Tara Barthel -- Considerable Grace
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Thoughts on Grace, Life, Faith, Women, and Peacemakingen2010-03-10T07:54:14info@tarabarthel.comhourly12000-01-01T12:00+00:00Patience
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2010-03-09T16:50:25tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)zUncategorized BlogsCarolyn McCulley just put this quote up on her FB status:"Patience is a deliberate act of humility"--Tim KellerOh, man. Am I convicted.
"Patience is a deliberate act of humility"–Tim Keller
Oh, man. Am I convicted.]]>Gospel in Life
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2010-03-09T06:36:58tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)The ChurchThis new resource from Tim Keller sure sounds like a great way to invest $32 and your time, too. (Maybe a good fit for our women's study this summer? Hmmmmm ...)Gospel in Life(An an intensive eight session course on the gospel and how it is lived out in all of ...
(An an intensive eight session course on the gospel and how it is lived out in all of life—first in your heart, then in your community, and then out into the world.)]]>Skeptical About Biblical Counseling
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2010-03-08T22:19:49tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)Grace in Daily LifeIn my frequent travels, I often meet people (especially church leaders) who are skeptical about "biblical counseling."
If this describes you, then I encourage you to read this article by a fellow church member of mine (Aaron Sironi):Becoming a Biblical Counselor: A Skeptic's JourneyI think you'll find it profitable.
(And HT to ...
If this describes you, then I encourage you to read this article by a fellow church member of mine (Aaron Sironi):
(And HT to his lovely wife, Kellie, for pointing me to this article and video too. Kellie is a brilliant attorney—I know this first-hand because I had the privilege of clerking for her in my pre-momma-hood days—and a dear sister in Christ.)]]>Polity is Cool
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2010-03-07T07:32:15tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)The ChurchMy throat officially feels as though it is being sliced with razor blades (ouch!), so the germs (viruses?) they keep on livin' on at the ol' Barthels. Bummer.
But my physical weakness has a plus side: I'm sleeping at night! Oh, I have to say, I'd choose a bad cold over ...
But my physical weakness has a plus side: I’m sleeping at night! Oh, I have to say, I’d choose a bad cold over insomnia any day/night of the week, so actually? Being sick has turned out to be a blessing.
Plus, when I woke up early this morning in pain, and not feeling well enough to walk Lilikoi, it afforded me a sweet opportunity to catch up on some reading.
I have a number of quotes I want to share from my reading in “real life” (i.e., books) ... but still being prone, and feeling lazy, I’m just going to link to some blog articles I think you might really enjoy.
First up, IX Marks! Wow, those guys can write.
My favorite was this gem on pastors as chief repenters:
So wise. And such a sweet reminder of how our beloved Pastor Jason and Elder Laverman lead our family (and our entire congregation). It really isn’t that hard to submit to the oversight of men who lead by pointing you NOT to themselves, but to the Savior. Actually? It’s a privilege and a joy.
Along these lines, Ed Welch had a great post recently about men and blame-shifting. He also addresses briefly the topic some ladies and I were discussing in recent blog comments ("Do we sin by our anger BECAUSE our kids are disobedient? Do they CAUSE our anger? Or do their actions simply bring out the anger that was there all along?"):
Oooooooh. Very intriguing. Especially the links to various perspectives on this question.
(Oh, and I just LOVED what Kevin DeYoung wrote in his little bio paragraph:
"You may contact me via email, though I am not always able to respond personally. If you have encouragement for me, I thank you in advance. If you have constructive criticism, I will take it seriously. If you want help with a term paper or you want me to read your manuscript or dissertation, you’re barking up the wrong tree."
So funny, yet spot-on. I’m finding myself (hopefully gently!) declining more and more requests for help re: “How can I become a SPEAKER?” and “Will you read/edit/improve my MANUSCRIPT?” and “How can I get PUBLISHED too?” Maybe I need to put some permanent language about that stuff somewhere on my site ...)
But I have to say, my favorite of everything I read this morning (well, except for my time in the Word), was this gem from Tim Lane. If you only read one link from this post, read this. And if you’re like me, print it out:
"With these scriptures as guidance, I offer a list of ten pastoral skills that I learned as I discipled one individual who came with many difficult problems.
I will call her Nancy. She is in her 40’s and seems to be a sincere believer in Christ. She is in a bad marriage. She is someone who would classically be labeled bipolar or manic-depressive. She has successfully isolated herself from people in her church because once they get to know her, they become overwhelmed by her. Here is the challenge: How do I love Nancy well? What will it look like to be useful to her in her growth in grace? ...
Lesson 1. Pay Attention to the Heart (Yours and Theirs)
The category of the heart must be kept on the radar at all times.
Yours—God has ordained that this person be in your life. The first pastoral exercise is to pay attention to the common temptations to sin that different kinds of difficult people pose to you. Manipulative “borderline personality”? Angry and oblivious? Addicted and deceitful? Unstable “bipolar”? You may be tempted to overpower, or to appease, or to avoid such people. You will likely move typically in one of these directions or bounce back and forth between them in an effort to get some relief. You end up, if you are not carefully attending to your own heart, sinfully responding to the challenges that the difficult person is bringing into your life. If you do this, how then can you call this person to respond to life in godly ways when you aren’t even responding in godly ways? This, by the way, is true of any relationship ...
Lesson 2. Clearly Define Who Sets the Agenda
The common language that is often used here is the language of “boundaries”. I think that can be helpful but it does not go deep enough. Who sets the agenda in any relationship? God does ...
Grace-driven acceptance of a person does not mean open-ended availability ...
Lesson 3. Have Biblically Realistic/Optimistic Goals
Here is a place where your theology of the Christian life means everything. The doctrine of sanctification sees the Christian life through the biblical lens of slow, steady, back and forth progress. It’s realistic: change is incremental. It’s also optimistic: there is progress. For me, as I got a handle on the practical pastoral implications of this biblical understanding of the Christian life, it made all the difference in the world.
When Nancy was really depressed, I was thankful that she was still coming to church and seeking help. When she was particularly upbeat and euphoric, I would avoid being duped and then let down when she was depressed again. Without this leveling view of the Christian life, you will be a manic-depressive enabler!
Oh! There is so much more wisdom in this article (Redefine Love, Give the Person Hope, Call the Person to Serve, Connect the Person with the Body of Christ, Work Wisely with Other Helpers, Connect the Person to Christ Himself, We are ALL Difficult People), I really hope you’ll click through and be encouraged/helped.
That’s all for me this morning. Time to serve the fam—I hear them beginning to move around now.
Blessed Sabbath to you!
Gratefully,
Tara B.]]>Fiddlers
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2010-03-06T20:20:14tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)Family Photos & MoviesElla and I just got home from our church's Variety Show. (Her coughing and boogey production levels were beginning to be too loud---even in the narthex, so we headed home.)
Sophie did a great job serving as a member of the RMCC Fiddlers:
She even had a fun "matchies" cowgirl outfit thanks ...
Sophie did a great job serving as a member of the RMCC Fiddlers:
She even had a fun “matchies” cowgirl outfit thanks to Auntie Kali & Uncle Fred:
The fiddlin' was great and we’re grateful for the music. But mostly? I thank God for the relationships. (Thank you Miss Laura! And all of our fiddlin' friends.)
This life is simply too hard to go through alone.
Thank God for friends.
]]>Wrestling with an Angel
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2010-03-06T12:57:00tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)Momma Tara~ParentingJust discovered a great blog written by the father of a special needs child:Wrestling with an Angel
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2010-03-05T16:01:24tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)Family Photos & MoviesThanks, Grandma Chris, for the super adorable handmade socks!
We love 'em! And we love you---
We love 'em! And we love you—
]]>Not Death to Die
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2010-03-05T07:31:36tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)Hope in SufferingTim Challies pointed me to a number of worthwhile links this morning.
The first one is hard to watch, but so worth it---especially if you are suffering or know someone who is suffering. There are two video clips from a pastor and his wife whose fourteen year-old daughter was murdered. It ...
The first one is hard to watch, but so worth it—especially if you are suffering or know someone who is suffering. There are two video clips from a pastor and his wife whose fourteen year-old daughter was murdered. It is neither trite nor man-centered. It is real and raw—and it meaningfully points to Christ. The parents also share profoundly about forgiveness. I highly recommend that you take the time to watch:
The second was quite convicting re: my own spiritual disciplines. Oh! How I can picture myself spending hours and hours reading the Bible and journaling, praying, and worshiping. Before I had young children. Now? I’m simply not that consistent, even though I know I could be doing much better if I just applied myself. Anyway ... this article was helpful and not condemning (hooray!):
I’m planning to re-read it today because last night, Sophia engaged in a series of entertaining (and even pleasant) delays getting ready for bed—making Ella laugh hysterically, doing a great dance, pretending to be a character from a book—and after warning her and warning her (which I don’t usually do), I got angry.
Did her disobedience cause my anger? Oh, no. Even my six year-old mini-theologian could tell you that.
Her disobedience simply brought out the anger that was already in my heart.
But even as I snapped at her with a rude tone of voice, I was convicted. I knew my heart was the problem. I knew I was called to repent.
Thankfully, my daughter is very forgiving and we were sweetly reconciled (again) even after our little pattern (again) of her disobeying and me raising my voice (again). Still ... I think it’s time to do a little root-digging when it comes to the weed of anger that is living in my heart.
So, off into my day I go. Hope your Friday is a blessed one!
Yours,
Tara B.
PS
Sorry for the unwieldy nature of this post. My clunky blog software made adding links next to impossible. 'Tis a miracle I’m not having to repent of anger RIGHT NOW.]]>Heading to Sleep (Hopefully) by Laughing Out Loud
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2010-03-04T21:29:04tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)Just for Fun!As usual, the commentary is even funnier than the photos over at ol' CakeWrecks, but this final cake from today's post had me laughing and laughing out loud:
"Poor AdamWithBlueFlowers. Grade school musta been murder."(Be forewarned if you poke around the site---some of the cakes are, well, not modest / not ...CakeWrecks, but this final cake from today’s post had me laughing and laughing out loud:
“Poor AdamWithBlueFlowers. Grade school musta been murder.”
(Be forewarned if you poke around the site—some of the cakes are, well, not modest / not appropriate language-wise.)]]>Radical Discipleship
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2010-03-04T14:09:58tarabart (mailto:tara@tarabarthel.com)The ChurchAnother great read from Pastor Anyabwile:The Redundancy of Radical Discipleship
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