tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60535795139409240542024-03-19T13:51:41.602-07:00Teri's StoryMy journey from Mormonism to Christianity.Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-86643539758450581072013-02-01T21:29:00.002-08:002013-11-19T17:38:26.485-08:00Doing Christianity Mormon-Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</xml><![endif]-->Yes, I admit it… there are times when I miss Mormonism…<br />
<br />
No, I don’t mean I am going back… or that the title of this post must surely mean that Mormons are Christians…<br />
<br />
So what do I mean? <br />
<br />
<b>Home Visits</b><br />
<br />
Well, part of it is that I miss the visits from the members every month. “Every Month!?” You exclaim. “But… I don’t want someone in my house every month!”<br />
<br />
Yes, I mean every month… and sometimes twice a month. After all, in Mormonism, the bishop assigns every Mormon couple a family to visit every month. Mormons call this Home Teaching.<br />
<br />
On top of that, each month the Relief Society President pairs two Mormon women and assigns to them two or three other women to visit. Mormons call this Visiting Teaching.<br />
<br />
Well, what could I possibly miss about other people invading my home on a monthly basis to talk to me about whatever message the “prophet” has chosen to require for the month? <br />
<br />
<b>Seeing Behind the Masks</b><br />
<br />
I miss getting to know the people in my church. “I don’t get it,” you may think, “I get to know plenty about the people in my church on Sunday…<br />
<br />
“In fact, I get to know too much in some cases… thinking about certain prayer requests… so why in the world would I want them in my house… on purpose!?”<br />
<br />
The thing is, when you visit another person at home, the masks are less likely to be on… you know, those masks we put on for church showing everyone that everything is fine… even if it isn’t? <br />
<br />
Well, at someone’s home, they are in their comfort zone, their space and are more likely to open up about what’s really going on behind the mask.<br />
<br />
Letting you see who they really are… and maybe, even what they really need…<br />
<br />
<b>Serving their Needs</b><br />
<br />
One of the questions that was always asked by the home teachers or the visiting teachers before they would leave at the end of the visit was, “is there anything that we can help you with before we leave?”<br />
<br />
“Well, no! Of course not! You are visiting me, I’m not going to ask you to do anything!”<br />
<br />
An instinctive response… for those of us who are self-sufficient… or embarrassed… or proud, but maybe, just maybe you need something…<br />
<br />
It can be as simple as a prayer, or a hug, or your dishes washed…<br />
<br />
Okay, generally no one ever asks a home teacher or visiting teacher to wash the dishes...<br />
<br />
But, what better way is there to find out if there is a way to serve someone… <br />
<br />
<b>The Dirty Dish Theory</b><br />
<br />
Take for example, a visit to a single working parent’s home at the end of a busy weekday…<br />
<br />
You see that the sink is full with dirty dishes… and the children? <br />
<br />
Well, they are running through the house just begging for attention.<br />
<br />
How easy is it to offer to entertain the children for even fifteen minutes… giving the parent a few minutes to tidy the sink… tactfully of course…<br />
<br />
I do not want to hear that someone asked a parent, “Hey, I notice you have a mess. Can you go clean it up while I keep your crazy kids distracted for a few minutes?”<br />
<br />
Ugh! But what if it were my dishes that needed to be done? I wouldn’t want someone to see that!<br />
<br />
Except, remember that time when your house was so out of control that you were almost in tears because you couldn’t get it done and the kids needed attention…<br />
<br />
What, you’re not a super hero…?<br />
<br />
Yes, those are the days when I am at my weakest for wishing I was still living close to my Mormon family. <br />
<br />
But wait a minute, I am a Christian… and I know plenty of Christians… can’t I ask them for help?<br />
<br />
<b>The Ex-Mormon Conundrum</b><br />
<br />
Ex-Mormons like me who were raised in the Mormon church were taught to be perfect… yes, nobody is perfect… <br />
<br />
But there is this thing called “making your calling and election sure” that every Mormon aspires to achieve.<br />
<br />
So even though I would like to ask for help, my perfectionism will not allow it… so I secretly hope and pray that someone will come to my house… see the state that it is in… and fix it for me…<br />
<br />
No… please do not come to my house… really. My sweet hubby did such a great job on my kitchen while I was at work today that I do not have a dirty dish in the house.<br />
<br />
That is not to say that I don’t have my days though…<br />
<br />
<b>The Christian Dilemma</b><br />
<br />
So here is my dilemma… I don’t believe that Mormons are Christian… but I want to be visited like a Mormon… <br />
<br />
I’m sure there are plenty of Mormons who would love to come and visit and try to convert me back… in fact I receive a newsletter on a quarterly basis from one of these ladies….<br />
<br />
But why can’t it be like this in Christianity? Would you like the brutal, honest truth? <br />
<br />
I don’t have to visit other Christians because it won’t get me into Heaven.<br />
<br />
<b>Ouch!</b><br />
<br />
Yes, the reason why the majority of Mormons faithfully perform their visiting and home teaching every month is because… <br />
<br />
Although not a requirement to get to Heaven… they are trying to make their calling and election sure… <br />
<br />
Yes, Mormons who faithfully perform their visiting and home teaching every month are one step closer to being perfect…<br />
<br />
But that can’t be the only reason that you consider returning to Mormonism, you think… After all, couldn’t you just start a visiting program in your church?...<br />
<br />
Absolutely, you are right… <br />
<br />
I could start a visiting program in my church… if I knew how to get it started… if it was important enough to me…<br />
<br />
<b>The Challenge</b><br />
<br />
So here is my challenge for this week… Are you a Christian? Find a person, family, single parent, someone to visit…<br />
<br />
Schedule a time to visit whomever you have chosen with this in mind…<br />
<ol>
<li>You have to share a Bible verse or a Bible-based devotional,</li>
<li>You have to pray with the person before you leave, and</li>
<li>You have to find a way to serve the person before you leave.</li>
</ol>
Yes, even if it means doing their dishes for them. <br />
<br />
I am taking up the challenge and will report back on my results in part two of this series. <br />
<br />
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<![endif]-->Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-69738317611663167672013-01-15T05:33:00.004-08:002013-01-15T05:33:51.781-08:00Where Have I Been?I know that many of you have been wondering what happened to me. Did I give up on my faith, fall into religion, or just drop off the face of the blogosphere? Well, yes, yes, and yes. I am not going to lie and say that coming to Christ has been a bowl of cherries. In fact, I struggle each and every day, some days more so than others.<br />
<br />
The past two years have been difficult for me in my walk with God due to the death of my grandmother in February of 2011 and then the loss of our church leadership in the past year. I am not saying that I turned away from God, but I did let the doubts creep back in.<br />
<br />
My grandmother although weak, held on following my visit with her in September of 2010 until the next February, 2011. I still pray that she was able to come to know Christ before her passing. At least I know that she was given the opportunity to know more about Him, although limited to my meager attempts of explaining who He truly is.<br />
<br />
As far as this past year with our church leadership leaving, this was my first experience losing a pastor, a youth minister and a children's minister in a church. Now, you would think that growing up in a Mormon church I would be used to transitional leadership, what with the rotation of members' callings to various positions in the church.<br />
<br />
No, not quite the case. Since this was my first long-term Christian home, it surprised me that turnover would happen in the manner it did. That is all that I will say about this transitional period, but know that I took the transition rather hard, all things considered.<br />
<br />
Of course, at the same time, I was going through a change of leadership at work and traveling on a regular basis. Needless to say it has been a stressful time. However, God has been there through it all. Probably one of the most exciting events that has happened in the past few months, September to be exact, was my opportunity to volunteer at the conference held by Revive our Hearts.<br />
<br />
I will post a bit more about that experience a bit later, but it was definitely a drink of water that my thirsting heart needed. There is so much more to post, but for now I am going to close this post with a renewed thanks for the goodness of God. More to come!Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-70483819998305837012013-01-09T19:29:00.001-08:002013-01-09T19:29:55.359-08:00Thank You For Your Continued LoyaltyI know it has been way too long since I posted anything on this website. I have faced a number of challenges in the past year including the loss of my grandmother last February. I continue to press on, and am grateful that I had the chance to share the gospel with her before she passed away. <br />
<br />
I would like to apologize to all of you for disappearing without a word. I hope to get back into the habit of posting. Thanks again for your continued loyalty. More soon!Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-74800478164289905182010-09-24T11:04:00.000-07:002010-09-24T11:04:55.365-07:00Doctrinal divide confronts Mormons on immigrationHere's an interesting story. Not to sound sarcastic, but I wonder if we will see a new "revelation" come from the president of the Mormon church regarding immigration...<br />
<br />
<em>Here in Utah, the push toward tougher immigration laws has become increasingly tangled in Mormon doctrine as divided Latter-day Saints defend their politics by pointing to conflicting interpretations of what Jesus would do.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Would God, one side asks, demand strict obedience to the law — and penalties to those who transgress it — as suggested in Mormonism’s Doctrine and Covenants 58:21? “Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.”</em><br />
<br />
<em>Or would he, the other side counters, look beyond border violations and extend a hand toward the nation’s undocumented population under principles preached in Matthew 25:40? “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” </em><br />
<br />
<em>The “What Would Jesus Do” question isn’t easily answered in a scripture-laden debate that has pitted biblical passages from Exodus to Ephesians against one another and placed the parable of the good Samaritan on the opposite side of the ideological debate from an anecdote delivered by LDS President Thomas S. Monson about Saints behind the Iron Curtain.</em><br />
<br />
<em>So where does the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints really stand?</em><br />
<br />
Read more at the following link: <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50282447-76/church-immigration-law-lds.html.csp">http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50282447-76/church-immigration-law-lds.html.csp</a>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-398817390354598902010-09-23T19:50:00.000-07:002010-09-23T19:50:26.717-07:00A Word for Those of You Who Do Not Pray | New DemonstrationI recommend that you read this. It reminded me how important it is for me to make a habit of prayer. I have fallen back out of the habit since returning from Utah. It is strange how easy it was to pray while I was visiting my grandmother and how quickly it became difficult when I came back home to a routine. Even though I need God just as much if not more than I did when I was at my grandma's, it just didn't seem as important. I have some repenting to do... again! Here is the link to the article. <a href="http://newdemonstration.com/quotes/jc-ryle/a-word-for-those-of-you-who-do-not-pray">A Word for Those of You Who Do Not Pray New Demonstration</a>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-90097179202588620762010-09-16T21:06:00.000-07:002010-09-16T21:06:36.643-07:00Groundhog Day Evangelism and Prayer RequestSince returning to Nashville, I have been running nonstop with children's activities and catching up at work. I do however want to share more about my visit with my grandmother last week. Because her short term memory is pretty much gone, our conversation the entire week was related to her asking about my children and family. <br />
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There were a few times where the conversation would change. This is when my evangelism attempt would begin. Her question usually centered around my marriage. She asked the question "Are you and your husband sealed for time and all eternity?" in some form. With this question I explained that no, because it is not biblical and then proceeded to share why it is not biblical and attempted to share the truth about God and Jesus Christ in some form or fashion. Although my answer changed each time she asked it, the message never did. It was similar to the movie "Groundhog Day" in that the conversation continued as if it had never happened a few minutes before. <br />
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I love my grandmother and am grateful that I had the chance to share the truth about Christ before her memory started to fade. I am also grateful that God gave me the opportunity to share with her again this past week even if she doesn't remember my visit. I know that if He chooses, she will remember the pieces of our conversation that He wills and He can save her even with my pathetic attempts to bring her to the true Christ. <br />
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Based on the fact that I believe she will be meeting God soon, I would like to ask for your help in praying that God will work in her life and bring her to a true knowledge Him if He chooses. Also please pray that she in turn uses the truth to repent of her sins and believe in Jesus Christ and thereby allow His righteousness to fully cleanse her so that when she passes from this Earth, she may go to Heaven to be with God.<br />
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Thank you!<br />
TeriTeri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-40255245303936506072010-09-04T22:07:00.000-07:002010-09-04T22:07:52.439-07:00Airplane Trip to VegasI wanted to post a quick note before going to bed. On the plane ride from Nashville to Vegas, I had the opportunity to bring Christ into the conversation and took it. Actually, it pretty much just came out of me before I even thought about it. God is so great to be able to use a wretch like me to share His good news! I will try to share the rest of the story later. Mini time zone jet lag setting in... Night!Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-27150046536721445682010-09-03T18:51:00.000-07:002010-09-03T18:51:52.019-07:00Traveling to UtahI am going to attempt to post from my phone next week due to the fact that I am traveling to Utah. Yes right back into the heart of Mormonism. :) I am going out to visit my family, namely my grandmother who is 89 years old. I am so excited to see her. I have been praying that she will come to know God and believe in the true Jesus before she passes on to the next life. Please pray for me this week. I am going to be surrounded by all of my family members who are still Mormon. Pray that I may reach them and that God may use me how He will. If I can't post from my phone, my next post will be after the 12th.<br />
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God Bless! <br />
TeriTeri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-45726372476747615672010-08-29T13:50:00.000-07:002010-08-29T13:50:53.807-07:00Sometimes He Calms the Storm...When I started this blog almost two years ago, it was with the intent of documenting my journey from Mormonism to Christianity. As I continued to post, it became less about my journey and more about perfection. I felt that if what I was going to post wasn’t perfect, then I couldn’t submit the post. It finally felt like too much work to even continue the blog especially since I was learning a new job at work and could barely keep my home in order. By the time I had a few minutes to sit down and post, I didn’t want to have to research the next post. I forgot that this blog was about my journey and not what information I could spout. <br />
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Although it is important to know what Mormons believe and have the facts, the facts are not what are going to reach a person who is blinded by Mormonism. After all, a Mormon is told from day one not to read “anti-Mormon” material and considers any of the information that we give them to be propaganda. So we have to reach them in other ways. First of all, you have to build a relationship of trust with the individual you want to pull from Mormonism. But that is for a later post. Right now, I want to explain my long absence.<br />
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This summer has just disappeared. In July, I ran my first 5k and enjoyed it so much I signed up for two more which I completed at the beginning of this month. It is amazing to me how appropriate Paul’s use of running a race as an example in Galatians 2:2 & 5:7, 1 Corinthians 9:24, and Hebrews 12:1. One thing I noticed during each of my races, was that there were points where I wanted to just give up and not continue. But by focusing on the goal, I was able to continue and finish the race. The other thing I realized, was that I have been really out of shape and I should have prepared for the races a bit better before signing up for them. In that way, it is a lot like what I was trying to do with this blog. <br />
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I was new to the true faith of Christ, and instead of taking the time to study God's Word, I was trying to post after a manner of individuals who had been true Christians much longer than I have. There were many posts that I threw out simply because they did not fit what I felt was appropriate for a Christian blog. In fact, you may have noticed, I started posting other items such as my daily Grace Gems instead of creating my own post. It is not surprising that a few challenges coming along caused me to buckle and stop posting. I apologize for taking shortcuts and trying to look like I am further along in my understanging of Christianity. After all, my original intent for this blog was to show the creation God is making in me as I walk the Christian path and not to show how much I know about Christianity. I hope that going forward I can throw my sin of perfectionism aside and simply blog as God permits.<br />
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There is a song that is one of my favorites right now. It is called, “Sometimes He Calms the Storm” by Scott Kripayne. Through this beautiful song, God has reminded me that sometimes we have to go through things that we consider to be difficult at the time because it meets His purpose whether we can see it or not. I am not sure that I have come through many of these struggles as gracefully as others I know who have gone through much harder difficulties than I have, but I know that God has had a reason for it and hopefully I am growing in Him.<br />
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All who sail the sea of faith <br />
Find out before too long <br />
How quickly blue skies can grow dark <br />
And gentle winds grow strong <br />
<br />
Suddenly fear is like white water <br />
Pounding on the soul <br />
Still we sail on knowing <br />
That our Lord is in control <br />
<br />
Sometimes He calms the storm <br />
With a whispered peace be still <br />
He can settle any sea <br />
But it doesn't mean He will <br />
<br />
Sometimes He holds us close <br />
And lets the wind and waves go wild <br />
Sometimes He calms the storm <br />
And other times He calms His child <br />
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He has a reason for each trial <br />
That we pass through in life <br />
And though we're shaken <br />
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ <br />
<br />
No matter how the driving rain beats down<br />
On those who hold to faith <br />
A heart of trust will always <br />
Be a quiet peaceful placeTeri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-55502424664489027112010-04-18T10:00:00.000-07:002010-04-18T10:06:57.873-07:00Wise People Radio Interview<p>I recently was interviewed for a radio program called Wise People Radio. Part 1 of the interview aired yesterday (Saturday 4/17/10) morning. Part 2 will air this next Saturday (4/24/10)morning at 8:30am. </p><p>You can hear Part 1 by <a href="http://normanservices.com/Radio%20Programs/100417%20Wise%20People,%20Terri%20Campbell%20Part%201.mp3">clicking here</a>. </p><p>Additionally, you can hear next week's show at <a href="http://www.kdkr.org/">www.kdkr.org</a> by clicking on the listen live button. After Part 2 airs it will be available at the archive link above.</p>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-54171133689697332842010-04-08T11:02:00.000-07:002010-04-08T11:03:41.504-07:00Quote from Brigham Young (2nd President of Mormon Church)"We must believe that this same Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world, that is for the original sin, not the actual individual transgressions of the people; not but that the blood of Christ will cleanse from all sin, all who are disposed to act their part by repentance, and faith in his name. But the original sin was atoned for by the death of Christ, although its effects we still see in the diseases, distempers and every species of wickedness with which the human family as afflicted (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 153).Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-76057004434169378592010-01-04T19:10:00.000-08:002010-01-04T20:06:20.465-08:00What do you believe?As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been stuck on John 20 recently in my bible reading. Today I read the following verses: <br /><blockquote><p><em>24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.<br />25 So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."<br />26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."<br />27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."<br />28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"<br />29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." </em></p><p align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">John 20:24-29</span> </p></blockquote>Why is it so hard to believe in something that we haven't seen? I know there have been times where I thought it would be so much easier if I had lived when Jesus lived and witnessed first hand His Majesty. But would I have been one of the scoffers, or one of the believers? I hope that I would have been one of the believers, and fear that I would have been one of the multitude yelling, "Crucify Him!" <br /><br />However, when I make a choice to sin instead of following Christ, or believe the lies that throw me into a self-pitying pool of depression, is that not me yelling, "Crucify Him!"? Even now, God is stripping my and exposing my sins one by one. But even through this, Christ is taking me and saying, "you are Mine!" and scouring each of the sins from my life. I use the word scouring, because He is not just removing the sins that I have embraced for so long, but He is removing them and refining me with fire.<br /><br />I think the reason that I doubt sometimes as mentioned in my previous post is that I see the other possibly real Christians around me that look like they are not walking through the fires at all. They have everything that we judge to be the perfect Christian life: the kids, the home, the car, the attitude, the missionary work, the homeschool, etc... The list goes on and on. <br /><br />And then I look at my life thinking here I am trying to trust in God, believing that His work will be done, loving my children wishing I could be at home with them as a good Christian mother would do... but then slowly, I am realizing am I not coveting my neighbor's life? There I go breaking the tenth commandment.<br /><br />So what should I believe? That I can have my best life now? Or that if I endure, and wait patiently on God, that He will finish the work He has started in me until at last I can stand before Him and hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I don't think I have a choice in what I believe anymore. I have to believe in Jesus Christ and the promise that He has made that "whosoever should believe in Him [Jesus Christ] should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. Not because it is the right thing to do, or because some preacher told me it's how I can get into heaven.<br /><br />No, it is only because God told me that by trusting in Him and believing the promise of His Son, that I am His and it doesn't matter how much scouring or fire I have to endure, it is no more that I deserve from a just and merciful God who sent His Son to bear the wrath for my sins all the while hearing me joyfully proclaim, "Crucify Him!"...<br /><br />What do you believe?Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-18230488208693299612010-01-04T19:07:00.000-08:002010-01-04T19:09:47.042-08:00The art of living a Christian life<em><span style="font-size:85%;">Care of </span></em><a href="http://gracegems.org/"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Grace Gems</span></em></a><br /><br />(J. R. Miller, "How to Live a Beautiful Christian Life" 1880)<br /><br />"Whoever claims to live in Him--must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6<br /><br />We have only successfully acquired the art of living a Christian life--when we have learned to apply the principles of true religion, and enjoy its help and comfort in our daily life.<br /><br />It is easy to join in devotional exercises, to quote Bible promises, to extol the beauty of the Scriptures. But there are many who do these things--whose religion utterly fails them in the very places and at the very times--when it ought to prove their staff and stay!<br /><br />All of us must go out from the sweet services of the Sunday--into a week of very real and very commonplace life. We must mingle with people who are not angels! We must pass through experiences, that will naturally worry and vex us. Those about us, either wittingly or unwittingly, annoy and try us! We will meet many troubles and worries in ordinary week-day life. There are continual irritations and annoyances!<br /><br />The problem is to live a beautiful Christian life--in the face of all these hindrances! How can we get through the tangled briers which grow along our path--without having our hands and feet torn by them? How can we live sweetly--amid the vexing and irritating things, and the multitude of little worries and frets which infest our way, and which we cannot evade?<br /><br />It is not enough merely to 'get along in any sort of way', to drag to the close of each long, wearisome day--happy when night comes to end the strife. Life should be a joy--and not a burden. We should live victoriously, ever master of our experiences, and not tossed by them like a leaf on the dashing waves. Every earnest Christian wants to live a truly beautiful life, whatever the circumstances may be.<br /><br />A little child, when asked 'what it was to be a Christian,' replied, "For me, to be a Christian is to live as Jesus would live--and behave as Jesus would behave--if He were a little girl and lived at our house."<br /><br />No better definition of the Christian life could be given. Each one of us is to live just as Jesus would--if He were living out our little life in the midst of its actual environment, mingling with the same people with whom we must mingle, and exposed to the very annoyances, trials and provocations to which we are exposed. We want to live a life that will please God, and that will bear witness to the genuineness of our piety.<br /><br />"Leaving you an example--so that you should follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:21Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-37011658732249632152010-01-03T10:36:00.000-08:002010-01-03T10:40:25.576-08:00One cannot have an omelet--without breaking eggs!<em><span style="font-size:85%;">Care of <a href="http://gracegems.org/">Grace Gems</a></span></em><br /><br />The goal of noble living, is to gather new virtue and grace--from all life's struggles, cares and sorrows.<br /><br />A mark of a all noble character--is its desire to do hard things!<br /><br />The man who seeks only easy things--will never make much of his life.<br /><br />One who is afraid of hard work--will never achieve anything worth while.<br /><br />In an art gallery, before a lovely masterpiece, a young artist said to Ruskin, "Ah! If only I could put such a dream on canvas!" "Dream on canvas!" growled the old master. "It will take ten thousand touches of the brush on the canvas--to put your dream there!" No doubt, many beautiful dreams die in the brains and hearts of people--for lack of effort to make them realities.<br />In all departments of life--this indolent, easy-going way of getting on in life--is working its mischief. People do only what is easy--and never grapple with anything that is hard.<br /><br />Indolence is the bane of countless lives! They do not rise--because they have not the courage and persistence to climb!<br /><br />There are too many people who try to shirk the hard things. They want to get along as easily as possible. They have ambition of a certain sort--but it is ambition to have the 'victory' without the battle; to 'get the gold' without digging for it. They would like to be learned and wise--but they do not care to toil in study, and "burn the midnight oil," as they must do--if they would realize their desire. They may have a certain longing to be noble and Christlike, with a character that will command respect and confidence--but they have not the spirit of self-denial and of earnest moral purpose, which alone can produce such a character.<br /><br />They may want to be godly and to grow into worthy manhood--but lack that passionate earnestness which alone will yield vigorous piety, and manly virtue, and the heroic qualities of true Christlikeness. Mere "holy dreaming" will yield nothing better than spiritual effeminacy! No religion is worthy--which does not seek to attain the best things; and the best can be won only by the bravest struggle and the most persistent striving!<br /><br />We should not forget, that no one ever did anything of great value in this world--without cost. A quaint old proverb says, "One cannot have an omelet--without breaking eggs!" If we would do anything really worth while, that will be a blessing in the world--we must put into it, not merely . . . easy efforts, languid sympathies, conventional good wishes, and courtesies that cost nothing!<br /><br />We must put into it . . . thought, time, patience, self-denial, sleepless nights, exhausting toil.<br /><br />There is a legend of an artist who had found the secret of a wonderful 'red' which no other artist could imitate. The secret of his 'color' died with him. But after his death an old wound was discovered over his heart. This revealed the source of the matchless hue in his pictures. The lesson of the legend is . . . no great achievement can be made, no lofty attainment can be reached, nothing of much value to the world can be done--except at the cost of heart's blood!<br /><br />"I labor--struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me!" Colossians 1:29<br /><br /><a href="http://gracegems.org/Miller/SERMONS.htm">(J. R. Miller, "Choosing to Do Hard Things" 1902)</a>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-4558726149485440242010-01-02T12:29:00.001-08:002010-01-02T12:30:50.186-08:00The Gospel Old and New<a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2009/11/24/the-new-gospel-a-call-for-discernment/">The Gospel Old and New</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com/">ShareThis</a>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-1692708295208390392010-01-01T09:38:00.000-08:002010-01-01T10:50:31.604-08:00Outward AppearanceA comment was left in chinese on one of my posts that was removed because it contained a link to an inappropriate site. However, I thought the comment itself was interesting (after translating it). The individual stated that the way something appears is not always consistent with the facts themselves and people are easily deceived by the superficial facade.<br /><br />It's interesting, because I have been thinking a lot about this lately. The fact that there are so many people who claim to be Christian, even in the current movement toward evangelism, etc., who may not truly be Christian. I have to admit there are times I have my doubts even about myself, especially when stumbling through the trials that I am facing.<br /><br />I think I stated in a previous post that it is so difficult to stay in the middle of the pendulum between liberalism and legalism. Lately I have been struggling with the pendulum being stuck too close to legalism and have almost become cynical about anything that I don't believe shows a true conversion. Yet who am I to judge? I know that I shouldn't, but since my flesh is weak, I find that there are times where I do judge someone who isn't acting or living the way that I think that they should if they are a true Christian. Instead of loving the person and hoping that they are saved or attempting to covert them, I get frustrated with them and scrutinize every word that comes out of their mouth.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this has carried over to my church and I no longer like going. I go in order to help my husband with the Children's praise band and sometimes listen to the Children's Minister's biblical lesson. However, that is the extent that I have been involved at church lately.<br /><br />The reason I am posting this struggle is that I have learned through this, that I must always be on guard against cynicism and judgementalism. Even if I don't think someone is Christian doesn't mean that God isn't working in or on them. Who am I to come along and crush the seed that has been planted or the tender sprout by my hyper-legalism? Unfortunately, I think that there have been too many times where I have done this.<br /><br /><br /><br />Even Samuel in the Old Testament did this in a way when choosing the new king:<br /><br /><br /><em>But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."</em> 1 Samuel 16:7<br /><br /><blockquote><br /><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">"This is a lesson the church needs to learn today. When<br />we look for leaders, we often seek those who possess certain characteristics<br />that we think spell success and ability. We look for people of influence,<br />power, intelligence and means. God, however, looks for people of integrity<br />and character. He wants people who are faithful and holy. What a<br />contrast! God is not nearly as impressed with people’s achievements as we<br />are. He is not concerned about the beauty of our outward man. He is<br />caught up in the condition of our heart!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"As God looks at your life, what does He see? Does He<br />see a handsome face, a pleasing physical appearance and a well-kept,<br />well-dressed body? No, He sees your heart. He sees the real<br />you! But, here is the real question: Does God see a heart that He can<br />use? Or, does He say about your life the same thing He said about Eliab,<br />“I have refused him?” What does God see in your heart?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"By the way, often we judge people by what they are.<br />God, on the other hand, looks at what they can become. Thank God He judges<br />us on the basis of amazing grace, not what the eye can see."</span></p></blockquote><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">--Alan Carr, Sermon Notes</span></div><br /><div align="left"><br />References:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/article/find-church/">http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/article/find-church/</a></div><br /><a href="http://www.sermonnotebook.org/old%20testament/1%20Sam%2016_1-13.htm">http://www.sermonnotebook.org/old%20testament/1%20Sam%2016_1-13.htm</a>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-39899254835646252042009-11-23T20:33:00.000-08:002009-11-23T20:49:29.624-08:00It's about the Cross<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/by8pf49i6JE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/by8pf49i6JE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-45811424757574906452009-11-23T18:50:00.000-08:002009-11-23T19:22:49.001-08:00Thanksgiving"I am blessed because He was cursed." <br /><br />Every year at thanksgiving, we gather around a table full of food to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. I will be the first to admit that I am not a great historian, so I am not going to go into the history of thanksgiving. I am going to say that every year going through the list of things I am thankful for seems more like a memorized list. <em>I'm thankful for my family, the bible, having food, etc. </em><br /><br />Today I was listening to a podcast titled <em>The Cross of Christ </em>and realized part of my problem. Besides the obvious (my sinful nature), the problem with this holiday is that it is about <em>what </em>we are thankful for and not necessarily <em>Who</em> we are thankful for. I could even say that this carries right on over to Christmas, especially since both holidays are seeming to run together anymore (tried to find a Thanksgiving decoration lately?).<br /><br />The past week, I have been reading John 20:1-18. How is the empty tomb and Thanksgiving related, you might ask, okay, I am known for stating the obvious, so I will just spell it out. Without the empty tomb, there wouldn't be anything to be thankful for. Just imagine for a minute that the New Testament never happened. We would still be stuck under the law and doomed to hell. But, guess what? It happened! And we are blessed because Jesus was cursed. He took our punishment for the sins we have committed. And because of this, we get to know and be with God someday!<br /><br />1 Timothy 3:16<br />Hebrews 2:9-18<br />Ephesians 4:17-24Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-19935008727063394322009-11-12T09:43:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:44:21.520-08:00Quick Gem<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2093_when_you_dont_feel_like_it_take_heart/">http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2093_when_you_dont_feel_like_it_take_heart/</a>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-22526696729054947222009-10-26T19:10:00.000-07:002009-10-26T19:51:07.641-07:00Mormon MissionariesIf you've ever had a chance to witness or meet a Mormon Missionary, I'm sure you have found that they are a unique character (for lack of a better word). These young men and women believe so much in their religion, that they leave their homes for 18 months (women over 21) to 2 years (men over 19). Why is it that there are so many of these missionaries all over the world when we are having a difficult time keeping our youth interested in church? (there are quite a few good books on this topic of youth and Christianity, I'm not touching it in this post).<br /><br />There are a number of things that attribute to the desire of youth to become missionaries in the Mormon church. For those of us that were raised in the church, we were taught how wonderful it was going to be to go on a mission. Our grandparents, parents, cousins, friends, etc. all talked about how great their missions were and intrigued us on how neat it would be to serve half way across the country or world even.<br /><br />We were given saving boxes in church that had three slots in it. One for Tithing, one for Savings, and one for Missions. Typically you were to put 10% of your allowance, etc. into each section. I have to admit, I was never very good at saving money so my box was usually pretty empty. In order for me to go on my mission, my dad paid the cost of my mission. Others pay for their own out of their savings. Even others are sponsored by individuals in the church who are willing to help those who can't afford the costs.<br /><br />At the time I served my mission, everyone paid the same amount into the mission fund every month (I believe it was roughly $325ish). That money was then placed in a mission fund and divvied out among all missionaries around the world based on costs of living. While I was in Russia, my monthly allowance was $200 (roughly 1,000,000 rubles at the time I was there). Our travel and rent also came out of this general missionary fund.<br /><br />This way we could easily say that there were no paid missionaries in the Mormon church. It became a uniqueness that we were proud of. Again, work righteousness we were taking care of our own way and not relying on the church to provide for us (in most cases).<br /><br />Another bonus was that we knew we would not be called to serve in the state where we lived. I remember when I opened my "call" letter. I did not know where I was going to be sent. No missionary in the Mormon church selects where they will serve. It is chosen for you at the First Presidency level (so we were told, not sure how accurate it is...). Anyway, my brother was sitting at the table when I was opening and trying to read my letter. I was so excited to learn where I was going.<br /><br />When I found where it stated that I would be serving in Russia, I started screaming at the top of my lungs. My poor brother had to cover his ears I was so excited. In fact, I think my entire apartment building heard me screaming. The reason I am sharing this is to help you understand how important these "calls" are to Mormons. A mission ranks right up there with a wedding (for a girl).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;">1 Corinthians 3:10-11<br /></div>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-61620656394674307142009-10-20T17:43:00.000-07:002009-10-20T17:57:22.638-07:00"Christian"Isn't it funny how many "Christian" things there are right now? Christian books, Christian blogs, Christian businesses... you get the idea. I started thinking how easy it is to slap the word "Christian" on something to open up a whole new market. As long as the items are "family friendly" who cares whether they are 100% biblical right? <br /><br />I guess right now I am on this kick because I've been listening for what passes as "Christian" radio on my drives to work lately. Honestly, I think traffic irritates me less than some of the songs that play on the radio right now. For instance, "I'm free to be me and you're free to be you." Really? Where is that in the bible? Holy jeans aside, I wonder what that artist is thinking. The biggest reason I've even tuned in lately is because recently "The Revelation Song" has become popular. Talk about worship!<br /><br />Next have you listened to some of the commercials that are played? I think that might be a topic for another day, but if I hear one more commercial about the homebased business expo, I think I will scream (nothing against home-based businesses, the station has just had some weird commercials). <br /><br />Okay, I'm going to get off my rant now. However, I posted a Grace Gems devotion that I felt was appropriate for this topic right before this post.Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-30524279814334685132009-10-19T19:38:00.000-07:002009-10-20T17:43:31.256-07:00There is but one standard of true Christian character<span style="color:#ff0000;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >(<a href="http://gracegems.org/Miller/SERMONS.htm" target="_blank">J. R. Miller</a>, "Copying but a Fragment")<br /><br />"Whoever claims to live in Him--must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6<br /><br />Nothing is more striking to a close observer of human life, than the almost <i>infinite variety of character</i> which exists among those who profess to be Christians. No two are alike. Even those who are alike revered for their saintliness, who alike seem to wear the image of their Lord, whose lives are alike attractive in their beauty--show the <i>widest diversity</i> in individual traits, and in the cast and mold of their character. Yet all are sitting before the same <i>model</i>; all are striving after the same <i>ideal</i>; all are imitators of the same<i> blessed life</i>.<br /></span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;color:#ff0000;" ><b><br />There is but one standard of true Christian character</b></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >--<b>likeness to Christ.</b> It is into His image--that we are to be transformed; and it is toward His holy beauty--that we are always to strive. We are to live as He lived. We are to copy His features into our lives. Wherever, in all the world, true disciples of Christ are found--they are all trying to reproduce the likeness of their Master in themselves.<br /><br />One reason for the diversity among Christians--is because even the best and holiest saints realize but a little of the image of Christ, have only one little fraction and fragment of His likeness in their souls. In one of His followers, there is some one feature of Christ's blessed life which appears; in another, there is another feature; in a third, still a different feature. One seeks to copy Christ's <i>gentleness</i>, another His <i>patience</i>, another His <i>sympathy</i>, another His <i>meekness</i>.<br /><br />Therefore, a thousand believers may all, in a certain sense, be like Christ--and yet no two of them have, or consciously strive after, just the same features of Christ in their souls. The reason is, that the character of Christ is so great, so majestic, so glorious--that it is impossible to copy all of it into any one little human life; and again, each human character is so imperfect and limited--that it cannot reach out in all directions after the boundless and infinite character of Christ.<br /><br />Care of <a href="http://gracegems.org/Miller/SERMONS.htm">Grace Gems</a></span>Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-15283398136370806772009-10-19T17:22:00.000-07:002009-10-19T17:35:54.890-07:00Missionary WorkThe past two months have been so busy around here. During our Wednesday night children's bible study, we are learning about different missions around the world. I have had the opportunity to lead many of these sessions. It has been so neat watching the childrens' hearts turn toward the missionaries working out in the fields. <br /><br />Missionary work is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. Partially due to the fact that my brother just left for the Phillippines to serve a two year Mormon mission and partially due to the fact that his leaving has made my heart yearn for the people who I misled in Russia when I served my mission so many years ago.<br /><br />My prayers are with my brother that God opens his eyes to the fallacies he is teaching as He did with me. I also am praying that the people who I misled in Russia might find the truth and in turn find Jesus.Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-22371563332384686752009-08-19T17:45:00.000-07:002009-08-19T18:21:33.302-07:00Repeated Requests and Mistaken RecallMy five year old has a very bad habit of asking the same question three or four times. Even after I have said "no" at least once. She will continue until I am so frustrated with her, I send her to her room. The thing is, how many times do we do this to God? Ask Him for the same thing over and over and over again when He has already said "No!"<br /><br />This has been a constant battle with me lately. It seems like I keep asking for things which God has already told me "no." Why are we continually drawn back into the same pattern, even when we think that this time is different? <br /><br />Why do we think that if we just ask in a different way maybe God will say "Yes" to our request? Or if we ask the same question over and over and over again, do we think God is going to "change His mind" and grant our request?<br /><br />I am having a red herring moment. I have been challenged recently with scripture recall. I am so sure of a verse or a story that I am positive is in the bible, and when I sit down to find it, it is not there. This is such a hurdle! I know it comes in part from my Mormon background and the extra "scriptures" that I studied until I could recite most of the contents. There are times when I remember a passage that I realize later was in the Book of Mormon.<br /><br />The reason I am bringing this up is that I just had one of those moments. I was trying to find a passage in the bible regarding a king who asked a prophet to ask God for something and when God said "no," the king asked the prophet to go back and ask again, this continued until God said "go ahead" which of course was against God's will and the king was defeated. Since I can't find this in the Bible, I am assuming it is from the Book of Mormon.<br /><br />Why am I sharing this with you? I want to make sure that if you are reading my blog you understand that you need to check everything I say against the Bible for accuracy. I am fallible and will remember things from my Mormon past which seem right, but are not Biblical. I also need to know when something I am saying is not biblical so that I can discern between the truth and the false teachings that I was raised on.<br /><br />For this reason I will close this post with a request for you to be as the Bereans: <span style="font-style: italic;">"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."</span> Acts 17:11Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6053579513940924054.post-90084999793318068332009-06-27T08:55:00.000-07:002009-06-27T09:30:01.870-07:00My Recent InactivityPlease forgive my recent inactivity. My computer finally decided it was too overworked and crashed. I hope to have it up and running again soon. <br /><br />How has the economy affected you? As many of you know, I am currently in a season where God wants me in the workforce. Strange as it may seem, I was rather excited when my boss announced the layoffs for our department last December. My job was one of the jobs that were to end. I had it all figured out that I was going to get to stay home with my kids and attempt homeschooling, be a good wife and homemaker, etc.<br /><br />God had other plans for me. A little more than a month ago, my boss called me into his office and asked me if I would consider staying on until October. It meant a change in my duties. I accepted. Since then I have been extremely busy and my husband has stepped up on more than one occasion to assist me with picking up the children from school and taking care of them. Even with his busy schedule.<br /><br />Now before you say that I am being selfish by continuing to work. God knows that my heart yearns to be at home with my children. However, I continue to work for His Glory. Besides having the opportunity to witness to my co-workers almost daily, God is showing me that my desire to stay at home is, in part, a form of selfishness on my part. In my desire to control my situation, I have been using the desire to be at home to show how "good" I am. Pride has reared its ugly head in my life again bringing along its cousin control issues. <br /><br />In the past, I have used my desire to be at home with my kids as a reason for not working hard and even in instances as a reason for despising my husband. I believe this is the reason God has said to wait and that it is not my time yet to stay at home. So to His Glory, I will continue to work until He says it is time to stay home whether five or twenty years from now. Instead of coveting what my homeschooling neighbors have, I will be content with what God has given me and work hard for the Lord in the career that He has planned for me. <br /><br />"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." Colossians 3:23-24Teri Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166973145752327474noreply@blogger.com0