Just like family

Sunday we were privileged to have a visit from the family of the Indonesian girls who lived with us for two school years. I chased my kids and the rest out of the kitchen as I prepped: I can’t focus on interesting conversation, look people in the eye and cook. But when it was all done, we got to sit and eat together. W and I had debated on going out to eat, but the girls know the house and it was close to church, so we opted to bring them home with us.

The table in the dining room was one seat too small for our crowd of guests. Rather than split up the group, we pulled benches and chairs around the big table in the kitchen. Conversation flows more easily at our big round dining table for 11 rather than the long version for 12. But having our friends at the head of our table was a joy.

The counter was messy with prep, and it’s the first time in a while that I was working away practically on top of company, rather than tucked away from view. But it was so nice to feel like our circle was complete again with the girls and their parents joining us for a family meal. Kristi and Dae bee-lined for the bench where I was going to send the newlyweds. The girls are tiny and slim, and they used to be the only ones who fit on the bench together. I didn’t have the heart to move them to more comfy seating: they were cute as two birds on a perch and it brought back happy memories for me. Rather than popping in and out on the conversation, I was in the room to hear what they did for Christmas and updates about the grandma we’ve prayed for over the past two years.

I’m not sure our own kids already realize the privilege of having ‘family’ around the world – whether these dear Indonesians, Ivan or Sumathi from India, or relatives and friends in Europe, Brazil, Russia, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia and elsewhere… God’s work and his role as our heavenly Father bonds his Church and lets us stick our feet under the same table with an instant relationship as friends and spiritual relatives. For W and me, it was a high honor indeed to have sat and eaten on Sunday with these dear brothers and sisters.

Read more:
*The living, the living—they praise you as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD. Isaiah 38:19-20 NIV

*As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been [ill] begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5: 18-20 NIV

*In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." Hebrews 2:10-12 NIV

Back to work!

Well, it’s back to work. I have a morning appointment, but if I don’t hit the books tomorrow, I’m in big trouble. I’ve had five days off studies, and it’s created havoc on the momentum built up since my trip to Springfield for classes. This coming week is my deadline to finish research for a paper due mid-January. Editing takes longer than fact-finding, so if I can’t research and write this week, I’ll toss in the towel for the project.

The house is a jumble from lots of company, happy conversations, and multiple meals. One child is moving back home tomorrow. Another is visiting from out of town and will pick up her girlfriend from the airport tomorrow. I’m realizing that time is the most precious commodity I have – and giving it away is the biggest sacrifice of this season. I love my kids, my family, and my friends and love to spend hours with them. But there’s a little voice in my head that is counting down the calendar for work I may not get done.

Jesus modeled what is important for me as a Christian – people, not information or projects. So even as I have occasionally chafed internally at days flowing by without a lick of study, or as I’ve woken in a cold sweat at night, wondering when I’ll get things done, I’ve had to put my time in God’s hands. I’m reminded to rest in his provision, content that the days he gives will be long enough and empty enough, and that I’ll have enough clear thinking to do the tasks he’s put on the calendar.

It will be a Happy New Year in a few days, because he walks into 2009 with us.

Read more:
*I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, "Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?"

But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. . . .For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face." Psalm 11:1–4, 7 NLT

* Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32 NIV

*Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 NIV

A Martha – as well as Merry – Christmas

We’ve just finished a whirlwind two days. We had the chance to visit with friends Christmas Eve morning. After tidying away books, photocopies, and my computer from the kitchen table, it was off to church for 3 hours. I played piano for two hour-long services of Lessons and Carols (best page-turner ever, thanks hon!) This year it was stressful rather than fun. I played through the music only twice since I got home last weekend: every spare moment goes to research and writing, so I didn't have time to get comfortable with the music. I’m a lousy music reader, so I made up stuff where I couldn’t read fast enough… with marginal satisfaction. (Thanks, Laurie, for being a forgiving choir director.)

Our house was full overnight on Christmas Eve: the kids came over after service to eat a casual meal, created as we went along, pulling stuff from the fridge. We laughed and talked and opened Christmas stockings. Jeremy’s girlfriend joined the fun of our first year with married kids – Timothy and Melissa. It snowed a few times during the day, so everyone slept over: filling both guestrooms and Jer and Jono on the two Ikea sofabeds in the LR.

W and I started Christmas Day at 6am. While I peeled potatoes and carrots, W rinsed and stuffed the 22-pound bird, which had swum in the sink overnight in a brine of 1 c. sugar, 1 c. salt. The kids started arriving in the kitchen at 7 for cider, tea, and coffee. By the time everyone was roused and ready to eat at 10, pancakes and breads were ready. Then everyone headed outdoors, the guys to shovel the snowfall off the 100’ driveway, the girls to the back porch to build a snowman with a surprise snow-woman profile on the back side. Carrot nose, stick arms, apple ears, green leaf hair, and pine-cone eyes… it was a 6’ delight, smiling at us all day from outside the dining room doors.

After a few false alarms that parts of the family wouldn’t be able to come down from Canada (snow, and more snow!), everyone turned up in the end – siblings, cousins, parents, and even a four-year-old niece who kept one adult after another busy during the day. (Happily, she wore herself as well as the rest of us out by nightfall.)

Eighteen friends and family thanked God for the food and enjoyed a tender turkey dinner, complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rotkohl (a German specialty Mom made), veges and salad… topped off with baking, courtesy of the Grandmas and a friend. All the kids helped set up, and Melissa cleared and helped reset for supper. (Marilyn, you would have been SO proud of your daughter!!) Between, one group visited in the LR, another in the kitchen nook, and another bunch played Wii in the guestroom.

W and my brother picked up our daughter Kirsten from the airport and arrived back in time to eat at 7pm in time to open presents. We sang a few carols before the troop marched back out the door, leaving W, K, and me to a quiet house. We finished cleanup, W gave our daughter the Dad-update of his latest gadgets and electronics, and then we went to bed.

I woke in the night thinking of the scripture story of Mary and Martha. Mary remembered to sit at Jesus’ feet. Martha was so busy in the kitchen that she forgot the best – sitting with Jesus. Our annual Christmas tradition is to have various ones read the story of Christ's birth between carols. It gives us time to sit together around the meaning of Christmas. Yesterday we left it too late – everyone streamed out the door with the most important thing left undone.

I’m usually the one who makes space to pray and read scripture. Growing up, I watched my mom do the same, working behind the scenes to feed spirit as well as body. Yesterday, I got distracted by cooking, spur-of-the-moment decisions, and young company. Sure, someone else could have remembered. How I wish they had.

With the opportunity to introduce a new friend to Christ and his birth, I got wrapped up in the kitchen. When I woke with a start at night, it was with joy at having wonderful family time. And great sadness at perhaps having neglected the most important part, like Martha in the gospel story.

Aren't you glad that Christians can serve God without fear? Our God is loving and kind, forgiving our lapses. I’ll be looking for the next opportunity to share Good News, asking him for open eyes, ears, and heart.

Read more:
*So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them ,"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:4-14 NIV

*Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." Luke 1:68-75 NIV

oldies but goodies

Today I posted a bunch of blogs from my former blogsite www.xanga.com/rosemee1. Go ahead and review if you're an 'old' reader... or discover something new.

Enjoy - and Merry Christmas Preparations!

Quiescent

The Word of the Day from MW for August 22 is: quiescent \kwy-ESS-unt\ adjective

*1 : marked by inactivity or repose : tranquilly at rest
2 : causing no trouble or symptoms

Example sentence:
The storm was over, and the quiescent waters betrayed no sign of yesterday's turbulence.

I want my life to be marked by periods of rest that refresh me and those around me. I’m pretty good at dropping out when I feel overwhelmed. But in the throes of the university start-up, it’s easy to lose sight of tasks as God’s work on God’s schedule. Today, a faculty wife and I host the parent lounge. I walked up yesterday to see what was what in the big new space we’ll be in. It felt cold and a bit sterile, but the modern furniture and clutter-free space is inspiring. Great for a Health and Science Center.

After work last night, W and I picked up two freebees to warm up the space for today. God had dropped into my heart to ask for a shag area rug last week. Remember shag carpet from the 70s? Well, it’s back in all the trendy magazines and commercial spaces. I admit that the building manager had blanched a little when I mentioned what came to mind.

I posted “WANTED: big area rug for non-profit lounge. Must be clean, good condition. (Kirkland)” in the www.freecycle.org header. Then I waited to see what would happen. [For those of you not in the know, Freecycle is an international website where people recycle “too good to toss” stuff to others who need it. Check it out for your region.]

Someone emailed me that they had an 8’X10’ brown shag rug, used a few months, in perfect condition. Did I want it? Of course, since I'd thought "shag rug" for the first time in years during prayer. Although "brown" could be anything. I tried to imagine what color it would be… “Trust me,” came the familiar voice. The homeowner’s husband helped put it in the Blazer.

“What on earth do you want this for?” Waldemar asked, heaving it into the garage from our car after work. “I’ll put it in the garage so I can dry off after a swim if it’s not the right thing for Northwest,” I assured him. “The edge binding is new.” (We didn’t unroll it.)

Then we went to another house in the evening to pick up the “OFFER: glass coffee table (Lake City Way)” I was leery about that one, too. What if it was tippy? The voice assured me. It had two small concrete pedestals that didn’t look like they’d support the table top. Oh well. Planter bases. They’d be good for that.

We brought the freebees in with us early this morning. Waldemar and his hand cart moved a 12’ Norfolk Island pine from its outgrown space in the Alumni Lounge. We unrolled the rug in front of the fireplace in the new lounge. Vacuumed it. The edges lay flat.

It’s absolutely the perfect color. Its between-taupe/brown/neutral-that-I-wouldn’t-have-picked-out-in-a-store matches the furnishing as though a decorator picked it. (All God’s colors match.) We pulled two maple end tables into the centre, very sturdy… they slid under the glass topper with a half inch to spare, as though custom fitted. The glass top has rounded edges so it’s safe as well as stable. And it doesn’t mix up the design. Who knew?! We pulled a few red armchairs around – and the fireplace lounge is a classy, contemporary space that feels welcoming. (Ok, so I moved around the rest of the furniture into conversation groups, too.)

The project manager came running out after me as I was on my way to the car. “It’s great!” he said. Which was what I was thinking in pure astonishment. I’m resting at my desk for a few minutes. In a quiescent space of pleasure at God’s good eye and choices for us. Amazed that he allows us to co-create for free when we show up with what’s at hand. When I have time to take a picture, I might send it your way.

Read more: (Thanks, Tillie for the verse of the day)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. Psalm 145:8-13 NIV

The sound of walking

After working at home in the morning, I decided to take a walk to the grocer. It’s not far, maybe a few miles, round trip. The hill from our driveway to the main road was steeper than I remembered because I’ve had hardly any exercise since coming back from summer travels. My legs pulled me up the slope.

I’d forgotten that the Speedo flip-flops that cushion my heels also blister the top of my foot where the strap crosses the arch. Halfway to the store, I took off my shoes. Oh, the sound of walking, the thud of the heel bone hitting sun-warmed pavement, that travels up the spine to the base of my skull. The shhhhh of not lifting high enough so that the foot slides across an elevation in asphalt. And the swish of grass slipping between toes when cleaning the feet to go back into the shoes. After that, the clup clup of rubber landing on the hard, polished floor of the QFC was nowhere nearly as interesting.

A body’s ability to filter and ignore unneeded stimulus – visual, auditory, or tactile – is amazing. It’s good to hear cars driving up, to measure with the eye how high a step is, and feel the ground under my soles. I got to thinking how overwhelming it would be see, hear, and feel everything, all the time, all at once.

And how wrapped up we get by letting in things that don’t matter. Mind clutter. Spiritual junk. Once in a while it’s good to take the mind’s shoes off and listen for what’s going on. To appreciate what we take for granted. What we don’t need to pay attention to. To filter so that we can focus on what is true, and right, and beautiful, and holy.

Read more:
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100 NIV

God’s objet trouvé

The Word of the Day is:

objet trouvé \AWB-zhay-troo-VAY\ noun : a natural or discarded object found by chance and held to have aesthetic value

Did you know?
"Objet trouvé" comes from French, where it literally means "found object." The term held that any object could be a work of art if a person recognized its aesthetic merit. "Objet trouvé" can refer to naturally formed objects whose beauty is the result of natural forces as well as to man-made artifacts (such as bathtubs, wrecked cars, or scrap metal) that were not originally created as art but are displayed as such.

Sometimes I think about how obviously each of us is an objet trouvé, something found and reworked into art. Even people who are rough around the edges, who on initial contact aren’t attractive for whatever reason, (mannerisms, their interests, or maybe they just grate on us,) become good friends. Instead of seeing them as different, our similarities become common ground.

This morning, I read the weekly blog from my college roommate – about truth-telling. About being real before God and other people. She encouraged us towards honesty and integrity, especially in a church setting. The desire to hide our flaws is common ground between people, that’s for sure.

But opening up to what we are and how God is transforming us shows everyone that we are God’s objet trouvé. A work of his grace and love towards “found objects.” He doesn’t expect perfection before we can come to him. Not even goodness.

Because our efforts fall so far short of what is needed, we just come as we are and depend on him for everything wholesome and right. How good to know that he not only polishes us up but makes us entirely new, and sets us on display for all the world’s wonder and amazement.

Read more:

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! … As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27: 5, 17 NLT

"You have eyes—can't you see?" … Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man's eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, "Can you see anything now?" The man looked around. "Yes," he said, "I see people, but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around."

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly." Mark 8:18, 23–25 NLT

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV

Anticipating heaven

A Christian friend and I were talking about heaven and the big question: What if we’re not good enough and when we get there, entry is refused?

“Thinking about heaven makes me scared to death that I will go there someday and none of my family will be there. Heaven scares me more than it draws me. Most days I think I won't make it in either with all the ‘It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than to get into heaven’ stuff out there and condemning stuff. I will probably end up in Hell just for the way I am as a father and husband.”

Here’s my reply, with this disclaimer – I don’t have answers. I have a gut response and my anticipation of what heaven may be like is based on God's full knowledge of us and his provision for our future:

You are no more broken than the rest of us. Think of the guy hanging on the cross beside Jesus, stealing, breaking people's trust all his life. His crimes were bad enough to earn crucifixion, but Jesus turns at his simple request and says, “Ok, come. I'm enough for you! Today you’ll be with me.” God’s provision in Jesus… totally unearned and undeserved.

Then there’s Paul, assuming he was serving God by being "good" and keeping all the rules... while killing people who believed in Christ. When Jesus meets him, he says, "I'm enough for you, too."

I know Christ has turned his face to me a few times to say the same! “I’m enough. Even for you.” That’s a good thing, because if there were even one "perfect" point we had to earn for God to let us in, I'm out out out! I'm totally depending that the One who made the world and everything in it has figured out what to do with a 'hopeless sinner' like me.

“What about family who doesn’t believe? I’m not sure I’d want to be in heaven without my family.” Imagine! The Almighty God who fills the universe will be ours without the restraint of our human limitations between us. Our God, our mother, father, sister, brother, our everything. I think all those human ties seem to be broken when all the Family of God is united. Can't quite figure out how that will happen, but if even husband and wife intimacy is replaced by something more intimate and more loving, more connected... wow - going to be interesting.

Descriptions of heaven sound like we still know each other, but it also seems like the love for others grows to be equal to our best loves. In heaven all are knitted into God’s family. It may be like adding a child to a marriage - you don't lose love for your partner; rather, your love for the new addition grows and enriches the former love.

Don't you sometimes feel like we're looking and looking and can only see in limited black and white a coming world of incredible color and shapes and imagination. I feel that way, thinking of heaven. Can't wrap my mind around much of it, but if even a fraction of the promise is true, it's going to blow these minds right into a new space and understanding.

Some days I get so homesick I just want to GO to be with God. Living in God’s presence, no holds barred.! Hope to see you there when the times comes – if you’re willing to hang out with someone who needed grace as much as I do.

Read more:
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 NIV

He leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalm 23:2b NLT

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2: 19-22 NLT (again, same as yesterday)

Sigh of relief

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land." Jeremiah 29:11–14

Every time we read those verses, we can breathe a sign of relief. God is not out to get us. Not some mean parent waiting for us to step out of line so he can slap us. Not brooding over our inconsistencies and failures so we can be punished.

He’s looking out for us. Scripture assures us that when we pursue him with all our hearts, we find that he’s already working, loving, planning for good and not harm.

I look at world religions, with their gods who must be placated and am sorry that we as Christians have followed their lead instead of leading them to simple scriptural truth. We try to be good enough, but scripture reminds us that we can never earn God’s favor – we’re too messed up to ever balance the “good enough” scales.

“I’m a schmuck!” I can say without much qualification. Sure, I try to do good and be nice. But I know – and friends and family know – that I’m not dependable. Ornery moods and disobedience with actions that don't match God’s character make me unreliable.

If you’re like me, you’ll soon find we have to depend on him every day. Every minute, actually. Trusting that what he said is honest and right: he has planned our character development, relationships, and circumstances for our good and His mission among mankind. And he’s paid for my sin and failure.

I sigh with relief again, knowing we and our whole day are in his care.

Read more:

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6: 9,10

Best of all

“I want to be the best piano teacher in all of Potsdale,” she said. Carla was 36, mother of two girls, and pastor’s wife in a church of several hundred. She was never going to be the best musician: she didn’t have the talent for it.

How surprising, I thought. Why would you want to be the best at that? And what would it cost you? I was a piano teacher in the same area, and had been since I was 13. Carla was a few years younger than I, and her driving ambition to exceed others, to compete with me and my betters, astonished me. I was a more natural pianist, and my students enjoyed coming for lessons. But there were two outstanding teachers in town to whom I sent my outstanding youngsters, and whose students won the competitions and got scholarships. Had I wanted to be “the best teacher?” Ever? I think not.

There were even times when God set me aside on the shelf, for a year, for another year, and then for years. At a recent women’s conference, the topic was those “hidden years,” when no one knows our talents, no one cares that we are well-trained for this or that, and we do no work in the area that defined us previously. The speaker said this was time that shakes us loose from our limited self-definitions. “Hidden years” train us to look on the praise of God for our obedience and love for him, rather than on the approval of people for what we do.

When Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth, we are a grain of salt among many, seasoning interactions in the greater community, affecting people with our kind words and manners, politics with our votes, the homeless with our volunteer hours. When I taste my oatmeal, I don’t want to encounter a lump of salt. I want the subtle flavor enhancing my porridge.

When he calls us to be light, we are not always the city on a hill – some of us are a streetlight in the city that is the Church shining into the world, and it is always his light that shines through us. Our responsibility is to be what he’s designed for the day and the hour. If that’s enough for God, perhaps that should be good enough for us, too. Even if someone else looks better, does more outstanding work, and is “the best” at what we do.

And when we pursue the best "us" as God has designed us - in our place, with our opportunities, with our best efforts - the pressure is off. And God's approval is best of all.

Read more:

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him, tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in HIS holy name: let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:1-4 NIV

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. John 3:23–24 NEV