April 2013 - Susan Panzica

Frying Pan Theology

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Susan Panzica

Not long after our church’s Easter breakfast finished, sounds of the worship music filtered down from the sanctuary as everyone settled into their seats. Well, not everyone. Liz and I were still in the kitchen with the last of the cleanup detail. There was that one last pan, the one covered with baked on egg.

I scrubbed, “sudsed,” scoured, and rinsed. Each time I thought I got it all, but the rinse revealed the truth – still more work to do.

Liz looked over at my struggle and said, “Just let it soak. We’ll get it later.” Which is just what we did.

How much did that pan remind me of my life?

When the pan was full of fluffy eggs, I couldn’t see the crusty residue practically laminated to the pan’s bottom and edges. When I’m busy and so full of activity, I don’t notice other deep down issues that start getting embedded and ingrained in me. Things that begin to corrode and cause destruction. Things like selfishness, jealousy, pride, anger, bitterness.

But in His graciousness, God uses struggles and hardships as tools to reveal to me areas that He wants to work on. Then too often, in my own strength, I start scrubbing and scraping trying to remove and improve like I did with the eggs. After much elbow grease, I thought I had gotten it all. But the rinse revealed that while I made some progress, there was still more work to be done. And I can’t do it by myself.

With the eggs, I needed the dish detergent to do chemically what physically I could not. And I needed to fill and immerse the pan in water and just let it soak. Let the water do the work of softening the hardness.

In life, I find myself trying to clean up my act in my own strength which isn’t very effective. I need to be immersed in the Lord and His Word to soften my hardened heart and to remove the impurities that are stuck inside. I must partner with Him in the transformational work He wants to do. Paul says to “…be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. … Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Rom 12:1-2

MY job is to present myself “a living and holy sacrifice … and not copy the behavior and customs of this world,” and then GOD will “transform (me) into a new person by changing the way (I) think.”

It won’t happen in an instant any more than a rinse of the water released the caked on egg. It’s a process that took time in the sink. And it’ll be a process as I soak in His presence and His promise:

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himselfas a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Eph. 5:25-27

What a beautiful promise that is! A scrub-free eternity! What do you think about that?

What are we to do???

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Susan Panzica

Media and social media alike are overflowing with images, rants, prayers, commentaries related to yesterday’s Boston bombing. Here are three things I read this morning:

I’m on Day 18 of a 30 day Early To Rise challenge and receive an automated email every day.This just so happened to be in paragraph 2:

“If it is true that one person can change the world with their evil acts, then we also know that one person can change the world through their kindness. One ignorant person can cause tremendous damage, and one wise person can alter the course of history.” – Andy Traub

Then in today’s Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:

I am calling you to a life of thankfulness. I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving. The basis for your gratitude is My sovereignty. I am the Creator and Controller of the universe. Heaven and earth are filled with My glorious Presence.

When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited perspective, it may look as if I’m mismanaging things. But you don’t know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from knowing the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances.

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18

And on facebook, I read Nate Dorka’s post to his HS youth group:

Some thoughts on the bombings in Boston today:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Devastation.

Doctors are working on some folks to patch them up, working on others who lost a limb and are struggling to stay alive… Others, including an eight year old boy, weren’t as “lucky”.
We call for justice. Built into us is a NEED for justice.

And people are going to be looking everywhere for someone/something to blame. There will probably be blame placed on the head of security or maybe even government officials.
We want to blame an enemy.

What should our view be as Christians? What should our response be? Aren’t we called to LOVE our enemy… even the enemy that killed that little boy? But can there be justice in that?

There is an enemy. He is a thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy.(Jn 10:10)” The bible calls him our advisory and tells us, “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.(1 Pt 5:8)”

This thief, lion, devil is our enemy, and he’ll do all he can to keep people in the darkness.
“But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.(Jn 11:10)”
Jesus tell us “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

These folks that do unspeakable things are simply in the darkness. They don’t know the life that Jesus, in his mercy, gives.

Jesus tells us, “…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.(John 10:10)”
“they” includes the killer of that little boy.

So… What should our response be towards the bombers from today?
Pray for them.

“(Jesus talking to Saul/Paul in Acts)…so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Pray that God would be glorified by the transformation of their hearts, and that these people would become followers of Christ.

As far as justice goes, well.. We were all once in the darkness, and deserved death. It’s by God’s perfect mercy and grace, and by Jesus work on the cross and power over death, that we now live.

To Nate’s words, I would just add this. There are some that cannot rest until justice is “properly” served, even though they may forgive and pray for the offender. To them, I’d say that God says we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7). It is up to Him to provide the consequences to the offender. I can rest knowing that justice is in His hands, the same hands that provide grace serve justice meted as HE sees fit.

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The Moses Conspiracy – A Book Review

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Susan Panzica

My good friend, Susan J. Reinhardt, published her debut novel last month. I’m thrilled to present her and her latest release, The Moses Conspiracy, to you. I met Susan first at a writers’ conference and we became fast friends. She has guest-posted here on my blog in the past. Her writing is simply stellar. The Moses Conspiracy is a fast-paced Christian page-turner set in the near future. Here’s the synopsis followed by my interview with Susan.

Here’s the synopsis:

A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.

Convinced it’s now safe to visit D.C., Ellie and her firstborn, 8-year-old Peter, travel to the nation’s capital. Both mother and child make an effort to enjoy the sights, but they’re unprepared for the challenges they face. Her nightmares come true when she and Peter are separated.

Back home, John witnesses a neighbor’s buggy accident. The suspicious circumstances and law enforcement’s refusal to take them seriously prompt him to take on the role of detective. He and a tenacious reporter band together and vow to find out what’s happening in Bird-in-Hand.

Extended family squabbles erupt when John’s sister, Annaliese, faces off with Ellie for blowing her D.C. experiences out of proportion. She’d rather ignore the warnings than deal with the growing danger.

John and Ellie can’t decide whether her trip and his involvement with the accident were such a good idea. People are getting hurt, and their own family receives ominous warnings. Turning back the clock is not an option, but going forward could initiate more violence.

The small community is shattered when the unthinkable occurs. Will family, friends, and neighbors band together or allow fear to prevent them from taking action?

Caught between strained family relationships and a faceless enemy, the couple rely on God for wisdom and protection. Little do they know that He’s working on their behalf each step of the way.

The scabs of a past tragedy get ripped open, and the truth of their second child’s death is revealed. While they may expose the culprits, will they survive the heartache it brings?

And here’s the interview with Susan:

Tell us a bit about yourself and about your other writings.

Thanks for having me on your blog today, Susan! I’m a widow, a stepmom, a daughter, and a follower of Jesus Christ. Writing is like second nature to me, but for a long time I didn’t think of myself as a “writer.” About 10 years ago, my late husband urged me to pursue publication. I’ll never forget the day when an editor asked me if I would write a devotional for her ezine. It was a total deer-in-the-headlights moment. Since then I’ve written numerous devotionals, short pieces, and been published in 3 anthologies. I’ll talk about the major shift into fiction when I answer the next question.

What inspired you to write The Moses Conspiracy, a futuristic faith-based novel?

My husband and I spent a day in Gettysburg around Christmas 2004. As we stood in the town square, surrounded by old buildings, I “heard” the voices of the forefathers, but they were fading away like distant echoes. When we arrived home, I tried to write a poem, a short article, anything, but failed. After 8 months, we were discussing the Gettysburg experience, and he said, “That’s it! That’s your book, and you’ll write it in 4 months and call it Ghosts of the Past.” I thought he was crazy, but soon caught the vision. The title changed to Echoes of the Past and later to The Moses Conspiracy. In 4 months, I had a 55,000 word manuscript. After going to a conference, I discovered my fiction skills were less than stellar, and the long process of creating something publishable began in earnest.

If The Moses Conspiracy was made into a movie, who would be your ideal choices for casting the characters?

LOL! I haven’t given it any thought at all. One thing I do know: I’d want whoever played the characters of Ellie and John to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What is your favorite scene from the book?

I have a lot of favorites, but it’s tough picking one without creating a spoiler for the reader. Let’s see, the chapter where Ellie is in the ER was both fun and gut-wrenching to write. I drew upon my many trips to the hospital with my husband, mother, and myself over the years. I was convinced they were going to put our names on one of the cubicles and reserve it for us.

What’s up next for you?

There are 2 more books in the trilogy that I’d like to see published. One has a working title of, “The Scent of Fear,” which features a character from, “The Moses Conspiracy.” Ellie, John, and Peter also have roles in this book. The first draft is finished, but the manuscript needs editing. The third book has a working title of, “Lost and Found.” I’m not crazy about that title, and it will probably change. Most of this book is still bouncing around my brain, begging to get out.

You can order the book from: Amazon, B&N, or Kobobooks.com

Here are the links to connect with Susan on Facebook, Twitter, Blog.

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When it just doesn’t make sense…

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Susan Panzica

Who can explain it?

The suicide of a godly young man after years of battling mental illness.

The cancer that relentlessly ravages a child’s body.

The loss of a job leaving a family destitute.

The car accident brutally killing a vibrant 20 year old girl.

The addiction rendering a boy’s brilliant mind vacant and dashing high hopes for his future.

And that’s just this week.

As I sit at my computer right now, my son and his friends are in the basement practicing a song their band will perform in Friday’s talent show. It’s hard to tell if more singing or laughing is taking place. And I think… how fortunate we are, but what about tomorrow? Are there any guarantees?

Well, yes and no. There’s no guarantee of a blissful Beaver Cleaver life. God didn’t promise us an easy life. In fact, He promised just the opposite (John 16:33). But He did guarantee that He’d be with us (Heb. 13:5). If God didn’t spare His own Son, is it right for us to expect that He should spare ours?

We ask “Why?” We want to understand. But our understanding is limited. We are finite created beings who wish to make sense of God’s infinite mind. My dog tilts her head with a puzzled look on her face when I change one of the usual patterns she’s accustomed to. If she could, she’d demand to know why – what’s going on, where are we, why are you feeding me that, what’s that Gentle Leader thing on my face??????? Could I explain my actions to her in a way that she could fully comprehend? Not in a million years. She simply lacks the ability to reason as I do.

Although God sometimes is gracious enough to allow us to understand, to learn and grow through our pain, much of the time He doesn’t let us in on His reasoning. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'” (Is. 55:8-9).

Yet sometimes we feel if we could just make sense of it all, if we had a reason, we could make it through. The truth is – if we always understood, we’d be tempted to rely on ourselves rather than seeking God. The very essence of faith is that we CAN’T see what’s going on, and yet we trust. (Heb. 11:1) Frankly, if little ol’ me could fully understand God, He’d be way too small a God for me.

On this journey we’re traveling, God’s Word is a “lamp to our feet and a light to our paths.” (Ps. 139:105) It is not like a stadium floodlight that makes the night as bright as day. It’s more like a flashlight in the dark allowing us to see one step at a time. Perhaps if we could see more, we’d run the other way. But God takes hold of our hand providing the peace and the strength to continue forward with trust that someday we will know. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” 1 Cor. 13:12

My reading this week took me to a hard passage of Scripture “…if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.” 1 Pet. 2:20-21

The choice is ours. We can either be like the soft egg which hardens in boiling water or like the hard carrot which is softened by the same boiling water. But we could also be like the coffee which when immersed in yet that same boiling water is transformed into another being, still made of coffee and water but so intertwined, so inseparable that it has a new identity.

When Jesus was on the cross, He not only bore our sins – He bore our sorrows too (Is. 53:3) By His wounds and suffering, we are healed of ours. (Is. 53:5)

If I don’t understand anything else but this – that my suffering is producing Christlikeness in me – then I have not suffered in vain. If I can avoid resentment and bitterness, if I can say “Father, forgive them” while still in my suffering, I will be transforming into His image.

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Cor. 4:17-18

Father, our prayers are with the Warren family, but also with all those others who are suffering through their losses. May their pain be lessened by Your presence.