books | All is Well

Guest Post ~ I Deserved the Traffic Ticket by Kathy Collard Miller and Larry Miller

January 14, 2015 By Shelly Durkee

I’d like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine: Kathy Collard Miller. Kathy and I met several years ago in Kansas City, Missouri. Her words are always an encouragement to me, and I know they will be to you as well.

Kathy has authored several books and is a gifted speaker and conference leader. Her latest book, written with her husband Larry, releases today; the title is Never, Ever Be the Same. Check it out on Amazon or other links below, along with her other writings–she will both encourage and challenge you.

Kathy has graciously agreed to guest post today, providing this excerpt below from her new book. I hope you will read it and then give some thought to the incredible gift God’s grace and mercy is to us all. ~ S

I was driving down a California freeway on a superbly beautiful day of fluffy clouds on a background of clear blue sky and I just felt very happy. My happiness pressed my foot against the accelerator as the wind from the open window blew through my hair. I didn’t see the Highway Patrolman until the red lights from his cruiser grabbed my attention and I pulled over to the side of the road.

He came up to my side of the car and we went through what I assumed were the regular questions (since I’d never had a moving violation before). Then I said, “I don’t expect you to not write a ticket but my husband will ask me if I told you that he’s a police officer in Huntington Beach.” I gave Larry’s name.

He didn’t smile as he took my license and walked back to his cruiser. I knew I was getting a ticket and I knew I deserved it. I had nothing to complain about.

As I waited, it seemed like he was taking a long time but I didn’t know for sure.

Then he emerged from his car and walked up to mine. He handed me my license and said, “Next time drive the speed limit.”

I melted in gratitude and said, “Thank you.” I didn’t know if he had checked to see if Larry was an officer but I didn’t care. I didn’t have a fine and nothing on my record.

After I drove off, I slowly worked my way back into traffic and was surprised at my reaction. I drove below the speed limit. And I wanted to try to find him again on the road and shout, “See? I’m so grateful, I want to obey the law. Thank you so much for your mercy!”

I’ve never forgotten that experience primarily because it shouts to me of how growing more sanctified and thus obedient should come from gratitude for the mercy and grace God gives us. Just as I “knew” someone who could qualify me to avoid that ticket, our identity with Christ (because we know Jesus as our Savior) qualifies us to avoid the wrath and punishment for our sin that we deserve. And then out of the strong gratitude that we have not received what we deserve, we say, “Look, Lord! I’m so grateful I want to show it by obeying you.”

This is excerpted from Never Ever Be the Same (Leafwood Publishers) which offers Christians hope that they can change their destructive behavior through identifying their self-protective strategies and trusting God instead. It is authored by Kathy Collard Miller and Larry Miller and includes biblical principles, insightful stories, and helpful instruction. It has individual and group discussion questions.

Kathy Collard Miller and Larry Miller are speakers and authors. They have been married 44 years and Larry is a retired police lieutenant. The Millers live in Southern California, and have two grown children and one grandson. Visit them at www.LarryAndKathy.com. Kathy blogs at www.KathyCollardMiller.com.

Never Ever Be the Same is available at your local Christian bookstore and in both print and digital versions at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ITmLfy

CBD: http://bit.ly/1AuJZSX

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1BJz3lC

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled ~ A Review

December 31, 2014 By Shelly Durkee

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.⁴And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord,we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14 is a passage that simultaneously provides comfort and assurances, but it is also one that I find frustrating. Who is this Jesus? How does one “believe in God and believe in Jesus”? What does that look like? I don’t see anyone today really doing the incredible works that Jesus did, and yet why does He say we will do greater things than what He has done…because Jesus is going to the Father? And, where IS that? He goes to prepare us a place, but where is that place? A kind-hearted, faithful man who I know is dying today, even as I type this. Where is this place that he is going?

And so, so many more questions……

Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached a series of sermons titled “Let Not Your Heart be Troubled”. They are collected here in this book for us to read, ponder and cherish. Lloyd-Jones has taught me much. His book “Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Its Cure” is a book I have referred to a number of times, and have pointed others to when they’ve come to me struggling with such issues. I was eager to read this compilation of sermons; it did not disappoint.

The greatest thing about it is his attention to detail in scripture. There is no wild explanations or shady interpretations. Lloyd-Jones is always, always straight-forward. He deals with what the text says, and admits it when he doesn’t know or isn’t entirely sure. He is honest; and this sometimes-questioning soul appreciates that.

How I wish I could have heard him preach this series in person, because reading a sermon is definitely different. I actually prefer reading to listening, but you do miss out on important things such as tone and inflections. I would have liked to have heard his passion, as a man who has struggled with a troubled heart.

I imagine this, too, will be a book I refer others too. I am grateful for the free review copy I received from Crossway Publishers, and look forward to sharing the title with others.

On Reading in 2014: We are Not Alone

December 23, 2014 By Shelly Durkee

2014 is drawing to a close. As I wrap up my reading for the year, I’d like to share with you a few of the books I found worthwhile.

Books and reading are very important to me. Always have been. They’ve been my best friends, my teachers, my source of comfort, my avenue of escape. My “Uncle” C.S. Lewis wrote that “We read to know we are not alone.” Life can be horrible lonely. I think his words are very true.

I can’t say that it has been a tremendous year in the realm of reading; I wish I could. There is no books that I can point to and say “That was life-altering” or “I learned a dump-truck load from those words.” But that doesn’t mean that there weren’t some notable offerings that I have taken much from this year. So, here are my top nine (’cause 10 is too predictable) picks from a year of reading in no particular order):

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I’ve always wanted to tackle this just for the vain purpose of being able to say I’ve read it. And so, it is completed. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, honestly. I even liked it more than Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. This book was a close companion for several, several weeks. I was grateful for its friendship and sad to see it end.

The Romantic Rationalist: God, Life and Imagination in the Work of C.S. Lewis

I pretty much will read anything I can get my hands on by or about C.S. Lewis. His body of work has had tremendous impact on my mind and soul, second only to Scripture I believe. This compilation of essays by several authors helped address several doctrinal questions I had regarding Lewis’ thoughts. It also has spurred me on to want to read some of his lesser known writings and to dig out my huge books of his letters and sample more of those.

The Wonder Working God by Jared Wilson

This was a gem this year. I have so many questions regarding the miracles of Jesus. What were they? Did they really happen? If so, then why? And what about today? They are just so odd to me. Wilson helped me wade through some of these questions by taking a zoom-lens look at some of the miracles in scripture. I can’t say my questions were answered definitively, but they were settled a bit. I think that this is a book I will return to in the future.

Yawning at Tigers by Drew Dyck

Another one of my favorites this year. The author emphasized the holiness of God alongside the accessibility of God. I was reminded that God is not safe; and that is a good thing. Challenging, reassuring, convicting, settling–this book was all these things for me.

Shame Interrupted by Edward T. Welch

Probably one of the books that I learned the most from this year. Shame is a very powerful thing. It’s pervasive, disruptive, humiliating, debilitating. Welch takes an honest look at shame without shying away from the tough stuff. Not an easy read, at all. But insightful. Like drinking strong, awful tasting medicine that you know will work to make you well.

Best American Short Stories of the Century

I didn’t know if I would enjoy this, but it turned out to be a nice surprise. I haven’t historically read many short stories apart from stuff for school ages ago–I tend to prefer longer works that do much more character development. But these were absolutely tremendous. A broad selection of voices, settings, and events. I’d like to read more anthologies like this one in the future.

Prayer by Timothy Keller

This was fantastic. Prayer is such a strange thing, and Keller acknowledges its “strangeness”. Nonetheless, he provides solid words on this act that I fumble and stumble over nearly every day. Something to keep in my reference library. Practical without reducing prayer to a checklist. In fact, farthest thing from that.

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey

This was so incredibly refreshing. I’ll pretty much read anything that Yancey writes, because he is not afraid to ask and to attempt to find answers to so many of the questions I have in my brain. This book was no exception. It helped knock me back out of the tunnel I live in and open my eyes to the world once again. Our Sunday School class has voted to tackle this as a group the first of 2015, and I’m looking forward to some excellent debate.

Lila by Marilynne Robinson

Ok, I said “in no particular order”, but this was tops for me. Robinson’s stuff always is…I wish she wrote more. There are so many themes in her fiction work that strike chords in my soul–ministry life, Iowa, salvation, lost-ness, alone-ness. Good Grief. Top all of that with Robinson’s ability to craft words so masterfully and I drink it in like a sponge. Some in evangelical, reformed circles had issues with this book (John Piper being one of those). I did not (not that my having or not having issues with a book would matter at all to anyone). I thought Robinson nailed it, on so many levels. I believe she is the best fiction writer today.

A Review: The Stories We Tell

December 19, 2014 By Shelly Durkee

I’m not much of a TV watcher, and never have been. Occasionally I’ll get wrapped up in a show though. ER was my go-to choice for many years. Currently The Walking Dead and Parenthood are two of my favorites, along with watching the current Superhero conglomerate of shows with my youngest boy (Gotham, Arrow, The Flash).

But, even if I’m not huge into TV and for the most part it is turned “Off” at our house, I am not unaware of it and it’s impact on society. I’ll occasionally catch episodes of a mindless show, or delve back into The Twilight Zone or NCIS. I’ll read news articles about different movies and shows (I’m much more apt to go see a movie than watch a TV show). I can’t escape its influence.

Mike Cosper has written and engaging and thought-provoking book examining the ultimate story or thread that is woven through the stories we see on TV and the big screen. He invites his readers to explore aspects of the fall, sin, violence, the desire and need for heroes, and our ultimate longings in the stories we tell.

Cosper is no elitist or snob. He samples genres that fall on a wide spectrum: Horror, Drama, Love Stories, classic and modern, comedy, shallow and deep. He doesn’t recommend the stories he refers to–he simply points out underlying currents that we would be wise to take into account and learn from.

The writing is forthright and fairly insightful. There were a couple of times I thought “Well, huh. I never thought of it that way before”….which is always a good thing. Did I learn anything mind-shattering? No, but it has made me a bit more thoughtful as I’ve engaged in the handful of shows that I watch. His words on social media were also very good.

I’ve sent a copy of the book to a young aspiring film-maker that I know who has tremendous dreams and aspirations. Cosper addresses filmmakers specifically in his epilogue, and his words seem to be very solid.

I received a review copy of this book from Crossway Publishers.

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