Have you ever actually watched a loaf of bread rise?  After you mix the leaven in warm water, it looks rather cloudy and unappealing.  Adding it to a bowl of sifted flour only seems to make matters worse.  The result is a gooey, stretchy mess.  But the yeast bonds to the gluten of the wheat while it is being kneaded, and after the malleable ball of dough has been left sitting for about an hour, it's almost doubled in size!  I am sure there's a wonderful scientific explanation for this, but I don't know it!  What fascinates me about this process is how quickly the bread rises and how much the yeast causes the dough to expand.
   
         In Luke 13, after Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, He uses another unlikely example to illustrate God's kingdom- a lump of yeast (Lk. 13:18-21)!  It is a picture from everyday life, but this time, it has a twist.  Scripture almost always uses yeast as a negative image (1 Cor. 5:6-8 for example).  But in this case, Jesus uses yeast to symbolize the way the Gospel would expand and affect an unsuspecting world.  This time yeast is seen as a positive influence.
 
           So, what does the yeast in Jesus' parable do?  When it is placed in the dough, it changes the dough (Lk. 13:21).  Like the yeast which a baker places into a ball of dough which in turn causes it to rise, the Lord has placed the Gospel into the world in order for it to expand.  The Gospel, or Kingdom, works like yeast in two ways:  1) it changes individuals until their whole being has been transformed.  2) It changes society as a whole.  When it affects individuals, they in turn affect the culture in which they live.
     
       Yeast changes and transforms bread.  Bread made from water and wheat alone, is hard, dry, and not too nourishing; but yeast, mixed into the dough, changes and transforms it.  When yeast has been added to bread there are four results which represent the effect the Gospel has on people:  1) yeast makes bread soft and no longer hard.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates hearts of people and softens the hardness of their life.  As a result we become softened toward God too.  We become a more caring and giving person (Ezek. 11:19-20; Col. 3:12-15).  Softness is one of the trademarks of a transformed person.  2) Yeast makes bread porous and moist, no longer dry.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates the dryness of a person's heart and life.  The Gospel moistens our hearts so that we can grow into a moist or fruitful person (Lk. 8:4-15; Jn. 15:8; Col. 1:10).  3)  Yeast makes bread satisfying.  The Gospel changes a life with no purpose or meaning and gives a person purpose, joy and hope.  4)  Yeast makes bread nourishing.  The Gospel not only gives purpose, but it inspires, commissions, and cultivates.  A person transformed by the Gospel is able to bring truth to the world.  The Gospel is able to explain the reasons for the emptiness and loneliness of the human heart and to replace them with love and fellowship (Prov. 15:30; 25:25; Is. 52:7; Rom. 10:14-15; Eph. 4:15-25).
     
       It should be noted that yeast works quietly and silently.  You don't hear it fizzing or crackling like milk poured on Rice Krispies.  But you know it's working because you can see the difference in the dough.  This says something about the way we should be living as transformed people in this world.  As part of the "yeast of the kingdom" we are to be making an impact in the world that we live in.  Yeast changes the whole lump.  It permeates every pore of the dough's being.  And so it should be with the kingdom.  As "yeast" in this world, we should be impacting every pore of society.  As a disciple of the King of Kings, how will you be an effective lump of yeast this week?  How will you expand the kingdom?  Jesus is challenging you to make a difference.
 
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

            Nain was a small town in Lower Galilee. It doesn’t look like much today because nothing of its ancient buildings has survived.  In fact Luke 6:11-17 is the only time this little town is ever mentioned in the Bible (which should always clue you in to the fact that something significant is going to happen there).  It was situated on a small hill a few miles southwest of Nazareth.  One rather important miracle of the Old Testament also occurred near Nain- Elisha raised a son from the dead in Shunem (2 Ki. 4:18-37) which was also located in this region.  So then, it is no coincidence that Jesus encounters a funeral procession for an only son just outside of this slightly obscure town.

            Luke's wonderful writing highlights several important aspects of this story.  First and foremost was the fact that this woman was a widow and this man was his mother's ONLY son.  She had no other means of support.  In Jesus' day women did not have the vast resources and opportunities available to them that many of us have today.  If they lost the income of their husband or children, and there was no extended family to take them in, they had two options.  The first was begging; the second was prostitution.  So when Jesus and His disciples approached this funeral, led by its professional mourners and accompanied by the townsfolk, they were coming upon a scene of desperation.

            Luke emphasizes that Jesus SEES the widow.  This word, esplagchinisthe (just try and pronounce that one!), means to see physically as well as to be moved inwardly; to yearn with tender mercy, affection, pity, empathy and compassion. It is the deepest movement of emotions from the deepest part of one's being.  There is no stronger word in the Greek language and it is used time and time again concerning Jesus.  When Christ saw this woman He was moved in the deepest part of His heart.  This caused Him to touch the funeral bier (generally a wicker pallet used to carry the body to the grave), a complete no-no according to the Torah.  

            Luke records that Christ spoke directly to the man.  You can imagine what thoughts were entering the minds of those in attendance!  (This guy must be crazy comes to mind.)  However, to their surprise, the man responds by anakthizein, a special medical word which describes a person who gets up after a long illness.  The immediate understanding among the on-lookers is that only God can make this happen.  Because of their location the people are familiar with the story of Elisha and immediately connect Jesus with the prophet.  Luke even uses a phrase right out of the Elijah story (1 Ki. 17: 8-24) in saying that Jesus gave the man "back to his mother" (1 Ki. 17:23).   The reaction of the crowd is similar to the stillness that falls over sports fans when an athlete is severely injured on the playing field.  Everything is quiet as the medical personal attend to the athlete’s needs.  But when the player gets up and is able to walk off the field an enthusiastic round of applause breaks out.  The funeral crowd is deeply in awe and although they misidentify Christ as a prophet, they nonetheless give credit to God.

            It would be easy to let this story go at face value and store the information in a mental file named "Cool Things I Learned About Luke 7" and a month or two later forget what was in the file.   Disciples (which you and I are) don't do that.  We must move the information into application by looking at Jesus and doing what He did.  To truly be a disciple, it means more than compassion, it means touch.  Although considered "unclean" Jesus was willing to touch the bier and speak the words of life into a dark and desperate situation.  We also speak for Christ.   We are His hands, feet and body.  An effective disciple not only speaks the words of life to a dead world, he or she reaches out and touches it as well.  Our compassion must be coupled with actions, otherwise, as James would say, our faith is dead (Js. 2:17) and useless.  What or who will move you to respond as Jesus did?  Be willing to move when you see "the widow of Nain" in your world.

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

   Ready for the Road Ahead is taking a brief detour while I recooparate from my recent knee surgery.  We're delving into the archives which never appeared on the website and revisiting some of my favorite posts.  This particular piece originally appeared as the bulletin insert on March 27, 2011.

         Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!  That little ditty ran through my head several times during the first full week of March 2011.   Not only did we see record rainfall in my area of the Northeast, but an earthquake in Japan set off a tsunami which destroyed property and beaches in the Northwest.  The rainfall coupled with melting snow caused rivers and creeks to overflow their banks and commuters to detour around the more troublesome areas of flooding.  Thanks to the fact that I had to drive up Route 209 more than once that week, I was able to see the rising waters first hand.  One Saturday afternoon found me stopping at the Bushkill Access on the Delaware River to take a rather comical picture of the Stop sign submerged in four feet of water with debris caught on the One Way sign below it.   There was lots of water, but not much of it was worthy to drink.
   
         Sometimes I marvel at people who build houses along the coast or next to a river.  They must know about the risks, but the setting is so appealing, it's worth the risk I suppose.  I have to confess I've daydreamed about living near the ocean.  I love the vast horizon, the sound of the waves, and the shells!  In the past I did wish I could live there.  I also thought living on a farm in one of the Plains states would be just as nice because they too have wonderfully flat horizons and wide open skies.  One season of Storm Stories cured both of those desires!  Hurricanes and tornadoes are not that appealing to me even though the landscape might be.  There are appealing places to live like this in Israel too.   One such place is mentioned in Psalm 23:2.  We often translate the word as "green pastures", but this Hebrew word actually relates to the well-watered and green area at the bottom of a wadi.
   
         "What's a wadi?" you ask.  Wadiis are like gorges, but not as wide.  They were carved out of the limestone in the wilderness area in the same way the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon.  Shepherds who raise their flocks in these areas of Israel must know the layout of a wadi inside and out, because although they are a great water source, they are also dangerous.  Rain can cause flash flooding in a wadi, so it is wiser to get your water and leave, rather than make yourself comfortable and stay.
         
        Jesus had this geographical characteristic in mind in Luke 6:46-49.  Maybe you remember singing this as a child:  "The wise man built his house upon the rock...".  It's not necessarily convenient to build on the top of those rock walls; most of them are quite high.  In ancient times when there were no pumping stations to bring the water to you it was far more pleasant and so much easier to build down in the gorge, next to the water source.   When you build next to the water, you don't have to lug those big water urns up and down the path.  It's convenient.  It's comfortable.  But Jesus warns his listeners that building in the sand, is unsafe!  When the rains come down, and they will, your house will wash away just like a flash flood in a wadi washes away everything in its path.

            It's tempting for us to "build our lives" in the conveniences of the world.  We think life should be easy, comfortable and advertisers are all too happy to convince us this is true. The trouble is, putting trust in the comforts of this world, is like building a house in the bottom of a wadi.   So, when storms come rushing into our little world, its sandy foundation is washed away with the water.

            What should disciples build on?  Jesus says in verse 47 that those who come to Him, hear His words, and act on them have built their life on the rock.  If we are letting the Bible guide us in the way we live and what we believe, when the storms of life come (and they will come), we will be able to withstand the tempest.  It is certainly more popular to build on worldly things.  It's easier, more comfortable.  But it's unstable.  Today's fads are tomorrow's history lessons.  The latest trends are forgotten tomorrow when the "next big thing" becomes news.  So, why build on this shifting sand?  Build your life on God's Word so that you will stand firm when storms come your way (Proverbs 3:1-8; Colossians 3:2).

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            My sister Diana and I took great delight in designing games for my youngest sister, Kim, when she was little.  One of our favorites was a birthday scavenger hunt where Kim had to figure out clues in order to discover the whereabouts of her presents.  Kim had a great deal of fun searching for those gifts and Diana and I took delight in watching her eyes light up when she figured out a clue and was rewarded with another colorful package.

            In January of 2011 I joined an online photography group called the "365 Project".  Photographers of all levels of ability search out pictures that capture their daily routines and the world around them in a creative and unique way.  Sometimes the photos are simply meant to document what their day was like.  But many use the challenge of capturing a picture each day as a means to improve their craft.  For some it’s a hobby and others it’s a passion but the main goal of many of the “365” photographers is to learn to look at the common, everyday things with a new perspective.  You don't need fancy equipment or a top of the line camera to join or to participate.  All you need is eyes to see.

            The Christian walk requires us to look for God in a similar fashion.  Years ago (1984 to be exact) David and Karen Mains wrote a book called The God Hunt.  In it they encouraged families to search for "God sightings" like Kim searched for her birthday presents those many years ago.  The interesting aspect of this activity is similar to that of the 365 Project.  The more you look, the more you see.  I recently read of a young mom who uses the walk to the school bus with her children as a way to see God at work in the world around them.  They look at the birds and see God's creativity.  They say hello and smile at people they know and see His love.  What a wonderful way to inspire children to recognize that God is with His creation!

            Developing your spiritual eyes is a must on the walk of Christian maturity.   It's a challenge to see life through a spiritual lens, because as adults, we've been conditioned to be concrete and practical.  In fact, I would propose that our practical, analytical and technological approach to daily living actually deadens our spiritual eyesight.  We lack the ability to see God at work because we’ve been conditioned to think that He’s NOT at work- especially in those things.  I believe God is at work in it all but most of us don’t see Him at work in anything because we think all God’s work has to miraculous or awe-inspiring.  But oftentimes, He is at work in the simple, daily routine each of us goes through just like there are pictures all around us each day.  Like my sister, we must look for the clues if we’re to discover what treasures await us.  That is the challenge of seeing with spiritual eyes, not just the two organs attached to our face.  If we do not learn to see things from a spiritual perspective, we may end up like the servant of Elisha, who could only see the enemies encircled around his camp (2 Kings 6: 8-17).  It took the prayer of Elisha to open his eyes to the spiritual realm.
  
          Cultivating your spiritual eyes is not difficult, but it does require that you look beyond the ordinary and the usual.  One day, while I waited for my friend to check out her groceries, I was charged with the task of entertaining her 3 year old daughter.  How do you keep an active toddler in a shopping cart in a busy supermarket when all she wants to do is get out?  In a moment of inspiration I began a game of "I Spy".  It was the perfect diversion for Cloe.  She loved finding the different colors and objects that I picked out and I was amazed at her powers of observation!  The same is true about seeing God in the world around you and in your life.  You are more observant than you think!  Seeing God at work does not always mean we will be looking at "supernatural" events in our lives.  More often it is learning to see those everyday events from a new vantage point.  It doesn't take fancy equipment or a top of the line camera to catch sight of God.  All you need is eyes to see.  Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.  (Psalm 66:5)
 
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

 And now for something a little different!  While I'm having knee surgery and recovering in physical therapy Ready for the Road Ahead is digging into the archives and publishing articles that were written before the website was in existence.  First up a piece from December of 2010- the month it all began!

            The story goes that there once was a great funambulist (tightrope walker) who stretched a hemp rope across a great gorge while an incredulous crowd gathered and watched.  As the cord was caught by an assistant and attached to the other side of the ravine, the confident acrobat began to speak to the crowd.  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called out, “I have crossed the widest canyons high above raging rivers and plummeting cascades!  And now, I shall attempt to cross your beautiful gorge.  Who believes that I shall succeed in my daring feat?”  Murmurs and discussions buzzed around the circle of on-lookers.  It was obvious that the man had trained for this stunt.  He sported an athletic frame of large, bulging muscles.  He was also dressed for the occasion in leotards, slippers and gloves.  He had a rod the exact length of his height to give him balance as he made his way across the tightrope. 
            “Sir, we believe you can do it!” a man called out as the rest applauded.
            But they were shocked and stunned when he placed a wheelbarrow upon the rope and said, “Then who will climb aboard and accompany me across?”  No one dared to speak.  Their previous faith in the acrobat was in crisis.  They trusted him when the stunt only included him, but did they trust him when it involved one of them?
            Suddenly from the middle of the crowd came a small voice, “I’ll go!”
            A little girl climbed into the wheelbarrow and held on to the sides.  Against the protests of those gathered to watch, the funambulist began the journey.  Some closed their eyes afraid to look.  Others held their breath and fearing for the safety of the little girl.  But the little girl just looked straight ahead as they passed the mid-point and then landed on the other side.
            By now a crowd had gathered there too.  A reporter rushed forward with a note pad and pen in hand.  “Little girl!” he said excitedly, “Weren’t you afraid of falling?”
            The angelic child scrunched her face and replied indignantly, “NO!”
            “Why not?” asked the reporter.
            “Because that’s my Dad!” she replied smiling at him confidently.
            The Scriptures remind us over and over again that God is a Father who keeps His promises.  We can trust Him because He is faithful.  It’s easy to accept this thought as long as it remains in the realm of our minds just as it was easy for the crowd to accept the claims of the tightrope walker as long as they did not have to cross the wire with him.  But we are exhorted James 3:17 that faith without any physical evidence of its existence (that is to say works) is dead.  Like the little girl we must climb into the wheelbarrow because we know our Father is pushing it.  Jesus challenged Peter to do the same when a storm raged around their boat (Mt. 14:22-33). 
            Whatever we are facing in life, if we believe God can take care of us we will behave accordingly.  Like Peter we will step out of the boat.  If we believe that God loves us, we will risk loving others.  If we believe God provides, we will not keep things to ourselves, but freely give to others.  If we believe God cares for our daily needs, we will not worry about what we have and don’t have (Mt. 6:25-33; Phil. 4:19).  How is God the Father asking you to climb in the wheelbarrow or step out of the boat this week?  How will you as His child respond?  Will you be silenced like the crowd, or will you climb in willingly like the little girl?  Will you step out of the boat with your eyes on Jesus like Peter or will you let your focus remain on the waves?  Whatever your response remember it indicates what you truly believe about your Father.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.                                                   
Reprinted and Revised from 12/5/2010
 
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Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing #23
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Sometimes when I find myself in a photographic slump I’ll play a little “game” I call, “One Year Ago Today”.  I find a picture I’ve taken the year before and dabble with it, changing colors, adding textures or layers, or both and see what I come up with.  On one particular day I landed on a shot I’d taken of some wildflowers and grasses on a small hill by our church.  It was a truly boring picture and I wondered why I saved it even though the sky was a very nice blue.  I began to play with the color and ended up turning the sunny day into an overcast one.  After playing with some textures, merging two more shots with the first I ended up with an image of a little girl walking along a beach ready to collect shells.  It reminded me of Andrew Wyeth’s painting “Christina’s World” although it was not anything near the caliber of the master!  When I look at that picture now, I know it has individual layers, but the overall image has a unity to it that makes them one.  And that is how I see the Lord working in both the layers of Isaiah’s prophecy and the layers of my life.

            Isaiah’s ministry takes place at a critical juncture in the national life of Israel.  King Uzziah has died after sitting on the throne for 52 years.  In spite of some personal missteps, Uzziah had been a great leader.  Who would succeed him and would they continue to serve the people wisely by following the ways of the Lord?  A new layer was about to be added to the history of Israel.  Sadly, Ahaz was the exact opposite of Uzziah.  Isaiah arrives on the scene to declare that judgment is certain for the wayward king (Is. 7:17) but that there is also hope for the faithful because a future king will serve in faithfulness and with justice (Is. 11:1-5).  These two themes of judgment and a restored kingdom under a descendant of David are viewed like slides in a projector.  In many ways they appear to be in order but sometimes they seem mixed.  At times they seem to have been fulfilled (such as when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C.), but at other times (such as under the godly leadership of Hezekiah, Ahaz’s successor) the fulfillment seems to fall a little bit short.  Hezekiah, like all the other kings before him died, which is a far cry from the eternal descendant of David who is promised in Is. 9:2-11. Not only did the prophet live during the reigns of three of Israel’s better-known kings (Is. 1:1; Uzziah-Is. 6:1, Ahaz- Is. 7:1-12, and Hezekiah- Is. 37:1-7), the Lord also revealed to him three distinct “servants” (Cyrus- Is. 44:28; 45:1, the nation of Israel- Is. 41:8-9; 44:1-3; 49:3, and the Servant of the Lord- 42:18-22; 49:5-6; 53:11) and the previously mentioned messages of judgment (Is. 2:12; 3:13, etc.) and restoration (Is. 40:1-2; 54:4-8; 61:1-9, etc.) given to the people of his day (which in turn is meant for us too).  Like the phases we pass through in life, Isaiah notes that history, individuals or nations, and God’s unfailing character also pass through phases.  Life, and particularly time, writes Isaiah, is layered.

            Isaiah saw his world as a composite.  It was made up of layers from the present, the not so distant future and a future farther off than he could imagine.  Some of his layers we can see as we look over the course of Israel’s history.  From the nation’s humble beginnings as a small family of wandering shepherds to a massive group of people who became a more unified nation while they wandered through the wilderness looking for a Promised Land, Isaiah sees each phase as a point along a journey which has a glorious end and whose purpose is to bring glory to the Lord (Is. 4:2; 60-62).  While my photographic composite of “The Shell Seeker” is fictional, Israel’s is not.

            It is not hard to see life in layers the older you get.  It’s not so easy to see them when you’re younger.  Like my “Shell Seeker” image, I consist of layers shaped and worked by my Creator to make a picture which brings Him glory just as Israel’s composite was meant to bring God glory (Is. 2:1-4).  In fact every life, not just mine, is a composite with its own layers that tell a story (Eph. 2:8-10).  Faith involves seeing all of those layers in your composite with a glorious end in view in the same fashion it was revealed to Isaiah regarding Israel (1 Cor. 13:12).  So, while I may not be able to  see all the layers at work in my life just yet, knowing the Lord is shaping my life that way is one of the best lessons I’ve learned about photography, faith and the art of seeing.
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

Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing # 22
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.

            Bonnie Lusted never reached the celebrity of Ansel Adams but she made a greater impact on me than Ansel did- although I truly admire his work.  I had joined an on-line photo site as a means to take my mind off the loss of my teaching position.  As I became more involved with the site I was also introduced to photographers all over the world.  Bonnie was one of those photographers.  One day she posted a picture of an onion which had been sliced through the middle.  Instead of taking the shot with the onion center stage and sitting on a plate, Bonnie had come in tight and close so that what you saw was the curved lines of the layers and the color of the skin in an organic curved pattern.  In that one shot Bonnie taught me to look carefully at the simple but mundane things around me.  They were hidden pieces of art waiting to be captured by the camera.  Thanks to Bonnie, that trait became a signature of many of my photos.  Adams may have impacted thousands, but Bonnie was the photographer who most impacted me.  I may have never seen an actual portrait of her, but I clearly saw Bonnie in every picture she took.

            If there was ever a Biblical figure who was concerned about leaving a legacy or making an impact on his world, that person would be Solomon.  1 Kings 4:29-34 records that God gave Solomon an immense amount of wisdom and practical knowledge.  In this passage the writer acknowledges Solomon’s prolific amount of acumen by recording that he spoke 3,000 proverbs and composed over 1,000 songs that covered topics such as trees and animals as accurately as a botanist or zoologist.  The bulk of the Scriptures that we attribute to wisdom, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes were penned by him.  But does Solomon’s lasting portrait, his legacy, always depict him as a wise person?  Sadly it does not.

            What began as a life dedicated to following God’s ways and seeking His guidance to lead the people of Israel gave way to the influence of his culture when he married foreign wives to secure the kingdom.  In spite of God’s warning, (1 Kin. 9:1-9) over the course of time Solomon appears to have accumulated as many wives and concubines as the proverbs he wrote and the Biblical writers are quick to point out that these alliances caused Solomon to make compromises in order to appease the women he collected (1 Kin. 11:1-13).  His change of heart and attitude are the most obvious in the book of Ecclesiastes- a poetical book which is attributed to him in the latter years of his life.  Gone is the hopefulness and trust of his youth and in its stead is an almost bitter and caustic appraisal of life and what people traditionally value as a means to a happy and blessed existence but in the end fall short of providing either.  It is a rather grim portrait of a man who started his rule with such high expectations.

            Solomon may be one of the grander individuals to cross the pages of Scripture but there is a figure in Scripture who has made an even greater impact on me not by what she said, but in what she did.  Dorcas is first introduced to us as a “certain disciple” (Acts 9:36-42).  Dorcas is set forth as an example of what a true disciple looks like and the effect a disciple can make in the lives of those around them.  There is no picture of her social status or family, or even her means of income (as compared to Lydia in Acts 16:14).  The picture is left obscure on purpose so that her life-style is highlighted not her life.
            It is a sobering thought that the way we live is a portrait of Christ to a world that does not know Him.  But the portrait of Dorcas in Acts 9 demonstrates to us that sharing the Gospel does not always involve words.  This is illustrated in the well-known Parable of the Sheep and Goats in which Christ tells His disciples that there will be a sorting of sorts at the end of the age (Mt. 25:31-46).  Keith Green masterfully retold the parable in song finishing with this succinct but accurate summary of Christ’s words, “And my friends, the only difference between the sheep and the goats according to this Scripture is what they did and didn’t do!”  How do we make sure we are an accurate portrait of Christ?  Solomon wrote, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecc. 12:13).  Dorcas lived this and made a difference.  The way she lived out God’s commands reminds us that you and I may be the only portrait of Christ that someone sees.  What does that portrait look like?

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

Photography, Faith, and the Art of Seeing #21
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Our granddaughter Leigh was known as a “rule-bender” in her early days.  She’s always been very competitive and like most children she didn’t like losing.  So if there was even the slightest hint that she might lose whatever game she was playing, she’d change the rules midstream to give herself the advantage.  I’m not sure why people in general have a tough time sticking to the rules and constantly try to bend them.  Maybe we have difficulties with rules because of a selfish nature or the impression that the world revolves around what we want, what we think, and how we think life should always go the way we’ve planned it.  The current climate of our culture certainly feeds that point of view.  Although I think this aversion to rules goes much deeper.  I think it goes all the way back to the Fall.  At some point in that pristine garden Adam and Eve, much like Leigh, decided they didn’t like God’s rule so that when the Serpent suggested an alternative “rule”, they exercised their will and broke the God-given one.  The boundaries set by rules are not limited to life.  In life they work as a guide for successful living- both physically and mentally.  In art they work to give a picture a sense of balance and produce a thoughtful experience. 

            The most well-known of these “rules” is The Rule of Thirds.  This compositional standard applies to every visual format; not just photography.  The Rule of Thirds evenly divides your picture into nine squares by overlaying an imaginary grid of two horizontal and two vertical lines on the picture plane.  According to the rule placing your subject at any one of the four spots where the lines intersect will have more visual appeal to your viewer than if you placed your subject in the center of one of the squares produced by the lines of the grid.  Some of the most innovative and creative photographers follow compositional rules like the Rule of Thirds but their skill makes this basic rule virtually unnoticeable.  Instead of stifling the creative process compositional rules support your creativity.  They enhance creativity rather than hinder it much like “life rules” protect rather than restrict the ability to live life to its fullest.

            I have the pleasure of belonging to two photographic communities- my local photo club and an on-line site (365project.org) which has participants from all over the world.  The idea of this site is to post a picture each day- a photographic diary of your life.  It always seems that when someone decides to “break the rules” on 365 they are compelled to apologize for this decision whereupon another photographer will offer these encouraging words to release them of their “guilt”, “Don’t worry!  It’s your project; your rules! Do what works best for you.”  That may work for The 365 Project, but it doesn’t work with God.  God’s rules, as presented in Leviticus and Deuteronomy are fixed and everlasting, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be adapted to life.  The pithy sayings of Proverbs help to demonstrate a number of ways the laws listed in Leviticus and Deuteronomy can be applied to life.  Through short and direct wording they sum up a truth based on experience and observation.  The main thrust of these witty sayings is for the hearer to acquire wisdom.  According to the Bible, wisdom is the necessary skill that one must have in order to live a godly life and to make godly choices (Prov. 2:1-6).  Proverbs are an effective teaching tool just like the Rule of Thirds is a great asset to a picture.  Even Jesus used them (Mt. 2:27; 6:21; 7:13).

            I have discovered that I am much better at following a plan or routine when I want to accomplish a goal and I’m better off making a list of what I need to accomplish if I want to get anything completed around my home.  I think I like the “black and white” aspect of those self-imposed rules.  But there are days when I have to adjust my routine or alter my list because “life” is not always on the same schedule as I am!  I have to make decisions based on what is feasible and what is necessary so that I’m pleased with the way things turned out at the end of the day.  This is true in the artistic sense as well just as it is with faith.  Deciding the right placement of my subject is like deciding what will be most God-honoring in the way I live.  Just as the rules of composition enhance the beauty of a picture, making wise decisions in favor of God’s rules enhances rather than inhibits life (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17).  Proverbs illustrates that my best decisions will always favor on the side of the “rules”.  Photographically speaking, Proverbs is the way your life picture looks with the Rule of Thirds in action (Prov. 2:1-22).
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

This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            It happens to every photographer.  You choose the location- one that you’ve never been to before and will probably never get to again.  You check the weather.  You save the date.  But when you arrive at your scenic location on that chosen day, the sun has decided not to cooperate after all and the sky is gray and filled with clouds.  Should you give up, pack your gear and call it a day?  Absolutely not!  The unexpected weather provides a different photo opportunity.  It’s simply a matter of adjusting the type of photo you’d planned to take to the type of photo you can take.  A good photographer will select a genre suitable to the scene before him/her instead of abandoning a shot because the weather does not suit the shot which was planned ahead of time.  A genre is a category of artistic composition (mostly in the arts such as literature, music, and of course photography) which is characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.  A concise list compiled by Craig Hull on Expertphotography.com had 47 genres that included favorites such as black and white, macro, fine art, infrared, landscapes and wildlife.

            When you read through the Book of Psalms it’s obvious that they too fall into categories (i.e. genres).  The overall book is like a collection of musical pieces, but instead of one composer, there are several and only the lyrics have survived.  The Book of Psalms can be divided into five smaller collections: Book 1 (Ps. 1-41), Book 2 (Ps. 42-72), Book 3 (Ps.73-89), Book 4 (Ps. 90-106), and Book 5 (Ps. 107-150).  Within these collections are psalms that recognize God’s sovereignty, talk about the trials and struggles of life and present a new outlook on life after a tumultuous ordeal.  A noteworthy aspect of the Psalms is that although many psalms are addressed to God and cover a number of life experiences, some are directed toward the people, meaning that these songs, as well as the struggles of life, were to be experienced within the worship community.

            There have certainly been times in my life when I would have preferred to see the picture I was expecting to see rather than to switch genres and learn to see a different kind of beauty in the view before me.  I am not sure when I was first introduced to the words of Psalm 90:12, but I know I was in my teens.  What intrigued me about this psalm at the time was the idea that days could be “numbered”.  But something struck a chord within my soul and from that time on I understood that life was precious and unpredictable.  Now years later as I ponder the idea of genres as an approach to life I’m seeing that this has been the way I have operated for a long time.  I think of how Jeff and I “planned” to have children after we’d been married 5 years.  That didn’t happen- we became parents much sooner!  But the two unexpected gifts of our sons have filled my life with such joy and even more so now that they have children of their own.  Grandchildren- I never imagined I’d have 6 of them when Erick was born!  I think about how my plans to become a librarian were cut short by the birth of my second son but how bartering for his education in a small Christian school placed me in charge of the school’s library and made me an amateur librarian!  I think about how a phone call to a radio show which aired on Saturday mornings from a college campus ended up putting me on the air with a third-class radio license in hand filling in for the DJ I called when he was in a serious car accident.  I think about how an advertisement in a magazine called “Israel My Glory” led me to a year of studies which I still refer to as “my year of heaven” and my first trip to Israel.  I think about one friend’s love of travel which enabled me to travel from one side of the country to the other and all the traveling adventures I shared with my sons as one of the original “soccer moms” back in their school days.  I think about a job in a Christian Bookstore that led me to a seminary degree and how the love of a dear friend sent me soaring in a hot air balloon one year- a bucket list dream I never expected to happen at all came true thanks to her.  I hadn’t planned on a lot of these events but when the view wasn’t what I’d planned for, shifting the genre brought me some of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.  My days have been numbered in ways I never counted on, but with every shift of genre life has taught me to keep my eyes fixed on the One who is the Author and Perfecter of my faith and helped me to recognize He has put these events in my life so that I can more clearly see Him (Heb. 12:1-2).

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

Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing #19
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.

            While a tripod may not be human it is certainly one of the photographer’s best friends.  Laurence Noah, a photography blogger, listed 10 useful purposes for this trusty photographic side-kick which included things like holding the camera steady during long exposure shots and landscapes.  I would add two more from my own experience.  The tripod is oftentimes more sure and steady than even the most rock solid hand-held shot, and when you attach a remote shutter to your camera the tripod allows you to step away from it so that you can capture elusive subjects like birds.  It may not be as devoted as a human friend can be, but it’s just as dependable.

            If you’re looking for the qualities and traits of a good friend on the internet you won’t have trouble finding them.  Lists contain anywhere from 7 to 44 different characteristics with traits such as trustworthy, honest, a good listener, supportive in good and bad times, able to find humor in life and the ability to express empathy in times of need.  Sadly, the man who needed friends the most in his time of trouble, Job, had so-called friends who sorely lacked in many of these areas.  Chapter 2 of Job opens with the arrival of three of Job’s friends who have supposedly come to offer him support after calamity has struck.  If these three had truly come to offer sympathy and comfort, it was never recorded!  The long-winded speeches of Job’s friends in chapters 3 through 37 contain perfectly logical arguments constructed to prove the common belief that suffering equaled sin.  Rather than comfort their words were literally salt poured on Job’s open wounds.  But instead of accepting the usual explanation, “you’re getting what you deserve”, Job demonstrates that suffering actually reveals how truly godly one is as they bear the unbearable and seek the comfort of God in the midst of their trial.

            Other Bible passages have some things to say about friendship too.  Some of the most telling verses about what makes someone a good friend come out of the Book of Proverbs.   Proverbs informs us that a friend loves at all times (17:17), watches what they say (7:4; 16:28), is not a “fair weather friend” but sticks “closer than a brother” (18:24), speaks the truth in love (27:6) rather than using the flattery of a deceptive enemy, offers “sweet” counsel in their words (27:9), comes to your aid because they want to not because they have to (27:10) and doesn’t make a show of themselves (27:14).  Two other verses stand out in the New Testament.  Jesus described how a friend responds when there is a persistent need in your life (Lk. 11:5-8) and taught that the greatest form of friendship is the setting aside of one’s own needs for that of another (Jn. 15:13).

            Perhaps the most tumultuous time in a person’s life is the early teen years.  The choice of one’s friends in those hormonally charged years is truly critical.  The right kind of friends make you feel like you matter in spite of what goes on in school or at home.  The wrong friends tend to encourage poor choices and get you into trouble.  Unfortunately you have to learn the difference between these two the hard way.   At least I did!  But the Lord in His providence allowed me to realize my poor choice in one particular “friend” before it was too late.  “Mary” came from a broken home and was often left to her own devices.  Now many years later I can see that her behavior was probably a cry for help.  But I got sucked into that behavior for a short time and I’m not proud to say, followed her exactly UNTIL we were almost caught.  It scared me so much that I finally listened to my conscience and stopped.  The friendship died almost immediately when Mary saw that I would no longer participate with her.   If Mary was a tripod she was a cheap, shoddy, knock-off of one of the top brands.  She initially gave the impression of being a friend but the materials by which she was made were unreliable and substandard.

            Although she was not a good friend she taught me an invaluable lesson on the traits and qualities of someone who is.  Job’s friends fell short of the Biblical model of friendship in every way just like Mary did.  But they also teach us about what to look for in true friends just like Mary taught me.  The tripod is a good illustration for what a true friend does.  Its sturdy design and the abilities it has to improve one’s pictures reminds us that true friends are a great support and help us to be what God truly intends for us to be.  So if you’re in the market for a true friend, think “tripod”!

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