The Sin of Sodom

"Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony and laziness while the poor and needy suffered outside her door."  Ezekiel 16:49

Well now, that was a surprise!

When I hear the name of Sodom, I think of a place of great sin, but like most people, I tend to think of the sexual sin that was so rampant in that city.  I would even venture to say that the name of Sodom elicits an association with not just sexual sin, but specifically homosexuality.

Consequently, I have always assumed that Sodom was destroyed primarily because of rampant sexual sin and depravity.  I don't think I'm alone in this misconception.  I have heard many believers teach that God poured out His wrath on Sodom because of her sexual perversion.

Ezekiel tells me otherwise.  The sexual sins of Sodom were despicable in God's eyes; I don't excuse them at all. However, what God seems to be saying here is that those sins, which we in the church consider so horrific, weren't the worst ones.

God wiped out the city of Sodom NOT because of homosexuality, but because of PRIDE, GLUTTONY, and LAZINESS WHILE THE POOR AND NEEDY SUFFERED.  


How then, does He feel when we shout our indignation over a pro-homosexual agenda in our society, but then joke and make light of our lack of control at the buffet?

When we boycott stores because of pro-gay policies, and then laugh about our minimal effort at work, school or the gym?

When we refuse to watch Ellen because of her sexual preference, and then feel smug about our moral superiority?

When we spend huge amounts of energy and effort raging about the sexual perversion of our culture, but turn a blind eye to the staggering needs of the orphaned and abandoned children in the foster care system who are just outside our doors?

We are focusing on "thou shalt nots," when He wants us to glorify Him by letting our light shine before men through our selflessness and charity.


I suspect that we would have a lot more success in cleaning up culture if we humbled ourselves and washed some feet. 


Ezekiel would suggest that in condemning the one and making light of the other, we are committing, or at least excusing, the very sins for which Sodom was obliterated by God's wrath.

Kind of makes me want to duck to avoid lightning bolts from above.

Father, protect me from the pride that would cause me to minimize sins that you find maximum.  The truth is, without Your Spirit I am very prone to every sin for which Sodom was destroyed.  Let this knowledge lead me daily to the cross, overwhelmed by the mercy You have shown me and the power Your Spirit gives me to have victory over them.  I know I cannot have victory over sins I don't recognize, so thank You, Lord, for Your Word, which shows me Your heart.  Shift my desires from fleshly appetites to a hunger for Your presence.  Let me never be comfortable being full while others are hungry, either for food or for the Bread of Life.  Amen

#1109-#1123

1109. Moms who love ferociously and parent on their knees.

1110. Fathers who will show a girl what it looks like to have a man fight for her regardless of cost.

1111. Squash blossoms.

1112. Corn and beans trying so hard in the sandy soil.

1113. Beautiful quilt by my mom.

1114. Reed practicing a sermon.

1117. Sprinklers in the evening light.

1118. A herd of boys scattering for an airsoft battle.

1119. An old friend to tell me part of my life story that I didn't even know.

1120. The Naves dreaming again of another son from China--a brother for Luke!

1121. One really happy chocolate lab.

1122. Spooky and Naomi calling one another across the farm--weaning is so hard.

1123. Inspiring words to read on sleepless nights.

#666-#682

666. Cold Florida morning.

667. Speaking French every day...no matter how badly.

668. Car rides with the whole family and Camille as the entertainment.

669. Sweet Cousin Ashley walking away from a bad accident with only a bump.

670.  Camille and Reed fixing fence--that they broke.

671.  Shocking translations from Google--don't trust it!

672. Just a few more bedtime chuckles with our much loved Frenchman.

673.  Ooops.  Frank solves our free-loading turkey problem.

674.  Multiple viewings of a documentary that fascinates us all.

675. New Year--a fresh start to remind me that God grants them every day.

676.  Silly, loud, off-key-on-purpose songs belted out by Happy Girl.

677. Just when you feel invisible--love notes left by the computer.

678. Forever parents for Yarik, sweet Ukrainian orphan.

679. Two marriage proposals, two enthusiastic yesses.  My nephews are lucky men.

680. Auld Lang Sine around a roaring fire with old friends and new.

681. New Year's call from my parents.

682. My new year's verse: Phil. 3:13-14  


No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

A Real Love Story (Part II)

We prayed.

He answered.

I don't know how many gathered together to pray for the life of an unborn child, but God brought us a miracle.  I could just sense that He was working, and He did.

This baby will live.

The young woman for whom I pleaded is now a mother-to-be.  She showed her friend the picture of the sonogram she is carrying around with her. To remind her of whom she holds.

What are the odds?

Practically zero, according to my friend Irene who works at a pregnancy center.  Statistically speaking any woman who has had one abortion will almost always abort again in the event of another unplanned pregnancy.

It takes a miracle.

Ann Voskamp noticed in Scripture that thanksgiving always precedes a miracle.  We gave thanks, and we got our miracle.

Now I am praying for another.

But first: Thanksgiving.  Overwhelming gratitude for such a clear answer to corporate prayer.   Thanksgiving that I pray to a God who is not just Able, He is Good.


Thankful for a God who is not done writing this story.  I don't presume to know His ways.  I do know that He can work something beautiful out of any situation.  And I am so grateful.

Still, I am praying.  Praying that this young mother would love enough to allow another woman to be "Mommy" to her child.

I am praying that as she stretches herself to place the needs of her child above her own need for love, that she would find the love she has been craving.

Not from a man.

Not from a child.

But from a God who loved her enough that He gave everything so that she could have the best.

Perhaps in this season of Advent, she will be brought a picture of another young mother who had a VERY unplanned pregnancy.  Unplanned to her.

Not to Him.

And the Babe that He gave up, came so that she could have perfect love.

#342-#360

342. Fresh printer cartridges after eking every last drop from the old one.

343. The enthusiasm of middle-schoolers.

344. Outdoor dogs sneaking in as we air out the house.

345. Baked sweet potatoes and butter. (Everything's better with butter!)

346. Hearing the recorded voice and mischievous chuckle of a loved one we've missed.

347. Bonfire book reports.

348. Travel days with just us two.

349. Time to spend with my sweet parents.

350. Good genes. (Thanks, Reeds!)

351. Waking up in Montana to fresh snow.

352. Getting a turn to sit at the "red fence window" and watch a bunny come begging.

353. A wedding that is just the beginning of happily ever after.

354. Dancing with the Cowboy--good music and no smoke!

356. A will of iron packed into 35 pounds of Claire.

357. Amazement at how she learns new words.  "Chocolate!"

358. Having my dance partner charmed away by two adorable Nave girls.

359. Clear roads to drive home on.  How I've taken them for granted in Florida!

360. Cold day relaxing with books and my parents.

A Real Love Story

Actually, I don't know how this story will end, but I can see His hand all over it.  He IS writing it.

Today I was asked to pray for a girl who is scheduled tomorrow for an abortion.  Ironically, her childhood friend--the friend who walked her through an unplanned pregnancy once before--is on this earth because her mother cancelled an appointment to abort her.

She knows this.  She's probably on some level grateful to that mom for the life of her friend.

But this is about her.  She cannot raise a child.  And she won't "give her baby away."

In her mind, this is the best thing for everyone.

She doesn't know that just across town, there is another young woman.

Married five years, people are now asking light-heartedly, "So, when are you two going to finally start your family?"

If only it were that easy.

An endurance athlete and tenacious spirit, she confesses that it is difficult to answer these well-meaning questioners without breaking down.

Knowing there may be no answer this side of heaven, she still wonders why God would allow some women to bear children, but not her.  Not her.

As God breaks the hearts of this couple, He opens them to the possibility of adoption.

I read her pain as she shared it on her blog--and began praying.

Her mother sent me an e-mail, asking to share with her if I happened to learn of a young woman who may be wanting forever parents for her baby. I hadn't, but promised to keep praying.

My prayer journal is freckled with requests to bring together this hurting young couple and a young woman who would trust them with her child...

Then today.

Oh, Father, I see Your hand in this.  Will you hear the prayers for this baby and dear young mother, and answer them with this young couple?  Would you reach her heart and help her see that it is not a "giving away" of a child, but a "taking home"?


Will You take the prayers for this beautiful, godly couple, and answer them with this child?

Will You use this situation to show a fatherless young woman that she has a Father who will never leave or forsake her?

You would weave a beautiful tapestry here, Lord, but you never force.  Taking a great risk for the sake of a love relationship, You gave us the power to choose.

Oh, God, I pray that she would choose what is best over what is easy.

In the choosing, I pray that she would find the love that You created her for.