Theological Fitness: Part Ten

This is the last chapter, "Active Rest", of Aimee's fine book, Theological Fitness, and I am full of things to write for the Sunday after Easter--tomorrow. Of course not as many people will be in church the Sunday after Easter as the above graphic shows. And, those who follow "the regulative principle" will certainly cringe. My church in Florida of which I am a member does observe that principle. But I moved. How I am attending a Reformed church (EPC) that studies TULIP and the Confessions, but also does an Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday with foot washing, some years Good Friday, probably always Easter Sunrise and to top it off had a flash mob that joined the choir for the "Hallelujah Chorus" last week on Easter. Even though I am a senior citizen, I have never had the cross on my forehead and had my feet washed in a service until this year. My worship has been heightened! It is pure legalism if I look to those services for salvation, but I do not. Worship means ascribing worth to our LORD. The visual and physical expressions of faith are not my idols, but a way to celebrate the cross and resurrection. 

Hebrews 10:23-25

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope

without wavering,

for He who promised is faithful.

And let us consider one another

in order to stir up 

love

and good works,

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,

as is the manner of some,

but exhorting one another,

and so much more as you see the Day approaching."

Having moved to a new city (Huntsville, Alabama) and meeting new people, I am so surprised by the "minimalist Christians"*, maybe also called "evangelical" by the politicians. They do not practice that assembling and accountability of the church. One new friend watches TV preachers religiously and only! 

Again, Aimee Byrd's questions from the end of her book are in red and my answers are in black. 

1. Has this chapter changed your thinking about proper rest?   For instance, when we consider how the Lord rested after creation, how does that affect your understanding of rest?  I notice that especially since I am a senior citizen I need to take advantage of Sabbath rest. Rather than feel guilty, I have finally realized, Sabbath rest is proper. 

2. What is the relationship between rest and fitness, both physically and spiritually? We recover physically and spiritually through rest. In other words how does something that seems so counter-productive factor in to our conditioning and stamina? Have you every seen the Gaither's on TV? Lots of those saints, I am afraid to say, need physical conditioning. We recover physically and spiritually through rest. 
3. What is your relationship to work? I am semi-retired and finishing up a seminary counseling dissertation on dementia caregiving.  How does the change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday under the new covenant represent the way we should think about work? We are looking for the rest to come as we celebrate His resurrection EVERY Sunday. Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law. 

4. When you consider the rest that we have now and the eternal rest that is to come, does that make any difference to the way that you view your typical Sunday?   Having read Randy Alcorn's Heaven I look forward to the eternal worship of God.  What are your thoughts about how we should observe the Sabbath?   I need to wake up and make it special! Instruction in adult Sunday School or teaching of Sunday School, corporate worship and fellowship with believers specifically are part of my Sunday. Often I eat out after worship with believers from the church. My special day! 

5. Do you ever find yourself striving for validation from sources that could never satisfy? Absolutely! I have to guard against pride in areas of my life.

6. How do we strive for rest?  I think we need to plan for Sunday as we plan for our work week. We need to wake up Sunday morning and enjoy the day--it is a celebration of His resurrection just as much as an Easter celebration is a celebration. Every Sunday is special.   

7. How is being a "summoned being" related to being in a covenantal relationship with God? Not sure of the word liturgy, but really like what Aimee wrote on p. 183. 

Yet thinking about the emotion that validation brings, I remember that there is a reason for this longing--we will be validated in Christ. Once day, all those covered in his righteousness will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." We crave validation because we should. We hear that blessing every week in the covenant renewal ceremony of Sunday worship. But on that great day, we will hear God himself say that he is pleased with us. And he will be our great reward.

What, then, is the significance of theological fitness in this liturgy? 

What is this eternal rest that we anticipate? Is it merely inactivity? As we learn about the Sabbath, we see that Christ is our rest. In one sense, rest is a place. Verses like Hebrews 4:1, 3-5, 8 and 10 use Greek words that can be translated "abode"or "to colonize". The context here reminds us of the land of Canaan that was to be the Israelite's rest, as well as the rest of God after creation. On Sunday, Christ's covenant community assembles together in a local place for worship. Here we are given Christ and all of his benefits. (p. 183-184 of Theological Fitness)

Carol, here,

just as excited about the Sunday after Easter

*Heard that term at Ligoneer in February--see last blog post. 

Theological Fitness: Part Three

In the last blog post Aimee herself commented she could imagine talking on the porch with 

me about her book, Theological Fitness. So I read chapter three on the front porch as pictured. My dog Ziggy enjoyed sitting there in the shade.  Join us in this discussion. 

There are lots of terms in chapter three that are part of Aimee Byrd’s life and vocabulary and an author should write about things they know. First you have the martial arts terms—circuit training and super-sets, sissy-squats, open dojo, jujutsu, blitz attack, skull crushers, spider push-ups, supination arm extensions and then the reference to an 80’s karate film and extra chins. Extra chins? Than is what old ladies have I’m thinking!  But she means that you go to God’s Word for extra strength in your faith journey, to be able to endure extra rounds as in a fight. You have the terms Aimee’s kids have made up and their toothpaste battles.  In this athletic family Aimee even endures childbirth without drugs. But this is all well and good because the analogy goes along with spiritual fitness, the subject of this book.

Now about the term in the title—“Superabundantly Engaged”, her HWTV or Housewife Theologian version of Hebrews 2:1 and giving more earnest heed. By this term she means to pay attention to Scripture, to the preached Word, and to opportunities to encourage others and to pray. We are to pay attention to our faith, our calling and the ministry of the Gospel. She also uses the term active listening for engagement.

Lady Jane Grey was brought up. I thought I had to look this up to refresh my knowledge as I was tempted to do for the martial arts terms.  But soon Lady Jane Grey is discussed—an historical figure in England who for the joy set before her was executed as a teenager. She endured to the point of death because she stood for her faith. Aimee then writes about Jesus Christ on the cross and notes, “We cannot even pretend to understand the theological, spiritual, emotional, and physical fitness this took”(p. 75). Anchored in Jesus Christ we hold fast and He has the victory.

Below are the questions from “Superabundantly Engaged”. The book questions for chapter 3 are in red and my answers are in black. The questions are called “Going the Extra Mile”.

1.     Why is it such a struggle to hold fast to your hope? When is it particularly more difficult for you to hold fast to your confession? When life has handed me challenges, it is a struggle to hold fast. When I am criticized or called a hypocrite I have had to hold fast, not defend myself, and carry on. Because I want people to like me, this can be hard. But people do not have to like me—hopefully they see Christ in me and that I am a pilgrim on a journey, not yet arrived at the destination. I can point them to Scripture such as some of the great passages mentioned in this chapter of the book. See Hebrews 3:14; 4:14; 6:17-18; 10:23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Philippians 2:14, 16; I Thessalonians 5:20-21; and finally Revelation 2:25-26.

2.     Do you find that you tend to be easily distracted or persuaded to give up on the whole Christian life? I am in my early 70s and I realize that there is no way I would want to give up the whole Christian life. Christ has been my strength and burden bearer and what a privilege it is to come to Him daily. My daily Scripture dependence is much better than other disciplines in my life such as careful eating, exercising and house keeping. I did not grow up in an athletic family, but my parents did live a godly life. 

3.     Are you more tempted to look to your own successes and accomplishments in order to persevere than to God’s promises in Christ? Do your failures send you into despair that you may not finish the race? When I look to “my own successes and accomplishments” I really am just overwhelmed at how the LORD has helped me. Yesterday I had a group of ladies over who had prayed for me during my caregiving, death of my husband and also my downsizing and moving. I rejoiced with them at the answered prayer that they could see in my apartment. Failures and despair—not really because I know that finishing the race will be in God’s timing and with His strength. I watched my husband die in our bedroom; he finished the race in God’s time with His strength. 

4.     Do you have a plan for theological training? How could you get a plan together or help someone else in discipleship? What unanswered questions do you have about Christianity that you may want to investigate? Is there a doctrine that you have wanted to learn more about? As a matter of fact I do have a plan for theological training. I have been taking seminary counseling classes and daily email others with Scripture and/or encouragement. I will be in a study group in the fall for a David Jeremiah book and a Randy Alcorn book. No doubt there will be more theology that will come up for me to study. Like who is Melchizedek? Aimee, I will look out for those doctrines and appreciate your weekly Mortification of Spin podcast with two ministers. Many theological terms I can handle now because of my excellent pastors in the past. Beyond orthodox theology, however, is orthopraxy—how I am living out the Christian life and I have observed some in the Reformed faith who know the doctrines but lack some of the fruit of the Spirit in their Christian walk. 

5.     Often I have well-meaning friends who confess they just aren’t good readers. They also may have trouble focusing on the sermon. What are some methods that can help teach someone to be more engaged before, during and after they read or sit under the preached Word? In my youth I had the privilege of listening to Rev. Dwight Small, a man who worked with Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse. I took notes. I regret that I threw away my notes from those early days. Maybe six years ago I purchased a small notebook computer for note taking of sermons and seminary classes. I listen to sermons on podcasts. I am worshiping in a church that provides a template for the pastor’s sermon and I follow along and take notes with that. 

I want to add that engagement includes meditation and praise during the whole worship experience. Engagement includes not looking around the sanctuary observing people. Engagement includes looking up related Scripture and writing in the large margins of my Bible. 

6.     Hebrews 12:12 acknowledges the heavy blows that we all encounter. But it doesn’t excuse our staying down. How can we be encouragers of the gospel to one another at these times? I have several lady friends whom I am contact with daily through the computer. I am writing a seminary dissertation on dementia caregiving and am there for these caregivers myself, having gone through seven years of caregiving myself. I send these caregivers encouragement by email. 

7.     See this chapter’s definition of having “extra chins”—what does it mean to have extra chins in the Christian life? How is this analogy important for both the heavy blows and the trivial, mundane matters that may wear us down? What kind of conditioning does a Christian train under for extra chins (think ‘80s karate movies)? Aimee I am not thinking of those movies! Extra chins means to me being strengthened with Scripture and prayer. During the time I needed to give my late husband morphine every four hours, I had Scripture cards by my bed and I prayed for strength. Others were praying for me as well. Extra chins means practicing forgiveness of others and being quick to ask for forgiveness from them when I am wrong. Extra chins means listening to the quite voice that tells me what is the next thing to do. I heard of a doctor who was told to go back and pray. See HERE for his exciting story.

8.     How does it put things in perspective when we think of the image that Hebrews 6 gives us of Christ being our anchor in the heavenly sanctuary? Who’s the One really holding on? He is our anchor and He is the one holding on to us. Hebrews 6:19-20 reads: 

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 

Theological Fitness, Part One

This blog has been on a sabbatical, due to my downsizing and moving to Alabama, but I knew when Aimee Byrd's second book, THEOLOGICAL FITNESS: Why We Need a Fighting Faith, came out that I would be blogging about it as I did her Housewife Theologian earlier. See HERE for the beginning of this 2013 series. Aimee in both books asks reflective questions at the end of each chapter. Buy your book from Amazon or wherever and reflect with me on her questions.

Chapter One is called "The Toughest Event on the Planet". Aimee compares physical prowess of her brother and daughter to the spiritual stamina we need to persevere. We need the body of Christ to persevere, and we need to be encouragers with other Christians.

Aimee's questions are in red and my answers are in black.

1. My previous church was actually named Pilgrim Presbyterian, which is a great reminder of my pilgrim status. What exactly is a pilgrim? How does this status make us different from the rest of the world?

Pilgrims usually banded together. Many Reformed churches consider that they are part of this old Pilgrim faith that came to America. I once asked my Florida pastor, Dr. Kenneth Talbot, what church represents the current Pilgrims and he said the Reformed faith are essentially in the line of the Jonathan Edwards type churches of the 18th century. Seeing that we love one another is part of this tradition and also is biblical according to John 13:35.

2. In Philippians 1:27 Paul tells us to stand firm in one spirit, with one mind. How does this exhortation play out when we are in disagreement over doctrine or practice? How important is theology to our Christian union?                                         

Truth needs to come before unity. In choosing a church in my new location, I considered how the pastor treats the Word of God. The first Sunday I heard Dr. Randall Jenkins preach, he made a definite biblical statement about biblical marriage and I was impressed. I also liked how he and the church had left the PCUSA and joined the Evangelical Presbyterian over unity with that old denomination. Truth prevailed, even though it cost them to get out of the PCUSA.

3. The imagery of an advancing line of legionnaires against the enemy is both bold and intimate. Do you have relationships in your church that foster the vulnerability, trust, and soldiering that this illustration represents? When you are with your Christian brothers and sisters, do you have this kind of selfless solidarity, or are you more concerned with how you've been offended by something or someone who's not measuring up?

 I have significant fellowship on the Internet and with email friends. I have selfless solidarity by texting with a couple in my Florida church. I am developing ties in the church I am attending in the new city I moved to in June. About being offended, I had a secular person call me a hypocrite recently and I just choose to not be offended; he thinks that Christians have to be perfect and giving by his standards and we never will be perfect until heaven.

4. Have you made a fighting effort to get to know Christ's bride?                                                                              
Yes I have. For example, recently I volunteered to teach Vacation Bible School Science lessons in the church I am attending. I also was so comfortable with this church that I decided to not roam the countryside Sunday mornings looking for the perfect church, and also wasting valuable worship experiences. 

5.  How does the worship service affect your ideas about what is ordinary and what is extraordinary? Is ordinary bad? Why do you think God has ordained such ordinary means to convey such extraordinary grace? 

I do not attend church for entertainment. I attend for instruction and worship. God wants us to worship him in Spirit and in truth. See John 4:24.     

6. Do you find that your involvement in technology has made it harder for you to pay attention? What are you sacrificing for the constant interruptions from media devices throughout the week? How does this compare to your willingness to be interrupted by the gospel?

Several months ago I visited a church where in the row in front of me two people were on electronic devices, and I mean they were not taking sermon notes as I have done on my notebook computer, and also they were not using these devices to look up Scripture. They were using a smart phone to text. If during the week we are always on an iPad or iPhone, we are missing real opportunities to communicate with people and to have them minister to us.

7. Is regular church attendance important to you? How about membership?

Attendance is essential unless I am sick.  My membership is in my Florida church as I am working on a counseling dissertation at the seminary connected with that church. Aimee emphasizes Hebrews 10:23-25 on corporate worship and I totally agree.

8. When was the last time you were encouraged to persevere? What difference did it make?

Scripture continuously encourages me to persevere. I held on to Romans 12:12 this last half year. The daunting task before me had been to downsize and get ready to move. After moving the perseverance has not stopped, as I have had the tasks associated with getting settled.  If I didn’t do certain things, I feel I would be sinning as the direction for my move seemed to be what God had intended. (See James 4:17.)

Aimee highlights our need to be there for others, watching our own motivation as we encourage them.  On page 36 she writes, “We are exhorted to lift up our own drooping hands as well as to pick one another up.”  And there are more gems to follow in the rest of the book, so comment here and get your book so we can lift up each other's drooping hands.

Carol

Chapter Twelve, "Expensive Grace"

Today is Halloween. Aimee has reflected on Halloween over at the "Mortification of Spin" podcast as has AlbertMohler.com's "The Briefing" podcast.

I have come to the last chapter of  Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd. I have finished the book that was intended to take twelve months and be discussed in a group of women. I read this last chapter in the middle of the night, a hard time in my caregiving journey with my husband's Alzheimer's and my reflections begin below. The Journaling Questions from pp. 239-240 are in red and my answers are in black.

• What was your utopian vision of marriage and your future as a Christian? Possibly the "happily every after" myth. Marriage will make life easier. 
• Dating is a preparation and training time before marriage. How often in your dating relationships did you forsake all you had to give for a bowl of pottage? Have you continued this behavior in your marriage? How is this symbolic of your discipleship?
• Where are you affections out of balance? I wrestle with depression these days as a caregiver. I want my cross to be easy and it is not. I need to accept the role of a senior citizen whose husband is going down hill. How can human affections be a bad thing, and how must they change for a disciple of Christ? I need to accept that cross that is before me. 
• Have you ever considered your status as a Christian to have costly consequences? Think of a time where you have grown spiritually from enduring an affliction faithfully. Was the outcome what you expected? Measure the value of what you have lost to that which you have gained. I have and I am. 
• How does a theology of the cross completely contradict the so-called American spirituality of our culture? What does the world tell us to desire as opposed to what Christ tells us to desire? Brene Brown, best-seller spiritualist whom is featured on Oprah, says to accept shame. On the other hand, Christ tells us to deal with sin by confessing and  coming to His cross. Dr. Brown totally misses the mark, but I am reading her book The Gift of Imperfection to understand people who quote her at Toastmasters. 
• How do you see cheap grace being offered in much of contemporary evangelicalism? How is this a great challenge for the church today? I am in a Reformed church now and do not know how cheap grace is being offered. 
• If the profession of the gospel demands the cross, how do many so-called Christian messages being taught and preached today completely miss the mark? "Your best life now" ideas certainly miss the mark.  My best life will be in heaven when I lay my crown at His feet. 
• In what ways does this Scripture in Luke 14:25-33 contradict the cultural obsession with independence and competency? Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. This concept has so hit me and blessed me with this chapter 12. 
• How does affliction lead us to the cross? There is nothing to do for our heavy load but accept my cross of suffering, follow Christ and become His disciple. 
• What is the danger of confusing gospel with law? What I can do and preform is the law. Taking up the cross of suffering is the gospel of grace, expensive grace. I get it. 
• If you are single, what presuppositions do you have about housewives? When I was single, which I was until I was 40, I thought that housewives were wonderful but boring. Do you think that there are similarities in the world's view of housewives and their view of Christians? Yep. 
• In what ways does your role in marriage symbolize our Scripture passage? I have been thinking about being myself in all of life, not putting on airs, and yes coming to the cross. Still being "me" has to be transformed into being that disciple that is willing to accept suffering. Being willing to accept suffering I am sure is a key to my depression that has encircled me of late as my husband's dementia has gotten worse. I have to accept enough theology to realize this. As I pour over lamenting passages of Scripture, such as many in the Psalms, I realize that He will bear me up as I bear that cross.  

Aimee writes,

So in this final chapter, I hope to prove all those wrong who claim that doctrine and theology are impractical, and I will do so my using the words of a so-called stuffy theologian from the sixteenth century, John Calvin himself, to help us ordinary housewives. . . . Calvin suggests that so many of us give in to even the smallest temptations because we have this false, ideological picture of an easy Christian life. He warms us, "No man will ever become fit to serve Christ till he has undergone a long preparation for warfare."  (p. 227-228)

My husband once owned Calvin's Institutes, but in simplifying our library my husband was willing to part with many books and our collective theological library has been pared down and is collecting dust on the bookshelves. I am glad that our Associate Pastor got the Institutes, and that I can benefit from the theology in his sermons.

Can I be a caregiver theologian? Put it simply, 

I can as I accept the suffering laid out before me. 

Calvin, via Aimee, has at least taught me that. 

Thank you, Aimee Byrd, for taking me on this journey applying theology in my life. Now for the hard part--taking up that caregiving cross willingly. Yet He has promised His burden is light. 

Chapter Eleven, "The Other Six Days"

You Can Find This on iTunes

You just have to be glad there is an Aimee Byrd on the planet. She was featured recently on a Mortification of Spin podcast that I was able to import to iTunes and listen there. In such a relaxed manner she discusses verbal abuse of wives by their husbands. Someone has to speak up about the abuse of submission! The two hosts tease her about finally getting running water in West Virginia where she lives. The podcast is fun and significant. The blog also has the 28 minute tape and it is HERE. Aimee was asked how pastors need to be aware of a wife's verbal abuse by husbands and how that pastor can help. She points out it is easy to get used to a lifestyle a wife shouldn't get used to. She points out that love has a theological side and both men and women are equal under Christ. It takes a lot of wisdom to be a good helper and men need instruction in the proper care of their wives. Carl Trueman says that some men use their authority over the woman inappropriately and that the elders and deacons need to know the church members well so they can find instances of verbal abuse. Aimee says we need to ask leading questions. Carl suggested that men's pornography can ruin marriages and might be connected to verbal abuse. I did not find a lot of specifics here, but am glad that Aimee in her calm, sensible voice can raise awareness here.

Do I have verbal abuse from an Alzheimer's husband? Yes, I do at times. I let it roll off my back because I have learned what is happening to his brain. His anger is the disease talking. Then he forgets what he said to me and is very loving. His reality has changed. Some wives in the Alzheimer's Association Support Group do have very abusive husbands and have had to put them in locked-down nursing homes. I desire for my husband to be home all his days and I realize that my loving my husband is a way I show my world and my Plant City Lady and Friends blogging world what a Christian marriage is.

Back to the book, Housewife Theologian,  and the eleventh chapter. The Journaling Questions from pp. 225-226 are in red and my answers are in black.

• Though the source is actually debatable, a quote often attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi says, "Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary use words." What is wrong with this quote? We need to be ready at all times to give a defense. 
• Do you struggle with what it looks like to be a Christian in your vocation? I guess my faith shows. I was asked if I am a Christian rapper. I answered, "I am a rapper who happens to be Christian." Now mind you, this rapping thing just happened. I perform one of my wholesome raps at the end of good classes when I substitute teach.  How can you glorify God in your daily work? Through prayer and doing quality work, but then also accepting my limitations when I can't do quality work.  What are some of your struggles? I am so not perfect and at times I really get on my own nerves. 
• How are you personally humbled as a Christian living your daily life? All the time I am humbled. Think about your daily tasks, relationships, and goals. I so miss the mark, but am learning to deal with imperfection and will be until I see Jesus in His Holiness in heaven or the new earth. 
• Jesus tells us that we are the salt and the light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-16). What does that say about the world? There is so much depravity out in the world. What properties do salt and light have? Salt brings out flavor and light illuminates. 
• Think back to the first nine chapters of this book and the first nine months of your study. What privileges have stood out to you that we have as women to give that taste of Christianity to the watching world? I blog about my caregiving responsibilities and I also gently share my faith when I substitute teach or teach an occasional class for DUI offenders. What have been your biggest challenges? Last week I mentioned not being politically correct in public school and a bright young woman said there is not such a thing as "being politically correct" and that it is OK to mention God's Word which I did briefly in a rap I give at the end of the class. Here is the ending of my rap I often deliver in public school when I substitute:
  So use your mind
  Be careful with emotion
  Get your education
  Get your heart right
  Heed God’s Word
  Your future will be bright
  
  
  You all have our prayers
  You all have our devotion
  
  
  First use your mind
  But not your emotion
  This is, young friend,
  Life’s magic potion. 
  
  
  My rap is really rooted in Romans 12:2--to be renewed in your mind. I am not ashamed of the gospel, as Paul writes in Romans 1:16, because it is the power of God. 
• Do you find a lot of "holy prefixes" in your community's activities? Yes. There are probably more Baptist churches per square mile here in Plant City than any other town. But I haven't done the statistical research on it, but they can do things like drop Easter eggs from a helicopter on Easter. What can be some good responses that we can give to some of these invitation? I don't have time to run to every gospel concert or egg dropping. 
• How is a Christian plumber different from a good, upstanding, unbelieving plumber? I can ask this about the man who volunteers around our house--mowing the yard and fixing things. He may be thinking he is winning his way to heaven, but this is not the case. He is anti-church and yet says he prays and believes in Jesus Christ. Should there be any differences in their abilities? There may not be on the surface, but there would be in the obedience to God's Word. How about their code of conduct? Our gardener shows much moral responsibility and charity; we have bartered for his services my giving him equipment. Is it the responsibility of the Christian plumber to share the gospel with every customer before leaving his or her house? No, but the Christian needs to be aware of opportunities and also be a good steward of her working hours.*
• What differences are there between worldly success and how the Christian would define success? Is it difficult for you not to get caught up in worldly ambitions? Personally, I have really struggled in the area of ambition. . . . Aimee continues this with some of her struggle being a mom and finishing Housewife Theologian. When I ambitiously wrote my book in 2009, Getting Off the Niceness Treadmill, my husband was more cognitively aware at that stage of his dementia and he helped me by listening to me read it to him and offering suggestions. Now with the stress of being a caregiver I find that I am not caught up in worldly ambitions to my knowledge. Many times I wish I had more motivation and ambition, but do see that it is okay to accept my senior years the way they are now. Aimee writes: As I strive to live a life according to the gospel, my message to others is not "look at me." My life is not the gospel. Rather, my aim is to point others to Christ. (p. 212) Amen, Aimee! I think that even in the church there can be worldly ambitions and some churches are "seeker friendly" and driven by numbers. 
• What challenges do you find in selecting the best education for your children? What are you doing to combat the difficulties in the decisions you have made? Do you find yourself being judgmental of other Christians who make different decisions in this area? Since I am not a mom, I will just have to share my perspective. I do see Christian moms being torn up about educational decisions--whether to home school or to choose public school. Not all woman may have the ability to teach or be organized enough to homeschool. Not all families can afford private Christian education, probably the next best. The family may need the mother to work. As a public school substitute teacher and retired public school teacher, I can see problems of public school from the inside--namely what is taught and peer influence.  Yet I see Christian students thriving and sharing their faith in a public school while I see students homeschooled in a Christian home not picking up the faith. 
• Are there any other areas of our common culture for which you find a Christian adjective to be somewhat helpful? Maybe not. As Aimee wrote: we need to participate in humility in the place God has called us while he faithfully brings the full number of believers into his redemptive kingdom. Hopefully, I have already made my case that the gospel message challenges us to much more than slapping a Christian prefix in front of our daily activities. . . . Our cultural engagement is significant as Christians. It is something we should all wrestle with. But I don't think it's by "redeeming" yoga, plumbing, or politics in such a superficial way. (p. 208) Now in my case, I am trying to apply Christian principles to being a caregiver. 

*Incidentally, we are going to receive the free gift of a Christian plumber from our local Baptist church where the Alzheimer's Association Support Group meets.  He will be here next month to install grab bars to help with my husband's mobility in the bathroom. The staff member who called to set this up with me asked point blank if I am a Christian, taking advantage of that church's community outreach to senior citizens. Had I not been able to tell him about my faith, I am certain that he could have given out the gospel message. Thank God for the Southern Baptists!