Resolved...

As the clocks mark the passing of the first hours and days of a new decade, many people are making resolutions for the coming year. They are resolved to lose weight, to exercise more, to read the Bible regularly, to spend more time with family, and so on.

I have to admit, some of my goals for 2010 are similar. I, too, plan to read through the Bible again and aspire to lose the baby weight that has frustratingly and firmly taken up residence on my hips.

As I mentioned here, one of my random personal traditions is that each year on my birthday I reread the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, most of which he penned at age nineteen and read every week for the rest of his life. Though it's a lengthy (at at times cumbersome) list, every time I read it, God speaks to my heart on at least one of these resolutions and shows me how I fall short and desperately need Him to help me become more Christlike in that area.

Putting together my goals for the coming year, I thought it appropriate to reread Edwards's resolutions. Tomorrow, I'll share with you which resolution hit home for me this year--and how it relates to our family's theme verse for 2010.

But for now, I want you to have the opportunity to read these resolutions for yourself. Though you may not agree with all of them (after all, most of us have been known to crack a joke on Sundays, unlike #38!), if you read these resolutions thoughtfully and prayerfully, you just might be surprised at what God might whisper in your own heart about what He has in store for you in 2010.

Happy New Year!

My Favorite Books of 2009

I love books. That’s no secret, especially since I read for a living! But I don’t just have a passing interest in books; I love books the way a cat lady loves her cats. I pore over them, treasure them, and spend embarrassing amounts of time sorting them in our library (by category, then by author’s last name, in case you’re wondering). I have books in every room of the house (yes, every room), and I even stash books in the car, diaper bag, and my purse, so that I am never without something to read.

As a freelance book editor, I edit dozens of manuscripts every year. For example, in 2009, I worked on forty-three books. Most of them were really good reads—some of them are bestselling, amazing reads!—but all of them taught me something and helped me grow as a Christian, as a reader, as a person. And of course, the privilege of getting to know the authors I work with is priceless.

In addition to the books I edit, I also read books for the sheer joy of it. Some are light reads, while others make me think. Some help me improve my writing and editing skills, and others give me fresh insights on church planting and ministry life. All of them impact me in some way, even if it’s only to note how a poorly written book could have been improved!

On this last day of 2009, I thought it would be fun to share with you a few of my favorite personal reads from this past year--though not all of them were published in 2009. Enjoy!

*Note: None of the books I edited are on this list. Though I’ve worked on some truly great books this year, including them among my favorites would not only seem self-serving, but I couldn’t possibly pick one author over another. They’re all wonderful! :-)

Classics

Eyes to See, volumes 1 and 2, Bret Lott
If you want to read the classics but don’t have a lot of time to devote to lengthy, 19th-century novels, you’ll love these compilations! Bret Lott, editor and New York Times bestselling author, has compiled these two collections of “enduring stories that challenge and inspire.” Each chapter is a short story or chapter of a well-known book that will give you the richness and diversity of classic authors such as Leo Tolstoy, G.K. Chesterton, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Charles Dickens, and Flannery O’Connor, to newer voices like John Updike, Frederick Buechner, and Helen Norris.

A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle
I can’t believe that I didn’t read this book when I was in school. How did I pass up such a gem? If you haven’t read A Wrinkle in Time, no matter your age, I highly recommend it. Though it can be read allegorically—and has much insight into the human condition and the nature of God’s truth—it’s also an enchanting story of love, longing, and loyalty.

The Giver, Lois Lowry

This short book packs a powerful punch! Reminiscent of Brave New World, Lowry’s The Giver is set in a futuristic society where the government has eliminated poverty, sickness, and unhappiness. But as 12-year-old Jonas discovers, this utopia comes at a terrible price. This intriguing story weaves Christian allegory with hauntingly contemporary insights.

Memoir

Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life, Shauna Niequist

I stumbled upon this book on a clearance rack and honestly wasn’t expecting much from this author’s debut memoir—but I was pleasantly surprised! Cold Tangerines is a “shameless appeal for celebration,” says Niequist, and each chapter is flavored with vulnerable, poignant insights that showcase the myriad ways God infuses our everyday, messy, fragile lives. I laughed out loud at "Basement" (yep, we all have rooms that only our best friends are allowed to see) and related to many of her stories of friendship, love, and loss. I’m already looking forward to her sophomore book, due next fall.

Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith and Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott

One of the authors I work with is repeatedly compared with Anne Lamott, so before editing his next book I decided to become familiar with Lamott's writing style. I found these at Half-Price Books, packed them in my pool bag (did I mention that I always carry books with me?), and read them while the kids splashed around in the pool this summer. Now, if you’re the type of person who only reads “Christian” books and takes offense to strong language or unconventional views of God, Lamott's writing isn't for you. But if you can appreciate the truth behind honest and witty irreverence, then you will love her books. As a writer, Lamott is truly exceptional. She has mastered the craft of storytelling, weaving tales so bittersweet and poignant that you will laugh out loud while reaching for your Kleenex. If you are a writer—of any genre—I recommend Lamott’s books as part of your library.

An American Childhood, Annie Dillard

I admit, I was on a bit of a “memoir” kick this summer, so next I ventured to Annie Dillard’s remarkable autobiography. This book is so exquisite, so breathtakingly well written, that it’s in a class of its own. The Philadelphia Inquirer review sums it up best: “The reader who can’t find something to whoop about in this book is not alive. An American Childhood is perhaps the best American autobiography since Russell Baker’s Growing Up.” Amen!

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, A. J. Jacobs
From the man who chronicled his reading of the entire Encyclopedia Britannica (The Know-It-All) comes one of the most hilarious books I’ve read in years. Make no mistake: Jacobs is not a religious man. He is a New York Jewish agnostic who describes himself as Jewish “in the same the way the Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant.” He decides to follow the laws and rules of the Bible, beginning with the Old Testament, for one year. He starts by growing a beard and chronicles every itchy moment. I was amused as Jacobs obsessed over literal interpretation of Bible verses. And I laughed hysterically when his menstruating wife got so mad she went around the house and sat on all the furniture, thus rendering everything “unclean.” In this book, you’ll meet a fascinating array of Jewish rabbis, Christians of every stripe, and Jacobs’ friends and neighbors who help him (or harass him) along this ambitious, memorable journey.

Theology

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Tim Keller

If you only read one book in 2010, read this one! In the spirit of C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, Keller draws material from literary classics, philosophy, anthropology, and other disciplines to make an intellectually compelling case for God. With biblical insights, impeccable logic, and compelling insights, pastor Keller challenges skeptics’ most common objections to Christianity, such as “How could a good God allow suffering?” “Science has disproved Christianity,” “You can’t take the Bible literally,” and many more. Read this book and take lots of notes, reread it, and then pass it on to a friend.

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith, Tim Keller

After reading The Reason for God, I was eager to plunge into Keller’s next book The Prodigal God, despite its off-putting title. I’m glad I did! This book is much shorter and easier to read, so if you’re new to Tim Keller and daunted by the size and scope of his Reason for God, you might want to start with this one. In this book, Keller looks at the parable of the prodigal son from the perspective of the elder brother and uncovers God’s “prodigal” grace toward both the irreligious and the legalistic. Whether you’re a longtime churchgoer or haven’t set foot in church in years, this book will challenge, convict, and inspire you to seek a fresh relationship with God.

Passionate Conviction: Contemporary Discourses on Christian Apologetics, ed. Paul Copan and William Lane Craig

Yes, I know this sounds like an apologetics textbook, but it’s actually a fascinating read for anyone who wants to defend the Christian faith. Each chapter summaries a lecture from a national apologetics conference, including contributors J. P. Moreland, N. T. Wright, and Gary Habermas, to name a few. The book covers questions such as “Why Doesn’t God Make His Existence More Obvious to Us?”, “What Do We Know for Sure about Jesus’ Death?”, and “Is Morality Relative?,” in addition to fascinating insights ranging from science to ecclesiology, including the cosmological argument for intelligent design, Christianity’s uniqueness among Eastern religions, the challenges of postmodernism, and reflections on the emerging church.

Church Planting/ Ministry

Confessions of a Reformation Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church, Mark Driscoll

My husband is an experienced church planter, so I thoroughly enjoyed pastor Mark Driscoll’s engaging story of starting Mars Hill Church in Seattle. As a church planting wife, I could relate to many of Driscoll’s experiences of the failures, frustrations, and just plain messiness of planting a church that is faithful to the gospel of Christ in this post-Christian culture. I appreciate how Driscoll not only shares the story of Mars Hill but also presents lessons he learned as well as practices that worked. This is a valuable resource for any church planter or pastor.

Change Your Church for Good: The Art of Sacred Cow Tipping, Brad Powell *
(*Full disclosure: I edited an updated version of this book, but I’m commenting on the original hardcover I did not work on.) In this book, pastor Brad Powell shares his experiences of transitioning an old (and, at the time, culturally irrelevant) church into the vibrant, effective ministry of North Ridge Church in Detroit. His premise is that the church is the hope of the world—when it’s working right. Though his insights are directed to pastors who are transitioning small churches, there is much that applies to church planting as well. A recommended read for any church planter or pastor who wants an effective, relevant church.

Christian Living

Seeing God in the Ordinary: A Theology of the Everyday, Michael Frost

This book is a delightful treasure from Australian professor Michael Frost. In Seeing God in the Ordinary, Frost urges Christians to develop a robust faith that enables us to be filled with wonder at our astonishing God. Reminiscent of one of my all-time favorites—Mark Noll’s The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind—Frost urges readers to rediscover the place of imagination in the Christian life and explores how the great themes of Christianity are woven into modern books, poetry, and movies to reveal the presence of God in our day-to-day lives.

Fearless: Imagine Your Life without Fear, Max Lucado

Lucado’s latest book is a timely reminder that for those who know God, we have nothing to fear—not the economy, not healthcare, not even the tremulous state of the world. In his trademark style, Lucado examines Jesus’ statements about fear and encourages us to take heart, even in difficult times. Whether you’re new to Lucado or a longtime fan, this book will not disappoint.

Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life, Keri Wyatt Kent
As a mother of three who juggles kids, church planting, an editing career, friends, and a never-ending to-do list, this book came along at just the right time for me. This light, easy read reminds women that our value isn’t found in what we do but in who we are. Keri’s decision to scale down her family’s activities affirmed my commitment to keep things simple with our children. If you are feeling weary and burdened, I encourage you to pick up this book, slow down—and breathe.

Fiction

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is becoming one of my favorite authors. From her classics The Tale of Desperaux and Because of Winn-Dixie, to her lesser-known but still exquisite The Tiger Rising and The Magician’s Elephant, DiCamillo has the rare ability to write children’s stories that appeal to readers of all ages. Of all her books I’ve read so far, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is my favorite. This endearing tale of a china rabbit who, through a series of extraordinary events, learns how to love brought me to tears. If you like The Velveteen Rabbit, you will love The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. It’s a modern classic that has earned its way onto every child’s (and adult's) bookshelf.

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

With characters so rich and realistic, I’m still amazed that this is Stockett’s debut novel. Set in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, where black women “were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver,” this is the tale of friendship, betrayal, anguish, and love written in such provoking detail that you feel swept up into the lives of these women. I know it’s a cliché, but I couldn’t put this book down; I read it in a single night. I’ve read lots of fiction books this year that I don’t recommend, but The Help is a shining exception.

On Reading

How Reading Changed My Life, Anna Quindlen

In this short but insightful book, novelist and former Newsweek columnist Anna Quindlen describes her love affair with reading with enthralling accuracy. “Reading has always been my home, my sustenance, my great invincible companion,” she explains. “I did not read from a sense of superiority, or advancement, or even learning. I read because I loved it more than any activity on earth.” As someone who definitely relates to this kind of fanatical “book love,” I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was inspired to read several of the books on the recommended reading list Quindlen provides for fellow bibliophiles.

Reading Is Believing: The Christian Faith through Literature and Film, David S. Cunningham

In this engaging look at faith and culture, David Cunningham helps readers understand how a Christian reading of novels and movies leads to a deeper, more precise and experiential knowledge of faith. Cunningham examines such classics as Dickens’s Hard Times and Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale to modern books (Tori Morrison’s Beloved) and movies (Dead Man Walking). As a Christian who enjoys reading widely (not just “Christian” books), I appreciated Cunningham’s ability to recognize and communicate God’s truth as revealed in popular culture.

On Writing

The Hero’s 2 Journeys, Michael Hauge and Christopher Vogler (CD set)

As a book editor, I’m often asked, “How do you know what to change in a book? Do you just fix typos?” Oh my, no. It’s much more than typos, I explain. It’s more like listening to a symphony and hearing notes that are dissonant, out of place. Sometimes you can just fix a note or two; other times you have to reorganize an entire movement so that the melody ring through more effectively. But when I listened to The Hero’s 2 Journeys (okay, it’s a CD set, not a book), I realized the authors were describing in detail what I had been doing by instinct all these years. Though these lectures focus on writing screenplays, Hauge and Vogler lay out a template for storytelling that applies to writers of all genres. If you are, or ever plan to be, a writer, I strongly recommend listening to this writer’s workshop. I promise, your editor will be grateful you did!

The Art and Craft of Storytelling: A Comprehensive Guide to Classic Writing Techniques, Nancy Lamb

“Storytelling is an art. But it is also a craft.” So says Nancy Lamb, encouraging writers not only to use their instinct, but to develop the skills and technique required to create an effective story. As an editor, I love this: “Storytelling rules aren’t restrictions. In fact, a basic understanding of the rules frees you to do your job as a writer.” (And all the editors in the room said, AMEN!) Whether you’re a published author or an aspiring one, this book will help you refine the art—and craft—of storytelling.

The Art of War for Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics, and Exercises, James Scott Bell

This little red book is a battle plan to achieving publishing victory. Drawing humorous and insightful parallels from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, novelist James Scott Bell lays out tactics ranging from developing ideas, building characters, and crafting dazzling dialogue… to battling self-doubts, coping with unrealistic expectations, and dealing with rejection. With short, pithy chapters, this book is easy to read, full of practical insights, and well worth your time.

She's Making a List, Checking It Twice...

As I was doing Miss B's eyedrops last night, I noticed a piece of notebook paper on her dresser. “What’s this?” I asked, taking it over to her as I sat on her bed for our nightly pre-tuck-in chat.

“Oh, I’m starting a club with my friends,” she said, naming four or five other girls in her second-grade class. “This is the list of our club rules, symbol, code, and password.”

Chuckling to myself—This daughter of mine is already starting clubs and making lists!—I asked if I could read it.

“Sure!” she said brightly.

I'm not sure what the code and password have to do with anything, but I have to admit, I am heartened by her "rules":

If only grown-ups would play by the same rules (minus the "no boys allowed" part), this world would be a much better place!

You Never Outgrow Your Need for a Daddy

“A father to the fatherless . . . is God in his holy dwelling.”
—Psalm 68:5

Our three-year-old son has a vivid imagination and, to my chagrin, an aversion to silence. (Despite my friends’ warnings that boys don’t talk as much as girls, Buddy has always been a chatterbox. As my dad would have said, he “suffers from undelivered speech.”) So whenever he’s in the car with me, I can guarantee a lively conversation from the backseat.

On the way to his preschool today, I heard him calling out several animal noises—Neigh! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Roar!—from the backseat. Picking up on the game, I scanned the trees and buildings we passed by, trying to “find” each animal he called. (“Look, there’s a rooster!”)

At some point during the game, our son decided to act out an episode of WonderPets. He hollered out an animal noise—Moo!—and then quickly followed up with, “Oh no, Mama! There’s an animal in twouble!”

“Oh no!” I gasped. “Is it the cow?”

“Yes!” he said with urgency. “There’s a baby cow, and it’s stuck up in the twees!”

“Oh my goodness.” Suppressing a giggle, I tried to sound appropriately concerned. “That’s terrible. We better save that poor calf!”

“Yeah!” he agreed. “I’ll be the guinea pig. You be the turtle!” (Apparently he doesn’t know the WonderPets characters’ names.)

“Okay. Let’s go save the calf!” I said in my best turtle voice. “We have to do teamwork, okay? I’m driving, so you’ll have to find the baby cow. Can you do that?”

“Yes, I can!” Buddy said proudly. A few seconds later, I heard him pipe up from the backseat, “Look, there he is!” He narrated his dramatic rescue of the calf from its precarious perch, culminating with, “I saved him!”

“Congratulations, Buddy. That’s great,” I assured him. Thinking of what always happens at the end of WonderPets, I suggested, “Do you want me to go get the calf’s mommy, so she can hug him and give you some celery?”

“No!” he insisted emphatically, to my surprise. “He needs to be safe now. He needs his daddy.”

***

What is it about a father that makes us feel safe? No matter how independent, strong-willed, or self-sufficient we make ourselves out to be, if we’re honest, we’ll admit that deep down, there’s a fearful place inside our hearts, a place where we hide our achingly desperate need to feel secure, to know that Someone is taking care of us.

As many of you know, my dad died suddenly and very unexpectedly when I was in high school. I won’t bore you with the details, but I spent years trying to pretend that I could be strong enough, smart enough, and independent enough to ignore that gaping hole in my heart. I didn’t even allow myself to grieve Dad’s death until almost a decade later. And to this day, I still can’t watch a father walking his daughter down the wedding aisle or see a dad show affection toward a grown daughter without feeling a gnawing physical ache, a deep longing for my own father.

I know other people whose fathers are alive—but emotionally far away. Adults who left home long ago to build their own lives, but they are still desperately seeking their father’s approval, crying out for attention, affirmation, for anything. No amount of success, no achievement, not even a loving family of their own can quench the thirst for their own father to say, “Well done.”

For those of us who no longer have fathers on this earth—and for those whose fathers are achingly far away—I want you to know something today. Take these words and tuck them into that secret place in your heart, the place where you long for a father to make you feel safe.

We have a heavenly Father who will never leave us or forsake us. He is “the helper of the fatherless” (Psalm 10:14 NIV).

Whenever you crave the security and safety of a daddy’s arms, remember that you are “loved by God, called and kept safe by Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:1 MSG; emphasis added).

What kind of Father is our God?

He's the kind of Dad who takes off at a dead-run to embrace you. A Father who is overjoyed to see you, forgives you, and lavishly celebrates your return, no matter how far away from Him your life’s journey has taken you (Luke 15:11-24).

He’s the kind of Dad who completely removes your disgrace and wipes away all your tears (Isaiah 28:5).

And best of all, whenever you feel scared and alone, He’s the Father who “will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound” (Proverbs 3:26).

Because the truth is, no matter how old you are, you never outgrow your need for a Daddy.

A Life of "Daily Loveliness"

I was one of those kids who knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. If you had asked me as early as elementary school, I would have enthusiastically told you that I would follow in my father’s footsteps in corporate management. And like my dad, I would honor God by living a life of integrity and faithfulness in the business world.

True to my word, after graduation from high school, I enrolled in the business administration program of Texas A&M University, eager to blaze my trail into corporate America. Everything was going according to plan—in fact, I was even selected to participate in the business school's honor program—except for one problem.

I didn’t like accounting. Or finance. Or most of the other classes along the way to that business degree. I was only excited about the classes like marketing and advertising, where I could write. (You can read more about that here.)

Long story short, after my freshman year, I switched my major to English and spent the summer as an intern at Word Publishing in Dallas. As soon as I entered the world of Christian book publishing, I was hooked. I knew this is what I was meant to do with my life.

I was going to be a book editor.

Trouble was, I was only nineteen. Honestly, how many teenage book editors do you know? And how many bestselling authors do you think would entrust their manuscripts to a nineteen-year-old?

Didn’t think so.

But the Lord works out His plan in amazing ways. By the end of that summer, I was proofreading professionally. And not long thereafter, an in-house editor at Word made me an offer I couldn’t refuse (or believe!).

She asked me to edit a book.

“The whole book?” I asked her. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she reassured me. “I’ve seen your work, Jennifer, and I believe in you. Trust me: you’re going to be a great book editor.”

Those words literally changed my life. They were the encouragement I needed to chase my dream. I eagerly accepted the job and have been editing ever since.

Let me introduce you to the woman who gave me my break into book editing. A woman who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. A dear friend, colleague, mentor, and confidant.

A godly woman who went home to be with our Lord a few weeks ago.

NASHVILLE, TENN—The Christian publishing industry lost a colleague and friend when Laura Kendall, longtime editor for Word Publishing and Thomas Nelson, died this week in Nashville, Tennessee. Laura had retired from Thomas Nelson in 2005, after two decades of editing books by bestselling Christian authors including Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Ruth Bell Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, Charles Swindoll, Barbara Johnson and Tony Campolo. She was still providing freelance editorial services and consultation from her home in Nashville until last week. Laura fought a brief battle with pneumonia and went to be with her Lord on September 2. She is survived by two nieces and two nephews and many who counted Laura as a spiritual sister and devoted friend.

Laura Kendall was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1938. She earned three degrees including a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (Mercer University, Macon, GA), a Bachelors of Divinity (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) and a Masters in Sacred Music (Northwestern University). She worked as a voice teacher and then as an account executive for publicity agency Hahn Crane and Associates in Evanston, IL. She joined Word Publishing (Waco, TX) in 1978 as Director of Publicity and soon moved into an editorial role, eventually earning the title of Senior Editor. Ernie Owen, former Publisher at Word, recalls Laura’s unique gift: “Many authors owe a debt of gratitude to Laura. She had an uncanny sense or feeling for dealing with people and manuscripts.” Laura continued to serve Word and its authors when the publishing company moved to Dallas and later to Nashville (as a division of Thomas Nelson). She officially retired in 2005 but continued working as a freelance editor and consultant. Beyond sharing her professional skills, Laura shared her heart with authors and colleagues alike, and her presence will be missed as both an editor and a friend.

Laura was recognized for her professional expertise but also for many personal talents and graces treasured by her friends. She possessed a trained soprano voice and sang with her choir at Glendale Baptist and was known for her elegance, her love of music, and what one friend called “her daily loveliness.”

* * * * *

As word spread of Laura's homegoing, remembrances and responses poured in from her friends and colleagues. Here are just a few:

* “Treasured memories of Laura with her beauty, charm, grace and deep faith will remain with us always.” (Pat Bianco)
* “She was a thoroughly classy lady.” (Claire Cloninger)
*“May we all enter our golden years with such grace and style.” (Kris Bearss)

Over and over, the same words were repeated as friends and loved ones described Laura:

Grace. Dignity. Elegance. Classy. Lovely. Faithful.

All of these are such fitting descriptions of Laura. She was a woman who truly understood what it means to be an example of dignity, wisdom, faith, and beauty (Titus 2:1-6).

Lord, may we all set such an example of "daily loveliness" for our children, our family, our friends, and everyone we encounter so that You may be glorified in and through us the way You shone through the life of Your devoted and faithful servant, Laura Kendall.

The Sound of Freedom

One of the fascinating things about living in north Fort Worth is that our house is only a few miles away from Alliance Airport. The brainchild of real estate mogul and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, in partnership with the city of Fort Worth and the FAA, Alliance Airport is an industrial airfield that also serves as a training site for military aircraft.

A few days after we moved to Sendera Ranch, Brett was installing storage shelves in our garage when fighter jets screamed over the house, literally shaking the walls. I remember him coming into the house and turning on the TV, convinced the military was bringing down a rogue aircraft from DFW.


However, we soon realized was that it was the Blue Angels, rehearsing for that year’s Alliance Air Show (which, by the way, is an amazing show. If you’re anywhere near Fort Worth on October 24-25 this year, you should see it!).

After living here for a while, we’ve gotten used to seeing various military aircraft zooming overhead, along with the regular assortment of 747s and passenger planes heading to and from DFW. On any given day, we can see F-16 jets, Blackhawk helicopters, and other military aircraft that I can’t even name. They’ve become so commonplace that our family hardly even notices them amid our daily routine.

Except for one humid, overcast day a few months ago.

That Thursday morning, I was working at the kitchen table when I heard a noise so loud that it rattled our back door and windows. I hurried into the backyard, convinced that it was some kind of massive explosion, honestly expecting to see flames leaping from one of our neighbors’ houses.

What I saw, instead, was an F-16 fighter jet streaking just below the clouds.

A sonic boom.

I looked down at my two younger children, who had also heard the boom and, frightened, had come to find me.

“What was that?” J.J. asked, covering her ears.

I kneeled down to her eye level and pointed to the sky.

“Honey," I gently explained to her, "that's the sound of freedom."




Eight years ago, on a clear, sunny September morning, the world heard the piercingly awful sound of terror.

But today, if you listen closely—beneath the acerbic political firestorm over health care and bailouts and even our military’s deployment abroad—you can still hear a sound so precious that it makes America unique among all other nations in the world.

Freedom to vote without fear.

Freedom to express your opinions.

Freedom to agree--or disagree--with our nation’s leaders.

Freedom to attend town hall meetings, write to your representatives, and even post your political views on public sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Freedom to participate in a democracy that has welcomed differing viewpoints and flourished for more than 200 years.

Listen closely. Pull your children toward you and gently explain it to them until they, too, can hear it.

Because, no matter how bitter the debates may be, when it comes down to it, freedom is a sweet, sweet sound.

To those who have dedicated—and even sacrificed—your lives to protect the freedom we all too often take for granted . . .

Thank you.

Can Christians Honor the President without Agreeing with Him?

Ever since the media announced that President Obama will be addressing public school students today at 12:00 EST, I have been intrigued by the outcry against it. I admit, when I first heard that the president was speaking to public school students (including two of my children), I was concerned about the specific content of the message and prayed about what God would have us do as parents. But as I investigated further and discovered that President Obama was simply encouraging children to pursue their education with passion and vigor, my concerns were assuaged. The speech (which you can read here) contains no force-fed leftist agenda or overt anti-God sentiments, as the pundits had gravely warned us. In fact, he actually closes his speech with the now-traditional presidential benediction: “God bless you, and God bless America.”

“But wait!” some Christian parents said. “It’s not the content of the speech we’re worried about; it’s the liberal, godless classroom activities that our children will be forced to do!” So I looked into those as well. The suggested classroom activities to complement the speech—which are completely optional--contain questions such as “If you were president, what would you tell students?”, “What can students do to help in our schools?”, and “Why is it important that we listen to the president and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important?”

I’ve read the entire speech. And all the classroom activities. And to be honest, I don’t see anything dishonoring to God in any of it. What I do see is an opportunity to reinforce to our children a healthy respect for those who hold public office and to help them understand the sobering responsibility our public servants have to make decisions every day to improve and protect our country.

As it turned out, our school district gave teachers the option of showing the president’s remarks, and neither of our girls’ teachers opted to show it today, so this is a moot point for us. However, if all school districts had chosen to show the president’s televised remarks to all public school students today, how should we, as Christian parents, respond?

“Pull all the Christian children out of the public schools!” some would advocate. “Don’t let the government convert them to godless socialism!”

“Keep your children at home on Tuesday!” other Christians say. “Don’t let your children be influenced by this anti-Christian, left-wing-agenda-driven radical!”

If you’ve read blogs penned by Christians on this subject, in addition to the few who have shown a prayerful, careful response, you’ve no doubt read astounding vitriol from those who disagree with the current administration. Some Christians (who are supposed to be characterized by love) are publicly lambasting, berating, and even belittling our commander-in-chief.

But wait.

This is the President of the United States we are talking about here.

Granted, I did not vote for Barack Obama. And I do not agree with most of his political and economic policies.

But whether I like it or not, Barack Obama is the leader of my country. He is not only the President of the United States, but he is also the president of Jennifer Stair, citizen of the United States. And he is the president of my husband and my children. And if you are a U.S. citizen, he is your president too.

If we look beyond the vigorous, vehement firestorm of debates among Christians about whether to subject our children to the president’s address today (or whether Christian children should even be in the public school system at all), here’s the bottom-line question:

Can Christians honor the President of the United States without agreeing with him? Can we have a healthy, God-honoring respect for the office of the presidency without supporting the person who holds that office?

Listen to what the apostle Paul says in Romans 13:1–7:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (ESV)

Regardless of whether you choose to homeschool your children, send them to a private Christian school, or put them in public school (which is, I believe, a decision parents are free to make as God leads them), as Christians we are all commanded to “be subject to the governing authorities” and to “pay … respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

As Al Mohler said, “Barack Obama is President of the United States. Christians must be the first to pray for this president and to model respect for the presidency, even when we must disagree with the President's policies and proposals.”

By our actions and by our words about the sitting president, are we setting an example to our children of how to "be subject to governing authorities"? Are we teaching our children how to respect and honor--without fear or resistance--those who hold authority in our local, state, and federal government, without necessarily agreeing with the people who hold that office? Certainly, as responsible citizens of a free and democratic country, we should voice our objections to our congressional representatives, attend town hall meetings, and make our opinions known. But we can do so while maintaining a healthy, God-honoring respect for those in authority, even--and especially--when we disagree with them.

Let’s face it: at some point in their lives, our children will eventually find themselves in subjection to an authority figure who holds beliefs different from our own. Whether a schoolteacher, college professor (yes, even in Christian colleges), boss, manager, or even pastor—your children and mine will someday have an authority figure with whom they disagree. As much as we want to protect them from encoutering difficult circumstances, the reality is that as our children grow up and begin making decisions on their own, they will eventually be faced with a situation in which they have an authority figure who embraces a differing political stance, religious belief, or worldview.

When that happens, how will they respond?

Will they berate, besmirch, and belittle that authority figure (the way, perhaps, they saw their parents do)? Will they retreat in fear and seclude themselves from having any positive influence in society?

Or will they, like the apostle Paul, understand how to respect and honor those in authority without fear or resistance—because they grew up in a home in which their parents modeled a God-honoring, prayerful respect toward authority figures (including presidents) with whom they disagree?