Author: Celia Whitler

On Sharing Your Faith

People I meet on the road send me a variety of emails. I try my best to get to them. Below is one containing a question I received from a teenager along with my reply.

The question: “Celia . . . I am writing to you because I have a problem. One of my very best friends does not believe in God. I want to reach out and tell her that He will guide her and make her life better, but she is too stubborn to learn. I am confused because she is such a great person and she deserves better than what she is getting, but I don’t know how to make her trust that the Lord will help her. Can you help me by telling me ways to reach out to her and let her know how great the Lord our God is? I would truly appriciate it . . . Your friend in Christ, name with-held”

My response: “great to hear from you..thanks for your note… this is a tough one… first I would pray for this person and pray that I would have the right words to say… and pray that I would be a good listener when they needed me… second I would be sure my lifestyle… my behavior is one that she respects… and is a Christian witness.. hard to talk about something we are not doing… next I would invite her to places where she might hear about God, like church.. my youth group.. special retreats… rallies.. we have a Sat. pm contemporary service that the youth help out with …something like that would be great…share books or music that reflect your faith…… and last I would look for teachable moments… opportunities to share your faith with her… intertwined with your daily living… and if that doesn’t work… just come out and say it… ‘I love you … you are one of my best friends.. I have found something that is so wonderful and gives me joy and comfort during the hard times and I’d like to tell you about it…. my faith is my foundation.. Jesus Christ is like a friend to me and could be that for you’… let me know… and oh… be yourself… don’t worry if you don’t feel like you have the right words… God will help you… love Celia”

How are you doing sharing your faith with others?

On Snow

What is it about snow that brings out the kids in each of us…. makes grown people go sledding… catch snowflakes on their tongues… makes us want to curl up in front of a large window with a big mug of hot chocolate, a cozy fire and just watch…
… being from Louisiana.. enjoying snow was not part of my upbringing…. when I travel north … youth are surprised that I didn’t toboggan as a kid…. 2 things were missing from my childhood that would allow me to enjoy that pastime… snow and hills…
…one winter it did snow… not just little flakes… BIG snow as Max would say… big flakes… and in the morning it was still there… as luck would have it I was home sick that week… and was not allowed to go outside and play… the agony of it all… it makes me sad just thinking of it… ugh!!!… when my mom busied herself in another part of the house… I hurriedly put on boots and a coat and walked outside in our back yard… it was huge… and blanketed with snow… I remember it was if it were today… down the steps… carefully as not to slip… around the shed… and back near the clothes line is where I found a moment of pure joy… I quickly laid down in the snow… and you guessed it … made a snow angel…. it was perfect… what a feeling… as I walked away from my masterpiece… it didn’t occur to me… this was the thing that would tattle on my road trip from the house… I quickly made my way back into the house… put my clothes and boots away.. and crawled back on the couch.. thinking no one will ever know…. as I am learning …moms see and find out most things we as children don’t want them to know.. when confronted about the snow angel… I nonchalantly lied… and said I have no idea what it is doing there or who would do such a thing… after some time I came clean and suffered the consequences… more time on the couch….
… it never snowed again while I was growing up and it wasn’t until college and a trip to Colorado did I make more snow angels….
… it’s the whimsical way the flakes fly around… it’s the whiteness of the ground.. it’s the dream of snowmen and snowball fights….making ice cream….getting to stay home from school… renting movies and cuddling up with our loved ones…. sledding with friends…. as a pastor friend of mine says with a laugh…it’s a chance to marvel at God’s great handiwork…. whew! That’s Good!…..
…. it’s a little thing that we can enjoy on earth… and isn’t it the little things that add up to the big things anyway…
… I wrote this several days ago as I watched it snow outside my window… not enough for a snow angel today…. but one day soon Ron, the boys and I will enjoy the pure joy of our creations…. till then…. God bless
Celia

Year End 2001

Zachary McKay Whitler joins the family, “So Far” — a new recording & 39 events in16 states
It’s been a big year for us and a wacky year for our world. Who’d have thought at the beginning of 2001 that we’d end up here.

We’ve had a great year. We’ve expanded our family with the addtion of Zach. If you haven’t checked him out at http://www.celiamusic.net/infopages/zachpage.html, he’s a looker. And we completed another recording. It takes a lot of work to get to the finish line on a project, but we’re glad we made the trip. “So Far” is celia’s best recording to date. It reflects the acoustic nature of Celia’s performance. Our travels took us all over the U.S. We met some wonderful folks along the way.

(listed by state, city)
Bauxite & Mountain Home, AR; Prescott, AZ; Escondido, Julian & San Diego, CA; Breckenridge, Broomfield, Denver & Wheatridge, CO; Fort Walton Beach, FL; Indianapolis, IN; Lafayette, LA; Shreveport, LA; Mio, MI; Minneapolis & St. Cloud, MN; Mocksville & Salisbury, NC; Devil’s Lake & Grand Forks, ND; Alamogordo, NM; Columbus, OH; Athens, Collierville, Franklin, Madison & Nashville, TN; Arlington, Austin, Plano, TX; Ferrum, VA

On Advent, by Ron

Advent, a time of preparation. It started a little early at our house this year AND it was a baby we were waiting for.

When I read the Christmas story I don’t often think about all the work that goes into bringing a new life into the world. I just think about the picture of a sweet baby in a warm manger. I guess that’s what hearing a story or songs over and over does, but I’ve had my infant refresher course for the year. There was a lot of getting ready that got done at our house. We had to move furniture, paint, get more baby stuff, get more little diapers (you quickly forget how small those things are), pack bags for the trip to the hospital . . . and wait. Your life goes on hold when you’re waiting for a baby. (Somebody once told me that there are few things in life that you have less of a say in than what your birthday will be.) We got it all done and then waited and waited some more. We got up early and watched the leonid meteor shower in the morning. We went to our church’s thanksgiving dinner and had a great time. We stayed for the cleaning up of the gym and then went home. Within a few hours, we knew it was time to head to the hospital. So we called Max’s designated sitters for the few days we’d be out, and off we went.

It’s an incredible experience to be in that room–my best count is that there were five of us there–and then there were six of us there. The other thing that’s incredible to me is that we each arrived like that: there was a room with people in it…and all of a sudden there was one more. Zach had his weighing in and warming up and breathing exercises. Then I watched this new life lay on a warming table and take in his new world for the first time.

Back to the Christmas story. It’s pretty easy to forget that against the backdrop of that often-told story, a young couple goes through all the emotions, fears and hopes that we do. Setting out on a donkey with a pregnant wife and no hotel reservations is not the way they teach you to handle travels during those last few days of pregnancy. We were told to keep our cars full of gas, but the story doesn’t tell us many details about the preparations that young couple made. It’s incredible that God chooses to enter their story (and our stories) the way all the rest of us make our entry. God shows up through the same vulnerable, incredible, dangerous, exciting birth experience through which we have all arrived.

Part of what I love about this season is that the story happens for us on two levels, past and present. When we celebrate Christmas, there are 2 births we turn our attention toward. The one in the past and the birth of new life in our present. The one in the past is that story we’re all so familiar with. (My favorite rendition is Linus’ story from the Peanuts.) The present story is about the birth (and rebirth) of Christ in our lives.

The challenge I throw out for you this advent is to remember that you’re planning for a birth in your life this season. Consider doing something specific this advent to help you celebrate the present arrival of Christmas in your life. Celebrating the original Christmas is the easy one–it’s all around us. The other birth is the quieter one. It comes as a whisper, but it’s one that deserves just as much preparation. So pack your bags, buy your diapers and wet wipes, get ready and wait to be surprised again.

Have a Merry Christmas, — Ron

ps. I’ve got to share this. We’ve got this wooden cut out nativity set. It’s 3 very simple pieces: Mary Joseph and the baby Jesus in the manger. It’s painted really simply so if you’re not familiar with the story, you might not even recognize the pieces as people. So Max at all of 19 months, notices that the virgin Mary is shaped like his T-rex bath toy (and he’s right–it is). He goes around the house making growling sounds and waving Mary at you. I wish you could see it. I guess we experience Christmas (& life) where we are and this’ll probably be Max’s only Mary/T-rex year. So we’ll enjoy it while we have it . . . and we’ve got some ‘splainin’ to do.

Zach

Zachary McKay Whitler joined the family on November 19, 2001 at 1:47 pm. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. We have some much to be thankful for.

enjoy the journey, Celia Whitler

ps. To view a few pictures, follow this link

http://www.celiamusic.net/infopages/zachpage.html

The Little Things

Last month I sang at First United Methodist Church in Collierville, TN (Memphis area). Sandra, an associate pastor on staff did the children’s sermon that morning… it was on Thankfulness… she talked to the children about the little things… simple things in their lives to be thankful for. As I sat there, I was aware of the huge things in my life that in recent months seem even more cherished… my faith… my family … friends… my health… but it was a true reminder to think of the small things in our lives that we often don’t celebrate… Krispy Kreme donuts… (ok I’m 81/2 months pregnant… I go by there after I see my baby doc and weigh in …. )… pansies… Max’s blond curls…. how Ron’s eyes sparkle when he laughs…. a gorgeous sunset–it’s my favorite part of the day…. my mom’s Thanksgiving stuffing… (I have tried to reproduce it… but it’s never as good!)…. having lunch with my girlfriends…. watching Michael Jordan play basketball (that might be a biggie)…. my favorite flannel pjs…. holding a new born baby (it won’t be long)
…. I get so caught up in the big things in my life… I am praying that God will allow me to take joy in the little things… that are coming my way…
…maybe they are the big things anyway……… this is my prayer for you as well.

Celia

ps. Thanks for the quote George. Amen to the “wonderful message to be found at the local church of your choice this weekend!”
Follow this link to the Broomfield News (Colorado).

Waiting

Do you ever feel like you are in limbo?–Like you are waiting for something. Maybe you don’t even know what you’re waiting for. Lately, I’ve felt that way. In fact, I’ve felt that way lots of times in my life. I think advent has arrived a bit early at our house this year.

I am expecting my second son and there’s a lot of limbo going round–not the dance. We are waiting for the, as Max calls him, be’be’ (sounds french when he says it), and for all that the be’ be’ will bring into our lives. That kind of waiting is exciting…. joyous… exhausting…. and life giving.

I’ve also been waiting to finish this new CD of music “So Far”–I love the title. It’s a reflection of where I am these days–what I have to offer so far. The reward for this kind of waiting is being able to share it with others–the new songs; the stories that they came out of; the music; wonderful ideas of those who worked on this project; the message of love and hope and faith that I experience as I share these songs. It was worth the wait– some things are. My prayer is that this might be an encouragement to others in there time of limbo.

Other things I’ve been waiting and wondering about have not been as rewarding. Like what is going to happen to our country. Will war be part of our lives in the coming weeks, months or years? Will other events of terror darken our door in the near future? These are the things that bring me to tears and keep me up at nights. Last night I watched yet another hour of television about the past weeks events. There were stories about the families holding memorials in New York… firefighters … World Trade center workers…. police officers… moms… dads.. sisters.. friends… ugh. Many people were sharing how they were waiting for news–any news to hear if their loved ones had been found….ugh. What a terrible limbo that must be… my heart goes out to them. What a sick, sinking feeling –that kind of waiting is like walking through the valley of shadow of death… a valley that must seem to continue endlessly as you walk through it.

We have all waited for some wonderful things to hurry up and happen… and for some horrible things to pass quickly. And time is nonchalantly taking its dear. sweet time bringing about these changes in our lives. What can I do during these times? **I can remember that I do not walk alone.** I can turn to a God who is there for me and for you in our limbo–a God who in the form of Christ, knows what it’s like to wait. I can turn to a God who promises to be our refuge and strength during these kinds of times; a God who brings comfort and healing… when none can be found elsewhere; a God who says nothing can separate us from the love that is offered daily as a gift. May you and I both learn during these days…. to take a deep breath… and trust that God is with us.

Searching

It’s hard to believe the destruction that has taken place on our soil… in New York, Pennsylvania and in Washington, DC… my heart goes out to the families/friends who lost loved ones, to those continuing the search, to those being searched for, and to our whole country as we will prayerfully watch these next days and months unfold…

As I opened my Bible this week, I turned to the book of Psalms… Psalm 23 came to mind… it was one of the first scriptures that I learned as a child… “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want… especially verse 4… even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… I will fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff… they comfort me”… I feel reassured by these words …… I know that the only thing I can count on is God’s love covering me… and Christ’s presence redeeming me… and the Holy Spirit sustaining and comforting me… I pray that we will be able to lean on our faith, friends and family as we trust that God will be with us… today and everyday.

Ice Cream

Hey From Me: the art of eating ice cream…..

What is it about ice cream? As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved ice cream…. I can still remember the sound of the ice cream truck coming into our neighborhood… do you think I ever had my money ready and anticipated his arrival… it was an event every day… digging in my room… screaming to my mom… finding loose coins on my father’s dresser and claiming them as my ice cream money… I can remember racing after the truck…. what to have… so many choices… it came down to a few for me… fudgesicle… bananasicle… nutty butty…. every once in a while I’d get crazy and get a push-up… those were the days… eating ice cream in the heat of the summer…. slip-n-slide in my front yard… yummm…. and always ice cream was present at church dinners…. many times we’d have homemade ice cream…nothing quite like it… it was an event at our house… I’d have to say a celebrated event… I loved making ice cream and getting to crank the ice cream maker… to be in charge of adding more salt to the ice… I’d sneak a piece of salt to eat on my shift… man that ice cream was good…. and I guess more than the taste … those memories were good… there was something pure, genuine.. and real about those times… there are moments in each of our lives where goodness shines through… it is clear and present and no mistaking it…. a couple of weeks ago I was in Athens, TN… for a church revival….. evenings with the youth of the church… luncheons…. lots of singing… lots of good preaching… eating pot luck dinner… and oh did I mention … Athens is the home of Mayfield Ice Cream…. lots of ice cream…. moose tracks will set you free… this past Tues… it was Mayfield Day in downtown Athens… and anyone could get free ice cream between 11-2 pm. I showed up, stood in line and got me some free goodness… it was neat to see folks of all ages… sitting around trying out new ice cream flavors… it was friendly…. it was a hot summer day and that cool treat hit the spot… it was 2 scoops of moose tracks for me but more important it was 2 scoops of goodness…
…. while I’m on goodness… I was reminded at the revival of another goodness… in my life… God’s goodness… never runs out …. free to everyone…. it’s pure, genuine and real… all the time… through all things it’s something I can count on …. that’s something worth celebrating…hope you are enjoying the memories you are making this summer… and your days are filled with the goodness of this life… good friends… family … God’s love… and lots of ice cream… gotta go… just remembered I’ve got some vanilla bean in the freezer.. screaming my name.

scoop on brothers and sisters….
Celia

The Undo Button

We started work on Celia’s next album. For those of you who have been with us from the very beginning, this one makes five. We have no idea what the final title will be, but we like what we have recorded so far. I am amazed at how the technology of recording has changed since we began our recording journey back in 1990. One of the newer inventions on the recording machine (the one we’re using now doesn’t use tape) is the “undo” button. What an incredible invention. I wish I would have discovered / invented the button. Here’s how it works: if you don’t like what you just did, you simply hit “undo” and presto you’re right back where you were before you made your last attempt. This is a big leap forward in the recording process. In the “old days,” like a year or two ago, you had to choose between keeping what you had on tape and taking the risk of destroying it in hopes of recording a better take, (You could burn up extra tape to keep both efforts). But, it was pretty much a “do or die” kind of situation. Now, you just give it your best effort and then make your choice with no risk.

You may have had some personal experience with the undo button. Maybe you’ve encountered an undo option on your computer. We have grown so comfortable with that option that our computers now tell us if we’re about to perform a task that cannot be undone. Commitment on our part is no longer expected as the default option.

I have thought of some other applications for the undo button that would help me personally. I’m thinking I’d like to have one close by for the times when I say an unkind word. Or maybe those times when I share a word of gossip or a secret that wasn’t meant to be shared. Or what about one for school or work. Have you had a time when an incorrect answer or a less-than-great idea somehow escaped your brain and made its way from your mouth to the ear of someone you really respected. Sometimes I don’t even know that what I did wasn’t a great idea until I see someone else’s reaction. The undo button could handle that situation as well. The listener wouldn’t even remember what they’d heard. Life would be as if the thing never happened.

I am not alone in my need; I think there were some times when the disciples could’ve used such a button. How about the time they had that argument about who was the greatest. Or what about right after Peter heard the cock crow a third time. I bet he would have given anything for a shot at the undo button. Or what about Judas when he was counting the cost of those thirty pieces of silver.

But life is not like that. We cannot undo most of what happens. There wasn’t a safety net at the circus I went to as a kid and we knew it. It made everything more exciting. You knew those performers high in the air were at risk up there.

My hope today is that you and I would live just a little more intentionally, knowing that there is not an undo button for what we do and say–this isn’t a dress rehearsal . . . so, walk chalantly.

Ron