A Designer’s Critique
By Jennifer McClure | January 26, 2010
Recently, media outlets released Cojo’s “Best & Worst Dressed” lists for the Emmys and Golden Globes. Aren’t you glad the Original Designer — the creator and designer of Victoria Falls, Yosemite, butterflies and irises — doesn’t judge us by our outward appearance? (Check out 1 Samuel 16:7.)
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Hairsplitting Reality
By Jennifer McClure | January 22, 2010
Recently I took on the “impossible.” No, I didn’t scale the “Cliffs of Insanity” or develop a delicious recipe for bread that would actually cause you to lose weight. What I attempted, in fact, turned out to be impossible only in perspective, not in reality.
When I was growing up, my mom had always told me it wouldn’t work for me to have bangs all the way across my forehead. (All those disinterested in matters concerning hair, please bear with me.) Why? Because I have a cowlick near the center of my hairline. A cowlick in that location would naturally cause bangs to go in opposite directions and not lie straight down. Well, thanks to a hair dryer and insights from a friend, the impossible has easily become possible.
This might strike you as an odd analogy, but my bangs remind me that sometimes we limit ourselves by our perspectives when the reality is “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27, NIV; also see Matthew 19:26). And, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). How do we know this to be reality and not just our perspective? Because Jesus said so, and He is God Incarnate. God doesn’t lie. It’s recorded in God’s Word, and God’s Word is true.
But oh how often I allow my perspective to limit me. I believe that with God all things are possible — but not when it comes to this particular situation or seeing certain individuals accept Christ as their Savior. The reality is, without God salvation for anyone is impossible. But with God, regardless of “how far gone” they may be or how many decades they’ve lived life without Him, they can make that eternally significant choice.
Perhaps there’s something in your life that you once deemed impossible but is now reality. When you find your faith lacking, perhaps the now-ordinary, once-impossible situation, accomplishment or thing can remind you to stop and separate your perspective from reality.
Give that situation to God. With Him, nothing is impossible.
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No Upgrade Needed
By Jennifer McClure | August 27, 2009
People’s response to technology amazes me sometimes — especially in regards to cellular devices. Waiting in line overnight to be the first to own a new iPhone. Trading in and updating cell phones as soon something better is released. Investing financially to ensure the latest and greatest apps and favorite tunes are found on their phones.
My mobile world got a recent upgrade when my husband surprised me with a new cell phone. No, it’s not an iPhone or a Blackberry or even a simple camera phone. But that’s completely fine with me, because those are not what I needed. I simply needed a new cell phone.
After nearly seven years of rough treatment, my faithful, silver Nokia had reached a place in life where it wasn’t so reliable. I’m sure the numerous times its components split apart onto a parking lot or hard flooring when it had been dropped is partially to blame. Not to mention the time chocolate melted into it while I was hiking. (Though I was fairly successful in digging out all of the chocolate, the phone never was the same.)
Needless to say, I’m looking forward to using a phone that will allow people on the other end to understand me, will let me hear them and won’t shut off when merely set down on a hard surface.
But you know what’s great? Though I deeply appreciate and even admire technology, I’m so thankful that no technology is required for us to communicate with God. How horrible would it be if we had to wait until we had a good signal before we could call on God or if we couldn’t reach Him when our battery is dead?
Thankfully, He is always there … and here. He can handle multiple calls simultaneously. He recharges us, and we don’t have to somehow get re-energized before connecting with Him. He hears and understands us regardless of how quietly or loudly we speak. He even hears and understands the concerns of our hearts that we’re unable to express aloud.
Our connection with God does not require technology, but it does require a Person. Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of His life on the cross makes this all possible.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22, NIV).
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God in the Byline
By Jennifer McClure | February 5, 2009
Along with writing articles, I write music. Many times when writing songs it’s as if God just whispers in my ear the direction the melody should take and the next set of lyrics. An hour or so later, there’s a song sketched out on a piece of notebook paper in front of me.
When it comes time to share it with someone, I’ve always felt odd when answering, “Did you write that?” with a simple, “Yes.” How can a pitcher take credit for the water being poured out of it? Was the water not first poured into the pitcher from a greater source?
Recently when providing someone with the lyrics of a song for a PowerPoint they asked if I had written it or if someone else should be credited in the byline. I responded “Just me.” And a little later added: “And God, I suppose, but that might be a little presumptuous to add to the byline.”
On one hand, I know God gave me the song. It was a sung prayer that I simply sought Him for the lyrics and melody line as I sang. If a friend were to provide lyrics and suggest the melody line that ended up being the song, I would credit them as co-author. Why isn’t it the same with God? But on the other hand, who am I to say God wrote my song, that He chose me over someone else to inspire?
I suppose the truth is, as a Christian at least, no matter your art form, God is the source of your inspiration and creativity. And regardless of your religious orientation, no songs would have ever sprung into existence, let alone my small contribution, without Him having first created music or the ability within us to recognize and create music.
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NIV).
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3, NIV).
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Christmas Memories
By Jennifer McClure | December 15, 2008
For some reason, memories don’t come easy to me without a photo, video or someone sharing a story to trigger the remembrance. As I reminisce past Christmases, the details blur but the big picture pops off the page. For me the memory of Christmas is always having one. The consistency of traditions, the consistency of loving parents and family, the treasures in faith, hope and love and the delight of the season.
But I can’t speak of Christmas memories without mentioning one very significant event.
My favorite Christmas would have to be when my husband proposed. As silly as it may seem, a couple of weeks before Christmas Day he was walking me home through the snow when he pointed out a shooting star and told me to make a wish. Though I knew he wasn’t going to propose until later the next year, I still wished he would propose on Christmas. And that Christmas my wish came true. He successfully surprised me, masking the ring as just another Christmas gift that I had to close my eyes for him to present.
I share that just to open the door for you to share. Leave a comment and share your Christmas memories or thoughts on the season.
Merry Christmas!
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Called to Follow
By Jennifer McClure | November 3, 2008
Saturday my husband and I added insulation to our attic. He took the difficult job of being in the attic, which for the most part requires being in an army crawl position, while I loaded the blower. Needless to say, we were glad when that job was done.
In celebration, and also because we felt like we’d neglected our puppy for most of the day, we took our cockapoo, Hopper, to a local park. Though this park does have a playground and a pavilion, the main attraction is the forested trails. A walk through this park is more comparable to a light hike through the woods.
Though we started down the trails early in the evening, it was late in the day as far as daylight is concerned. No more than 30 minutes into it, we found ourselves navigating a deer trail without sunlight searching for a safe place to cross back over the creek in order to reconnect with the main trail and return to our vehicle.
Once we realized we were too far out to get back before dark, my husband occasionally would run ahead to see if a trail would lead to a place to cross. If there was a potential way across, he would venture out and check the stability of the makeshift bridge before encouraging me to step out. Eventually, two large fallen trees and a few unstable steps on a loose log provided a way across.
Though I’m often inclined to lead, it was nice to just follow the path Shawn chose and trust his judgment. Following his lead allowed me to not worry about finding a way out.
In both the secular and church worlds much discussion is given to leadership, but what about the call to follow?
Jesus said, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27, NIV). Being a leader is sometimes so ingrained in me that I forget the importance of following. It is my following Christ that enables me to lead, or as Paul put it: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Jesus should be the One leading us through life, not us trying to drag Him along. When life is lived that way, so much peace and joy is forfeited. Perhaps God doesn’t command us to live by faith because He thought it’d be an effective method to refine us as Christians, but just perhaps He has commanded us to follow Christ and to live by faith because it’s in our best interest.
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9/12 - Do You Remember?
By Jennifer McClure | September 12, 2008
I was in college at the time of the 9/11 attacks. That Tuesday students clustered around TVs in common areas to hear the latest. Teachers forwent their lesson to facilitate open discussion to help process the emotions following the attacks. But though fear lingered days after, it soon began to give way to something else.
Patriotism became popular, even cool. On 9/10/01, there weren’t too many people in my collegiate world who wore their American pride on their sleeve. But in the weeks that followed, hoodies, T-shirts, hats and any apparel with the American flag or the letters “U.S.A.” stitched on them were in abundance. I even remember one group of students in particular who drove around town the Sunday after 9/11 waving a large American flag out their window, soliciting honks from neighboring vehicles in support of the U.S.A.
The surge of patriotism that swept over our nation, for many, carried into prayers. Many gathered to pray for our nation, our troops, our president and for those who lost loved one in the 9/11 attacks. In remembering 9/12/01 and the surge of prayer and patriotism, may we be reminded to pray for our troops, our nation, our leaders, the upcoming election and for those who have lost loved ones in service to our country.
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One Piece of Paper
By Jennifer McClure | August 19, 2008
Take a sheet of paper. Not the length or width, but observe the thickness of that paper. Now imagine the distance from the piece of paper and the next room, the street outside, the next city. The distance, as far as you can imagine, is like eternity, whereas our lifespan is like the thickness of that piece of paper. Joe Zickafoose would often use this illustration to teach the concept of eternity and how our lives truly are but a vapor. Today, many gathered to celebrate Joe’s thin sheet of paper.
It was only for a few short years I had the blessing of being involved in a Chi Alpha under Joe’s leadership. Joe amazed us weekly at XA with his ability to communicate in an easy-to-understand-way wonderfully deep spiritual and Scriptural truths. With all the seriousness that comes with addressing such issues, Joe balanced it all with a great sense of humor and a love to have fun and to laugh. With hundreds in attendance, today’s funeral only confirmed what I had previously believed to be true: Joe’s life — only 50 years long — was one well lived and one that impacted hundreds for Christ, inspiring many to pursue full-time, vocational ministry.
Most recently Joe was an Assemblies of God missionary to Scotland, working at a local church and on the campus of the University of Aberdeen. Before he answered God’s call to the foreign mission field, he was my Chi Alpha campus pastor. I’m so thankful for having had the privilege to know Joe and am so grateful for the impact he made on me and especially that which he had on my friends who came to know Christ because of him. Now in his absence, I pray the Holy Spirit comfort and bless his wife, Jayne, and their two sons.
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Musician on a Mission
By Jennifer McClure | August 8, 2008
Last Thursday, Christian singer/songwriter Kathleen Carnali came through town to do a concert at our local fair. (Picture to the left was taken at the fair.) I met up with her, her husband, Brett, and band members Hans and Stevie. From our conversation and her show that night, I saw that this 27-year-old is not just a creative songwriter with a powerful voice, but she is an anointed minister. Look for the official TPE interview with her in an upcoming edition.
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Beautiful Transformation
By Jennifer McClure | August 4, 2008
A couple of weeks ago I visited Dillon, Colorado. Of course the mountain ranges were magnificent, but on a closer level, butterflies were in abundance, gracing the area with their delicate beauty. One particular butterfly was all black with white lacy trim. It fluttered away from the trail before I could digitally capture its beauty with my camera. However, the one pictured let me take several photos of it before it flew to another leaf where it could sunbathe in peace.
This past spring, I saw a large, bright green caterpillar with a stinger eating away on a plant at Lowe’s. I doubt those butterflies looked anything like that when they were at the caterpillar stage, but it made me wonder what a remarkable transformation they had undergone.
My understanding of the caterpillar’s metamorphosis is quite rudimentary, but as Christians, what a lesson there is to be learned from these fascinating creatures. As caterpillars, they crawled along, somewhat conforming to the item upon which they moved. But as butterflies, they no longer inch along; they fly.
In Romans 12:2, God calls us to our own beautiful transformation: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV).
Can you imagine what change would come about if even 50 percent of Christians, myself included, in the U.S. sincerely strove to obey that command? Not only would there be beautiful individual transformations, but the Church as a whole, I believe, would be radically transformed.
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