He wants me to do and why, but He doesn’t work that way, does He?

So tomorrow, I am going to go and serve.  I will miss my Church at Charlotte ladies, but will see them next week.  I am sure that God will meet me there.

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Authenticity Challenge: Christians DO have fun!



I would guess that 99% of the images depicting the likeness of Christ show him without a smile.  You know what I mean, because you’ve seen them, too.  The Serious Christ.  The Sullen Christ. If I were to believe that Christ was as sullen as all of those paintings and images depict, then I would have to assume that Christian living is also devoid of fun.  Thank Jesus, this is so far from the truth! Authentic Christians have fun!

I can’t imagine Jesus, as He welcomed the children into His arms, without imagining His smile and laughter, too.  I can almost hear Him giggling with the little ones, enjoying their questions and their hugs.  I can’t imagine the little ones running up to a man with a sullen expression on his face. Instead, I would bet that He welcomed them with an cheek-to-cheek smile.

Sometimes I can get so serious about life.  I have to remind myself that Jesus came to give us an abundant life.  He has given me the greatest joys, so much more than I could have ever dreamt of in my early years.

I used to be someone who didn’t even want a child sitting at a table next to me in a restaurant. I had no interest in kids.  I don’t know why, I just didn’t.  But thank God, that is no longer true.  God changed all of that.

Today, I love it when the neighborhood kids hang out at my house or in my yard.  I love laughing with them, talking with them, and trying to read what is going on in their little heads. I watch them play, and suddenly, all of my problems seem to fade away.  Laughter has a healing quality about it.

God promised Abram and Sarai a special child with an wonderful purpose.  Through this child, God would bless Abram to be the father of  many nations, with descendants as numerous as the stars.  Even more importantly, it was through this child’s lineage that God would send His own son, Jesus, to save mankind from sin. Abram’s child would be a child of great promise and hope.  Incredibly, when this special child was born after a long wait, God named the boy “Isaac,” a name that means “laughter.”

That’s a strange name for a child of such promise. I have often wondered why God didn’t choose a more serious-sounding name, like “Brutus” or “Valdus.”   But “Laughter?” Come on! Yet, the Bible says that Sarah (her name changed from Sarai) laughed at the promise of this son:

“Sarah said, ‘God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.’”

Genesis 21:6 HCSB

I am so glad that God begin His redemption plan with good dose of laughter.  The story reminds me that I, too, can be free to laugh, no matter how tough the journey is. After all, there is tremendous freedom in authentic Christianity!

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with a shout of joy.

Job 8:21

We were blessed this weekend with a North Carolina snowstorm.  So there I was sitting on my sofa drinking coffee, a little tired after helping bundle up the kids to go play in the snow, when I thought, “Get out there and have some fun, girl!”  So I put on some warm clothes and went sledding with the kids.

And I laughed, enjoying this rare gift and thanking God for so much fun! Enjoy this little video I took when I broke the news of downtown snow to the neighborhood kids:

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Authenticity Challenge: But I Don’t Want to “Be still!”



There have been times in my life when I have sensed God’s direction quite clearly. But there are other times when I have sought God’s input, and heard only silence.

My favorite thing about writing “Autism’s Hidden Blessings,” was that I felt so close to God during the process. So often, I would read Scripture and the perfect verse would be there, one that was exactly what I needed for the chapter I was working on. In fact, I have never felt so close to God as when I wrote that book.  It was an awesome and amazing experience.  The afternoon I was struggling to finish the first draft so that I could drive it to Fed-Ex to make my deadline, I was so exhausted. But I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was there strengthening me.  I could tell you more, but I’ll leave it at that.

But I finished that book, and immediately it felt like I had been cut off from that marvelous, awesome connection. Now I know that I was not cut off in truth, but it felt that way.  For the previous three years I had been given such a strong vision that I could not deny that God was behind it.  And then, God prepared the way for it to become a reality. God provided in every circumstance in wondrously bizarre ways.  So it was very difficult for me to come off of that mountain, so to speak.  I wanted to stay there forever!

But we can’t, can we?  Authentic Christianity means going back into the valleys. The following year after the book was released, I was ready to jump back into writing again.  I asked God, “What next?” and was eager to go back to the computer to keep writing.

But God was silent.

I would sit down and hear nothing.  The flow of words had stopped. I would sit there dumbfounded and frustrated. Surely God had more!  Surely He wasn’t done with me yet!

But God was silent.

Except once.  Once in July of 2008, God whispered that He was going to do some “leveling.”  Of course then, things were pretty good for us financially.  I thought, Great!  It’s about time to level the playing field!  There is so much corruption in the world, God, go ahead and bring down those who are taking so much advantage of the poor and the needy!

It took me about 6 months, after we saw the bottom fall out in terms of Matt’s work load that I finally got it.  God wasn’t going to level OTHERS. He was gently warning me that He was about to level ME.

In this past year we have given up so many things that we once took for granted: medicines, haircuts, dental care, clothing budgets, vacations, weekend trips…I could go on.  But in this same year GOD HAS PROVIDED.  Every day.

The financial leveling was bad, but worse was God’s silence.  It was as if He was saying, “BE STILL.”  No book to write.  No cool consulting work.  Nothing new or out of the ordinary.  “JUST BE STILL.”

Listen, that directive is one of the most difficult ones for me to obey.  Be still? You mean, God, like sit here and wait?  For a year? Possibly longer?  God, you realize that we are wasting time? (nothing) God, You ignited a fire and passion and set it to motion, and now You are telling me to “Be Still?” (nothing)

I have struggled with this all year.  But deep in my soul I know that God does have a plan and that it is going as He intended it to. This is my time to sit and wait.  It’s my time to “Be Still.”

I read an article about Christian meditation.  It involves focusing on ONE aspect o God.  Because I have been so desiring to know what God is up to, I chose to spend 5 minutes focusing only on GOD’S WILL.  I set the timer and focused. I thought about ways in which God shared His will with man: through the Bible, through the Spirit, etc.  Over and over again, I focused on those two words and only what related to God’s Will.

Suddenly, this verse popped into my mind:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Psalm 46:10

The verse popped into my mind and quickly faded out, then immediately the timer went off.

What am I saying?  I’m saying that it is still my time to stay put.  To “Be Still.”  And this is hard to do.

I have experienced enough to know that I do not want to go anywhere without God.  He is Jehovah Jirah, the Lord Who Provides.  I don’t want to take the reins into my own hands. I would just waste my time.  No, I’m staying put.  For how long?

Only He knows.

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Authenticity Challenge: The Power of True Worship



Yesterday was not a good day.  I won’t rehash it, but you can read about it in “Authenticity Challenge: Reality Stinks.”  While today was somewhat better, tonight, my worship team rehearsal night, was fantastic.  Why? Here is the secret that turned an ordinary day into a great one: the power of praise.

Yeah, just a little singing and music, right? Not so special, you say?

Yes, Christians are well familiar with worship in services. Corporate worship, or worshiping together with others as in church, comes in all styles: contemporary, traditional, latin, and with hymns, chimes, choirs, praise bands, orchestras and even a cappella.  Typically, Christians know the routine. We enter the sanctuary, pick up the bulletin, scan it, stand up, sing a song, sit down, stand up, sing, sit, stand (sigh) again, sing, sit, stand… well, you get it.

I’ve been singing with a praise and worship team for 19 years.  You would think that singing worship would become somewhat ordinary to me by now.  It’s not. Participating in worship is anything but ordinary!  I never fail to get nervous each Sunday my team is up.  I never feel prepared, and I am always anxious that I will forget the words or sing the impromptu solo (you know, the one that you blurt out when no one was supposed to sing), or forget a harmony.  I feel this way every time I sing on the team.

You would think I would get over this nervousness, but I don’t.  You see, I have come to understand that I am helping usher the congregation into the very presence of the Holy One! Worship is serious business to me!  Above all else, knowing this truth is what makes my hands shake each Sunday as I grip the microphone.  The sanctuary will be Holy Ground…and I know I am not worthy of being there!

Listen, I am not a spectacular singer.  I have no doubt that Simon would usher me on, and not without a snarky comment or two.  But while Simon won’t be in the congregation, God will be. Frankly, Simon would be far less fearsome!

So as I am standing there quaking in my shoes, I repeat this promise to myself:

“I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13 HCSB

Then something happens inside.  I find peace. My voice stops quivering, and I am ready to sing. My hands still shake, but the words are there.

Sometimes I look out into the congregation and see someone yawn, looking quite bored.  Hey, I am not judging anyone because I have done this, too.  It is so easy to let your mind wander during a worship set! It’s early, and people are tired.  But sometimes when we are singing about the power of the resurrection, I wonder if those words are really sinking in.  I wonder if people are truly aware of the power of those words. Yes, there is a great power in the words!

The next time you are in a sanctuary and the worship set begins, no matter if is it is a hymn or a contempory song–whatever the style of your particular church–really focus on the words of the music.  The lyrics. What are you singing?  To Whom?   Forget about the person in front of you with the weird shirt, the lady behind you who is so off key, or even that the vocalist may be off-beat. Just focus on what you are singing. I promise you, something special will happen.

You see, there is an incredible power in praise music. When you worship with all of your heart, or, as the Bible says, “in Spirit and Truth,” you have entered the Holy Place. The presence of the Most High God!

True worship lifts a depression. It restores a broken heart. It unites the most ill-matched group of people as they honor God together.  It is powerful, focused, and full of the Spirit. As you worship, remember where you are, and not just physically, but spiritually.  You are approaching the very altar of God!

As you sing, don’t worry about how good you sound.  Listen, God doesn’t care if you are on pitch or off. (Believe me, I’ve been off many times!)  He doesn’t care if you blunder a phrase. He only cares about your heart.

Are you worshiping in Spirit and Truth?  God is worth our whole-hearted worship. Do you know that He sings with us, too?  The verse below is one of my favorite passages. He is not hesitant about rejoicing over you….so give Him your very best!

The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.“

Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)

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Authenticity Challenge: Reality Stinks



Today I am not going to sugar-coat my Authenticity Challenge post.  I’m sitting in this chair trying to think of something of worth to post here, but I’m just going to be real instead. Christians do not always have great days. This wasn’t one of mine. That said, here are a few tidbits from the day:

• Change Happens: As I slogged my way downstairs this morning, Matt handed me the newspaper, carefully folded to an article on the sports section.  The headline spouted off unwelcomed news: our neighbor, a local high school coach, had taken another coaching job a few hours away.  This meant that the wonderful family who had been a part of our close-knit street for the last 8 years would be moving. (Major bummer.)
• Video Games Have Sucked the Life Out of My Boy: This day was DAY 2 of Alec’s week-long ban on video games.  My 8 year-old son has no idea what to do with himself now.  From 3 o’clock on, all he could say was “I don’t have anything fun to do!”  Seriously, he walked around in a fog all day.  (Exasperating bummer.)
• Something you should know about that guy in the hot dog suit standing on the highway waving you into the restaurant: Does he look silly? Yup, but the sad truth is that that guy makes more money than me.  I’m not kidding. Recently, I have forgotten how to say “no” and have volunteered too much of my limited professional time. The bottom line is that I don’t have enough hours in the day left to make some money to help support my family.  I love volunteering, but if we can’t afford my son’s monthly medications…well, I need to learn to say “Thanks, but no.”  (Authentic bummer.)
• Ants Rule the World: I came home this afternoon and found ants swarming my kitchen counter.  I have been fighting this ant war for months and I am losing the battle!  Frustrated, I actually duct-taped all of the potential entry spots on my kitchen wall.  Once again, there was a time when I could have picked up the phone and dialed an exterminator, but in this economy, that’s not an option.  The good news is that the duct tape seems to be working.  Just call me Bubba.  (Creepy-crawly bummer.)
• No one gets ready for bed without Mama’s help: Hello?  Why do I still have to turn the faucet on for my 8 and 10 year old?  Those kids are holding out on me…I just know it! (Moms Do It All Bummer.)

I don’t know if any of  you came her expecting some poignant post.  I hate to disappoint, but I’ve got to be real here. I’ve had better days than today.  Sometimes I feel weary.  Sometimes I feel drained and void of wisdom. Sometimes I just feel blah.

Oh, things could be much, much worse.  I am blessed just to here. I have no right to complain. But the truth is, I started out the day doing a Bible study, but allowed myself to slide into a pit of poor-meisms by the afternoon. God deserves better than that.

Here is where my faith plays into this day: God’s Word tells me that  I have another chance–God willin’– tomorrow.

[Because of] the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.

Lamentations 3:22-24 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

I’m ready to put this day to bed.

Lord, be with me right now. Be my portion today, tomorrow and for every day to come. You are so wonderful, and you deserve so much more than what I gave You today. Forgive me, Father, and please help me do better tomorrow.

Goodnight, dear friends.

Unique visitors to post: 10

Authenticity Challenge: Why God Left My Scars Behind



To kick off my two week journey and exploration of how Christianity plays out in my own life, I looked up the definitions of the word “authentic.”  One definition of the word grabbed my eye:  “authentic” is “made in a way that resembles an original.”  We certainly have an original model in the Christian faith, and this is, was, and will only ever be Jesus Christ.  Jesus alone is the perfection of Christianity.  Christian followers–like me–are by no means perfect.  We are only works in progress, becoming more and more like Christ when we allow God’s gentle hands to buff away our imperfections.

That thought lead me to the Authenticity Challenge. In today’s world, the media casts a sour light on Christianity’s biggest names. Every misstep is picked up by the headlines and tossed around the world.  In this harsh light, the Christian faith appears to consist of self-righteous, self-serving, money-centered and hypocritical individuals who look good on the outside but are hopelessly flawed on the inside.  I can’t help but wonder how my own personal faith would hold up if placed in a similarly unforgiving light.

How often I have tried to hide my own imperfections!  I am embarrassed by my deformities, my social gaffs, my mistakes and scars. I look into the mirror and take in the years that are changing my face, and I wonder how I can ever make a difference in a youth-centered world.  I am discouraged by my own inner, self-serving thoughts.  Face it, I am stuck with myself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!  I know my own heart and the darkness it harbors.  Whatever could I offer to a God as great as mine?  Why would He even allow His eyes to rest on me, let alone call me to a purpose that would bring glory to His name? How can anyone so imperfect glorify a perfect God?

And yet, this is the paradox of Christianity:  Through Christ, our imperfections are completed covered by grace while at the same time–and this is the amazing part–God chooses to allow the scars of our past to remain.  Why? I mean, we are made completely perfect through Christ and yet we remain scarred, just as Christ’s resurrected body bore the scars of the Crucifixion.  Why?  Why not wipe away every trace of our imperfections completely and permanently?  Why must we look into the mirror each day and see such frailty? How can I ever live up to God’s purposes when I am so flawed?  Jesus whispers the answer:

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.”

^{John 15: 5-8 (The Message)}

Oh, I get it! My scars are serving a purpose.  My scars remind me that God has stepped in and healed me. They are my testimony of faith. The scars are little markers, reminding me that God has taken me off of a road destined for my personal destruction and led me to a place where the life power of Jesus can live within me.  The very thought of that truth alone is mind-boggling.  It seems almost impossible to believe, that all of Christ can live in imperfect me, and yet this is what is required if I am to live out all of God’s glorious purposes for my life.

Frail? Yes! I look into the mirror and I see a mom with a small, timid voice who can barely handle today’s housekeeping.  But when joined with Jesus?  The possibilities are endless. My many imperfections remind me that I desperately need Him, and that I am called for a purpose and loved eternally…. scars and all.

Unique visitors to post: 43

Authenticity Challenge: What Christianity Really Looks Like



I have a current call for at least 12 bloggers who want to join me in an Authenticity Challenge. Only a few have so far accepted my invitation.  These bloggers have committed to posting at least once a day about daily events with an emphasis how his or her Christian faith colored the day’s events.  I don’t want sugar-coated stories, but real introspection exploring how faith plays out in life.  (Read full details here.)

Christianity effects us in small, subtle and often-overlooked ways.  Our God is present with us at every moment and each day we are here, we are purposed by God. What does that look like?

Paula Wiseman joined in and has already begun posting on her blog, Sage Words: Engage, Enlighten and Encourage. In today’s post, “Shameless,”  Paula asks if authentic faith is shameless.  Paula writes:

“Being one of God’s children cannot co-exist with being ashamed. He removed all my shame when the salvation transaction was completed. I’m the only one who can allow the shame back. When Satan delivers it to my doorstep, it may be labelled failure, or regret, or a label I’m not expecting. No matter what, I must not pick up the baggage.”

I encourage you to read Paula’s entire post. You can find it at: http://www.paulawiseman.com/2010/01/shameless/.

I will be following Paula’s posts while I am exploring authenticity in my own Christian life and posting all of the raw details.  Care to join me? I’m still looking for bloggers who aren’t afraid to write about what genuine Christianity really looks like: imperfect people living out a perfecting faith.

If you are interested, comment below with your name and blog address.

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