Tonight I picked up Innocent Blood by John Ensor. It is an interesting book in a lot of ways. If you want to learn more about why Leviticus and Deuteronomy actually have some parts worth reading, this is a good book. I have read both of those books more than once. Sometimes a skimming, sometimes a more dutiful reading. But what he has pulled out, the verses and the understanding of them, is new to me. And convicting.

The topic of the book is the need for Christians to have courage, faith in a powerful and almighty God, to stand up and defend the innocent, to defend them and prevent the shedding of innocent blood. That concept is not new to me. I still remember reading Oswald Chambers 2 years ago and getting a clearer understanding of why I should not confuse trying to insist on my own rights with the need to be willing and able to defend the rights of another. This book is a good continuation of that truth.

Of course, while talking about the need to defend the innocent, the primary issue this book raises is abortion. As the author points out, it is the primary issue of our day. In the past slavery and caring for the elderly were the issues that needed to be raised. Right now, in this world we live in, it is definitely abortion. And he has a very powerful chapter showing why anyone suffering from bloodguilt (be it abortion or some other heinous crime) needs the gospel in all it’s truth and grace and glory.

He also shows the difference between responding to innocent lives in danger by accident vs lives in danger of malicious evil. Responding to an accident is usually easy and instinctive. But helping someone being attacked or intentionally hurt requires us to put ourselves in danger, it interrupts our life, and it requires us to face the consequences.

During my EMBA class, one of the discussions we had one day was about the importance of helping someone. The issue posed by a classmate was someone heading to an important business meeting in India that had the potential to bring thousands of jobs and help thousands and thousands of Indians who would otherwise not have jobs or continue to live in poverty or die of starvation. Say that person came upon an accident and a man injured who needed help. Should he help that one man, missing the meeting and missing the opportunity to help all of those thousands of others?

I didn’t state my position very well, but I knew it was wrong to walk past that man. One concern is that if someone can walk by someone hurt by accident, they have lost a part of their humanity, and it will easier to walk past the next one. And even to sacrifice people for some better goal. The ends does not justify the means.

Anyway – consider a subscription to the Cruciform books. Consider how you can help defend innocents. Think about being prepared when your faith must become courage. And I’ll do the same.

She talks about her alcoholism, her drug addictions, and her bipolar issues. She also does a good job of talking about how the alcohol and drugs helped keep the bipolar symptoms under control. She wasn’t diagnosed until she managed to go dry and then got out of control.

On p 106 she talks about the AA meetings she has attended for 10 years and how finally at one of them someone said that you didn’t have to like meetings, you just had to go to them. What a revelation this was for her. She had always thought she should like everything, but now she was learning that she didn’t have to actually be comfortable all of the time. She could learn to experience some discomfort – which meant she could also exercise and write and be responsible.

She doesn’t do more deep digging right here in the book, but it is an interesting point that seems so obvious so some of us that I think we struggle to relate to people who don’t seem to see it this way. And I think we sometimes ‘get it’ in one area of our lives but not in another. Even when we ‘get it’, we don’t always live it out completely. We believe many things that we somehow don’t reconcile to all of our actions. This is one of the reasons believing God is so difficult. We do, right now, for this thing. But if something different comes along or our digestion is not right, we forget that we believe and trust God.

People seem to spend a lot of time trying to avoid being uncomfortable, or doing something unpleasant, being responsible. But usually all of that effort doesn’t really make us more comfortable. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, moping and refusing to participate in whatever is life at that moment (think teenager). There are always consequences to those actions or avoidance behaviors. And usually they are more uncomfortable than if we had just kept our head up, our integrity intact, and dealt with the original issue or task.

The truck driver’s story.

Then check out this post from Paul Tripp about grace. I love how he reminds us again and again that it is all grace and being at the end of the rope can be a good thing when we turn it all over to God.

One more from Paul Tripp about forgiveness. The next study book for my Circle is Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns and the blog entries from Tripp lately on forgiveness are finding their way into my book so we can include them in the discussion.

We spent the first week of August in Mexico. Which means we spent the last week of July getting ready to go to Mexico. Many thanks to my mom for house- and cat-sitting! And thanks to Ryan Taylor for taking Mom to the NASCAR Museum. Then Aunt Elaine and Aunt Anne came to party keep Mom company part of that week.

Then last week was spent catching up – with laundry, with email, with meetings. And last week was interrupted by the sad news of my cousin’s death at 46, leaving a wife and 2 children.

This week is still running full tilt. I sang a solo Sunday. Then I had Circle of Grace at my house Monday night (love that group!). Last night I had a meeting with some women about reinvigorating the Women’s Ministries of our local church. This coming Saturday is the First Presbyterial Annual Meeting (where I become Vice President of First Presbyterial, and also get to invite all the women to come to HARP for next year’s Annual Meeting). In preparation for Saturday, I’ve done lots of updating to the WM website.

Plus I’m working on the ‘new year’ stuff for church since we change our year in September (this is the last year for that, next year we go back to the calendar year structure). I remembered that I am Historian for HARP this year so I have until Sept 15 to get our History written up and submitted.

Plus Sunday I run my part of the 2nd Ramblin Rose triathlon, so I’m trying to find time to run at least a little. Ah, but September (so far) looks blessedly empty of major events so maybe I’ll get to read something personal and spend time updating my blog, and all that kind of stuff.

Anyway – as part of the History work, I’m working my way through a year’s worth of bulletins and wanted to capture some of the notes I am finding in there.

Aug 22 on Job 1: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God” Corrie ten Boom

Oct 10 on Luke 7:11-17  Jesus is the maker and master of circumstance (guest preacher Nathan McCall)

Feb 13 Galatians 4:1-7  1. Inheritance = eternal riches; 2. complete access to God; 3. loving discipline; 4. connection with others (a family, identify, responsibility); 5. liberty to offer imperfect obedience (too many things I don’t attempt because I can’t do it perfectly); 6. enjoy it

Feb 20, 2011 on Acts 2:42-47: church was characterized by 1. devotion to teaching of God’s word – make receiving of God’s word a priority.  2. fellowship – committed to rich relationships in the family of God. 3. people pray together. 4. worship. 5. witness.

July 3, 2011 2 Cor 12:1-10 God is interested in our perception – we rejoice in Christ but for now we suffer. These trials have come so faith may be proven genuine and we will praise. Suffering is God’s servant. Spiritual pride leads to being blind to the mercy of Christ. The thorn can stay in place because God’s grace is sufficient. Doesn’t reduce the pain but gives it meaning. What if he does not remove you from the slimy pit or the miry bog? He is still the rock under your feet. We should boast/delight in our weakness.

This post from Desiring God by Jon Bloom is really a great discussion of how we should handle disappointment. It is wrong to feel disappointed because it is rooted in unbelief, doubting the promises of God. How convicting! If we examine it, odds are we are disappointed because we saw something that would feed our own glory (or our own ease and comfort) and we feel we are missing out on something now. Convicting!

Then this post by Kevin DeYoung about how we should feel about the doctrine of Hell. We should learn to love where the Bible stands. It isn’t ok to say we believe it because the Bible says it but we aren’t entirely comfortable with it. The law of the Lord should be our delight. Can I say that about Hell? About people I know and love who are not believers?

God is good and his ways are always right. It is a measure of our maturity that we not only affirm the truth of God’s word but rest in the goodness and rightness of it. Christians should have anguish in heart at the thought of eternal suffering, but we should also see the glory of God in the Bible’s teaching on eternal punishment.

Back to Desiring God for this wonderful post about motherhood. Treasure the calling!

Last November (I remember a lot of things that happened in November, because I remember sitting in the office in Raleigh while doing it, the month I spent every workday in Raleigh) a friend called me up to see if I had been serious about doing the running portion of the Ramblin’ Rose triathlon with her. She swims (which I do not do) and we both bike. She says her least favorite part is the running so she was happy to have me along to relay on one or two of the triathlons. I said sure thing and signed up (and then realized the Ramblin’ Rose is always on a Sunday, bummer!).

It’s a mini-triathlon so the distances are shorter. It’s also women only which means we aren’t feeling any need to compete with guys who are naturally stronger and faster than us and we can feel a little less self-conscious being out there.

The first one was this past Sunday in Rock Hill. My great friend Charlotte lives 5 minutes away from the venue so I trecked down there Saturday and spend a lovely afternoon and evening visiting, pushing Rachel in the swing, holding Sterling, and eating a wonderful dinner. Luke was a tad disappointed that I wasn’t pushing him around the house, but I had moved friends all morning and had a race the next day so I was hesitant to work that hard. Next time, buddy.

I headed to the Y and met Dawn and we got signed up and then waited around for the start. Dawn swam (she did very well) and then jumped on her bike and took off. About this time, the first women in the water were already returning on their bikes and starting their run. Oh well, they were younger and obviously have too much time on their hands to be that fit

During the swim, I stood around and chatted with a man from this area who had a slight crush on a friend back when they were in high school. Such a small world. During the bike ride I was chatting with his daughter. Her mother was out on the bike and she was doing the run portion.

Dawn came in, I grabbed that chip from around her ankle and got it on mine. I left her to rest up and I took off! Two miles – flat and 2/3 of it in the shade. A nice route. I had people pass me, I passed people, I ran too fast and had to walk some. And it was all good.

When I was “training” this spring/summer I tried steady runs, and I did interval runs. Either way, I averaged about 22.5 minutes to do 2 miles. I warned Dawn I didn’t want to ruin her average

My watch was having issues (turned out to be user error) so I didn’t have it with me and had no idea how well I had actually done. Then, I abandoned Dawn to return to church in time to sing the anthem and hear the sermon (totally worth it – we did a great song and the sermon was timely (evidence in the prior 2 posts).

Dawn called to let me know we came in second among the 4 relay teams so we got a mug! I also got a shirt, a necklace, and a water bottle just for being in it. All cool, but the best part was Dawn praying for us before it all started.

Next up – Winston Salem in August. We’re pumped! I just hope I don’t have to beat my record from Rock Hill.

We’re the Purplicious team.

Recovery this week was interesting. I was tired Sunday, but didn’t really get a nap since we got 5 phone calls (we usually get 0). Some allowed us to be helpful, and a few were a lot of fun celebrating with Charlotte and Mom how well it went.

Tuesday I dragged Beth out with me for a slow and short run. It wore me out for the rest of the day, but it was good to get moving. I recovered well the next day and headed back out Friday evening while it was cool and cloudy. I ran almost 5 miles. We’ll see how training goes for the next month, with a week in Mexico in the middle.

But recently my elbows have been hurting and the doctor blames it on tendonitis from typing. Although I think I am pretty good about not just typing for hours on end. I do, however, keep my arms in a pretty static position all day long. Plus, I was reading the memoir by Donald Rumsfeld, Known and Unknown, and he used a standing desk. So, Saturday morning I mentioned this to the darling ingenious husband and we spent some time musing about how it could be done.

Platforms came to mind, new furniture didn’t even really get a mention. But time and money was likely to disperse any impetus we had. Finally, I asked if we could just use the ugly cinder blocks we have in the garage at least for a temporary solution to see if I could get used to it. Shortly after that, we were up and at it. But with prettier bricks.

After two full days of a standing desk, I am rather pleased. My back is fine, posture is good, squats and stretches are being done. I borrowed a bar chair from friends so I can sit down once in awhile – this is not a cold turkey kind of thing. I have a rubber mat for some extra cushion but the feet are still sore while I get used to this.

Overall, I consider it a success!

In The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies seeks to show how technology affects us, changes the way we live, has costs as well as benefits. He also challenges us to think deeper, want more from life than the shallow thinking that comes with so much of the technological gadgets we surround ourselves with. This deep thinking includes the perspective of a Christian who believes in an almighty God who calls us to be holy.

The first section points out some truths about technology – why it is necessary and also why it is often destructive. He recounts a history of technology up to the digital explosion, showing how each advance in technology brought great benefits but also many changes, and some costs.

The second section discusses 6 ways our lives have changed due to the digital technology available to us. He discusses how our habits of communication have changed. And how most of our communication is mediated rather than face to face. Last month I read Pride and Prejudice, which is a book very much centered around gatherings, long personal letters among friends and family, and travel for in-person visits. Tim Challies points out much of this has been sacrificed and is now considered inconvenient in the age of email and blogs. He picks on using email instead of phone calls, as many consider phone calls an interruption. I choked on this a little bit, as I remember as a child thinking that a phone call was an interruption and how we should strive to not be at the mercy of the ringing phone. But his point was that we would rather send a quick email than spend time really talking to someone by phone (or even video conferencing).

He also talks about being distracted and how the demands of technology to switch tasks and check so many different things are robbing us of our ability to focus and spend longer amounts of time working and thinking. He follows this up with a talk about how we want more and more information, but spend less time really seeking true knowledge or wisdom.

The last two chapters cover the way we are losing a concrete idea of truth and authority, leaning more toward the wiki version of truth by consensus rather than truth by facts as studied and explained by experts. And he covers the weird way we want to be visible and sacrifice privacy for much of that. Even if we aren’t worried about being visible, the convenience factor very often drives us to give up our privacy and allow a data trail to be collected, collated, and analyzed.

Many times through the book I would have the thought that I am nothing like what he is describing. I don’t think this was pride thinking that I am not that bad. Just shock that so many other people must be this addicted to their technology. I can still find plenty to convict me of my own habits with technology, desire for more and more information, and ability to be distracted. I also agree with his premise that if we keep watch over our lives with our theology in mind, knowing Jesus as our living Savior and seeking to please Him and live our lives to God’s glory, we will need to and be able to evaluate our habits, including those using technology, with discernment.

A worthy and sobering read. Much more descriptive than prescriptive, as he says was his intent. Food for thought. Will we take the time to think it through and take action?

This year we are going to Camp Maranatha. It’s a retreat center for the denomination in central Mexico, also used for lots of youth camps and other events. We’ll be in Rio Verde, flying in to San Luis Potosi followed by a bus ride (a touring bus, no chickens). We will be doing some repairs and construction work, part of the ongoing effort to get the Camp into tip top shape.

We are going early August, but they promise the weather will be nice. I know what August in NC is like, so we’ll see how it is in Mexico.

How you can help!

Prayers – we are flying from Houston to San Luis Potosi, so we will not be anywhere near the border areas that have been so dangerous lately. But we always covet prayers for safe travel and the wellbeing of all of us on the trip.

My mom will be house-sitting for us – taking care of the cat. She’s already making plans to have both my aunts over and doing some visiting and site-seeing. Pray that they can get the remote to work when they sit down to watch movies in the theater room, and that the rest of the week goes well, of course!

Funding – it does cost money to fly to Mexico and to purchase materials. We would appreciate a donation of any amount, as it all adds up and helps cover the costs. We have already raised some money through fund raisers at our church, including a spaghetti dinner in February and a Chili Cookoff in March (yummy!). We have a festival planned for June with burgers, hotdogs, and bbq, plus games and fun stuff for the whole family!

You can donate two ways!
The digital way – http://www.razoo.com/story/Laura-Navarro-Fundraising-For-Mexico-Mission-Trip-2011
This link (also in the widget below in this post and in the sidebar) is also on my Facebook wall and I will tweet it a few times. Razoo shows the amount for the entire team. It’s about $1700 a person unless we can get airfare costs down.

The old fashioned way – send a check made out to Huntersville ARP Church, and note Navarro mission trip in the memo field, or just Mission trip, any funds help the entire group cover the costs.
Address for donations
Huntersville ARP Church
PO Box 316
Huntersville, NC 28070

I’ll update with more details and preparation descriptions as the time gets closer (it’s already a lot closer than I expected). I appreciate all your support, especially the encouraging words!