Looking for Everlasting Love? You Won't Find it with the Vampires, Werewolves or Other Things that Go Bump in the Night

Stock photo Twilight, http://bit.ly/wv6x8q

by:  Dawn Ford

OK, it’s confession time. 

I’m a Christian woman who got sucked into the Twilight series.  In my defense, it started a couple of years ago when I saw several of my fifth grades girls^* walking around school with the books.   As a speech therapist, anything that got my language impaired/learning disabled girls (or boys for that matter) reading was of interest to me.  I had done lesson plans for the Harry Potter series, as well as  Lord of the Rings, so I figured, this was no different.

What I didn’t expect was how hooked I got.  I devoured the four books in a week, waited with great anticipation for the first two movies and started reading other books in the same genre.  When the third movie was about to be released, a reporter friend Dave, was tasked to write an article on the world wide phenomenon.  On his Facebook page he posed a simple question, “Why do women like Twilight?”

It gave me time to pause, to reflect and quite frankly shook me back to reality.  I realize the main reason I was enthralled with the series, (especially the first book) was the love between the two main characters.  The idea of someone loving you forever, with that kind of intensity is intoxicating.  Who wouldn’t want to be loved like that? Of course, the shake back to reality came when I remembered I was already loved in just that way.

Scripture

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Back Story

In John 3, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus a Pharisee.  His chief job, as part of the Jewish ruling counsel, was the strict interpretation and observance of Mosaic Law.  By the time Jesus came on the scene the Pharisees along with Scribes, and Sadducees had twisted these laws into rules and regulations that where impossible to follow.  They were Jesus’ staunchest critics because He called them out at every opportunity for their legalistic, unrealistic ways.

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.  He had heard Him preach during the day, had seen Him perform miracles and Nic wanted to know more.  Right off the bat, Jesus blows Nicodemus’ mind by telling him, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again,” (John 3:3).

It was taught widely among the Jews at that time, that since they descended from Abraham, they were automatically assured of heaven. In fact, some Rabbis taught that Abraham stood watch at the gate of hell, just to make sure that none of his descendants accidentally wandered in there.¹

Then Jesus utters the most famously quoted verse out of all 31,373 in the bible, shattering another long standing Jewish belief that God not only loved the Jews, but the whole world. 

Our Take Away

 In one verse we learn it all:

• We learn the object of God’s love (agape, unconditional love): the world.     

• We learn the expression and the gift of God’s love: He gave His only begotten Son. God’s love didn’t just feel for the plight of a fallen world. God did something about it, and He gave the most precious thing to give: His only begotten Son.
• We learn the recipient of God’s love: Whoever believes in Him. God loves the world, but the world does not receive or benefit from that love until it believes in Jesus, the gift that the Father gave. For the record, believes in means much more than intellectual awareness or agreement. It means to trust in, to rely on, and to cling to.
• We learn the intention of God’s love: should not perish. God’s love actually saves man from eternal destruction. God looks at fallen humanity, does not want it to perish, and so in His love He extends the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. 
• We learn the duration of God’s love: everlasting life. The love we receive among people may fade or turn, but God’s love will never change. He will never stop loving His people, even unto the furthest distance of eternity.²

It's not about being judgmental. 

I didn’t see the fourth Twilight movie, I won’t see the fifth and I don’t have the books on my shelf anymore.  Don’t misunderstand me.  I’m not saying reading this material or other secular works are wrong.  For me, it made me take my eye off the true love that is extremely intoxicating, all encompassing and undeniably infinite.  

Questions:

 1.  Is there something in your life that takes your eyes off the true love, the unconditional love of God?

2.  If so, how will you chose today to refocus on what's really important? 

References:

• * ATTENTION PARENTS:  Fifth grade girls should not be reading these books.  There is a teen rating for a reason.  If you do find your child reading these books or any other above their age range, use it as a teachable moment and read the books together. 

•  1 and 2:   http://www.blueletterbible.org/, David Guzik's commentary at John, Chapter 3.

Dawn Ford is VP of Infinite Love Ministries, INC (ILM).  A non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. For more information, check out the tabs at the top of this page or visit our website,  http://www.infiniteloveministries.com/

There is No Racism Under Christ

Martin Luther King, 1964

By: Dawn Ford

I enjoy working with Preschools and Kindergarteners.  They love and accept everyone.  It doesn’t matter what you look like, how you walk or how you talk, these little people with pure hearts eat together, play together, and even have rest time together.

Unfortunately a sad thing happens when many of these same sweet Preschoolers became third and fourth graders.  Suddenly, differences are noticed, tagged and in extreme causes exploited.  As an educator I work hard to combat these issues head on but it’s difficult to stop the ball once it’s in motion.

As we reflect today on the man Martin Luther King and his message, we can be proud of many accomplishments in the almost 44 years since his death.  Praise God my generation and younger have not had to live through the day to day outward aggression that tore this country apart in the 1960’s.  As Christ followers however, we must not be complacent and not enter into a Passive Racism where we turn a blind eye to problems and issues that still plague our country and our world today.

Scripture

Colossians 3: 1-14

^11"Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Back story

Paul is writing to the church in Colosse, a city in Asia Minor (now Turkey) and believers everywhere.  The letter is composed from a prison cell in Rome, in an attempt to combat new believers combining the Christian truth with paganism and secular philosophy. ¹

In chapters 1-2 Paul explains how the world’s teaching are totally empty when compared with God’s plan and he challenges the Colossians to reject shallow answers and to live in union with Christ.  Once they (and us) enter that union with Christ, Paul urges the Colossians to foster union with one another and live in harmony under the love a Christ, (chapters 3 and 4). ²

Our Take Away

There is no racism under God.  God is very specific early in His Word, when He calls Abram to leave Ur (yes folks that’s modern day Iraq) and follow Him.  In Genesis 12: 1-3 and again in Genesis 18:18, God specifically states that all people on earth and all nations will be blessed through Abram (later Abraham).  No nation, people or race is given preferential treatment.  Even the Jews, while they are called God’s “chosen people”, God meant they were “chosen” to bring his message of love and acceptance to the world.

One little Jewish boy got is so right.  Look at Christ teaches when he put on skin and came to earth.  Jesus’ “superstars” in his parables and in his teaching where always people the Jews despised; The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33-37), 10 lepers are healed, only the Samaritan comes back to thank Jesus (Luke 17:16), the Roman official who has so much faith Christ will heal his servant, he tells Jesus, he doesn’t even have to come to his house, just speak the healing and it will be done (Matt 8:6-11). 

Jesus purposely picked races the Jews looked down on, not to only teach them the Good News was for all but also to show God doesn’t play favorites. 

Our only call is to love.  Once you are a Christ follower the love you have for Him, should translate into love for all – friends, fellow believers, spouses, children, parents, slaves and masters. 

What can we do now?

Be mindful.  While you might not speak or act with hate, tolerating others behavior, jokes, speech, and actions is all forms of passive racism.  Racism stems from fear and misplaced pride.  While it should be done in love, be bold enough to educate what is appropriate under Christ’s direction. 

Also, use situations as teachable moments for your children and children in your sphere of influence.  The only way I combated the shift from PreK acceptance to fourth grade bigotry was letting it know what I would tolerate and what I wouldn’t.   

ALL means ALL.  The word for “all,” “kole” in Hebrew, “pas” in Greek means, “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything.”  Christ message is for all. He wants to be in all and He wants us to love all.  

Questions:

1.  What are you reflecting on today as we celebrate Martin Luther King Day?

2.  What can you do differently to facilitate Christ ALL approach?   

Dawn Ford is a licensed speech language pathologist and the Vice President of Infinite Love Ministries, INC. A not for profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ.  For more information check out the website, http://www.infiniteloveministries.com/

1 and 2, Life Application Bible, New International Version, 1988, page 2156

Jesus Christ was a Liberal

by Dawn Ford

Now wait a minute, before you get all riled up and angry, hear me out. In our day and age, the term “liberal” has been hijacked to describe a political ideology, taking on a very negative connotation in conservative circles. But if you look up the true definition of the word, it means a lot more than its current usage.

Liberal: adjective

• Free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant,
• Open-minded,
• Characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts,
• Given freely or abundantly; generous.

Not the picture we normally conjure up is it...and how does Jesus fit in? In the 400 years of silence between the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, a ruling political and social class rose in the nation of Israel. These men were known as the Scribes, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They each had specific jobs, and rarely got along with one another, but together they twisted Mosaic Law into an impossible set of rules and regulations. Couple this with Roman occupation and the Jewish people where under constant oppression. In first century Palestine, they were primed for a Messiah to rescue them.

On to this backdrop, Jesus enters the scene. Not preaching a military overthrow, but still radical in his ideas for the time. Imagine how crazy his first public sermon recorded in the Gospel of Matthew must have sounded? Jesus was bold and he spoke to his Jewish audience, challenging everything they thought was truth. With statements like:

• “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matt 5:11-12.

Bless are those who persecute me? What? I’m suppose to take that? You’re tell me I must bless the Romans?

• “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment,” Matt 5:21-22.

Anytime Jesus says, “You heard that...” He is quoting Jewish Mosaic Law (from Moses) back to them, scripture they already knew, and radically changing it. Being angry is sin? That’s not what the 10 commandments say, and not what they were taught. And come on, for hundreds of years and what’s happened to us, we have a right to be angry.

• "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” Matt 5-38-39.

We deserve to be able to take revenge on our enemies.

• "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matt 5:43-44.

Can you imagine, all those people listening to this sermon...ruling class, worker bees and slaves...Love your enemies, pray for them....His guy is a nut! And there is even more; the sermon goes on for two more chapters, but you get the idea. Jesus came at the right time not to mock what the law, but to make them realize how far they had twisted it. No one including the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were the religious leaders of the time, could possibly live up to the rules and regulations that they had created and no one should. They were missing the point and Jesus was calling them on it.

For the next three years he didn’t just preach about what they need to change, he demonstrated what he meant. He didn’t just preach about being loving, or serving others, he generously, “liberally” if you will, gave of himself to the crowds, to his disciples, to people he met on the street. He was open-minded (liberal) in his love for others. He hung out with, broke bread with sinners, tax-collectors, lepers, prostitutes and the marginalized. He was patient and tolerate (liberal) with those who disagreed with him. Though he always spoke truth, and never was so tolerate that he watered down his message, he never did in a way that would disgrace His Father in Heaven. And though he was is Father’s son, he abundantly, generously, liberally, gave of himself for us and died on a cross.

How about us? As His followers, as people who claim to know Him, love Him and speak in His name...How “liberal” are we, with our love, our generosity our tolerance. I used to really enjoy the song, “They Will Know We Our Christians by our Love.” Sadly I fear, many of us are known more for the fish on our car, the cross on our neck or the T-shirt we don, instead of how we radically love others in His name. We play on “the team,” of Christian, but how many of us actually get off the sidelines and get our jersey dirty. How many of us really know the Word of God for ourselves and not just have it fed to us by someone else. How many of us can present the truth and love of the gospel message not, by how we “preach” it to others, but by how we live our lives?

If we want Jesus to radically change others, we need to let Him radically change us. We need to dive into His Word and read about His liberal love first hand, so we can in turn generously love others. Now is the time my friends, not to be “conservative” with your knowledge of Christ, but serve and love others with a liberal compassion that mirrors who we serve. Jesus my loves is calling you out...how are you going to answer?



Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director of Infinite Love Ministries, INC. a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. For more information visit www.infiniteloveministries.com

The Ultimate Butterfly Effect, Part 2

By: Dawn B. Ford
Part 2 of 3
In part one of this series (right below this post), we explored the scientific principle of the Butterfly Effect, which states everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a given pattern could have profound affects. Using this law of physics as our starting point, we explored the idea that we could become a Butterfly Effect ourselves and have a positive effect on others. This section will look at some tangible ways to put our idea into practice.
So how can “little old you” affect many?

Your Sphere of Influence
Before you get overwhelmed with the concept of affecting thousands, millions or billions of people, stop, breathe and open your eyes. You won’t have to look long...there are literally hurting people everywhere. You don’t have to start grand, just a simple act of service can mean a lot.

Sometimes all a person needs is a smile, a hug, a helping hand or a listening ear. What if we all slowed down long enough to meet another’s need? How could you change a life today by just increasing your awareness and shifting your focus from your “to do list” to your “meet a need list.” Stop right now and think...is there someone you need to call? Is there a co-worker that is struggling? Is there a neighbor who needs a helping hand? Is there a spouse or a child who needs a little encouragement?

And what if you are the one who is hurting? Research shows that when we step out of ourselves and help others, we in turn are helped. Psychologists, Mark Snyder, PhD, from the University of Minnesota and Allen Omoto, PhD, from the Claremont Graduate University have studied individuals who volunteer for over 20 years. They have surveyed thousands of volunteers from all different age groups, all different backgrounds and have identified five primary motivations as to why people volunteer:

• Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns. For some people this can have a religious component.
• Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or ethnic group, to which you feel attached.
• Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about yourself or escape other pressures.
• Understanding. Volunteering to gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.
• Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further your career.

As you can see 3 of the 5 motivations start as a self-driven focus that moves outward, so both individuals benefit from the act of service. Another study conducted at the University of Kansas, showed the more someone volunteered, the more their compassion and concern grew. When you move in serve to another, you not only give, but also receive a positive Butterfly Effect. (“Helping Others, Helping Ourselves”, By Lea Winerman, Monitor On Psychology, December 2006, Vol. 37, No. 11, Print version: page 38).

Your Gifts and Talents

Everyone is good at something. Are you a whiz with computers or a gifted teacher? Are you good with a hammer or are you great at organizing? Maybe you can cook like nobody’s business?
Why not use your gifts and talents to help others? There are literally hundreds of organizations with all different focuses in need of your expertise. We’ve all been given special gifts and talents we cannot horde or keep to ourselves. Figure out what you’re passionate about, what would get you out of bed on a Saturday morning and start there. The more you enjoy something, the less work it is and the more someone would benefit from your abilities.
This also sustains the Butterfly Effect, as an article published in 1998 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 74, No. 6, pages 1516-1530), revealed. Psychologist E. Gil Clary, PhD, and Snyder found that the more closely a volunteer’s motivations and talents where match with the act of serve, the longer they volunteered.
On the flip side of things, being a positive Butterfly Effect can also allow you to step out of your comfort zone and try something you would not normally do. When I felt the pull to go on my first mission trip, I was planning to go with a group called Operation Smile. They help children all over the world who were born with cleft lip and/or palate. As a speech language pathologist, this is something I do as part of my career, so it would have been second nature. For reasons, out of my control the trip didn’t work out.
Instead I went with a friend to Mississippi to rebuild houses for family’s devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Me, Dawn B. Ford, afraid of power tools, afraid of heights and ladders and had never really picked up a hammer in her life, I was going to go help rebuild houses??? Well let me tell you, it was the most amazing trips of my life. I loved every minute of it. It was something I had never done and would have thought I could never do.

To Serve is a Verb

To serve: (verb)
• To render assistance; be of use; help.
• To be in the service of; work for.
• To be useful or of service to; help.
The act of serving or being a positive Butterfly Effect requires action. So you must get involved, you must invest your time, your talents and you must engage in relationships.
If you are involved in a church there are many opportunities to serve. If that is not your thing, get involved with a service project at work or check out your local newspaper /radio. I also found a great website called Volunteer Match.Org. All you need to enter is your zip code and all the local service opportunities in your area will pop up.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/
An organization near and dear to my heart is Led2Serve. Cofounders, Nancy Cummings and Vanessa Puleo equip, inspire and mobilize people to serve. If you, your family or your group want to find a serve project they have opportunities, locally in Orlando, nationally and internationally. And if you have a need for volunteers they can help you get the hands and feet you need.
http://www.led2serve.com/
Today there is so much darkness in the world and its time we all got together and shed some light. We can all be a positive Butterfly Effect, start small. Just start. Who knows the lives you can impact forever, if you start today.
Part three will highlight individuals both past and present who used the Butterfly Effect impact millions and changed the world.
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries. A Florida Non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. Check out their website at http://www.infiniteloveministries.com/

The Ultimate Butterfly Effect

Part 1 of 3
By Dawn Ford

I have a dear friend who is very into Physics. In an attempt to have some frame of reference and to increase our possible conversation topics, I did what everyone does now-a-days...I did a Google search. Before I was buried too deep in the endless cycle of information I came upon some fascinating research – it’s called the Butterfly Effect.

In 1963, Edward Lorenz, a mathematician, gave a presentation to the New York Academy of Sciences. His theory, called the Butterfly Effect, stated that a butterfly could flap its wings and set air molecules in motion that in turn would move other air molecules — which would then move additional air molecules — eventually becoming able to influence weather patterns on the other side of the planet. For years this theory remained an interesting myth. In the mid 1990s, however, physics professors from several universities, working in tandem, proved the butterfly effect was accurate, viable, and worked every time. It has since been given the status of a law and is now known in scientific circles as the sensitive dependence on initial conditions.

That’s pretty much a fancy way of saying that everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a pattern could have profound affects. Which got me thinking, does the Butterfly Effect only apply to weather or could it translate to other areas? Could we apply the concept to our lives? What would happen if we looked at every interaction or action we take, as having the potential to be extremely significant? We would have to realize that everything we do matters...whether positive or negative, whether good or evil, EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS.

We can’t change the past, but isn’t it safe to assume we could make small changes now that will have a huge impact later? What if we made a conscious effort that when we come in contact with others, we would be a positive Butterfly Effect in their lives? How would their lives be changed? How would ours be changed?

Just think if all of us decided to flutter our wings with a little more kindness, a little more patience, a little more forgiveness, a little more love. We could permanently affect those around us. And then what if we took it a step further? What if we fed someone, clothed them, provide shelter, taught them to read, or gave them proper medical care?

Each of us have been given gifts and talents and we can’t waste or horde them. Each one of us is significant, special and here for a purpose. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s dramatic, but each one of us, by our own hand has the potential to alter thousands, millions, billions of lives. A positive Butterfly Effect...think about it, lives being changed, caught in a chain of events begun by you this day. So where would you begin?


Part 2 of this article will explore the tangible ways you can become a positive Butterfly Effect.

Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries, a FL non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the Infinite Love of Christ. www.infiniteloveminsitries.com