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- Details
- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Life
This week our family shared our first camping trip! It was my third time camping EVER, and the first time I've ever hiked into a campsite, and Torre spent his first night in a tent with great success. Originally I had booked a day off work so that Matt could go camping with friends and I would stay home with Torre, but at the last minute some people decided not to go, and I asked Matt if it would be too crazy for me to jump in last minute (and by last minute I mean at 9:30pm the night before their 6am departure time!). Matt was up for it, and so was our friend Benson, so Matt rearranged the supplies to make one backpack as light as possible so I could carry it while wearing Torre on my front, we grabbed a couple hours of sleep and hit the road bright and early.
The campsite we reserved was an 8km hike from the trail head, but due to a road closure we had to leave the car at the park office and started our adventure with a "bonus hike" of about 2km. Matt set a quick pace so we could make it to our campsite before the rain that was forecast, although we stopped at a few lookouts on the way to take in the beautiful scenery.
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Scripture
Now at the feast [Pilate] used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" And they cried out again, "Crucify him." And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15:6-15)
Today as this passage was read at our Good Friday service, I was haunted by the contrast between Jesus and the crowd. My own attitude and response to circumstances are so much closer to the fickle crowd, stirred up and impatient for results. Jesus was the Messiah they didn't want, proclaiming a kingdom that is like the grain of a mustard seed, the smallest of all the seeds on the earth (Mark 4:31). The Jews were tired of living off crumbs, under the thumb of violent oppressors, and the people were not interested in a leader who was beaten and spit upon without offering any retaliation. It doesn't seem that anyone was under the impression Barabbas was the Messiah, but at least he was a man of action, someone who was willing to shed blood for the cause of his people.
Jesus had taught his disciples, "Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3), but the crowd had lived through Herod's slaughter of the innocents when every baby boy under 2 was killed in Bethlehem and the whole region. Who in their right mind would become like a child to pursue God's kingdom? No, there must be some other way, and the people's rejection of Jesus could buy them time, helping them appear loyal to the Roman empire while they waited for God to send someone to actually deliver them. The high priest advised the people that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. (John 18:14)
So today I was slapped in the face because my response is the same as the crowds: I choose to believe God if I think it will work.
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Thoughts
Palm Sunday is just days away, which means Easter is around the corner! I'm not yet ready for Easter to come because I have no idea how to transition back onto facebook. It has been a really nice break, and my days have been calmer yet fuller for all the hours I don't lose to social media. Of course, I'm looking forward to Easter for so much more than breaking my facebook fast, but I am also doing my best to savour Lent rather than wish it away.
One thing I've enjoyed over Lent is having more time for music - I alternate playing piano at church with another woman from the congregation, and I've been practising quite a bit because it's my turn to play on Palm Sunday. One of the hymns I chose to play is All Glory, Laud and Honor (recommended by eHow, which actually has an article for everything, including good hymns for Palm Sunday. It's crazy.) and one of the verses has blown me away. Hymns get a bad rap sometimes because they have weird melodies and strange words, and they're so much less palatable than new songs. For better or for worse, however, I'm glad our church has a blended service because so many hymns have nuggets of theological gold that we'd be foolish to simply toss. Hymns may not sweep me away with emotion, but getting backhanded with truth is sometimes just as effective for the state of my soul as a good cry during a light show.
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Life
The Queen's Handmaid, by Tracy L. Higley follows an orphaned servant girl from Cleopatra's palace in Alexandria to Herod's seat of power in Jerusalem on a quest to deliver secret writings from the prophet Daniel that foretell the coming of a Messiah. Along the way she must elude the schemes of petty fellow-servants and the dark magic of those who want the scrolls to remain lost forever. With no idea of who her parents were, she is also on a personal journey to find her place in the world and her true identity as a child of God.
Before reviewing this book, I read another historical fiction novel by Higley titled Garden of Madness which I thought was fantastic (two reviews for the price of one!*). That book brought ancient Babylon to life through the eyes of a likeable character and a plot that featured romance, mystery and a great spiritual connection. I was hooked early into the story and followed all the twists with so much excitement. I was truly entertained and inspired by the tale, and for this reason I was so excited to review another novel by the same author.
Unfortunately, The Queen's Handmaid did not measure up to my expectations -
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Book Reviews
I was intrigued to read this book since we live in such a diverse neighbourhood. I know Muslims as kind, hospitable people who share many aspects of faith with me, but I also know there is a world of difference that separates our cultures and our religion, and I was eager to learn more. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is Nabeel Qureshi's account of his journey from faith in Islam to faith in Jesus Christ, and it is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Qureshi is a fantastic storyteller who brings his devout Muslim upbringing to life, setting the backdrop to understand his sincere and fervent adherence to Islam, which leads him to investigate the evidence for both Christian and Muslim beliefs in an effort to convert his Christian friend to Islam.
By the title of the book, you can guess the ending, but reading through his quest for truth was so engaging for me. I felt the tension as every aspect of Qureshi's worldview came into question, as he faced the cost of what converting to Christianity would mean for him and his family, and I was so encouraged in my own faith as I reviewed the objective evidence that testifies to the truth of Christian claims. I have a greater appreciation for the Bible, a better understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity, and I can better articulate my confidence in Jesus' resurrection after reading this book.
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Scripture
I've been reading in Galatians and was struck today by 1:10
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul is speaking rhetorically to make his point - obviously he is not seeking human approval by preaching the gospel, and obviously he is not promoting a message in order to win friends. When I read the passage that has this verse I immediately thought of applying it to ministry today: so often it is tempting to make decisions based on pleasing people or keeping people happy, improving numbers for attendance or givings, getting noticed by people in influence so our efforts can be validated. Does this apply to you? Are you so distracted by others' demands that you've forgotten what God asks? I love checking in with Peter's laundry list of qualities to pursue in 2 Peter 1:5-8
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Life
I've been in more of a reading phase than a writing phase for the last little while, soaking in books like sunshine. This feels like the Winter that won't let go, although I just came across an email I sent to a friend last May which referenced that Spring was just arriving. Is it possible that all my memories of sunshine in March and warmth in April are just wishful hallucinations?
Sure enough, before I even finished this post, we had more snow fall. But that is not the point :) I am looking forward to sharing some more book reviews in the next while, a fabulous recipe and hopefully at least one reflection on my experience of Lent this year. I have been thinking a lot this week about how self-care spirals out to positively affect so many aspects of our lives, but it is so tempting to neglect when we are under pressure because it seems negotiable. There may or may not be a post on this topic brewing in the back of my mind.
Where does self-care fit in your list of priorities? What does it entail for you?
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Life
I am in heavy facebook withdrawal, since I discovered tonight we have mice. Without a social media outlet for my horror/anxiety/all the developments (set a trap, mouse went for it but was only stunned and not killed, I had NO clue what to do with a stunned mouse, so instead of putting a jar over it or something to contain it, I just waited for the problem to go away, which it did - the mouse disappeared for a while, I re set the trap, saw it again, realized it might be building a nest under one of our book shelves (it is blocked off by a big cardboard box so torre can't pull the books off the shelves. I would SO MUCH RATHER him pull the books off the shelves all day every day than see ONE MORE MOUSE run across my floor.
I am too upset to close any of my brackets.
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- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Book Reviews
Pups of the Spirit teaches kids about the fruit of the Spirit by personifying the characteristics as playful puppies! This sounds cute, and the book itself has charming rhymes and engaging illustrations, but I found the spiritual content of the book very disappointing. First of all, the fruit of the Spirit is a thing, not a list of things - the Spirit doesn't produce nine types of fruit in different people.
In addition to promoting this basic misunderstanding of what the fruit of the Spirit means, the characterization of each pup is oversimplified in my opinion. Kay, the "kind" puppy, likes to knit gifts for her friends and give them away, although they don't always fit; "peaceful" Pete doesn't worry or fight, just snoozes in his hammock! These are cute images, and they do give children an example of each quality, but overall I feel that the book is misleading.
"These pups show us how God wants us to be - each with a special trait he likes to see."
The fruit of the Spirit is not a laundry list of how Christians should act to earn God's favour - the fruit of the Spirit is the product of God's work in our lives. Kids are so eager to please, and I think that sometimes adults take advantage of that, telling kids they should behave nicely so that God will be happy and love them more. Unfortunately, that lays the groundwork for kids to feel insecure in their relationship with God when they realize they can't be perfect all the time. I would be really sad for a child to feel impatient and then wonder whether God is displeased with them because they aren't showing the fruits of the spirit. Ugh.
- Details
- Written by: Alyssa
- Category: Life
Lent almost snuck up on me this year, until I saw a notice for the United church's pancake dinner the week before. I have only begun keeping Lent in the last few years, but I have always found it to be an excellent practice, good for me in many ways, so I am very happy that it didn't slip by! In the past I have marked Lent by fasting from meat on Fridays and one year I read through the entire Bible over the course of Lent. This year I am taking a break from facebook (including Candy Crush, which is the real sacrifice), and less than a week in I have already seen some ripple effects.
The most immediate change is that I have spent less time overall on the computer. I didn't see this coming, since facebook is far from my favourite way to spend time online. I thought that by avoiding facebook I'd be up to date on the blogs I follow, up to date on the blog posts I want to write, and all over the emails that I keep meaning to get to. Instead, I have been keeping busy with the real life busyness of marriage, work, parenting and ministry. I have written some emails, but I have also visited with family and friends in person, and that is great.