From the Editor--Winter 2012

Life after death.

Resurrection. Revival. The prefix “re” means again. The root of the word revive comes from the Latin word “vivere” which means to live. Live again.

In the winter things appear to be dead. During the cold and bleakness of the winter, we see little life. The flowers have faded. The green grass has been covered by snow. The green leaves have changed colors and fallen from the trees. The trees’ naked branches point to the sky and white snow covers the ground.

But there is beauty and purpose even in the coldness and apparent death of the winter. There is life below the surface, just waiting to come forth in the spring.

There are seasons in our lives as well. Sometimes we are in the winter season when things seem cold, dead and unproductive. Our dreams seem to have died. Our relationships appear to be dead. The love that used to fill our lives has grown cold. The career or ministry that we have dreamed of appears to be an impossible dream. A dream has been shattered or dried up like a raisin in the sun.

But even in the winter, there is life and there is hope for revival. To live again. That hope is in Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus is not a fantasy or a fairy tale. He is the Son of the Living God. He was the first Christmas gift from our Heavenly Father to us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus came to give us life eternally and abundantly. When he walked this earth, he brought the dead back to life. And today he still brings hopeless and dead situations to life. Jesus resurrects dreams.

In this issue of The Well Magazine, those who have experienced death testify of how they have learned to live again. Men and women who have experienced the death of a marriage, a child and a parent write about the painful reality of living with the devastation of death but also of the comfort, healing and power found in their faith. A couple share how they experienced adultery and divorce, but were able to do the difficult work to reconcile and remarry.

You will find practical advice on putting your faith into action, resurrecting your dreams, reviving your marriage and fulfilling your purpose.

We also look at revival in the Church—the body of Christ. What does a true revival look like? Perhaps a revival is already underway spurred by people award-winning journalist John W. Fountain calls Transformers, men and women who are working outside of the institutional church to show the love of Christ and are determined to be the Church instead of just “going to church.”

Life will happen. Death, disease, divorce, disappointment, delay and denial. But whatever you are going through, no matter how great the pain, whatever the struggle, don’t give up on life. There is life in Christ.

Read the Winter Issue of The Well Magazine. Click on the photo

Wisconsin's 33rd Annual Tribute to Martin Luther King

The Well Magazine Winter 2012

The Greatest Gifts

The greatest gifts don’t have a price tag. But they are extremely valuable.

In the past, I would rush around at Christmas and buy gifts for everyone. Who knows what happened to most of them. A toy that may have been played with for a season or a sweater worn a few times. This year I don’t feel that pressure. I will buy some presents for family members, children who I know need clothes and toys, a token of appreciation for my children’s teachers.

The real value of a gift is the love that it symbolizes and the thought behind it. I love giving people in my life things that I know they will enjoy, that they desire or that will make them feel better. But the most valuable gifts I can give do not cost money. They cost my time, effort and my heart.

This Christmas and for the rest of my life I am determined to give those most valuable gifts. Those gifts that don’t fade or tarnish but live forever in the memory and the heart. They are priceless.

My top gift list:

Unconditional Love: The Agape love of God is the greatest love of all. It is not deserved. It is given freely just because. It is unconditional and sacrificial. Everyone wants to be loved. That is one of our greatest desires. It is God’s greatest gift (For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son). And it is the greatest gift we can give each other.

Forgiveness: Who hasn’t messed up or hurt someone? We all have. And we all want forgiveness. Again, like Agape love, we don’t deserve it. It is truly a gift. But what I have found is that when someone has wronged you, forgiveness is the gift you give that is really a blessing to you. Un-forgiveness can turn to bitterness and as the saying goes it’s like you drinking poison and expecting the person who has trespassed against you to die. The gift of forgiveness not only sets someone else free, it sets you free.

Prayer: Praying for others is a great gift. Whether they know it or not, petitioning the all powerful God on behalf of another is the best thing you can do for them because God loves them, knows what they need, wants the best for them and has the ability to work in their lives and do all things.  

Respect: We all want to be seen, heard and valued. Showing respect shows that you value.

Time: That goes with being seen, heard and valued. When you spend your time with someone, you show that you care.

A Listening Ear: Related to respect and time. Sometimes people don’t want an answer, they just want you to listen to how they feel, what’s in their heart, their dreams, disappointments and ideas. When you listen, really listen, you’re saying you are valuable.

Boundaries and Expectations: May seem counterintuitive, but I believe one of the greatest gifts that we can give our children are boundaries and expectations. Boundaries keep them safe and teach them discipline. Expectations help them soar. With adults the same can apply. An adult with no boundaries or discipline is out of control and probably not fulfilling their potential. In a relationship when we allow people to do whatever they feel with no consequences, it’s not good for them or us. Expect the best of people and expect great things of them.

Encouragement: Who doesn’t need it? We all do. A kind word. A compliment.  “I believe in you.” It can do wonders and lift spirits and give people fuel and fire. It can be a lifesaver and a lifechanger.

What’s on your list of priceless gifts?

Me Too

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Have you ever said to God, “I’m only human?”

Have you ever said, I know you told me to do this or that. But that’s just too much to ask. I’m only human.

I’m in pain. That’s unreasonable and impossible. You can’t expect me to respond in this way or that. I look like a fool. People will think I’m stupid. They don’t deserve it. I’m hurt. I’m in pain.

And then has God ever spoke back to you and said, “Me too.”

Have you ever felt alone?

Jesus says, “Me too.”

Lied on? Called names?

Misunderstood?

Embarrassed?

Humiliated?

Betrayed?

Jesus says, “Me too.”

Rejected?

Jesus says, “Me too.”

Betrayed and rejected by those closest to you--family and your inner circle of friends? Left to stand alone?

“Me too.”

But Jesus, I’m only human.

Jesus says, “Me too. But I’m also God. I know you’re human. That’s why I died for you. But not only did I die. But I rose again. And right now, I’m with the Father, making intercession for you. I see you. I am with you. I love you. I will never leave you or forsake you.

“I know about pain. I went through the cross. I did it because I loved you, even when you weren’t loving me. While you were yet in sin, I died for you so that you could know me and be with me eternally.  The cross wasn’t fun. It was excruciatingly painful. But I went through it. The pain has a purpose and on the other side of the pain is resurrection power and transformation.”

Then Jesus whispers to you, “You’ll get through this. I was human.”  He stretches out his nail scarred hands and shows you his wounds. “I know how you feel. Really. “

Power scriptures:

“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. “ Galatians 6:9

 

Road Runner

Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 (New Living Translation)

Have you ever seen the cartoon Road Runner? In episode after episode Wile E. Coyote tries to trap and destroy the Road Runner. The Road Runner is just going along minding his own business. Doing his thing. The Coyote has elaborate plots and schemes(often aided by the Acme Corporation) to blow up, trap and destroy the road runner. But every time, the trap ends up blowing up in the coyote's face. The Road Runner goes on about his merry way, speeding by with a "beep, beep!", oblivious to the trap that was set before him.

That's how it is with us. Our Enemy, that wily Devil who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, has set a trap for us. He wants to steal, kill and destroy and he's willing to use whatever tools are at his disposal to catch us, delay us, deny us, destroy us and keep us from our divine destiny in Christ. He will use people, circumstances and situations to deceive, discourage and disqualify us from running our race.

But like the Road Runner, we don't have to worry. No weapon formed against us will prosper. It doesn't mean that the fiery darts and arrows won't hurt us, discourage us or even delay us. But we already have the victory through Christ Jesus.

The attack and plan of the Enemy will blow up in his face and we'll be going right along like the Road Runner. Say"Beep, beep" , get out of my way. I'm on the road fulfilling my purpose going to my divine destiny and keep it moving. Don't give up. Stay in the race. Keep the course that God has given you.You've already got the victory if you don't quit.

Deliverance in the Storm

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." Mark 4: 37-39


My son's class recently read a novel called "Hatchet" about a boy who survived a plane crash. In the novel, the boy is aboard a small aircraft on his way to visit his father in Canada. The pilot of the plane has a heart attack and the plane lands in a lake in the Canadian wilderness. The boy survives and learns to live off the land. He makes himself a shelter, learns how to start a fire, hunt and store his food.

Spoiler Alert: Toward the end of the novel, a violent tornado comes through and tears apart everything that the boy has assembled. But what the tornado also does is bring the crashed plane to the surface of the lake. When the plane re-surfaces, the boy is able to get back in the plane (which includes the dead pilot's body) and get the survival kit out which includes an emergency transmitter. The emergency transmitter sends a signal out that leads to the boy's rescue.

The boy had become comfortable surviving in his situation and at first glance, the storm seemd like a catastrophe, but it set up the situation for his deliverance.

Storms, like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina, can be violent and destructive. Storms are scary. Storms disrupt and dismantle. Storms are uncomfortable. But storms are inevitable--in the natural and in the spiritual. 

Storms in our lives can be painful and uncomfortable. Deadly and destructive. We can have stormy situations in our relationships, finances, careers and health. Divorce, disease, addictions, accidents, disasters, bad choices and undeserved actions of others that deeply hurt us can cause the winds to whip, lightning to flash and flood waters to rise in our lives.

The saying goes that either you're going through a storm, coming out of a storm or about to enter a storm.

But remember that you're "going through" the storm, not staying in it. Storms don't last forever. And there's a purpose for your storm. Your deliverance is in your storm. There's rescue from your situation in your storm. There's a miracle in your storm. And there's a lesson in your storm.

In the storm, you learn to depend on God, not yourself. In the storm, you learn to trust God. In the storm you discover that the Lord is your refuge and your strength, a very present help in the time of trouble. We learn lessons in the storms. We learn to depend on God. We learn to trust God. We access what is important. We take refuge in God. The storms of life can destroy us and leave us destitute or give us an opportunity to refocus, reinforce and rebuild even stronger.

God may be using your storm to uproot and bring to the surface some dead stuff that you need to go back to explore so that you can get what you need to not only survive but be rescued, delivered and set free. You're surviving and making it and you've learned a lot of lessons in the wilderness, just like the boy in the book. But the time may have come when God is saying, "You've been in the wilderness, a place of solitude. You've learned some lessons. But now it's time to come out. You've got places to go and things to do and if I didn't send this storm and disrupt some things and get you out of your comfort zone, you would never reach your destination/destiny."

In the storms of life, God reveals his power to us in new ways. You may feel like the disciples in the boat during the storm, saying "Jesus, don't you even care." But Jesus is right with you, in your storm and he can speak "Peace, be still" and your inner storm will cease and he will give you peace, even if the storm outside is still raging.

He'll take us by the hand and we'll walk on water. There's a miracle in the midst of the storm. We'll do the impossible as long as we keep our eyes on him.

The Purse Foundation: Helping educate young people about domestic violence

Her friend’s murder gave her the strength to escape abuse and inspired her to help others be free
 

By Erika Lee

 

Nova and I met in college when she tried out for a dance team of which I was a member. On the day of try outs, I was responsible for recording everyone who was auditioning for the team.  I remember recording Nova. Watching her dance was breathtaking. Nova had a style about her that was unique.

Needless to say, she made one of the finest dance teams on the campus at Illinois State University. The dance team was like a family. We spent several hours every week with each other practicing for events. I remember when Nova and I went shopping for pajamas for our dance team’s fashion show. Nova and I had to model in kiddy pajamas. The skit was about us being kids who did not want to go to sleep.  In the skit, you could see the mom putting us to bed and as she walked out the room, the music came on and Nova and I jumped on our beds, laughed and danced.  As the mother returned to find us awake and out of our beds, she waved a belt in front of us.  We quickly jumped back in our beds to avoid the punishment. 

 Quite often, this memory of Nova replays over and over in my head.  When I reflect upon my own childhood, I remember life with no real worries or burdens.  I also think about how Nova’s son Noah will never experience having his mother come in his room and hug him or hear her say goodnight. 

 Nova and her daughter Ava were found shot to death in her apartment. Her son Noah was found asleep in a chair covered with blood stains from possibly trying to awake his mother and infant sister. Nova’s ex-boyfriend was arrested for the murders and is currently awaiting trial.

The shocking news of Nova’s death made me reflect upon the relationship I was in. No one intends to be in an abusive relationship, but I was in denial that I was even in one.  I did not realize that walls were being created to keep me held in bondage and at the mercy of my abuser. My relationship with my abuser was physically, emotionally, and verbally abusive. I thought I had met the one. He was charming, attentive, and caring. After much time had been invested in the relationship, those qualities I thought he possessed, no longer existed. He turned into someone I didn’t know, someone he never showed me—his true self.

 I had mistaken him choosing my clothes for me, as his way of caring about me. I had mistaken him telling me that certain people were not my friends as his way of looking out for my best interest. I had mistaken him keeping me away from all the activities I was involved in as his way of showing me that he loved spending time with me. I had mistaken him asking me to leave my job as his way to be a provider for me. I had mistaken him constantly calling me when I was away from the house, as his way of making sure no one had harmed me.  I did not know the red flags or warning signs of a possible abusive person or relationship.  I had never seen an abusive relationship growing up and never thought it would be something I would ever encounter....

To read the entire story, click on the photo to read The Well Magazine.

 To order a print copy of The Well Magazine, click here.

 

Top At the Well Postings for October 2012

Here are the top At the Well postings for the month of October. None of them were actually written in October (as a matter of fact, none of them were written this year and one is a listing of top postings for last December) so I guess people are finding their way to At the Well through Google or other search engines. Whatever the case, I hope that if you didn't read these posts the first time that you enjoy them now or if you did read them, you find something of value again.

Miss California (May 28, 2009)

My Heavenly Home (June 18, 2010)

Top At the Well Postings for December 2011