We humans seem to enjoy collecting.  Some collect baseball cards, coins, antiques, recipes, books and much more.  I have some small collections of my own and while some are of value, more often than not they are sentimental rather than an investment.  Take my collection of stones for example.  None of them would be of value to anyone but me with the exception of one.  I have several stones I collected while walking on the beach.  Their soft colors add to the smoothness of their surface.  I have another stone I brought back from Israel.  It was collected in the Valley of Elah where David would have chosen his “five smooth stones” to battle Goliath (1 Sam. 17:31-54; see verse 40).  The one that might have a small amount of value to a rock collector is the sample of Franklinite which was a souvenir from touring one of the few mines which produce it.  The fun thing about Franklinite is that it is phosphorescent- that is it glows under black-light.  Each stone serves as a reminder to me of a place, a time, a story, an adventure and when I see or hold them, those memories come alive.
            A while back I decided to make a mental list of all the times stones were used as a memorial or played an important role in the Old Testament.  What a list!  Here’s a partial list of what I compiled:  Abraham builds an altar of stone and sacrifices on it after God promises him a great nation, land and a blessing (Gen. 12:7); Isaac is about to be sacrificed on an altar of stone when God provides a ram instead (Gen. 22:1-14); Jacob uses a stone for a pillow in Genesis 28:11-22; Moses builds an altar at Rephidim to commemorate God’s victory over the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15); the  Mosaic Covenant was written on stone (Ex. 34:1-4);   there are several instances in the book of Joshua where a stone altar is built as a memorial, most notably the altar of remembrance after crossing the  Jordan (Jos. 4:4-9) and the altar built in the valley of Achor (Jos. 7:26).  The list could go on but by now you see that stones are all over the place in the Old Testament.  Why stones?  Well, if you’ve ever been to Israel, you know they’re quite abundant!
            While we do have our modern versions of this phenomenon (think of such structures as the Washington Monument), we really don’t treat stones in the same way as the patriarchs or others in the ancient world did.  In most of the aforementioned passages, the word for stone is “eben”.  Its more practical application would be as a well cover (Gen. 21:2, 3, 8), or a weapon (Ex. 21:18), but “ebens” were also used as memorials (Jos. 4: 3, 5-9), sacred pillars (Gen. 28:18) and specifically in Joshua as a witness to an event much like a witness testifies in a courtroom (Jos. 24: 26-27).  Recently I heard a graduation speech based on Gen. 31:45-53 in which the president of the college challenged and encouraged the graduates to be like the stones erected as a testimony between Jacob and Laban.  I felt his words were inspiring and a great encouragement for those students to make their lives a witness out there in the big, wide world.  But there was something that was nagging away at the back of my mind, “Were those stones really a reminder of what God had done or was it something else?”  A little research proved that while the stones commemorated a covenant between the two men, the transaction was one born out of distrust and suspicion!  It was not the best passage to choose as an example, but the lesson was of worth.
            It is interesting to note that a stone of testimony was often erected in connection with a covenant.  Perhaps the most significant case of this type occurred at the base of Mt. Sinai after the Lord cut His covenant on stone with Moses who then delivered it to the people of Israel.  Using the synonym “massebah” which designated a standing, uncut block of stone, it is recorded that Moses erects 12 of them, one for each tribe (Ex. 24:4) as a witness of the covenant between God and His people.  While the Mosaic covenant was written on tablets of stone, the New Covenant is written on the tablet of the heart (Jer. 31:31-34; 2 Cor. 3:1-3).  When someone comes to faith however, there is no monument erected for the occasion.  Instead, writes Peter, we become living stones as a testimony to the relationship we now share with Christ (1 Pet. 2:4-5).
            It’s a powerful memory when I pick up my “Goliath” stone and remember collecting it in the Valley of Elah.  It’s nice to run my fingers over those wave-washed beach stones and remember the special times I’ve spent by the ocean.  It’s fun to look at my little lump of Franklinite and recall it glowing under the black-light.  But the greatest stone I possess is my own life.  It was not erected as a reminder that God is making sure I am being honest in my dealings with another person.  Rather it is a testimony that I am in a covenant relationship with Christ.  Like the stones that the Israelites collected from the bottom of the Jordan River, my life should cause people to ask, “What does this mean?” (Jos. 4:4-8) and I should be ready to answer (1 Pet. 3:15)!
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Our family will celebrate a milestone this weekend when my niece graduates from college.  She is the last of my father’s grandchildren to accomplish this and I know he would be very proud of her if he were here to celebrate with us.  Dad had gone into the Army after high school and didn’t earn his degree until later.  I still remember him studying at a desk he’d put down in the basement so that three boisterous daughters wouldn’t distract him while he studied.  As with most graduating ceremonies I’m sure we’ll be hearing an inspirational message designed to inspire and motivate the graduates into making a difference in their world.  They will be challenged to go out and influence their workplace, their neighborhood and their community at large.  They will be told that like a blender, they will be mixing their valuable education with their newly acquired duties and everyone will be the better for it.  At least that’s what they will hear.  The reality may play out a little differently!
If you like to cook or bake you most likely have a mixer in your kitchen.  This handy appliance is used to mix, fold, beat, blend or whip food ingredients into a smooth concoction or batter.  The first hand-held egg beater with rotating parts was patented in 1856 by a tinsmith in Baltimore, Maryland.  The first electric mixer appeared in 1885 and was invented by American Rufus Eastman, however domestic electric mixers were rarely used before 1920.  Early mixers listed speed by function (mix, beat, whip, etc.) rather than by number as they are now.  Kitchen Aid and Sunbeam were popular brands and are still manufactured today.  My little hand-held electric mixer may be slightly out-dated compared to some of the mixers made today, but it’s special to me because it was an engagement present from my parents and it still works just fine!
            Have you ever watched the ingredients fold together when you’re using a mixer?  It doesn’t take long for one ingredient to disappear into the other.  Although the purpose of a mixer, whether it is electric or not, is to blend substances together so that they are no longer distinguished separately, blending in with our culture is something Scripture warns us to avoid.  The ingredients are all wrong for us.  According to Paul the problem with the ways of our culture is that they stand opposed to what God desires for us.  When writing to the Ephesians, he admonished the believers to refrain from anything immoral or impure.  I’m sure we read those words and think that it must have been easy for the early Christians to keep themselves separate from the pagan Roman culture.  But archaeology and history have proven that the early Christians struggled as much as we do when it came to separating themselves from the influences of their society.  Not only did they face physical persecution for rejecting worship of the Emperor, they faced economic hardships for not joining guilds which were related to their skill and the emotional stress of being misunderstood in the way they worshipped God.  Reading the lists of unacceptable behavior in passages like Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:1-7, 2 Tim. 3:1-7 helps us to see that it was just as easy for them to slip into sin as it is for us.
As Paul says in Ephesians 5 we must be mindful of what we’re mixing in our bowl.  Just as we would not want to mix cleaning fluid in our brownie batter because it would be hazardous to our health (and to anyone else who eats them), mixing impure thoughts and actions in our Christian walk is hazardous to our spiritual health.  There is hope though!  In verses 1 and 2 Paul recommends that we follow Christ’s example and imitate Him.  In that way, the aroma of our lives will be like a fragrant meal cooking away on our stove top with the purest of ingredients.  Paul reminds us that we are no longer bound by the slavery of sin; that we were formerly of darkness but now we “children of light” (Eph. 5:8).   Rather than mixing our life with the ingredients of darkness (v.11), we are to make the most of our time (vv.15-16) by allowing the Spirit to have control of our words and deeds (v.18), speak with fellow believers using words of praise, singing songs to the Lord both musically and in our hearts (v.19), offering thanksgiving to God the Father for what Jesus has done (v.20) and living in harmony with other believers by following God’s commands (v.21).
My son Erick went to camp one year thanks to the generous gift of a friend.  When he returned home I asked him what his favorite activity was.  His response was rather humorous.  He said he enjoyed breakfast the most because no matter what condiment his friends suggested, he would mix it into his oatmeal and eat it!  Some activity!  God does not want us mixing just anything into our lives as Erick did with his oatmeal.  Instead He desires for us to be like Jesus in every action, thought and word (1 Pet. 1:14-16).  What kind of things are you mixing into your life?  Ask Jesus to help you choose the right ingredients and follow Him.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            The little boy took the oddly curved shaped object from his mother’s hand.  It had a long, twisted cord that came out one end and stretched to another funny looking box with a circle with holes in it that spun around if you twirled it with your finger.  His mother guided the part she’d given him up to his ear and mouth.  “Say hello to Pop Pop”, she said with a smile.  A voice came out of the part next to his ear, “Hi Erick!”  It sounded like Pop Pop but it didn’t look like Pop Pop!  “Go on,” his mother prompted, “Say hello.”  But the little boy continued to stare at it in spite of the familiar voice and the encouragement of his mother.  The first time a child talks into a telephone or hears a voice on the other end of it must really be confusing as so many children become tongue-tied when presented with the task.  The scenario above took place when we still had our phones attached to the wall, but I don’t think cell phones have made it any easier- except perhaps when a picture is involved.  Even so most children struggle with the fact that the person they are talking to is not actually in the room.  The first time a person prays can be very much like that.
            Prayer, in its simplest and most unassuming definition, is communicating with God.  Although some branches of Christendom make it appear as if only the professionals know how to do it, it is not what God intended.  My first exposure to this misconception occurred when I was discipling a woman who’d immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine.  She was a new believer and learning both English and about her new-found faith so we would read the Bible together.  One day we read the passage where Jesus taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Mt. 6:9-13; Lk. 11:2-4).  I asked her if she prayed.  The response was that she did not know how because the priest was supposed to do it.  When I asked her who Jesus was teaching how to pray she recognized prayer was meant for everyone who had a relationship with Him.  We looked at the prayer and what it entailed and I left thinking I’d done a pretty good job in equipping her for an exciting dialogue with the Lord.  When I returned the following week I asked her how her prayer life was doing.  “Oh Ann,” she sighed, “I am not so good.  I did not get to the church for prayer.  I will do better this week.”  My heart sank as I realized I’d not explained well enough.  We then talked about WHERE prayer can take place.  “You can pray anywhere,” I said, “You can pray when you’re washing the dishes after a meal, when you’re sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, when you are walking to work, even when you’re running the vacuum!”  And yes, the following week there was a glowing report of all the different places where she’d talked to the Lord.
            Let’s look at the components of prayer using the telephone as our example.  First, just as the telephone is a way to communicate with others, it is also a way for others to communicate with us.  Prayer is not merely a way for us to read off our list of activities and desires to God.  Like any good dialogue, prayer requires us to listen for and to God’s response (Mt. 7:7-8).  Secondly, there are a number of different kinds of calls we can receive on our phone.  Some calls are more formal and business-like such as a confirmation call from your dentist.  But others are more personal like calls from friends and family.  Though more formal, some liturgical prayers are quite beautiful (Ps. 4; 86) but more often than not our prayers will be personal.  We join a host of Biblical people who prayed this way (Gen. 32:9-12; 1 Sam. 2:1-10; 1 Ki. 8:22-30; Job 42:1-6; Dan. 9:1-7; Mt. 15:32-33; Lk. 2:36-38; 3:21-22; 9:28-31; Acts 4:24-31; 7:59-60; 9:40; 16:13. 16, 25 and many more!) and this type of prayer really illustrates the heart of our faith (Mt. 6:5-8; Phil. 1:3-11; Js. 5:16-18).  Jesus, in His most personal prayers, addressed God in a familial manner (Mt. 11:25-26; Lk. 10:21; Jn. 11:38-42; 17:1) and instructed us to do this too with respect and reverence (Mt. 6:9).  Prayer also covers a multitude of topics, just like a good conversation (as seen in the variety of topics in the list of those who prayed).  Sometimes you will initiate the topic and at other times the Lord will introduce one to you.  As previously mentioned this aspect of prayer underscores that it is a dialogue, requiring both speaking and listening (Is. 55:3, 6).
            When I was a child my mother or father would say “grace” before a meal; a tradition I carried on with my children and they now carry on with theirs.  At some point though, our prayers must move from the traditional to the more personal.  Jesus’ disciples had seen Him pray on many occasions and in both ways but they understood by observation that His prayers were not like theirs.  They were deeper and more personal.  So when we recognize that we are ready to engage in that kind of prayer, like the disciples, we must make the same request as they did, “Lord teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
 https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I have always had a love for the ocean and the beauty of the shoreline.  I think it comes from my paternal grandmother’s side of the family who sailed from the Netherlands and landed in New Amsterdam (which is now New York City) those many generations ago.  Because of that my house has always had a healthy collection of shells decorating pots in my garden, the nightstand in my bedroom and the shelves in my bathroom.  Although I’ve never had the opportunity to get a Conch shell from a tropical beach, I have found several Whelk shells in Cape May.  It’s exciting when you find one of these grand “homes” intact, but more often than not, shells come to us broken and battered by the sea.  However, no matter what condition I find them in, I find them to be beautiful.  I often pick up a shell and admire its beauty but never really stop to consider that it was once a creature’s home.  But all shells whether they come from a fresh-water, marine or sandy environment are just that- the outer housing of an animal that once dwelled inside it.  I don’t know who lived in many of the shells I’ve collected but I do know I enjoy looking at them on a daily basis- even the ones that are chipped, scarred or even a small remnant of their former selves.
            Shells remind me that life can be as stormy and turbulent as the sea.  In fact, most of us would relate more to a shell that bears the scars of the ocean-depths over the pristine specimens in a bin at Craft World.  The little chips and dings are much like the mistakes, storms, and detours we encounter as we journey through life.  The bad news is those events will inevitably happen, but the good news is we are not alone.  Everyone experiences them.  The people who grace the pages of Scripture are no different.  While we like to think that people like David, Moses, Peter and Paul are stellar examples of the faith, the truth is they were anything but!  Peter lied about being one of Jesus’ disciples (Mk. 14:66-72; Lk. 22:54-62; Jn. 18:25-27) and impulsively cut off the ear of a servant when Jesus was arrested (Jn. 18:1-10), but David, Moses and Paul were all murderers (2 Sam. 11:1-27; Ex. 2:11-14; Acts 6:8-12; 7:54-60; 8:1-3; 22:4; 1 Cor. 15:9)!  There are a number of notable women who struggled too:  Miriam caused division among the Israelites (Num. 12:1-15), Esther kept her identity a secret (Est. 2:8-11), and Euodia and Syntyche were at such odds with one another they threatened to disease an entire house church (Phil. 4:1-3).  There are also a host of men and women who suffered due to circumstances beyond their control (Joseph- Gen. 39:1, 6-9, 16-21, Hannah- 1 Sam. 1:1-8, Daniel- Dan. 6, and Epaphroditas- Phil. 2:25-30, to name a few).
            No matter what the cause, suffering can have a positive outcome in our journey of faith.  If it is caused by our own poor choices it can often be a source of discipline which the Lord is using to get us back on track (Dt. 8:5; Heb. 12:5-11).  If its source is something beyond our control, it is an opportunity to rely on others and see effective prayer at work (Js. 5:13-16).  If our suffering has occurred because we have taken a stand for Christ, we should not be surprised (Mt. 5: 10-12; Jn. 15:20-21).  Our suffering mirrors what Christ endured for us (2 Tim. 1:8-9; Heb. 12:3).   It would be wonderful if life never sent our little shell tumbling through the waves, but in this present world, we can expect it to happen.
            If there was ever a man who understood the brokenness of life it was David.  He not only made his aforementioned disastrous choice to murder Uriah, he suffered at the hands of others too.  King Saul who asked him to serve in the court also tried to kill him (1 Sam. 18:10-11).  He lived on the run as a result of Saul’s obsession to kill him (1 Sam. 23:24-29).  He mourned the loss of a close friend who’d stood by him all those years on the run (2 Sam. 1) and his kingship was threatened by his own son (2 Sam. 15:1-12).  But each one of those experiences directed David to the Lord.  The events may have damaged and marred the shell of his life, but each dent and ding brought David into a deeper relationship with the Only One who could make sense of it all (Ps. 30:1-5, 10-12).  This is true of your shell too.  The suffering and sorrow that you encounter are opportunities to find solace and healing in God’s capable hands (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 16:33; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Js. 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:6-7).  When the Lord looks at you and your chips and broken pieces, He sees what’s in your heart (Ps. 51:17).  And to Him it is beautiful.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
 
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
For further reading:  My Beautiful Broken Shell by Carol Hamblet Adams