Titanic -- Her disobedience cost him his life!!

Forgive me readers, but I am going to jump right to the end of the film, or very near the end of it. This blog will contain spoilers. If you haven't seen it yet, I am sorry, but you've had ten years to do so!!

Am I the only one who has noticed that Rose cost Jack his life??

This is one of the things that I pondered in the weeks following my first viewing of Titanic. It bothered me then, and it bothers me now.

Jack said it himself, "Rose, you're so stupid!"

The situation was this:

• She had realized that Jack had been wrongly accused (we'll talk about that in another blog),
  
• She had rescued him from the bowels of the ship where he had been handcuffed to the pipes and left to die.
  
• They had fought their way up above decks seemingly against all odds.
  
• They found a life boat for Rose. Remember there was not enough, "not enough by half," and she knew it. She was actually sitting on the life boat as it was being lowered, and then...
• SHE GOT OFF!! She got off the lifeboat, and got back onto a sinking ship!
  

She got off of the life boat that would have saved her life, and got back onto the ship to live or die with Jack. Now, I get it. I do. She didn't want to live without him. But if she had stayed on that lifeboat, which is what he told her to do, then he would have made it off that ship alive.

Jack was a survivor, it was what he knew how to do -- land on his feet. He always did, somehow. If she would have trusted in who he was, and in his ability to make it, then he would have had the floating door all to himself.

If he didn't have Rose with him to worry about, then he would have survived the sinking and been reunited to be with Rose and the two of them could have lived happily ever after like we all wanted them to. If only she had listened. If only she had stayed on that lifeboat. If only...

Jack died because Rose didn't listen to him. I wonder if that ever occurred to her?

Here is the thing: Jesus died because we didn't listen to what God told us to do. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Eve was the first, but we've all done it. We hear what God has to say, and then we do our own thing anyway. Just like Rose jumped out of that lifeboat, we too have 'jumped ship' when it didn't look like we were going to get our way.

Readers, I have certainly gone my own way, and done my own thing. We are born into it. In some regards, it is not our fault. We are only human. But sometimes we know we are acting contrary to God's design for our lives -- and we do it anyways. This is why we need Jesus. For all the times we went our own way not realizing the implications, and for all the times we knew we were acting in opposition to God's will for our lives. Jesus is the answer to the human condition.

Got Jesus?

Titanic -- Introduction

Has your life ever turned on a dime?

Throughout Titanic there are numerous plot pivots when somebody’s life does a one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn. From the crucial moment when Jack and Fabrizio win tickets to board the Titanic, we know it is far more than a trans-Atlantic voyage at stake.

The hair-pin twists and turns in the plot keep us glued to our seats in anticipation, in spite of the fact we know that ship will go down. The characters either charm us or disgust us, and sometimes both.

We are emotionally on board Titanic the whole time, experiencing every moment from the momentous embarkation for the maiden voyage of the world’s grandest ship to the heart-stopping tragedy of the sinking.

And for history buffs like me, we rejoice in the precision of the portrayal of the facts.

Like Mr. Lovett, the treasure seeker, we think we’ve known about Titanic for years, but after seeing it through Rose’s eyes, we finally “get it.”

From start to finish, this film is full of critical moments, and the way each character responds in each situation speaks volumes about the person they really are.

• Readers, have you realized that your reactions in the critical moments of your life reveal who you really are, or at the very least, where you're at in terms of integrity, maturity and responsibility?

If you have read my earlier blogs, you know it was this film that first gave me an accurate, living picture of the kind of love Jesus had for me. If you haven't, then I encourage you to look back at some of my entries from January 2010.

In addition to what I've already said there about Jack's unwavering love and loyalty to Rose, there are numerous small details that correspond between Jack and Jesus:

• Jack calls himself “the king of the world” while Jesus was called the King of the Jews.
• Jack asks for Rose’s trust, just as Jesus asks us to trust Him.
• Jack keeps his promises to Rose, and Jesus keeps His promises to us.
• Neither Jack nor Jesus had a permanent home – no place to lay their heads.

Beyond these small, surface similarities Jack demonstrates even more about Jesus. Bigger, more significant things, like the fact that Rose's disobedience cost him his life.

Voices of Winnipeg Holocaust Survivors

Readers, I just wanted to share with you that the book that I helped edit is being launched on April 15. I, as a 'contributor,' have been invited to the event. I am so humbled, and so excited. I hardly had a hand in it at all, and yet I get to take part in the event!

The books will be on sale that night, and the cost is $36. They will be signed by the amazing folks who actually contributed (not me, a mere proofreader).

It is rather poignant timing as I just completed studying the last of The Five Scrolls, The Megillah -- the story of the origins of the feast of Purim. This celebration came about because there was a man who attempted to kill, destroy, and annihilate all the Jewish people living in Persia at the time of king Xerxes. At that time in their history, they were able to thwart their enemies.

Unfortunately, in the late 1930's and early 1940's the attempt at genocide was all too successful!! But praise God, a remnant survived! God's promised are good. The Jewish nation is the apple of His eye, He will always bless, protect and preserve them.

Of particular note to me was the fact that the letter was dated 3 Nisan 5770. That would make today 14 Nisan 5770. The question came to my mind, what event marked the beginning of the Jewish calendar? Wow, the rich history of Israel astounds me! Let me know if you know...

A Reluctant Good-bye to Esther...

This week marks the end of a wonderful 10 week journey into the book of Esther with Beth Moore as our tour guide.

I was privileged to be part of the leadership team that brought this study to my home church ladies group. We had 27 women gathered into three small groups that met each week to discuss what we had learned in our week's lesson and to view Beth Moore's weekly message on video.

We learned together, we prayed together, we laughed together, and we even cried together as we were challenged to grow to new heights in our faith. Our small groups bonded as we followed up on one another's prayer requests week after week. And when prayer was answered, and it was, then we rejoiced together and praised the Lord together.

And so it with some sadness that we reluctantly parted ways at the end of the evening on Tuesday. The sadness felt somewhat silly because it wasn't as if we would never see each other again. Many of us attend church together, some of us work together, and many of us are friends outside of both church and work. But it was the end of a journey, a life-changing journey.

That is the beauty of Bible study. You don't come out of it the same way you go into it. You come out wiser, more at peace with the world and more in love with God than when you went in. And with Esther, perhaps more than any other study, we came out feeling more beautiful. More royal, and more significant.

If you have never taken a Beth Moore Bible study, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do. You will not be sorry. Check with your local church and find out if they offer them. If so, join in. You will not regret it. If not, offer to facilitate a study. You can easily find the resources online. And there are leader guides to help you know exactly what to do. It will be well worth every minute of your time and every ounce of your effort.

So it is that I am already counting down the weeks until we start the next one in the fall. :)

Meanwhile, I would like to offer to pray for you, dear Readers. I would be so honored to lift you up in prayer. You can submit a prayer request by clicking on comment below.

What may I pray for you?

Reflection on Conference March 19-21, 2010

This past weekend, I had the privilege of ministering to some lovely ladies from southern Manitoba. We spent the weekend, from Friday night to Sunday morning, together at a local camp facility. I was so honored to be the guest speaker for their annual retreat.

The theme was "A Blockbuster Weekend" since I was going to share what else, the character of Jesus as seen in popular movie heroes. These ladies may not have known it, but they had a divine appointment with the Lord!

The committee had made movie clapboard signs for every door in the dorm with the names of the ladies to be in each room. They even had a game to play in which you had to guess the movie character taped to your back. What a great time we had getting to know one another and enjoying the lighter side of chick flick trivia!

I shared the mission statement of Tried and True ministries and 1 Corinthians 9:22, the cornerstone verse of my ministry. I explained how I view my ministry as one of reconciliation reflected in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 which I paraphrased:

The (Tried and True) Ministry of Reconciliation

• Since I know what it is to fear the Lord, I try to persuade others. What I am is plain to God. I am not trying to commend myself to you, but I am giving you an opportunity to see what I see, so that you can answer those who judge by what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If I am out of my mind, it is for the sake of God; if I am in my right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels me, because I am convinced that Jesus died for me, and for each of you. Those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
• Therefore, since we are in Christ, we are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! My whole ministry is from God, who reconciled me to himself through Christ and gave me this ministry of reconciliation. I am, therefore, Christ's ambassador, because God is making his appeal through me. I implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

It was a phenomenal weekend.

Friday night after I introduced the premise of the "Blockbuster weekend" we watched Kate and Leopold, just for fun.

Saturday morning's session was based on the movie, "The Princess Bride" specifically, we took a walk through the Fire Swamp of Life. I outlined survival tips for making it through with Jesus as our Protector and Guide.

Saturday evening we discussed "What Women Want." I humbly suggested several reasons why women are drawn to chick flicks, including that we may be looking for the Perfect Man. Then I suggested that Jesus is that Perfect Man.

On Sunday morning, we explored the various ways that Leopold reflects the character of Jesus. The pivotal question of that movie was, "Are you for real?" That was the question Kate had to answer for herself about Leopold. And when she knew he was really for real, she took a leap of faith.

That morning, many women answered for themselves the very same question about Jesus. They knew that they knew that Jesus is for real, and they took a leap of faith. Some accepted Him as their savior for the first time, many rededicated their lives to Jesus, and most of the women in the room decided they needed to increase the role they have been allowing Jesus to play in their life.

Yes, it was an amazing weekend.

Readers, if you would like me to speak at your church or event, let me know. May God richly bless you!!

You've Got Mail -- All is Well that Ends Well??

Is it just me, or have you also noticed that Kathleen Kelly wouldn’t have been out of business if it weren’t for Fox Books? I want to emphasize here that if it had been up to Kathleen, she would have held on to her little book store for the rest of her life. And that would have been fine.

But “fine” is not what Jesus has in mind for us. Just as Joe Fox was the one who caused her to go out of business, he was also the one who got her going in a new direction. He got her interested in writing books for children. Imagine how much larger her circle of influence will become as a writer rather than a bookstore owner. And yet she felt like her life was over when her store went out of business.

Sometimes the Lord has to take the thing we have held so tightly in our hands out of our grip – and we don’t like it. We don’t understand at the time that God is clearing the way for something better to come into our lives. Are we willing to surrender the thing we are clinging to the most so that God can ‘do a new thing’?

Maybe you have experienced some type of deep loss. Maybe you are still angry about it. Jesus understands any hostility that may be in your heart. Some of it may even be directed at Him. Perhaps life has just not turned out the way you hoped. And, as logic follows, if He is really God – a God of love – then why didn’t He step in and fix whatever it was? Because He is doing a new thing!

Readers, I encourage you to rest in the knowledge that He knows exactly what He is doing.

“For I know the plans I have for you . . .
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

With these word of hope firmly established in your heart, you will be able to stand firm and not allow fear to overtake you. You will have the courage to handle anything, even a disaster of Titanic proportions.

Readers, I have suffered losses in my life, and many times it just didn't make sense to me. I have chosen to trust in God's character rather than allow my faith to falter because circumstances did not turn out the way I wanted. It wasn't easy, but it is the only way to come through the storm or trial stronger in your faith than before.

Have you suffered any losses recently? Has any of what I have written been a help to you?

You've Got Mail -- What conquers Fear? Love!

Remarkably, the opposite of fear is not courage, but love.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear . . . The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18

So the antidote to fear is love.

One of the most inspiring passages in the entire Bible is one that I cling to often:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39

When you know you are loved, you find remarkable inner strength to face whatever challenges life may bring.

Perhaps this is why Kathleen Kelly was able to face her future. She learned that NY152, her online love interest, and Joe Fox, who had become a close friend, were one and the same.

She felt doubly loved.

He has pursued her on two levels, he has been closer than she ever imagined, and he has given her courage through it all.

Readers, have you discovered courage in love?

You've Got Mail -- He Gives Her Courage Part II

Second, Joe inspired Kathleen to find the courage she never knew she had and then – and this is absolutely key – he helped her find a new path to pursue. The battle to save her business is over and she has lost. The Little Bookstore Around the Corner has closed its doors for the last time, and the two are sitting face to face on a park bench. Ironically, Kathleen “reveals” to Joe that her inspiration for beginning to write children’s books actually originated from NY152.

Two lessons are evident here.

Lesson one is that the Lord will always create or reveal a new direction for you when you need it. If you are ever ‘downsized’ or otherwise find yourself in desperate need of a new path, then you can expect something different to become available to you.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:18-19

Lesson two is that Jesus is all about making all things new.

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:39

Kathleen had to release her past in order to find her future. She had to surrender her small life in order to receive the abundant life. She had to leave her old path in order to locate the new path.

Jesus specializes in new starts. When he first called Peter, James and John, they were fishermen. They were very discouraged after fishing all night, and catching nothing. Jesus came along and told them to toss out their nets one more time. They did. They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Afterwards Jesus said,

“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

Luke 5:10

Notice the instruction to have courage, followed by instructions for a career change?

Joe gave Kathleen courage to fight a battle, but even more, he gave her courage to endure the loss and to experience victory on the other side.

Having courage doesn’t mean that you don’t feel the fear – it means that you don’t bow down to it.

You may feel the fear, but you can determine not to let it rule your existence. Do not let fear keep your life small. Courage may not prevent calamity from occurring in your life, but it will prevent it from destroying you.

You've Got Mail -- He Gives Her Courage Part I

There are two specific examples from You’ve Got Mail where Joe Fox (as NY152) inspires Kathleen Kelly (as Shopgirl) to have courage. Interestingly, both incidents occur through the written messages he sends her.

First, when she asks him about how to save her business, he advises her, “Go to the mattresses”. He further explains she is at war, and she must fight to the death. She acts on his advice and gets all kinds of favorable media attention for her small book store. Her friend writes an article on her behalf, she is seen on television, and there are picketers in front of her store. The entire drama is played out on the primetime evening news, where she is made to look very favorable in comparison to Joe, who comes across as very heartless. Throughout the entire drama, he continues to admonish her to have courage.

The Lord also expects us to have courage. The first chapter of Joshua repeats the directive to be courageous several times.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

This is echoed by Jesus himself:

“Do not be afraid. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:10, 20

Why is Jesus so concerned with us having courage? Because we have work to do for Him that will require it.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

Jesus gives us courage, and He reveals what He wants us to do with it.

Stay tuned faithful readers, part 2 of courage is next!

You've Got Mail -- More proof He is at your side.

Corrie Ten Boom, in her devotional book Each New Day, explains you cannot get any closer to God than a fish can get to water.

Another analogy I often use is that Jesus is as close to you as the oxygen in the air around you. You are surrounded by it, you breathe it. It enters your lungs and eventually permeates every living cell of your body bringing refreshment and revival.

Jesus promised his disciples that he would never leave them or forsake them. But right after his crucifixion, they certainly had their doubts, especially Thomas. Scripture records an encounter that two disciples had with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. They walked together, and talked together, for the better part of the day with a man they regarded as simply a fellow traveler.

This man, who seemed like a stranger to them, explained everything written about the Messiah from the time of Moses and on. They convinced him to stay for dinner with them and finally:

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”

Luke 24:30-31

Even while the disciples were grieving his death, He was right there with them. They just didn’t recognize Him.

This was very much like the scene where Kathleen is anguished that her mystery date didn’t show up, and she was actually sitting right across the table from him. She just didn’t recognize him.

Discovering the presence of Jesus in your life is a little bit like a baby discovering their toes. Have you ever witnessed a baby discovering their toes for the very first time? It is not that the toes suddenly appeared. It is that the infant had just never noticed them before. The toes existed from birth – even from conception – within the DNA code. Jesus’ presence in your life is like that. He has always been there, since before the dawn of creation, waiting for you to discover Him.

Once Joe determined in his heart that he was going to woo Kathleen, he orchestrated numerous circumstances to place himself in her life. He ‘coincidentally’ ran into her at the coffee shop, the grocery store and the park. He prompted her to question NY152, and he was the one who answered her. He took an interest in everything that mattered to her. He spent time with her.

The whole time she didn’t know who he was, but he was right by her side all along.
Joe was especially close to her when she confided via email just how brokenhearted she was over closing out her little bookstore. It was when she was at her emotional low point that he was closest to her. Jesus works like that too.

Perhaps you have already entertained that thought if you’ve ever read the popular poem “Footprints” by Mary Stevenson.

It is when we are weakest or most broken that He is closer than ever:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

Joe went the extra mile to be a blessing to Kathleen because he knew she was brokenhearted. When you are feeling crushed in spirit, Jesus is closer to you than ever.

The fact that you are reading this blog is evidence that Jesus is orchestrating the details of your life in order to get closer to you. It is only one piece of the puzzle that Jesus has created to make you aware of how close to you He really is.

Precious readers: Whether you were aware of Him before, or are just discovering for the first time His presence in your life, I promise you, He wants you to know He has been nearby all along. He wants to draw you closer to Himself than you’ve ever been before.

Are you beginning to realize that He is closer than you think?

You've Got Mail -- Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt!

Once Joe had decided to win Kathleen's heart, he had a LOT of convincing to do!

Jesus had promised his disciples that he would never leave them or forsake them, then he went and got himself crucified! So after that, his disciples certainly had their doubts about Him, especially Thomas.

Jesus had a lot of convincing to do!

Scripture records an encounter that two disciples had with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. They walked together, and talked together, for the better part of the day with a man they regarded as simply a fellow traveler. This man, who was a stranger to them, explained everything written about the Messiah from the time of Moses and on.

They convinced him to stay for dinner with them and finally:

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”

Luke 24:30-31

Even while the disciples were grieving his death, He was right there with them. They just didn’t recognize Him. It is very much like the scene where Kathleen is anguished that her mystery date didn’t show up, and she was actually sitting across the table from him. She just didn’t recognize him.

Discovering the presence of Jesus in your life is a little bit like a baby discovering their toes. Have you ever witnessed a baby discovering their toes for the very first time? It is not that the toes suddenly appeared. It is that the infant had just never noticed them before. The toes existed from birth – even from conception – within the DNA code. Jesus’ presence in your life is like that. He has always been there, since before the dawn of creation, waiting for you to discover Him.

Once Joe determined in his heart that he was going to woo Kathleen, he orchestrated numerous circumstances to place himself in her life. He ‘coincidentally’ ran into her at the coffee shop, the grocery store and the park. He prompted her to question NY152, and he was the one who answered her. He took an interest in everything that mattered to her. He spent time with her.

The whole time she didn’t know who he was, he was right by her side all along.

Joe was especially close to her when she confided via email just how brokenhearted she was over closing out her little bookstore. It was when she was at her emotional low point that he was closest to her. Jesus works like that too.

If you’ve ever read the popular poem “Footprints” by Mary Stevenson, perhaps you have already entertained the thought that it is when we are at our weakest point, that he is our strength.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

Joe went the extra mile to be a blessing to Kathleen because he knew she was brokenhearted. When you are feeling crushed in spirit, Jesus is closer to you than ever.

The fact that you are reading this blog is evidence that Jesus is orchestrating the details of your life in order to get closer to you. It is only one piece of the puzzle that Jesus has created to make you aware of how close to you He really is.

Whether you were aware of Him before, or are just discovering for the first time His presence in your life, I promise you, He wants you to know He has been nearby all along. He wants to draw you closer to Himself than you’ve ever been before.

And even now He is closer than you think.

• Question for today: How close do you feel Jesus is to you right now? Why?

You've Got Mail -- He Is Closer Than You Think!

It is clear Kathleen is in love with NY152 right from the opening scenes. This movie works so well, in part, because it is a mystery to her who the man is. We know exactly who he is, and it is delicious to be in the loop while she is not. It adds an element of juicy suspense to a romantic comedy that is not often there. We are on the edge of our seats waiting and hoping, yet dreading, the moment they each discover who their anonymous love interest is. The tension is palpable: he is closer than she thinks.

First we see them passing each other wordlessly on the street. Later, when she knows Joe Fox is the book tycoon that is putting her out of business, she goes to her cyber supporter, NY152 for advice. He is all around her, and she is completely unaware of his presence. Even when she was face-to-face with Joe, she was disappointed in NY152 for not showing up.

Have you ever felt jilted by God? I certainly have.

It was 1995. My cousin’s 13-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with leukemia. We were all part of a little, faith-filled church. We believed in the healing power of God, and we believed in miracles. We prayed around the clock. We claimed God’s promises of healing. Everyone who could went in and got tested to find out if we were a bone marrow match for her. We waited expectantly for her to be healed. For a while, she rallied. She came back from the brink of death and all signs of the illness disappeared. She got stronger and felt better. She even went back to school. But a few short months later, it was back. She died in her sleep the last Saturday in May.

Even now it is hard to write about it. We were all in shock. I was angry. I didn’t understand how God could let this happen. I wondered why God just didn’t show up.

Since then, of course, I realize that He was there all along. He felt her pain, and He felt our loss. He grieved with us because we were hurting. And He pressed in to comfort each one of us.

If you have ever experienced deep hurt, disappointment or tragedy you may have asked, “Where was God?”

He was close to you then, even if it felt like He wasn’t. He provides a promise that speaks to the restoration that can be yours.

He will:

“Bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Isaiah 61:3

This passage was written hundreds of years before the time of Christ. Jesus took this very passage written by the prophet Isaiah, and read that scroll aloud in his synagogue. Afterwards He declared, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus is the One and Only who can, and will, make good on His promise to turn your hurts and pains into something beautiful, if only you will let Him.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11

Yes, even in the midst of pain, He is closer than we think.

You've Got Mail -- He Pursues with Actions!

Joe Fox not only pursued Kathleen with written messages, but also pursued her with his actions in their face-to-face encounters. He happens to be at the grocery store when she is caught in the “cash only” check out line with only a credit card. He gallantly steps in and convinces the clerk to accept her Visa. Even when she delivers a particularly scathing remark, he not only graciously turns the other cheek, but also calmly puts his personal feelings aside and compliments her on the craftiness of her insult.

“That was a perfect blend of poetry and meanness.”
-- Joe

The most poignant scene of the movie, in my opinion, is when Joe once-and-for-all decides to pursue Kathleen with his actions. To the lively beat of Stevie Wonder’s 1970 hit, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m yours” he shows up at her doorstep with a bouquet of daisies in hand.

This is the turning point of the film, for up to this point, Joe is not sure what to do about his conflicting feelings for Shopgirl/Kathleen Kelly. After this point, he is determined to win her over. He knows he must win her in the here-and-now rather than just in cyber-space. And so he decides to put his love into action. He is determined to pursue her and win her in spite of the fact that she hates Joe Fox as ardently as she loves NY152.

This flat-out, single-minded purpose in pursuing his true love parallels an image of Jesus found in scripture:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

Jeremiah 31:3

Joe does more than just show up. He proceeds to draw her to himself with acts of loving-kindness. In spite of her protests, he slips in through the front door of her apartment building when another tenant opens the door. When he gets to her apartment, he finds her quite sick with a cold. He places the bouquet of her favorite flowers into a vase, and proceeds to prepare her a cup of hot tea with honey. She had not asked him to, but he anticipated her need in advance.

Our Heavenly Father anticipates our needs in advance too:

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Matthew 6:8

To say, at this point in the story, Kathleen is less than impressed with Joe Fox would be a huge understatement. However, he understands the hostility in her heart towards him comes from being put out of business by his own Fox Books. So, with great patience and compassion, he prevents her from saying something nasty. He knows she will only regret it later, so he gently places his fingertips over her lips and stops her from talking.

Joe loved Kathleen enough to prevent her from doing something that would only hurt her more than it would hurt him. Jesus loves you like that.

Readers: Have you ever said something you later deeply regretted? What would you say to that person now?

You've Got Mail -- He Pursues with the Written Word

Joe Fox conducts a relationship with Kathleen Kelly, for a period of time, exclusively through the written word. He shares his innermost thoughts with her, his insights, observations, and ideas.

She offers her reflections as well. She asks him questions, and seeks his advice. He faithfully answers her every correspondence with his written word. Many people do not understand how someone can have a relationship with someone they can’t see or hear. This movie beautifully depicts how that is possible.

Jesus communicates with us through His written word, the Bible. It contains the most poetic love letters ever written – from Him to you. It contains advice for living, for succeeding in business and in relationships. It contains encouragement to help you through any difficulty you may be going through.

But – you may wonder – how is it relevant today when it was written 2000 years ago?

I once wondered the very same thing. God promises that His Word is living and active. I decided to believe that promise, and try to experience it for myself. Sure enough, I have found, in many situations, the Bible contains the exact words of encouragement or advice I need at exactly the right time. God's promise was true! (That is how my ministry got the name: Tried and True!)

After learning about evolution in school, I always worried that I was here by accident. Perhaps I was some anomaly that should never have happened. What didn’t help matters any was the fact that I experienced serious rejection while I was growing up. This left deep emotional scars in my heart and in my mind. Just as Kathleen took her concerns to “NY152” and expected answers, I took my hurts to God and looked for His Answer to my specific need.

What I found was the most profound, life-altering encouragement that I could have imagined:

“For he chose us in him

before the creation of the world . . .”

Ephesians 1:4

This meant to me that I was not an accident! Others may have been surprised at my arrival, or viewed my birth as “news,” but my heavenly Father planned me from the beginning. Thankfully I discovered the truth: I was created on purpose for the pleasure of my Creator. Words can hardly express how that personal message from God penetrated my heart and changed my life.

And there was more encouragement:

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child she has borne?

Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

Isaiah 49:15

His word testified to me that my heavenly Father loves me more than any earthly parent could ever love their child. This was profoundly more powerful as I held my newborn daughter in my arms and contemplated it. I was wanted by God even more powerfully than I wanted my daughter. And I wanted her! Loved her! Cherished her! More than I ever imagined one human being could love another.

Knowing He would never reject me or forget me was life-changing. Knowing that I was here on purpose, His purpose, set me free from feelings of insignificance.

Similar to how Kathleen communicated with NY152 with the written word, I keep a handwritten prayer journal in a simple coil-bound notebook. I pour out my hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns, and I ask for His word in answer to my every situation. When I ‘receive’ his answer, I record that too, marking the margin with special symbols so I can look back on all His answers any time I need to. It serves as a rudimentary inbox where I save His communication to me.

Readers: How do you communicate with the Lord?

You've Got Mail -- Hot and then Cold

Katy Perry's song "Hot N Cold" is about a volatile relationship. It reminds me of the dual-layer, ultra-complicated, love/hate relationship between Joe Fox, played by Tom Hanks, and Kathleen Kelly played by Meg Ryan.

In Cyber-space, 'NY152' and 'Shopgirl' have an internet relationship in which they are growing increasingly fond of each other. Online, they share their deepest thoughts and feelings with one another on a daily basis. We as the audience get to observe, however, how their internet relationship influences their real life.

As they go through their days in Manhattan, they remember various details they’ve read in each other’s emails. As a result, they try new things; NY152 is reading Pride and Prejudice, her favorite novel, while Shopgirl stops by a Starbucks to pick up a six-decision cup of coffee, as is his custom. Meanwhile, the audience watches in anticipation as they unknowingly pass each other in various locations, on the street, and in the supermarket.

In the tangible world, they also have a face-to-face relationship that starts out with quite a spark. Joe is out for the day with two children; his much-younger half-brother Matt, and his aunt-child Annabel. He brings them into her bookstore to hear The Story Lady -- Kathleen Kelly. When Joe and Kathleen meet, it is very apparent that they are attracted to one another.

She is relieved to learn the children are his relatives, rather than his own children, because that detail leads to the information she really wants – that he is unattached. His interest in her is obvious in the way he listens with rapt attention as she chats with the children, and shows them her daisy-embroidered handkerchief. He is so fascinated with her he decides to hide from her the fact that he is Joe Fox of Fox Books – the big company that is about to drive her out of business – so that she will not instantly hate him.

But, of course, the real-life relationship that started out with such a promising spark soon goes up in flames when Kathleen discovers who he really is. Soon it is characterized by fierce business competition and a mutual disdain.

Meanwhile, their online connection continues to heat up until they finally agree to meet in person. Joe arrives and discovers that Shopgirl and Kathleen Kelly, are one and the same. However, she remains completely unaware that NY152, her virtual love interest, is the person she now hates: Joe Fox, a man she sees as a ruthless businessman who is poised to ruin her business and destroy her life. This juxtaposition provides some interesting dramatic tension.

As the story unfolds and we witness the choices Joe makes, it becomes clear to us that Joe Fox has integrity, is compassionate, and conducts himself like a true gentleman.

More importantly, he uniquely reveals three Christ-like behaviors:

• He pursues her with the written word.
• He is closer than she thinks.
• He gives her courage.