Which Version Of The Pilgrim's Progress Is Right For Me

After reading my last article (Faithful - found here: GloryUsGate.blogspot.com), several requests for a recommendation came to my attention. 

So, this week I thought I’d write a follow-up article addressing these requests & giving my thoughts on how to chose the right version of The Pilgrim’s Progress for your reading pleasure.

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Which Version of The Pilgrim’s Progress Is Right For Me?

It’s a great, but hard, question to answer, precisely because there are so many versions to chose from. It’s kinda like trying to decide which Bible to choose.

My simple, cheap, & quick answer would be to go to your local public library & check out several versions (children’s & adult) & scan them to see which one suits you best. 

For a more thorough response to your question, however, I’d suggest narrowing down a few parameters. 

Do this by asking yourself the following:

~ Who is my audience?

Personally, I can’t get away from children’s versions, evidenced by the fact that I have more of those than adult versions. I prefer them no matter my audience. I think I’d even choose one of these for my book club.

~ Is this for reading aloud or is it for personal, silent reading?

It makes a difference because if you plan to read the book aloud to your children, you want a version that flows. (The original is written in Old English & reads like a script.)

I enjoy silent reading, but I love audio versions. When I was homeschooling, we always read our history books together. One of my favorite things today is to read aloud with my husband. Whenever we take a car trip we read a book together.

~ Do illustrations matter? If so, do I prefer black & white, color - modern or antique?

I have two very old versions, (published in 1872) & the artwork is exquisite. There is such amazing detail that I could sit & look at the B&W paintings all day. 

The children’s versions very greatly. Some I like; others I could do without.

The version I’m currently reading to my grand-littles is Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen L. Taylor, & illustrated by Joe Sutphin. This may even be my all-time favorite children’s version. They completely hooked me with the illustrations, & proceeded to reel me in with the way the author used animals as characters. This volume includes a revision of John Bunyan’s accompanying story about Christian’s wife, Christiana, and her journey to the Celestial city. I basically told my husband I could not live without this version. LOL!

~ Do I plan to incorporate this into our curriculum?

If so, you may want to consider a version that has an accompanying study guide. Helen Taylor has another children’s version (same title as the one above), that you can use with Deanna Conrad’s LPP Adventure Guide. Unfortunately, my preferred version (above) does not come with any kind of study aids, so I use the Adventure Guide, along with a teacher’s edition of Pilgrim’s Progress I purchased, from A Beka Books, decades ago to help me formulate discussion questions for my littles. (See why I need all these versions. ;-) )

I should add that there are a variety of free online versions, both text and audio, if you prefer that route.

I hope this helps to inform your decision for the second-only-to-the-Bible best book ever published, printed, & sold.

Enjoy!   

Faithful

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Today’s the day I've been dreading.

It’s the saddest part of the book (The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan), and I can hardly hold back the tears as we approach the chapter where Christian’s companion, Faithful, dies after being falsely accused, beaten, chained, and persecuted. Even the children’s version is difficult to get through.

So, why not skip over this part and spare my grand-littles the anguish? Because, while it’s a good thing to insulate children from some of the cruel injustices that fallen people meat out on one another, we cannot isolate them from trying to understand the broken world they live in. At some point they are going to be confronted with the reality that human beings can be incredibly evil. Who better to help them navigate those rough waters than the ones who can point them to the only Answer that makes sense?

Faithful's Trouble

Faithful lived up to his name, as he refused to be influenced and enticed by false ideology. By exposing the real enemy and his deception, he drew the attention of the residents of the wicked prince's city. He wouldn't recant or compromise the truth, and for that he paid the ultimate price. But, what he gained can’t even be compared to what he lost.

“We know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Cor. 5:1)

The Driver

Tim Mackie (Bible Project) asks the question: What energizes faithfulness for God’s people when faithfulness means constantly swimming against the culture we live in?

Scripture is filled with examples of those who were faithful and those who were not. The reason the faithful ones were full-of-faith, remaining steadfast under bleak circumstances, is because they had a clear understanding that their human experience was temporary. They knew that whatever cruelty or injustice they faced wouldn’t last forever. And that energized them with the courage they needed to persevere and to the end.

But, if we’re honest, we know we need more than that. We need something more if we’re going to be faithful in our marriages, faithful parents, and faithful in every situation as we engage our culture and swim against its strong current. We don’t need less than a faith that enables us to see beyond the now; we need more to motivate us to dive into the storm. Our faithfulness is not enough.

What we need is the faithfulness of God. Armed with the assurance that He is steadfast we are fueled to engage the seemingly impossible.

In Deuteronomy 7, God calls His people to conquer the inhabitants of the land He promised them. The Hebrews were vastly outnumbered, untrained, and lacked the resources for battle. The odds were against them on every level, but Moses reminds them that they weren’t chosen for their numbers or ability. God had set His love on them, and He was keeping an oath that He swore to their fathers. Verse nine says, “Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” It was the assurance of God’s faithfulness that drove their ability to faithfully discharge Moses’ orders.

Faithfulness Is A Fruit Of His Spirit, Not Ours

We cannot sustain our faithfulness to God apart from His help. Marriages fail, parents abuse and abandon, friends disappoint, and people exploit and betray one another all the time. Our ability to secure and maintain any kind of faithfulness hinges on one thing: God’s faithfulness. Even when we fail, His Spirit reminds us of the fact that He never will.

2Timothy 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

In this passage, the Apostle Paul knows he is about to be martyred for his faith in Christ, so he wants to admonish Timothy to remain faithful. Paul acknowledges Timothy’s “sincere faith” (1:5), but he’s also been with Timothy long enough to recognize his weakness (timidity) and he lovingly rebukes him. He wants to encourage Timothy to be faithful, so he tells him to“be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” “be a soldier,” “be an athlete,” “be a hardworking farmer,” “be a diligent workman,” “be a vessel for honor and flee youthful lusts,” and “be a slave of the Lord.” In chapters 3-4, Paul continues to infuse strength into Timothy by saying, “continue in the things you have learned,” and “preach the word.” He wraps it up by telling Timothy that he’s ready to die, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” (4:7)

Paul remained faithful to the end, and he wanted to encourage Timothy, that with the help of God’s indwelling Spirit, he could do the same.

Separation Is Not Forever

Faithful and Christian were both warned that they would suffer at the hands of wicked people. They were even told they could lose their lives. But they believed the faithful words given to them by the King in the Good Book, and were assured that if they lost their lives they would be immediately transported to the Celestial City and live forever with the King.

Paul said as much to Timothy when he told him, “…For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.” (2Tim.2:11)

No child goes to sleep dreaming of becoming a martyr, but they should be able to drift off thinking about all the heroes (real and fictional) of the faith, and how their lives made a difference for the Kingdom of God. The real super-heroes are the ones who are willing to dive into choppy waters, and with God's strength, swim against the evil current - all the way to the Celestial City.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb.10:23)

The angels came to escort Faithful into the presence of the King, where all His children will gather one day to celebrate His never-ending faithfulness.

I’m glad we didn’t skip this chapter.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Our Present Comfort

(by Lorie Codispoti)

“Look how far you’ve come.”

“Everything’s going to be okay.”

If I had to pick two phrases I can hardly stand hearing, these would be listed among my top five.  

The words have a tendency to feel comfortable on the tongue, so I understand the tendency to invoke the familiar. But, it’s like the needle of a record player that finds a comfortable divot in a well worn vinyl record. (Remember those?) Like a broken record, it settles into the space and repeats over and over until you want to take a sledge hammer to the ensemble. 

People can be like this. They hope to comfort by repeating familiar phrases, but it seldom works. I usually try to prepare myself and smile through the urge to scream when I hear these well worn, well intentioned cliches.

And, truthfully, there is a time and place for these statements. We all need to be reminded of how far we’ve come, and that there is a greater glory that awaits - a glory that will dwarf every bit of suffering we endure in this life. The reality of these truths, however, is not minimized by the fact that they bring no comfort whatsoever when spoken at the wrong time. Gasoline is needful, but not when poured on a fire. 

Here’s the problem: When you are in the middle of intense anguish, trying to fix your mind on the past (how far you’ve come), or the future (things will be okay) simply does not work. How many fire fighters do you know who bring a sqirt gun to a blazing house fire? 

My pain is present and the comfort I need must also be present if it is going to strengthen me for the battle.

Here’s the solution: Our ever-present Comforter. 

God knows when to remind us of how far we’ve come and encourage us with what’s ahead, but He also knows the importance of reminding us that He is present with us in the fire. 

Remember what happened when the fire was fueled for those three Hebrews who refused to bow to the king’s edict? Did their friends show up during visitation hours and point out how far they’d come, and assure them that everything would be okay? No. In fact, I only read about One visitor - the One who was their “very present Help in time of need.” (Psa.46:1) God is not the Friend who visits with empty platitudes. He’s the Friend who says, “I’ll get in there with you and whisper words of life into your spirit."

When God gets in the fire with us, His words of strength bring the needed comfort to our hearts. True, they are words that reflect the goodness of the past, and instill hope for the future, but the difference is that they are given while being present in the furnace with us. Only God has the power to do that. His is the only record whose divot I welcome. 

Before the risen Messiah ascended, He assured His disciples that He would always be with them. (Mtt.28:20) He could offer this assurance because He alone paid the price for it. He was willing to take our sin upon Himself, which would separate - for the first and only time - He and the Father, in order to guarantee that we never, ever, ever, have to experience that kind of separation from Him.  

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zeph.3:17) (One of my very favorites to remind me that God is present and mighty “in the midst” of the flames.)

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isa.41:10)

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deut.31:8)

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." (Psa.16:8)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psa.23:4)

The next time you plan to visit a friend who is suffering through a tormenting trial, memorize the lyrics on this record. Set the needle in the groove so that it repeats over and over in their mind. These Words will get in the fire with them, remind them of “how far they’ve come,” and assure them that “everything is going to be okay” - all because of Who is present with them in the furnace. 

GloryUsgate.blogspot.com

Everyone Believes Something

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Everyone has a doctrine (belief system). And behind every doctrine is a god that is worshipped.

For Christians, our doctrine is based on Scripture; it identifies our God and articulates our beliefs.

God is the Author of Scripture; He inspired and produced it.

“All scripture is inspired by God…”( 2Tim.3:16) (The Hebrew word communicates that God literally breathed His word into the writers.) This inspiration is not subjective (based on human experience or interpretation). No. God’s word is Objective; its inspiration is inherent because of its Author.

Scripture is used to convert and sanctify us.

For example, look at how God uses one chapter of the Bible to express how it conforms believers:

In Psalm 119, God's Word... cleanses our hearts (vs.9), gives us direction (vs.10,24), protects us from sin (vs.11), provides strength & comfort (vs.50-52), gives us wisdom in relationships (vs.98), shows us how to be godly (vs.104-105), is our refuge in times of trouble (vs.114), and offers genuine peace (vs.165).

If one chapter has that much influence, imagine what the entire book has to offer.

So here’s my question to unbelievers: Have you taken the time to really consider the claims of Scripture? Would you be willing to use your skepticism as a launching pad to investigate those claims with an open heart? Most of the unbelievers I've talked to prefer to speculate rather than investigate. Are you willing to look at the historical evidence that verifies Biblical events? Because, whether you're agnostic (no-knowledge), atheist (anti-theism), or hold to some other non-Christian belief, you can’t park your reason in the spot marked: “not enough evidence.” That spot simply does not exist.

Friend, if your doctrine and your god fail to lead you to objective truth, then consider whether you’ve taken a wrong turn and parked your heart in a lot that is scheduled for demolition.

I am not a biblical apologist, but I can give you a reason for the Hope that we Christians have residing within us.

Don't delay. You only get one life to know Jesus as your Savior. After that you will only know Him as the Judge who extended the mercy that you rejected.

Doubt

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Have you ever experienced doubt as a Christian? Contrary to what you may think, having questions about God, the bible, and other aspects of your Christian walk can be a very healthy thing.

Author Peter Enns writes: “Sometimes we think of our faith as a castle—safe, comfortable, familiar. But what if God doesn’t want us to be comfortable and safe? What if comfortable and safe keep God at a distance? Doubt tears down the castle walls to force us on a journey. It may feel like God is far away or absent when in fact doubt is a gift of God to move us to spiritual maturity. Doubt is not a sign of weakness but a sign of growth.”

As a young Christian, I questioned very little about my faith. I was comfortable, and felt perfectly safe within the confines of my castle wall. From atop the fortified keep (highest tower), I could look out over the King’s country and admire the lovely view, but it was not healthy.

The problem with castle living is that God never called us to a sequestered existence. When Jesus gathered His disciples in the upper room it was to commission them to go out. The safety of our Father’s “strong tower” (Prov.18:10) is there for us to run into during times when we are battle weary and need rest and reviving, but it was not designed for residential living.

TREMORS OF DOUBT

The story of Hien Pham is a great example of how doubt can feel like the tremors of an earthquake - the after effects of a crisis that tries our faith and shakes us to the core.

Hien was a Vietnamese Christian who was thrown into prison after the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam. His charges included translating and teaching the Bible. 

From the first day, his captors attempted to indoctrinate him against Christianity. He was bombarded with communist propaganda and the deluge caused him to have serious questions about his faith. He began to wonder if he had been lied to and deceived about the existence of God. He made a decision to stop praying and abandon his faith when he was assigned to clean the latrines. When emptying the bin of used toilet paper, he noticed a piece of paper with words he recognized. When he washed the page, he read these words from Romans 8, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him….for I am convinced that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." He began to weep and his faith was restored.

The guards were dumbfounded when Hien requested to be assigned regular latrine duty. Apparently one of the officials was using Bible pages as toilet paper, and Hien decided to collect and clean the pages, knowing that God's word would enable him to survive his dire circumstances. God met Hien in his doubt, and used His word to strengthen his faith.

STRETCHED BEYOND UNDERSTANDING

In the New Testament, we read of three circumstances where believers are stretched beyond their ability to understand.

In Mark 9 we read about the guy who sought healing for his son. Jesus tells him that “all things are possible to him who believes.” (Vs.23b) The man replies with, “I believe; help my unbelief.” (Vs.24) Notice that belief and unbelief are present at the same time. This man is wrestling with doubt. What stands out to me is that Jesus doesn’t condemn the man for his lack of faith. Rather, He provides the evidence the man needs for his belief to win the battle.

In John 20 we read about the resurrected Christ appearing to His disciples. Thomas was missing from that event and refused to believe their eyewitness account, “unless I see and put my finger into the nail prints in His hands, and my hand in His side.” (Vs.25, paraphrased) Did Jesus rebuke “Doubting Thomas”? No! He met him in his doubt and provided the opportunity for Thomas to touch and believe. (Vs.27-28)

Using the example of John-The-Baptist, bible teacher, Allen Parr, gives us five recommendations for those times when our situation raises doubts that stretch our understanding and challenge our faith.

1. Never base your beliefs on your circumstances.

2. Turn toward God, rather than away from Him.

3. Pay attention to the evidence.

4. Don’t condemn yourself for doubting.

5. Accept the fact that not all your questions will be answered.

We know that John was imprisoned for making Herod mad for calling him out over sleeping with his sister-in-law. It’s in this place where John begins to think deeply about things and battle the doubts that attack. (Insert recommendation #1.) He sends two disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Mtt.11:3) (Insert recommendation #2.) Did Jesus respond with, “John, you know better. You heard my Father’s voice when you baptized Me; you know who I am.”? No! Instead he points John to the evidence. (Mtt.11:4-5) (Insert recommendation #3) And rather than condemning John for his doubts, Jesus says of him, “… of those born among women, there has not risen one greater than John-The-Baptist.” (Mtt.11:11a) (Insert recommendation #4)

Were all of John’s questions answered before he was killed? (Insert recommendation #5.) I’m guessing not, but that’s not the point. Our faith doesn’t rest on the removal of all doubt. It rests on whether or not we believe that Jesus is who He says He is, despite our doubts.

EMBRACE THE JOURNEY

Deut.29:29 indicates that there are “secret things that belong to the Lord.” We are going to have unanswered questions - even doubts - that coexist with our faith. Don’t be alarmed by that. God is big enough to handle our questioning Him. In fact, He invites us to embark on a mission to seek and find, search and know, knock and open.

“I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the places where I have driven you…” (Jer.29:14)

If the tremors of doubt have torn down your castle walls through catastrophic or other means, put on your armor and embrace the journey that God has assigned to strengthen your faith. I promise, you won't regret it.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

She Laughs

(by Lorie Codispoti)

We seem to be facing an endless barrage of frightening uncertainties, and everyone I know is concerned about something.

What thoughts come to mind when you ponder the future? Wanna know how the Proverbs 31 woman handles her thoughts about tomorrow?

She laughs!

Huh? She laughs? How can someone look ahead, especially in these times, and laugh? That response seems callous and feels inappropriate.

Obviously, there’s something much deeper going on here, so let’s ask some questions of the text and dig for the answers.

WHAT KIND OF WOMAN IS THIS?

By way of cultural context, the women of that day didn’t have much going for them. They were considered a curse, and the source of all evil due to Eve’s sin. They were subordinate to men and viewed as property, with their value linked solely to their ability to produce male children. Therefore, they were not educated and had no rights. Even the writings of their day were derogatory and degrading, subjugating women on every level.

This is P31’s world, but when we read through the text (Proverbs 31:10-31) we find a counter-cultural woman. And she’s not the only one going against the flow. Her husband verbally praises her to all the important people. And her son, King Lemuel, values her wisdom so much that he puts it in writing.

Among other things, we read that P31 is strong (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). She doesn’t shy away from hardship or run from her circumstances.

In many of our Bible translations, we read that she is “virtuous,” with the emphasis being on her moral character, but the Hebrew word communicates something much deeper. The word is actually “valor” - a term referencing her civic life, evidenced by the actions we read in the passage. One writer describes her valor as “brave, persistent, audacious, resourceful, and ready for anything.”

This word, “valor,” gives P31 a persona of a victorious warrior, which fits with her husband’s trust in her as she returns home with the spoils of her warfare (vs.2) - giving her a “worth far above rubies.” (Vs.1)

(Read that again.)

THIS is who the P31 woman is, people. She is a kick-butt warrior, “clothed in strength and honor.” (vs.25) She resides in the King’s palace, but she doesn’t hide there. Under His authority, she’s daring enough to venture out and risk countering her culture.

WHAT KIND OF LAUGHTER IS THIS?

When we understand who P31 is, we begin to see how she can “laugh” at the future.

“Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.” (Prov.31:25)

The Hebrew word for “rejoice” in this verse is “laugh.” Make no mistake, however, this isn’t the same kind of laughter exhibited when your toddler says or does something cute. Quite the contrary, this is a mocking type of laughter - the kind that derides out of contempt. This laughter scorns its subject, making a mockery of him. It’s the same Hebrew word we read about in Psalm 37, where it talks about God laughing at the wicked who plot against the just, “for He sees that his day is coming.” (vs.13) We also see it in Psalm 2, where the nations and kings of the Earth foolishly plot against the Lord and his Anointed… “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.” (vs.4)

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

The P31 woman laughs because her fear of the Lord (Prov.31:30) is greater than any calamity. She laughs because, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” (Vs.21) The harsh realities of a cold, dark winter may visit us, but for those wrapped in the covering of the King’s shed blood, there is a day of rejoicing on the horizon, a day no winter can destroy.

Don’t allow the enemy to cripple you with debilitating fear during these uncertain times. We've read the book and know how the story ends. So P31 up, ladies! Fear (respect, honor, revere) the Lord, gird yourself with strength (Prov.31:17), and go out into the unknown, trusting the future to a known God.

Let’s join the cacophony that laughs at the King's enemy. For "his day (of destruction) is coming" and our forever with the King of glory is nearer than we think.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Feed The Right Wolf

(by Lorie Codispoti)

“There are two wolves at war within me.” said the grandfather to his young grandson.

He went on to explain that one wolf is good (reflecting truth and love), and the other is bad (reflecting lies and hate).

His grandson asked, “Which wolf wins the war, Grandfather?”

“The one that I feed.” replied the wise old man.

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Christians, we’re at war!

The Apostle Paul explains that “The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Gal 5:17)

Fighting the good fight involves many things, but two tactics we must employ include:

1) Resistance. It’s critical for each of us to realize that we have a propensity for developing a taste for war - a propensity we must resist. (The bad wolf craves the blood of its prey.)

2) Feed. At the same time, we need to cultivate and feed our guts for engagement. (The taste buds of the good wolf are being transformed, reordering our cravings.)

RESIST

Ancient Roman history records the story of one its greatest gladiators, a young Jewish Syrian, named Flamma. After being captured and enslaved, his fighting skills were noticed and he was trained as a gladiator. Although the lifespan of an average gladiator was four battles, Flamma won over 20. Four times he earned his freedom, yet he turned down each offer. Why? For one, he had developed such a taste for the sport and a love for the enormous cheering crowds his fame attracted, that he preferred slavery over freedom.

Like Flamma, if we fail to recognize that we can be drawn to the wrong table, we may fall into the same trap and exchange our freedom for bondage.

A modern day example of this is our online presence. I continue to see people who start out with the right motives in their posts and comments - standing up for what’s right and trying to be a voice of reason in a sea of lies and deceit - but then they become so intrenched in the discussion/debate that they forget who the real enemy is. Their posts and comments begin to take on a demeaning tone, as they target their opponent with word bullets wrapped in quick wit and sarcastic humor. Fueled by the attention, they begin picking and engaging in all kinds of fights. They go from someone with a legitimate concern and influential voice to someone consumed by a ravenous desire to draw blood.

What happened? They fed the wrong wolf.

FEED

In the world of wellness a healthy gut is critical for fighting disease.

Right now I’m trying really hard to like green tea. It’s part of the protocol for strengthening my gut. I like most things, but this stuff tastes like grass. Developing a taste for what’s good for you can be difficult, so one has to be proactive in order for the good wolf to thrive.

So, how does one starve the bad wolf into dormancy, while simultaneously cultivating and feeding the good one to action?

FIVE STRATEGIES

~ PICK your fights carefully. Know when to walk away and when to engage. If you find yourself tired, angry, or discouraged, walk away.

Sanballat attempted to lure Nehemiah away from his mission, but Nehemiah was on to his tricks and refused to take the bait (Neh.6). In a world of Sanballats, be a Nehemiah.

~ PETITION God for His wisdom. James 3:17 tells us that God’s wisdom is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Col.4:5-6 tells us to “Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders…” By implementing this strategy, we invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, who feeds us with the ability to starve out ravenous canines.

~ PREVENT your emotions from taking over. We are instructed to set a guard over our hearts (Prov.4:23), and to be slow, not quick ,to speak (Jms.1:19). The ability to control our impulses is a discipline that any soldier worth his salt will put into play, no matter how heated the battle becomes.

Sometimes we need the strength of the pack (other believers) to help us with this. I remember the day I was about to go off on an instructor who was belittling my son in front of the whole class. My friend literally grabbed my arm and stopped me from shredding him. She saved all of us.

~ PREPARE by doing your homework. If the issue is worth engaging then it’s worth your investment of time. You are not called to be a lone ranger, so understand that part of your preparation involves seeking and gleaning from those who can arm you with both the knowledge and the experience needed for your engagement.

~ PRAY for those who oppose you. They are not your real enemy, and your goal is not to draw blood. Your goal is to be a conduit for infusion. Paul Washer said, “If I cannot speak to men about God, I will speak to God about men.” The battle is not over simply because your opponent gets ugly and shuts the door in your face. All that does is change the battlefield as we contend for them on our knees.

Bad wolf. Good wolf. Which one are you feeding?

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Pilgrim's Progress Is Always Relevant

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I remember it as if it happened yesterday.

Like those who remember every detail of a major event, I can recall every detail of the first time I read The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan.

I had never heard of the book or the author. Therefore, I had no idea that it was a Christian allegory. There was simply something about the cover of the children’s version that made me think this would be an interesting story to read to my then young children, so I tossed it into our book crate on our weekly visit to the public library. (Some people have book bags, but we checked out so many books at one time that we needed a crate.)

A few days passed before we had a chance to cozy up on the couch for an afternoon read aloud.

It didn’t take long. By the time I got to the part where Christian leaves the City of Destruction for his journey to the Celestial City my voice started breaking up as tears ran down my face. My children thought something was wrong, so I had to take time to explain what I was discovering about this story and how it parallels our Christian walk. From that moment until the last page was read, they knew that when Mommy paused it meant she needed a tissue.

Many years have passed. My children are grown, married, and raising their own children now. But, guess who is still reading about Christian’s journey - and who still needs a tissue when she pauses?

As soon as they were old enough to understand the story, I began reading it to my grandlittles, and explaining its significance to our own lives. I recently purchased a large, and beautifully illustrated children’s version (my new favorite), which has been perfect since all of my grandchildren live far away and our weekly story time takes place over the computer.

(Full disclosure. I have multiple copies of this classic masterpiece. There’s probably a name for it, but I confess that every time I see one that I don’t have, my purse starts to dance. It’s like every version calls out to me from the four corners of the Earth… “You need me!” And, I answer the call with a resounding, "YES, I do!" I may even have more copies of this book than my husband has Bibles.)

In his article, Seven Good Reasons to Read Pilgrim’s Progress to Your Children (https://unlockingthebible.org/.../seven-good-reasons-to.../), author Tim Augustyne writes, “If you had lived a hundred years ago and you were a Christian, odds are that you would have had a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress in your home. This is no longer the case. I would estimate that less than 1 in 10 Christians I know have read Pilgrim’s Progress, and if you’ll humor me for a moment, 99% of Christians I talk to under the age of 30 have never heard of Pilgrim’s Progress.”

If you’ve haven't read The Pilgrim’s Progress, I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy. (But, unless you like reading Old English, you might want to start with an abridged version - or better yet, a children’s version.) Let’s change that statistic to 10 in 10 readers who have read the story of a lowly pilgrim who perseveres through many trials on his way to the King’s city. Why? Because it's our story too.

Don’t let me be the only cry baby in the bunch.

Remember

(by Lorie Codispoti)

The word “remember” is referenced in the book of Psalms more than any other book in the Bible. How fitting.

Psalms is a book of poetry that was often set to music. There are psalms of praise, thanksgiving, lament, and victory. It was written over a period of a thousand years by multiple authors. Every generation is reminded to remember - to go back and recall the greatness of our God and His unending faithfulness in our lives.

Why do we need to remember? Simple: because we forget!

How many times do we read about the children of Israel forgetting God and the devastating consequences that followed? Yet, every time they stopped to remember and repent, God showed up in the most incredible ways. That’s His faithfulness on display.

Sometimes the darkness of a circumstance feels incredibly hopeless.

“I cried out to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted.” (Psa.77:1-2)

I used to be deathly afraid of the dark. Now I sleep with an eye mask and have no fear. How was I able to do that? By remembering that though the darkness appears to block out all the Light, it is still very much there. All I need to do is take off my mask to see it.

Psalms makes it clear, that the way forward starts with going back.

“I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search… And I said, ‘This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.’ I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psa.77:6, 10-11)

Darkness is loud; have you ever noticed that? It screams in its attempt to make you forget and lose your bearings. Darkness can also be loud because it is mixed with our cries for relief.

Darkness screams, but the awesome thing about our God is that He is tuned in to the cries of His children. And when He hears us He does something amazing. His Spirit brings to our remembrance the songs of His presence and promises. And these songs also do something amazing: they deafen the darkness, rendering its influence over us powerless.

The next time you find yourself in a dark place, open your Bible to the Psalms and sing your heart into remembrance.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Cut It Out

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I absolutely love to write, and over these last few years the Lord has used it like a lifeboat, keeping me afloat in turbulent waters. BUT, there is something about the writing process that I really, really, really don’t like. It’s when I begin to edit and find that I have to cut some of my favorite parts. I get so attached to my words, phrases, and paragraphs. And, I assign great value to the time spent researching and verifying the stories I use in many articles. So you can see why the cutting process feels incredibly personal. Cuts are hard, but they are also critically important.

I wonder if the New Testament writers felt this way.

It was the beloved Apostle, John, who noted that, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (Jn.21:25)

How many rough drafts do you think John had? Did he wonder why he had to leave out some of his favorite stories? I can hear his prayer now, “But God, this was such an amazing event. Don’t you want me to at least mention it? I mean, listen to how I can word this story...” Nope! Chop, chop, chop.

You know what though? Life is filled with cuts. We may really like something; it may even be something of great value, but if we trust the One who controls the wind, then we know He has charted the right course for our lives. It’s critical for us to realize that the things we try to save could actually be things that will slow us down, or even sink our boat.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb.12:1-2)

To “lay aside” literally means to cast off. It's a much stronger idea than simply setting something to the side.

Can you hear the voices of those who have gone before us? They're standing on the shoreline, encouraging us to cast off, lay aside, and cut ties with everything hindering our journey home.

The Apostle John may have had much more he wanted to say - many stories he wanted to tell - but He had to rely on God when he put pen to paper.

God makes every cut count. Trusting that each one lightens our load gives us a clearer vision for what lies ahead.

We will have all the time in the world to hear about the amazing stories that we missed. Maybe it’s part of what those on the shore are shouting, “Hurry up! I can hardly wait to tell you about…”

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com