Josiah Road

The Stealth Child

posted by Carly Bergthold 29Aug

My destination loomed tall and cold. I gazed up at it, pinpointing its every defect. The goal: climb to the summit unaided, find out what was really concealed up there, and make it down unnoticed with my information. Stealthily I climbed, basking in my sneakiness and what I was about to uncover. Alas, when I completed my goal of cresting the refrigerator and discovering its contents up top, I failed in actually getting back down. It was only when my mom remembered she hadn’t seen me for awhile that I was found and eventually rescued.

At the time of my story, I was only two years old, which proves that personality is developed at a very young age. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always been a very, shall we say, independent person. Even excluding the fridge story, there’s bunches of tales of “the stealth child” escaping outdoors in just a diaper to sit in the snow or getting her head stuck in the cat house. I might have been young in those stories, but overall, if all my mistakes were made into parables, 90 percent of the lessons would probably have to do with pride. My pride makes me think I can be completely self-sufficient. It makes me think I don’t have to ask for anyone’s help. But all my unwise actions have helped me learn that it’s impossible to be totally independent. While I’m a fully licensed driver now, it used to be that if I wanted to go somewhere, I had to get someone to drive me. If I couldn’t figure out a math problem, I went to my dad for help. More importantly, I learned that you have to rely on God more than anyone else. Granted, God never drove me to my piano lessons and mysteriously made my math problems correct themselves. But when I did something wrong, the only thing that would make it better was talking things through with the only One who can truly forgive me of my shortcomings. He’s the only One who can erase my heart from guilt and that silly idea of my self-sufficiency.

Have you ever found yourself questioning God? Sometimes it’s hard for me to really believe that He knows best, even when 1 Corinthians 1:25 says, “…the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Right. But don’t you think I know a little more about my life than He does, and so deserve to make my own decisions? Of course…if I want to be forever stuck on top of the refrigerator!

Diet Coke Will Be the Death of Him…

posted by Daniel Blackaby 28Aug

My dad only spends money on the absolute, basic necessities for survival. For this reason, when I entered our basement and beheld a brand-new pool table, I was convinced he’d gone crazy. (I also discovered a pair of blue-flame rimmed sunglasses and a blown speaker in his car. I rest my case.) He adored his new purchase, and laws were quickly dictated:

GOLDEN RULE: Thou shall not have food/drink near pool table.

*amendment: Thou shall not bring food/drink into basement…period.

*amendment: Thou shall refrain from even looking at pool table if food/drink can still be smelt on your breath.

Unfortunately my cousin JP missed the memo.

Despite several warnings, JP allowed his Diet Coke to boldly go where no drink had gone before–the pool table’s lair! Initially the exiled beverage was restricted to safely rest upon a distant bookshelf. However, quickly tiring of hiking across the basement every time he was thirsty, the Diet Coke slowly began inching closer and closer into forbidden territory. A glimmer caught my eye. I looked up in utter horror as my worst nightmare became reality. There, standing defiantly upon the ledge of the pool table, was the Diet Coke, and JP’s hand was blindly reaching up for it.

“NOOOOOOOO!!!” I bellowed in a deep resonating voice, and in slow motion my hand raced out to intercept…Bang! Glub glub glub… Too late! Jumping up, our hearts froze. Where our expensive pool table had once proudly stood; now sat a coke-filled paddling pool.

Pitifully JP came sprinting back into the room arms full of toilet paper, “HELP!” Rubbing the abominable wet spot like a madman the stain merely spread. As Coke began dripping through the bottom of the table onto the carpet I could fainting hear him mumbling, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”

“JP, you need to go tell my dad.” Turning his pale, sweaty face toward me, he shook his head, “You’re crazy! He’ll tear me apart and cook me in garlic sauce!” (Oh yeah. Good point.) Without another word, he dashed from the room.

JP realized he had messed up big time and rightly feared the consequences. He knew the rules and he broke them. Just as he had been warned, his worst fears were realized. We have all had that sickening feeling when we knew we have blown it. People warned us it would happen. The Bible was clear about what was right and wrong. Yet for some bewildering reason, we went ahead and did it anyway. Now we dread facing the music.

At times we view God the way my cousin saw my dad—with terror! We can be like Adam and Eve after they sinned and foolishly try to hide. But it’s no use. Unlike my dad, God knows the moment we mess up. Actually, He knows what we will do before we sin. But He also stands ready to forgive us and restore us into a relationship with Him where we don’t need to fear. The writer of Proverbs wisely conveyed: “He who covers his sins will not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13). If you have been hiding your sin, confess it today and find freedom.