Power...in a Name?

Jesus Christ

Jesus, who lived about 2000 years ago, is still causing controversy all over the world today. Love Him or hate Him, the mention of His name evokes powerful emotions from virtually every walk of life. To me and fellow Christians, we find comfort, peace and rest in the name Jesus. Others are immediately on guard, defensive, obviously uncomfortable upon hearing His name. All around the world today, people are being persecuted and killed simply for professing faith in Him. Have you heard about the American pastor in Iran? How about the little girl shot for attending a Bible study in Egypt? How about the American  missionary imprisoned in North Korea? Perhaps you've heard about the churches burned in Sudan? Maybe you're aware of the attacks against Christians serving in the U.S. armed forces?

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? -1 Peter 4:12-17

Unfortunately, there are many more current stories of persecution going on today...all because of Jesus Christ, a man who lived and died nearly 2000 years ago. Why on earth is He such a big deal? Why do some people try so hard to get Christians to shut up about Him? Why do some people allow themselves to be tortured, imprisoned and killed for believing in Him? Why not just renounce Him and live? What's to lose?

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:8-11

I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that said, "God is too big for any one religion."  Interesting thought, right? If it's true that all religions are just different paths to the same end, why are Christians targeted so violently and relentlessly through history?  Who is waging such wars on the Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists...?

Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”-Acts 4:11-12

All of this stuff going on in the world today makes me even more confident that my God, Jesus Christ, is the One True God. It affirms my faith that He died and rose again, and lives today, just as the Bible has recorded.  His name is more powerful than any other name. He is God. I believe that every knee will bow and every single tongue will confess that He is Lord. I can't wait for that day! I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Persecuted Christians around the world are willing to die for the cause of Christ because they know what I know, that they are gaining eternal life. They know that their suffering will end and they will be welcomed into Heaven by Jesus himself, made new, and will never suffer again. They have received His love and guidance and know Him personally, just as I know Him.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26

Well, do you?



Read another way more thorough and interesting article about Jesus' name here.

"Don't Judge Me!" A Follow-Up

If you missed the first post on this topic, you can read about it here.

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about having a relationship with the Lord is how He is constantly molding me into the woman He wants me to become. He is a very real and living God. He guides me. He puts things on my heart to write about.

Yesterday, He put this on my heart:

When I originally wrote about this passage, I had come across three instances within a two-week period where I heard people use the same scripture out of spite or general misunderstanding. I stand by what I wrote, but I think I need to add to it today...particularly about the verse that says,

"Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:5

I believe that if we spend the appropriate amount of time examining ourselves, we will have little time to worry about how God "should work" in the lives of others. When I am feeling tempted to point out someone else's failures or wrongdoing, I must remind myself that I, too, have failed people. I have failed God. I received forgiveness, therefore I should be quick to forgive, quick to give the benefit of the doubt, and quick to understand that some things are better handled by God. After all, isn't He in just as much control of this whole wide world today as He was on the day He created it?

The bottom line is: we should spend more time examining our own hearts, motives, actions, etc...before worrying about others' mistakes. That alone can be an effective witnessing tool.  Also, it wouldn't hurt to spend way more time encouraging each other in the Lord and resting in the peace that He gives.

Have a great day!

Shopping for Granite: What I Learned

We recently decided it would be a good idea to put new counter tops in our kitchen. The photo above is not my kitchen...but isn't it gorgeous? We had never done a project like this before, nor do we have many friends who have done it, so we were pretty much learning as we went along.

Important things we learned: 

1. Shop around. 

We found that the best price came from a big box store, but we actually preferred using a local business. When we told the local guy of the better quote, he was able to match the price. 

Also, every single place we got a quote from gave us different measurements. We found that the big box stores had computer systems that seemed to make the measurements most accurate. This can make a big difference in the cost when you are getting different quotes.

Don't forget to ask about warranties. Make sure you are comfortable with this aspect of the deal before you sign the dotted line. 

2. What's in a slab? 

Big box stores (like Lowe's or Home Depot) can tell you the approximate color that your granite will be. Think of it this way: granite is cut much like a loaf of bread. The big box store will show you a representation of the "loaf", but not necessarily your "slice".  There may be differences or imperfections from one slab to the next in a large sample of granite. 

We are fortunate to live within driving distance from a granite warehouse and were able to pick our exact slab, which was one of the reasons that we liked the local business. Shopping for our slab was so much fun! 

I was also concerned about having seams in odd places, so you may want to ask about that if you have large sections in your kitchen/bathroom. Thankfully, all the stones in our kitchen are one piece.

3. Pricing

Big box stores sell granite per square foot because they might be using parts of different slabs to complete your order. 

Local businesses in my area sold entire slabs of granite. If you have a lot of counter top surface area, you might need to purchase two slabs. 

Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true. They probably are. If you are going to use a local business, find someone who has been in business for a long time. Find testimonials. Read reviews. Visit the showroom. Ask lots of questions about warranties & workmanship. Are they bonded and insured? Do they have a rating with the Better Business Bureau?  If something seems fishy to you, don't buy from them! 

4. Hidden Costs

Everyone we got a quote from charged extra to remove the old counter tops. I assumed that installing new granite would include removing the old surface, but it doesn't. Expect anywhere from $100-$250 for this service. Some places charge a flat fee, others charge per linear foot. Of course, you could do it yourself. We didn't want to go that route...just because we didn't want to accidentally ruin our cabinets in the process.

If you are getting a new sink, you will have to pay extra for the plumbing to be reconnected. It costs even more if your new sink will be deeper than your old one because the plumbing will have to be reconfigured. More work = more cost to you. The big box stores include this cost in their quotes. Local businesses ask you to find a plumber to do the work, or they may recommend a good one.

Some companies include a new sink for "free", but others charge quite a bit extra. One company we visited charged an additional $250 for the same sink that everyone else included for free. 

If you have a breakfast bar or island that will need to be supported (because granite is really, really heavy), expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $150 per corbel, depending on how fancy or custom you decide to make it.  

Speaking of how heavy granite is, you may need to have your floors reinforced to support the weight. Support beams may need to be added under your kitchen floor. As you can imagine, this can get expensive. However, if you have a concrete foundation, this will not be an issue for you. 

Don't forget to think about the back-splash area. Are you going to have a 4-inch granite back-splash? That can cost more, especially if you are buying granite per square foot. If you are having tile work done, don't forget to add the cost of that to your budget. I hear that tile is an easy project, but we decided to hire someone to complete ours (it was a small and tedious job).  Even if you do it yourself, natural stone tile can be pricey. Shop around for that, too. 

After all is said and done, you will probably have areas of your kitchen walls that will need to be repaired. You can easily do this with a putty knife and some compound, but after you finish sanding, you will need to paint again. This can add to your total budget as well. 

5. Budgeting

Before you even start shopping, decide on a budget for everything. Stick to that budget. You can easily be wooed by more expensive and more beautiful materials. Don't be afraid to admit that you have a budget when you are getting quotes. Ask if certain slabs are on sale. Find out what is included in every quote. And don't ever underestimate the power of competition. You never know, one reputable company might want your business enough to beat the lowest price you find.