Buffy's Blog

Moving my Blog

Buffy Halvorsen — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:26:41 +0000

Dear readers,

I have thoroughly enjoyed connecting with you on this blog. As you may know, this blog is part of the Outlook Online blog network (formerly the Mid-America Union blog network). The network is updating to a newer, more streamlined structure (1 blog with multiple authors). I hope that you will join me in making this transition to my new blogging home at http://outlookmag.org (once there, simply hover over “Bloggers” in the main menu and click on my name to view my new posts). I will be leaving all of my old posts online as an archive if you still want to read what I have written in the past. Again, thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you on my new blog soon!

God Bless as you walk with Him,

Buffy Halvorsen

Twisted Texts

Buffy Halvorsen — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:34:06 +0000

My Mind Twisted a Text Recently, it is Matthew 11:6. It actually says: “And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” I’m pretty sure it means what it says. But my mind (or the Holy Spirit in my mind) turned it around and I think even though this text doesn’t say this a Christian can live in the truth and freedom of this text when it is twisted. This is what this text sounds like twisted: “Because of Me, you don’t need to be offended.” Often as we live together in community, someone does or says something that offends us, there is a criticism that hurts our feelings, or our ego, and we are “offended.” Something is said that causes us to feel defensive or attacked. Or not said that causes us to feel slighted unappreciated and those “offended” feelings cause us to begin to defend our edges, our territory; what belongs to us or who we are. But because God defines who we are, because everything belongs to Him we are able to live in the freedom of not having to defend ourselves. Because of Him we don’t need to feel “offended” by others. That is true freedom and that freedom happens as God transforms our life over time and our ego’s die. The death of our ego allows us to experience peace, joy and real freedom right now – that sounds like “Kingdom living” to me.

Cain & God

Buffy Halvorsen — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 04:25:17 +0000

It all started with Cain and Abel – that need to lash out when we feel anxiety, fear, guilt, jealousy, anger, shame, hurt, or any other uncomfortable emotion. You see, both Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God. Abel did it God’s way and God accepted his sacrifice, while Cain did it his way and God simply didn’t accept it. When he felt rejected by Almighty God, Cain immediately became anxious. Jealous, fearful and angry he lashed out at Abel killing him. God knowing what his human’s reaction would be immediately took Cain and placed him “East of Eden.” Then God proceeded to place a mark on Cain and told His family not to harm him. God knew that because Cain had killed Abel the others would become afraid, they would be anxious, angry or fearful and want to lash out at him and perhaps kill him. But God forgave him. God gave us an example of what we need to do when we start to feel anxiety, anger, pain, jealously or guilt. We are to forgive and let go. When you feel like lashing out at someone, giving them what they deserve, whether with word or deed, stop and ask yourself, “What in this situation do I need to forgive or surrender to God?” Then ask God to help you do just that.

By This Will All Men Know

Buffy Halvorsen — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:18:21 +0000

I’ve been thinking about John 13:35 this week. Jesus just comes out and gives discipleship’s definition in one sentence. “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” You notice He didn’t say, “All men will know that you are my disciples if you keep My commandments.” He wants them to realize that it is possible to appear by outward behavior to keep the commandments, but that doesn’t make me a disciple. It is impossible to be a disciple of Jesus and not love others. That is a gift from Him not something I can just do. He raises the bar here by saying, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another.” (Vs. 34) Now He also knows that if you Love others you will keep the commandments – that just happens. But the opposite is not necessarily true. This reminded me of another sentence that I’ve been thinking about this week. “How you get there is where you will arrive.” I can decide to travel by car to Australia, and I will look like I am going somewhere. But my destination won’t be Australia if I only travel by car. I can decide to fly, but I won’t be able to visit my next door neighbor’s house if I fly. The only way to get to heaven is by Jesus’ gift. I can’t love my neighbor on my own, anymore than I can get to Australia by car or my neighbor’s house by plane. I can look like I am keeping the 10 Commandments and many other things I find in the Bible or church, and I might look like I am a church member, but that doesn’t make me a disciple. Because that gift of Love is the only way we will ever be a disciple.

One of Those Days

Buffy Halvorsen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:19:22 +0000

It’s been one of those days when there are far more duties than time. The pastors, were in meetings in Topeka from Monday to Wednesday. Being out of the office for a couple of days can be a major set back – it was. Then to top it off, nothing seemed to work. The internet gave me fits, the computers were all slow. I couldn’t find things I needed. The mailperson didn’t deliver needed items. Things took longer and were more involved than they should have been. (At least if I were in charge.) And what I thought was the most important task of the day didn’t get done. It was as if there was someone going in front of me making my jobs harder or impossible all day. My plans just didn’t happen. I didn’t know if it would be better to quit trying or not. Much of life is like my day was, completely out of my control. My ego likes to accomplish things, to feel like I have made a difference, see quantifiable results. That doesn’t always happen. Was the day a waste because my plans didn’t happen? Was there something for me to see and learn in this day? Was my job to live the day and love the people I encountered. Was the exchange I had at Target with the man in front of me or the casher what made this day valuable? Was it the text messages I sent to friends? Was it the prayer I had with a couple? Was it the dishes I put in the dishwasher? Was it the sandwich I made for Ron? Was it that the day was surrendered to God and was exactly as He ordained? Always more questions than answers and a whole lot of not knowing. *smile* *sigh*

New Year’s Resolutions

Buffy Halvorsen — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 22:45:12 +0000

This is the week that we contemplate New Year’s resolutions. I Googled the top ten New Year’s resolutions. They are as follows: 1. Spend more time with family and friends. 2. Fit in fitness. 3. Tame the bulge. 4. Quite smoking. 5. Enjoy life more. 6. Quit drinking. 7. Get out of debt. 8. Learn something new. 9. Help others. 10. Get organized. They all sound good. But I was reminded of the text in Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” I think my resolution this year is to continue to ask God everyday to help me seek Him with all my heart and to help me live a life continually surrendered to Him.

Christmas

Buffy Halvorsen — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 21:38:42 +0000

Last Friday morning I kissed my son good-by as he and Josie pulled out of the driveway in a Uhaul truck and headed for Florida. My heart left with them. It comforted me some to know that they will live near their grandparents and be able to share their life. Their leaving reminded me of what God the Father must have felt more than 2000 years ago, as He kissed His only Son good by, and then performed the most incredible scientific feat in the history of the Universe. He made God human, something that has never been done before or since. We can’t even begin to imagine the implications that this act will have on Jesus for eternity. God did this knowing not only the physical changes and scars His Son would forever bear but the emotional pain that He and all of heaven would experience as this unprecedented event unfolded. Yet the Father loved us so much that it helped to know that Jesus would be near and be able to share our life – that He would be Immanuel – God with us.
I love my kids more than life itself and while I would like to think that I would give my life so someone else could live, I don’t know if I could give one of their lives so someone else could live. Yet, God, who is Love, did that very thing. I’m sure He would have much rather given His own life than that of His Only Son, but He loved us enough to give Heaven’s most precious gift. What amazing Love.

Just Allow It

Buffy Halvorsen — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:59:10 +0000

Last week when I was giving a Bible Study using the studies Lifting Up Jesus by Karen Lewis I was reminded of an illustration I had heard years ago about the difference between belief and trust. You might have heard it before, but it might be time for a reminder in your life too. “There was a tightrope walker who was crossing Niagara Falls. After he had held the crowds spellbound with his daring he asked, ‘How many of you believe I could cross the tightrope again, this time pushing a wheelbarrow with someone riding in it?’ The crowds applauded. They were sure he could do it. But then he said, ‘Who will volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow?’ There was instant silence. The audience had just been reminded of the vital difference between belief and trust. It’s one thing to believe that the wheelbarrow would make it safely across the chasm. It’s quite another thing to crawl into the wheelbarrow.” I wonder if we do this sometimes. We believe that God offers forgiveness, love and His Spirit, but we fail to trust it is there for US. It is as simple as crawling into the wheelbarrow. In other words: To allow yourself to be forgiven is to be forgiven. To allow yourself be loved by God is to be loved by God. To allow yourself to be filled with His Spirit is to be filled with His Spirit. If Almighty God whose very being is Goodness and Love is pushing that wheelbarrow, I’m crawling in and allowing all that He offers. How about you?

The Best Things

Buffy Halvorsen — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:54:10 +0000

I read a quote a couple of weeks ago by Heinrich Zimmer; and it has stayed with me. I’ve thought about it quite a bit so I thought I’d share it with you. He says: “The best things cannot be talked about, and the second-best things are almost always misunderstood so we talk about the third-best things.” As I have been thinking about this I have found some truth in it. We do this in all areas of life. Those first-best things have to be experienced. They are so incredible there are no human words to describe them. They are experiences like holding your child for the first time, (We can’t describe it so we tell others the child’s sex, name, length and weight); falling in love (we take pictures and announce engagements); encountering our Holy God (we are quick to tell others what we believe). The second-best things are easily misunderstood, and are things that point to the first-best things. These second-best things are theology, art, music, poetry, philosophy and psychology. (These can all be interpreted many ways and are easily misunderstood.) So we spend most of our time talking about the third-best things, those things that seem certain, have order, and are easily quantified or measured, like finances, roles, rules, standards, numbers and statistics, and doctrine. I think that church people do this either because we can’t find the words to describe our God encounters or because perhaps we have failed to recognize them. So because those third-best things are so easy to talk about with absolutes and certainties we talk about that is what fills our religion. I wonder if that is why some of the “wonder” of church is missing sometimes. All because we talk about what we are certain of and don’t take the time or make the space to experience those first-best times with God.

Focus

Buffy Halvorsen — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:01:23 +0000

Lately I have been thinking about how important what we focus on as a church really is. Almost everyday I see examples of the powerful impact focus on God can make in a life. When people seek a closer relationship with God all their relationships improve. They find themselves acting kinder, less selfish, more thoughtful, less controlling, and all they have done is spend time praying and surrendering their lives to God. I also watch two other groups whose focus is somewhere other than God. The first group struggles to change habits and behavior patterns and fail because they are trying to overcome self alone. They focus on habits or relationship patterns and try by sheer will power to change their lives. They don’t get very far and become discouraged. The second group is unwilling to make any changes at all so they continuing to make choices based on self and spiral quickly downward. Because self can never change self things begin to fall apart in all areas of their life. Changing deeply entrenched habits by focusing on the habit just doesn’t work. What we all need is to seek God with all our hearts, to follow hard after Him and surrender daily allowing the Holy Spirit to control our lives. It is too easy to get the focus and goals wrong when we talk about revival and reformation. What our church needs is a reform of the heart. Not a change focused on outward behavior. We need the Holy Spirit to lead us to inward commitment toward God. In the Old Testament, God often spoke about our hearts being far from Him resulting in the worship of gods with a small g. Those small “g” gods can take any form, even religious ones. We must pursue the real, only, almighty God with unrelenting determination and not get our goal or focus diverted. That is when the fruits of God’s Spirit will transform our lives, homes, church, and world.