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Civics Test . . .

1/30/2021

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This past month there has been a lot of talk about the Constitution––what it stands for––how we should defend it––so much so that one national reporter went on the streets to see just what Americans actually knew about the Constitution.

Now, I know that the best stories are those that show the best or the worst of us––extremes always make for good copy––so I wasn’t surprised when the reporter shared the “how little” side of the poll. Out of the one hundred questions on the Naturalization Test, the reporter asked about five of the relatively easy ones, ones that probably every citizen should know. Unfortunately, these filmed few, didn’t.

Though most of us hang onto the rights of the Constitution with a chokehold, I would wager that very few of us have taken a peak at it, let alone studied it, since we were tested on it back in the eighth grade or reviewed portions of it during our government class our senior year of high school. That is unless our field of study required it, or a trivia contest brought some of it back to memory. (I have attached the link to the one hundred questions below so that you can test or refresh your memory.)

This same lapse of memory often occurs when we have to take the written driving test again. Though we claim to know the what the laws or the road are, suddenly the actual laws are a bit fuzzy.

Over time, these lapses change the way we remember the laws allowing us to manipulate the truth a bit in our favor, and our reality takes on a personal hue.

Many Christians have fallen into a similar pattern regarding the Bible. We say we know its contents––we claim its promises; and we quote some well-worn verses––but sometimes there is a gap between what we think it says and what it actually says because our actual reading it and studying it has lapsed, thereby causing some personal “hues” to seep in and color our knowledge and understanding.

As an English teacher I could always tell which students had actually read the book and which ones had gleaned their knowledge from Cliffs Notes or the internet. The latter may have been able to recite a few main characters, recount a sweeping theme, or spout off a motif or two, but they didn’t know how it all fit together. They couldn’t understand the author’s intent nor appreciate his or her skill.

The Bible both encourages and commands us to study God’s word.

Psalm 1:2 says the blessed man has “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 shows the value of knowing all of the bible: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

And Paul reminds Timothy that he should “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

As Christians we need to know what the Bible says, not rely on what we think it says or on what others have told us it says. We need to see each verse in its context, so we can understand its true meaning, not pull it out of context to make it fit our personal agenda.

Our Constitution is the law of the land, our vehicle code the law of the road, both important. But the Bible is the law of our soul, of our salvation, of our ability to live in harmony with God and others. If your reading of the Bible has lapsed, then I encourage you to pick it back up and start reading again, whether a chapter(s) or a verse(s) a day, and then meditating on those words. God has promised to bless you and guide you because of your faithfulness.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/100q.pdf



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Refresh . . .

1/23/2021

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Though there are plenty of people who don’t want the COVID-19 vaccination, the lines of cars, the overnight campouts, the crashed websites, and the jammed phone lines indicate that there are also plenty who do want it.

Over a week ago, it was finally my mother’s turn to sign up for her vaccination, a super event at the local fairgrounds. We went to the website, put in her information, and looked at every possible day. All full. We waited a couple of hours to try again (in case someone had already cancelled), only to learn that we had to re-enter all her information again––for each day we wanted to check. Again, all full.

Later I went in on my own, opened a new window for each day, re-re-entered her information and hit the return button. Still all full. This was beginning to feel both repetitive and futile. I decided to refresh one of the days, just to see if it would keep her information. The page refreshed and suddenly there was an appointment opening. I grabbed it! 

Though I learned  two valuable lessons that day––don’t get discouraged and be persistent––I think the most valuable lesson was the need to refresh.

Too many times we carry yesterday’s burdens and concerns into today. That is not to say, they don’t still exist, but we bring them with us without hitting the refresh button. Without spending time with God first.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

And Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength . . .”

And then another reminder to “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you . . .” (Psalm 55:22).

Our burdens will indeed grow heavy, our hearts weary, and our souls tired if we don’t come before the Lord each morning and allow Him to refresh us: to remind us that His love is never ending, and He has new mercies ready for us each day. 

Great is His faithfulness.



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Rebar . . .

1/16/2021

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I don’t know about you, but I was hoping for a much smoother start to 2021. That didn’t happen, did it?

And perhaps you are in a situation similar to what I am. Not only did the national issues continue to compound, but new personal challenges emerged as well. As my brother said, “It’s only been eight days, and already it seems like a year.”

A recent Facebook post read, “I’d like to cancel my subscription to 2021. I’ve experienced the free 7-day trial and I’m not interested.”


But that isn’t an option, is it? The year will continue and at times, it will be hard not to get discouraged, down, or depressed. It is also sometimes hard to wrap our head around the love and care of an invisible God when our heart is hammered by a very tangible reality. And it is at times like this, when Bible verses on their own, no matter how encouraging they are, just aren’t enough to see us through. They need a place to rest . . . a foundation to support them. 

That’s when we need to have a good memory (or a good written record) about how God has been faithful in the past. In my case, I don’t have to look too far back to see his love and faithfulness, and I cling to that. 

Our memories of God’s faithfulness are like rebar, those bars of steel used to reinforce concrete that is under extreme tension. With the addition of each of those unseen and often forgotten rods the foundation gets stronger and stronger.

Unless we have moments when we must rely on God, when we allow him to show his power and love for us, our foundation will be merely the vulnerable concrete of our own strength, and under tension and shaking it will begin to crumble. 

So as the year progresses––and it will––and when we hit some more difficult times––which we might––let’s remember the following verses.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3)

And Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

There will still be times when the earth will give way, the waters will roar, and the mountains will quake, but let’s remember those other times––those rods of rebar––when God was ever faithful, and we can then know with full assurance that He will continue to be faithful in the future.


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Moments and Memories . . .

1/9/2021

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"What makes night within us may leave stars." – Victor Hugo

I will make this brief as I think we have dwelt on 2020 long enough, but I did want to say goodbye to 2020 with optimism and hope.
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Despite all the inconveniences, hardships, and sadness that many of us have had to endure this past year, there have been bright spots. Talk with just about any person and those stars in the night will emerge.

I know that both my family and me personally have experienced them. Book clubs have emerged; Zoom has prompted the extended family to reconnect; and isolation has provided time to slow down and reflect.​

I would love to hear one of your “stars” of 2020. Please share.


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Happy New Year!

1/2/2021

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Every December I look forward to the new year with excitement and anticipation. It has always been an opportunity to start new projects, create new goals, and … overall … provide a chance to do better.

I entered 2020 with the same optimism as I have had each previous year, but like all of us, I didn’t have a clue what was in store. I can assure you that what did happen wasn’t on my list.

Now, as much as I am glad 2020 is coming to a close, and I am looking forward to 2021, I am doing so a bit more cautiously … with a bit more skepticism. Loss of innocence will do that to a person.

But I have to remind myself that just as I entered previous years with slightly rose-colored glasses, I also don’t want to swing to the other extreme and taint the future with pessimism.

I have to remind myself of three things: 1) we can never know the future, 2) we don’t need to, because 3) God will give us what we need when we need it.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). It is not a floodlight designed to show us the entire journey at once, but it will provide us the knowledge and wisdom as well as the confidence and comfort for our present situations.

I have attached a relatively new song (May 2019) by Building 429 and the interview with member Jason Roy about how the song came about. I think both the song and the background story can speak for and to many of us.

Happy New Year.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYg9c4YtnPY


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    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

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