Anxiously Waiting Patiently

PATIENCE.  I wrote it in caps on purpose.  This word screams at me a lot.  Does it scream at you, or are you one of those disgustingly patient people who has no problem waiting for anything?  I bet you don't have road rage.  You never yell at your children.  You don't even get mad when you pray for an answer and are met with deadening silence.

That's not me.

I don't typically characterize myself as impatient, unless it's really important.  Will I get this job?  When will You tell me what direction you want me to go?  When will this work day end?  You know, that kind of stuff.  The big stuff.

So what's the deal with patience?  Why is it so hard?  The tough thing for me is to accept God's timing.  I wanted to know last week, but He's got me scheduled to find out sometime in 2014.  What am I supposed to do until then?

WAIT.

That's what we're expected to do.  Wait on Him.  Psalm 27:14 says:

Wait patiently for the LORD.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.*

Patience is a process.  If I am waiting patiently, I am not stressed out with worry and fear.  If I am waiting patiently, I am learning to persevere.  If I am waiting patiently, my faith is taking wings and building muscle.

  It takes courage, but we can rest in knowing God knows the paths we are to follow, and his GPS never causes us to end up in a backyard when we're trying to get to the mall in the next town over.  He is infallible. He is unchanging.  He is worth waiting patiently for.  I love how God reminds me to be patient when I need it the most?

What are you waiting for God to show you today?  Are you waiting patiently or biting off your nails?

*Scripture from YouVersion.com NLT

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A Little Crazy

So, I'd like to chat with you like the friends you are.  I have a confession to make.  Sometimes I think I'm a little crazy!  Recently I felt God leading me to start an online Bible Study for women only.  I love studying the Bible and teaching it, so that's not the crazy part.  The thing is that all of the steps were not clearly laid out for me!  He didn't give me many details, but I knew it was His plan.

It's a total leap of faith.  I'm terrified and excited at the same time!  Crazy, right?  Maybe not.

Following God defies all logic sometimes.  Faith is not logical.  It doesn't inherently make sense to follow someone you can't see.  But Hebrews 11:6 says it is necessary to please God to put our faith in Him implicitly.  So maybe I'm not going crazy.  Maybe I'm just growing...

Does faith make you feel a little "crazy" sometimes?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

When Lying is Okay

Is it ever okay to lie?  The Ten Commandments (Ex. 20) prohibits lying on one another.  The Bible calls Satan the "father of lies", and says that God hates lies.   But I am wondering if there are some loopholes.  Is it okay to lie if someone's life is at stake?  Is it okay to lie when we are facing uncertainty?  Is it okay to lie when the truth is inconvenient?  What about lies by omission?  Where do we draw the line?  More importantly, where does God draw the line?  Are our lines cohesive, or do they take divergent paths?

I am wondering what you think.  I usually don't ask so many questions in one post, but I am pondering these things right now, and I like to ponder with someone.  It helps.  If you've lied recently, what was the reason?  How did you justify it in your mind?  Was it worth it, or did the consequences outweigh the expected gains?

Something New

For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.  (Isaiah 43:19, NLT from YouVersion)

From Jim Liestman http://www.flickr.com/people/gods-art/  

If you're like me, you love new things.  New clothes, definitely new shoes and even a new car or some new jewelry.  We love our shiny new things.


In this season of my life when things are tight, and the economy is squeezing our budget to the max, I treasure new things more than ever before.  This sense of awe is not only reserved for presents.  I celebrate new paper towels.  New sunrises.  New discoveries and new revelations.  


This verse encouraged me to realize that newness can simply be a state of mind.  It also excited me to think that in this time of "dry wastelands", God has already begun to do something new in my life!  I am eager to to follow Him out of this wilderness.


Father God, as we travel along paths marked with uncertainly, remind us that you are with us.  Help us to trust the new things that you are bringing into our lives and to fully embrace them.  In your Son's name, Amen.

My Secret Thoughts

I want to tell you that things have been extremely hard for us lately. Our cars are all in disrepair. Our finances are truly inadequate. There have been times in the last few months when I have questioned God. I have yelled at Him. I have doubted Him. I have quite talking to Him. I have experienced such a range of emotions that I thought I was losing my mind.

I have made futile attempts to stand on God's promises and fallen short. I have wondered how long this season will last. I have wondered what I did wrong and evaluated my life. I have wondered where God was and whether or not He was laughing at me.

But today He spoke to me. As I was putting the finishing touching on dinner, the lyrics to a Fred Hammond song came into my head. Since I haven't heard it in a very long time, I knew this whisper was from God. I instructed our oldest child to bring my CDs, and I began to listen. I fully intended to go straight to that song, but God had another plan. I ended up listening to the whole thing.

I laughed, I cried. I shouted out loud. I prayed and even begged God to forgive my lack of faith. In a way that only He can, He reached out and wrapped me in His arms through each song's message. With puffy eyes, I write this with a subtle smile. My heart feels light, and my spirit is renewed.

Though nothing in my circumstances have changed, my thoughts toward God are back where they need to be, I realize that He has been there all along. I feel loved and protected now in a way I have been missing. I feel immeasurable gratitude.

Trials come to make us stronger and to show God's glory. By the time we pass through this, I will be stronger than Samson with the wisdom of Solomon. I have stomped on the devil's head and let Him know who I have working for me. He has to back off now.

What No one Else Can Do

One of the chief lessons I learned from reading, The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren years ago, was that we are placed here on this earth to complete a purpose that no one else can. Each of us is born with a unique job to do; no one else can do our job.

Deborah and Jael performed such a job in the book of Judges, chapters 4 and 5. Deborah was one of Israel's great judges. Jael, a simple tent maker. After years of oppression by Sisera, these women stepped up when men were afraid. They were confident that God would grant them victory because He said so, and He was true to His promise.

Lately, I've been convicted of taking too long to accomplish my purpose. I have spent too much time planning and not enough time doing. God placed the story of Deborah right in front of my face this week. He reminded me that I will accomplish nothing for His glory in my own strength. I should not fear failure or inadequacy when God is directing the mission. With His help, I'm ready to move forward: NOW. No more hesitation. I have only one life to live and one purpose to fulfill. No more excuses.

Thank you God for your patience with me and your gentle reminder.

Rubies

Rubies are precious stones, dark red in color.

Precious = of great value or high price*

Precious = highly esteemed of cherished*

I would like to think that the deep red color of the ruby represents the color of the blood that Jesus poured out for me and for you.

Each of us is a ruby. We are precious in His sight. We are bought with the high price of Christ's blood, and we are most valuable to Him. He esteems us highly and cherishes us as His own.

If you had a 3carat, flawless ruby, how would you treat it? Would you carelessly toss it around? Would you expose it to thieves? Or would you polish it every day and keep it under lock and key? How much more precious are you? You are so much more valuable to God than a ruby.

Proverbs tells us that a wife with good character is more valuable than rubies. Is also teaches us that wisdom is more precious than rubies. The Bible refers to wisdom as "her". Wisdom is using good judgment. It is uncompromising is its standards. We are all different shapes and sizes. We differ in hue. But we are all precious rubies, nonetheless.

God takes us in our raw, uncut form. He polishes us and shapes us, revealing our true beauty within.

"Wisdom is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her." Proverbs 3:15

Do our lives reflect our "ruby" status?

*Definitions from Webster's Dictionary

** Image 1 from www.gdphoto.com

Image 2 from www.ramaura.com

Broken

Broken = cut-off or disconnected.*

Since Eve took and ate the forbidden fruit, she was cut-off from perfect communion with God. As her daughters, we suffer the same fate. God sent His only son, Jesus to rectify this disconnection. If we accept Him as the sacrifice for our sins, He becomes our bridge back to God, His Father. In order to live for Him, we must be broken.

Broken = subdued completely.*

We have to put our will aside and seek God's will first. Our will must be subdued. As we learn to submit to His will, turning away from our sin, all else will fall into place. Everything will work together for our good if we love and serve Him. We put our lives into His capable hands and allow His will to govern our thoughts and rule our hearts.

"The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."

Psalm 51:17

Are you broken?

*Definitions from Webster's Dictionary

Dead Terrorist Parade

By now we have all gotten the news of Bin Laden's demise. There have been various responses to the news. Shock. Doubt. Elation.

The other day I saw people marching and cheering and chanting with glee over the death of the this creepy terrorist. Though I thought it odd, it never occurred to me that it might be wrong.

That's when I saw a post on Facebook from one of my favorite authors, Liz Curtis Higgs. She posted Proverbs 24:17. It says: " Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice." Ouch!

Kudos to her for her willingness to take this very unpopular stance. I, for one, appreciated the reminder. Following God's will for us is often unpopular, but He calls us to be set apart.

President Obama has also declined to release the graphic photos of the body and the site. I have heard people asking for them, but he too has taken a stand. He stated, "That's not who we are. We don't trot out this stuff as trophies." I can remember being disturbed by images of Saddam Hussein hanging while crowds jeered, and I am grateful we were spared this time.

I Hate Weddings

My heart is full this morning. As many of you may know, I hate weddings. It may seem odd that a woman hates weddings, but it's true. I hate them passionately. Here's why...

Once upon a time a wedding was a representation of something sacred. It was a symbol of the commitment before God and each other to work at a holy marriage together, forever. With a 50% divorce rate, we've clearly strayed away from that idea. Divorce is an acceptable option now, and it's expected. Few work at staying married, each too concerned with his own happiness over God's holiness. The ceremony is filled with false promises.

The other reason I hate weddings is the white dress and the veil covering the bride's face. Why is this done? A white dress is a symbol of virginity, and the veil signifies modesty and purity. Do I really need to elaborate? Well, I don't mind if I do.

Today Prince William married Kate Middleton. I saw her "lovely" white dress and virginal veil splashed over Yahoo, and I shook my head. They were away on vacation together when he proposed. They moved in together before the wedding, and with the blessing of the Archbishop! He justified giving his blessing because "modern" couples want to "try out the milk before buying the cow"! Click here for the complete article.

Why the veil? What are you covering when the groom has already sampled everything? Why the white? Are we to believe they've been sleeping alone? Instead of setting an example for all of the young girls watching, they bowed to modernity like so many others before. It's so sad that an archbishop would forsake the Bible and bless their choice.

I want my daughters and son to aspire to wear white honestly. Our society has taken away the meaning. Brides are secretly scoffed at when they choose to do so and haven't earned it. Others simply wear creme or champagne since savvy designers have declared white "outdated" and off white colors "chic". Weddings are about more than "tradition", and we should treat them as such. They should not be a show. One should not say vows before a God that they do not honor with their lives. It's not a requirement, is it?

I am not trying to be harsh, and I welcome your thoughts. I am not trying to be judgmental, as it is my intention to edify. But I do not apologize for speaking truth from God's word. We are commanded to do nothing less.

While fashion trends change, God word doesn't. Sex is to be reserved for marriage. Teaching anything less is to rob ourselves and our children of what married love is meant to be. We can not teach a gospel that follows trends and modern thought. That is faulty at the core. Our lives should conform to the Bible. It is time that Christians stand up and be an example. Let the white of our wedding attire represent the purity in our lives.

Photo from Charliesbridal.com

Lost in 1812

What is it about inspirational historical fiction that gets women so sappy? Why do these authors sell so many books? Who wants to live in the past? What's the big deal? What does the 19th century have that the 21st doesn't?

Innocence. That's the difference. The women are not brazen. They still *blush*, and they actually wear undergarments (sort of). They are not showing so much skin that the men are blushing. They are not chasing men and throwing themselves at them. They are concerned with being a woman of virtue. They are concerned with being a GODLY wife and mother and with having a godly husband.

These differences make these books appealing to those who feel that we have lost much in this so-called progressive generation. Progression is only good when it makes us better. What we have now is not better, no matter how good we women are at lying to ourselves and each other.

Men have not changed what they want in wives. No one wants to marry the girl who has given herself to everyone and shows no signs of slowing down. They still want something to be left to
the imagination. Most probably think a home-cooked meal is a lovely bonus.

Perhaps we should take a page out of 1812 an reinvent 21st century womanhood with that as an example. It doesn't mean we have to pretend to be helpless or stupid, although it doesn't hurt to make a man feel needed. It does mean we should stop using sexuality to manipulate men. It means we should cover up and guard our tongues. It means we should strive more to be a Proverbs 31 woman, and less like a Cosmo girl. For a good example, read The English Garden
Series by Lori Wick.

Chewed Up and Spit Out.

As my baby gets older, she is trying more foods. Some are met positively, as she uses her tiny teeth to gobble it up. While others, she promptly spits out of her little mouth.

This morning was one of those times when she wasn't enjoying her meal. It made me think of this scripture in Revelation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

When we take time to analyze our lives, it should be immediately clear who we serve and what we stand for. If not, we are in danger of suffering the same fate as my baby's breakfast.

God is a Funny Guy

WARNING: This post probably isn't for pious people who have never felt distant from God. Leave all judgment at the door.

My life has been filled with stresses lately. The walls have felt like they've been trying to close in around me. I've had a block between me and God, too. I've allowed life to get in the way of time that I spend with Him alone. I've been too tired and too lazy to fix it even though it has caused me innumerable problems. I can always justify the distance by saying I'm too tired to get up since I don't get to sleep through the night any more. But God is a funny guy. He's not interested in my excuses. He misses me, and He's set out to prove it to me.

For the past several days I have been waking up before my alarm and even when I have nowhere to go! It's been annoying. I've tried without success to just go back to sleep. So last night, before going to sleep, I prayed that God would allow me to get much needed sleep and that I would not wake up before the alarm again. While God heard my prayer, He did not obey. He's funny like that. Once again I tried to fall back to sleep with no luck. But this morning was different. I decided to pray that He would reveal to me why He kept waking me up against my will. This was apparently the prayer I should have prayed when this first started happening.

This morning, unlike recent mornings, began with a prayer for guidance. It continued with me taking a long-awaited spiritual journey through my YouVersion Bible while I allowed the Holy Spirit to be my tour guide. Amazing things are happening even as I write this. I'm glad that I put stubbornness on hold long enough to receive these blessings. My head feels clearer and my path straighter. It's funny how that happened only when I quit being disobedient to God and His attempts to get my attention. I'm just glad He loves me enough to not give up just because I'm being an idiot! ;)

Bear With Me

Bear with this uncharacteristically long post. I'm going somewhere. My life is in a state of flux right now. My heart and mind are filled with thoughts that are dying to be posted, yet unfortunately many remain in the digital camera of my mind's eye. I know each of you can relate to the mayhem that ensues in our lives each day.

There are jobs that stress us out (if we let them). There are responsibilities in trying to keep your house from being declared a national disaster area (at which I'm failing miserably). Then there are the children who have more needs than a patient in a convalescent home (and I love them so dearly)! And let me not neglect to mention my handsome husband, the youth pastor/soccer coach/life coach/daddy daycare/... (who keeps me the busiest of all)!

Right now, me head is so full of hats that many of my thoughts have been lost under all of them. I am desperately working towards more structure and less clutter (in my brain, that is). I am paring down our schedules to include only essential things, however, I'm thinking we have a few too many "essentials" right now. Tre and I are also communicating and praying during this time of transitions to make sure that we don't get disconnected and lost in the fray.

As the only daughter of a busy pastor (my dad works full-time and still serves his parishioners), I watched the business in his life. I watched him work all day, come straight to my track meet, then rush off to the hospital before going home. I'm not sure when he ate. I remember him contemplating vacations because someone in the flock was sick in the hospital, and he was concerned about being too far away. I watched him come home with his work goggles and burned shirt (from sparks flying), rush up to shower and change in time to pick up kids for children's church. I could literally go on for hours, but it isn't necessary to make my point.

While I love the members of his church as much as my family, I did not always want to share him with them. Plus church folks aren't the easiest group of people to love. I got sick of leaving practice early to get to church. I got tired of feeling like I lived there sometimes. So I started talking to God a long time ago.

Dear God, I see how my dad is stretched so thin. I see the strain that it puts on my mom. I see how tired he is. I realize that emergencies happen, but couldn't they wait until after our vacation? Why do we need to get home early from dinner on Saturday night so that he can prepare his sermon? And God, if you love me at all, please, please, please don't let me marry a pastor. I think I repeated that part a few times for good measure. Amen.

Some of you are probably laughing right now. But I'm not, and I wasn't then either. I was dead serious. So much so that I immediately burst into loud sobs when two individual people spoke a prophecy over my now husband (then boyfriend), that he would be a pastor. I did not want that life for myself or my children. Don't knock me unless you've been there. A pastor is expected to be so many things for so many people! His children and wife make innumerable sacrifices. The phone doesn't stop ringing, and you can't call-screen them like telemarketers.

While I'm aware that to many, ministry is noble, it is not easy. Many sacrifices are required, and unlike traditional work, there is usually no tangible (earthly) bonus received for an extraordinary job. When we first started serving youth, we were much younger and more carefree. We had no children and few responsibilities. Fast forward 10 years , and we are like clowns juggling at the circus sometimes. Pray for me as we learn to prioritize. As we work to serve the people in our church, let us not forget to serve one another and our children FIRST. Let us always use God as our filter for priorities. Let us avoid burn-out, because this work must be done, and we want to do it to the fullest ability that God allows. We are willing. We love our God and our youth! (and their parents, too)

New and Improved

I'm always skeptical when I see "new and improved" on a product that I always buy. Sometimes that improvement is a "new, sleeker design" which usually is a synonym for smaller package, less product and more money. And at other times that improvement is "20% percent more product for the same price". That one is debatable. And still other times the new improvement is actually something I benefit from. These are rare moments of sublime happiness for me.

Recently I stopped in Target for a few necessities. Lansinoh is a company that makes products for babies and nursing mothers. When I grabbed the box that I needed, I saw the "new and improved" sign emblazoned on the front of the package. "Oh great", I thought. I bet there are fewer items in here. Nope. Same amount. "Okay, I guess I'll have to wait to get home to find out how they're ripping me off". So when I arrived home to investigate, I was pleasantly surprised. They actually were improved! Softer, better designed and more efficient.

When we come to know Christ, we should have a sticker on our forehead that says "new and improved". If the king of creation abides inside of us we should be able to wear it proudly.
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are new creations in Christ and that the old person is gone. We should make sure that we don't grow complacent. Always allow the Holy Spirit to continue to improve us from the inside out. We should also make sure that our improvements are not gimmicks. We should be genuinely crafting our lives in His image. Let all who meet us find a "pleasant surprise."

Snap Out of It!

The past three months have been a whirlwind of activity. Getting used to all of the changes in my life has been exciting, scary and overwhelming. Very overwhelming.

I've been so stressed over the stupidest things. I'm actually mad at myself for letting bureaucrats interfere with my life! I'm furious that I've allowed ignorant people to steal hours of happiness from my days. The pathetic thing is that I know better. I tell myself that God is in control and that everything will work out for my good. And the strange thing is that I actually, truly believe it. So I really can't put my finger on what's really bothering me.

It's almost mysterious. I have a hard time letting people get away with treating me badly. I also have difficulty sitting back and watching when all is not in order. My husband is telling me to step back, pray and wait. The part I'm not doing is stepping back. I think I need to be slapped right now.

What I'm thankful for is that I know confidently that the God of all peace, my peace is still in charge. He does not need my help, even when I insist that He does. I also know that, as my dad would say, this too shall pass. So while I practice stepping back and trusting Him through this, pray for me. Don't just say it, do it. Pray fervently, and mean it. I'd do it for you.

Blood Thirsty

During a bout of sleeplessness the other night, I woke up and saw something strange on TV. A man was taking a drink from some other guy's arm. Yes, you heard me right. I had no idea what I was watching. I still don't know what it was. I do know, I found it disturbing. The other thing that caught me off guard was a bizarre ritual some woman was performing. She was apparently a vampire and was summoning some powers from somewhere and causing party goers to dance provocatively and perform other immoral acts.

It's clear I caught the tail end of some vampire series, but as usual, I started thinking. Is there a spiritual aspect of vampires? Are there any ramifications for believers who watch these shows? My questions are based on the uneasy feeling I was left with after just a short time watching. I also wonder about the erotic nature of these beings. I've begun to do research and plan to learn more as time progresses. With the popularity of shows such as True Blood and Twilight, I think this is a topic in need of exploration.

I Wanna Be a Shot

On the way to summer school, I was having my usual morning conversation with my little ones. This particular day we were discussing dental hygiene, specifically cavities. My precious daughter started asking questions about the process of fixing cavities. I told her that the doctor will numb your gums with a shot first and then drill into the tooth. She asked me if the shot would hurt. I told her it would hurt, but it was necessary to keep you from feeling the drill. She then said to me, "Mommy, I wanna be a shot cuz a shot hurts everything, but nothing hurts it." That struck me.

My daughter is terrified of shots. Her last well-child check-up was plagued with tears caused by anticipating a shot. The fact that she would want to be one tells me that she is starting to get a taste of what life can do to you. To her, a shot is invincible. Impenetrable. It was a hard statement for me to take as a mom.

She's been dealing with an older child with anger problems who doesn't keep her hands to herself. To date the child has punched her and slapped her in the face. I'm sure you can all imagine the self-control I've needed to use just to look at that girl each day without glowering. I admit that I haven't been that successful. My daughter is dealing with looking different. Having different hair.

I guess sometimes Jesus is our shot. Sometimes He numbs the pain. Other times He simply takes the edge off and helps us get through the process. Like earthly parents, our heavenly Father cares about our hurts. At times He must sit back and allow us to learn a lesson. Other times He intervenes. But always He is there to hold us in the end.

Republicans are Christians

When George W. Bush was elected to a second term, I remember hearing a popular slogan in churches and throughout the Christian media outlets: "Vote the Bible." Hmmm. Hold that thought.

In this most recent election, I heard Christians saying that they had to vote according to their convictions. Hmmm.

So recently, I've been thinking. According to Politico.com, Senator John Ensign of Nevada recently resigned from his post after news of his extramarital affair surfaced and scandals swirled around it. This same article references Sen. Larry Craig's involvement in a sex sting 2 years ago. And still again Sen. David Vitter was caught up in a prostitution ring! Most recently South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was caught in a lie as news of his adulterous affair with a woman from Argentina surfaced.

Besides for being men without self-control or respect for their wives, what else do these men have in common? Give up? They are all Republicans. Why does this matter? Here's why. For years, Christians have associated Republicans with morality. Based upon abortion views and gay marriage primarily. My problem is that Christians actually believe one party is more moral than the other. Since when do politics and Christianity go together?

The danger with placing ourselves on a moral pedestal is just this. Each of these Republican leaders is guilty of sexual sins. Are these sexual sins equal to or better than homosexual sex? Is it better to be in a heterosexual marriage and cheat or to be in a gay relationship and be faithful? Christians have placed themselves in a position to be ridiculed by the masses. People do not take us seriously. By saying things like "Vote the Bible", we imply that "our" candidate is like a representative of Christ. Dangerous.

To be Republican officials, these men are required to say that they agree with the staples that make up their party's platform. While I do not advocate abortion or gay marriage, I do believe abortion will be legal until the end of time, regardless of the party in office. I also believe gay marriage will become legal. I'm not sure if voting for a candidate for what they say they believe is enough. Who cares, if they don't change anything?

For those of you who are angry with me, let me make a couple of statements. I do not think Democrats are Christians either. An individual may be a Christian, but not the party. Pretending to be a believer is very lucrative because Christians are often gullible. I do not believe presidents are representative of the Bible in any way. I do not believe we have a Christian country either. I'm not sure where that idea comes from. I am also NOT implying that these men are anything but human. Christians commit these same sins. My point is that, in my opinion, the church should not be affiliated with a party. I'm sure you all have something to say, and I am actually looking forward to hearing it.

Cheap Thrills

We've all heard the phrase, you get what you pay for. I've been hearing it a lot from my husband, lately. We've been arguing over the cheapness of the headphones I buy. Just because I bought $3 earphones that required a $5 check to be sent in with the warranty disbursement... Anyway. So I realize that certain things are worth paying more for. In most instances, the less expensive items are of a lesser quality. With one exception...

Many years ago, someone offered me a "gift" for free. I always want to know what the catch is when something is free. You can't get something for nothing, right? The gifts that seem too good to be true usually are. This one promised to meet all of my needs. To comfort me and never leave me. And as if this wasn't enough, it offered forgiveness of sins and eternal life! In a kingdom with golden streets! Seriously? Yep. Too good to be true? Absolutely. But it really is free. Since you can't earn it or pay for it, I guess you don't get what you pay for. Thankfully. Just accept it. It's a steal.