tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61856573625940661582024-03-12T22:43:05.745-07:00A Found OrphanedSnapshots of a journey with God, navigating faith communities, and simply trying to loveLeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-48782211034818742002012-09-12T05:08:00.000-07:002012-09-12T05:08:02.644-07:00new blogI have moved! Or at least my blog has to:<br />
<a href="http://insearchofshalomblog.wordpress.com/">in search of shalom</a><br />
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Come visit me there!Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-80912557803647393952012-08-16T07:34:00.002-07:002012-08-17T10:29:47.063-07:00What I learned from Chik Fil A<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or late to the Chik Fil A party</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so we are all tired of the August 1st controversy of Chik Fil A Appreciation Day. I get that. I am too. But sometimes I need to remove myself from the controversies and emotions to really figure out what I can take from an event. So here it is: what I learned from Chik Fil A Appreciation Day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-37" id="en-NLT-23884"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">Matthew 22</sup></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-37"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">37 </sup>Jesus replied, <span class="woj">“‘You must love the L<span class="small-caps" style="font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span> your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="text Matt-22-38" id="en-NLT-23885" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">38 </sup><span class="woj">This is the first and greatest commandment.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-22-39" id="en-NLT-23886"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">39 </sup><span class="woj">A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">40 </sup><span class="woj">The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">If the greatest commandment given to me is love God and love neighbor, then I need to ask myself a couple of questions with every action I take. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">1. Who or what am I loving with the action I am taking? </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">2. Is this the highest expression of love for God and for all my neighbors?</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">I don't think Christians were trying to be hateful. I have heard people declare that if we are to love neighbor--well, the Chik Fil A CEO is our neighbor too. It is true. We seem to have loved those who think like us, believe like us quite well on August 1st. But in the answer to who is our neighbor, Jesus used the Samaritan--the one who is theologically and politically at odds with God's chosen people--to illustrate who our neighbor is. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">August 1st taught me that we can love our neighbors who think like us and act like us and are like us while making the neighbors who are not like us feel rejected. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">And most Christians would say the CEO of Chik Fil A knows the love of God already. The people who Christians disagreed with--the ones who were boycotting Chik Fil A because of their views of homosexuality--were the ones Christians would say need to experience God. And so Christians showered love on the one who they believe knows God and left the ones who need to experience God out. Christians loved their standards and their dogma and wondered why people left unloved.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">If Christians--those who serve the Creator God--cannot be creative enough to express love for those who are like them while expressing love to those who are not like them, what hope does the world have? </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">I have heard people say that August 1st was about freedom of speech. I heard time and time again, it is our right to free speech. The problem is when we claim our rights--well it is very much in the first person. And our claim to our personal rights is still an expression of self love. Not that we don't have rights. But Philippians 2 tells me I need to have the mind or attitude of Christ who did not cling to his rights as God. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-22-40" id="en-NLT-23887"><span class="woj">And so I am going to try and ask myself in every situation who am I loving and is this the highest expression of love to God and to others?</span></span></span></div>
Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-50817079640294615532012-08-14T05:47:00.002-07:002012-08-14T05:47:06.035-07:00An Outside Insider<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week I attended the Christian Festival Kingdom Bound. I grew up in the culture that Kingdom Bound was created in and has flourished in. There was a time when Christian festivals like Kingdom Bound felt like home. It was a refreshing time spent with fellow believers (although, there were always those believers you watched that dressed a little too risky or danced in a provocative way. Or there was the group who sang a "non Christian song" and so there was always room for a judgmental glance among Christians). But now I am on the outside. I am no longer part of that Christian culture which permeates festivals and what many call evangelical Christianity in America. (I hate using the term evangelical in this manner--I believe in spreading the Good News. But evangelicalism has taken on a right wing political/ fundamentalist theology which I do not identify with the Good News.)</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was odd to feel like an outsider in a place I use to be on the inside. I felt like I was in a foreign land--except I was fluent in the language.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew what the speaker meant when he said "Christian unity among orthodox believers." It means my denomination and other mainline denominations need not apply. Orthodox denominations means the very conservative politically and theologically churches.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew by the name of the workshops what the teacher was going to talk on. "What God thinks of your worship and music" indicated you were going to be told what music God likes and what music is of Satan. (Although I can't even tell you how many of the Christian music artists at Kingdom Bound actually sang parts of secular songs in their concert to rev up the audience. And the audience knew all the words too.) The "dating for life" workshop would obviously be all about abstinence. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew there would never bee a speaker like Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis, Matthew Paul Turner, Rachel Held Evans. No, there would be no challenge to the Christian Culture the Evangelical Conservative Church has created. (Although I was surprised that two of Matthew Paul Turner's books were found at the book sale.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sins which were mentioned I could have rattled off before the speakers even began. Sex before marriage, alcohol, listening to worldly music. And the merchandise tent would obviously have booths for Pro life groups and pro family groups. I was pleasantly surprised to see some social justice issues like slavery and soles for souls available.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Gospel message would always be focused on living forever in Heaven with Christ. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew the language. And I could have fit right in, except this is no longer me. As a female pastor, I felt the judgmental stares of those who knew me when I was part of their culture. But I no longer fit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Good News is not a list of sins. It is the fact that no matter what we have done, where we have been. No matter how we have been broken by others' sins and by our own sins. There is a God who heals and forgives. And that healing doesn't have to wait to eternity. It begins right now. And we can follow Christ into that healing--living in a way which stops breaking ourselves and stops breaking others because we can now forgive, we can now love, we can now lay down our lives for each other. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so I spent Kingdom Bound feeling like an outsider. I wanted to worship fully and participate. But "Jesus is Lord" simply is not enough for me to be accepted. My theology and politics, even my very self, simply is not good enough. I know the people of Kingdom Bound would state that if I feel like an outsider it is because I have fallen away. It was my fault. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so I am an outsider. I believe Jesus is Lord. I believe salvation is through Christ. Yet, I am held at a distance by fellow Christians. There was no room for me at the Table at KB. </span></div>
Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-14830512985981361052012-07-26T06:35:00.002-07:002012-07-26T06:35:37.087-07:00FriendsDear friends, acquaintances, evangelizers--<br />
I have often heard and use to say, "the truth hurts sometimes." But as I look over my life I have to question when did I get to use the truth as I experienced it as a weapon? When did get to determine the truth needs to hurt someone?<br />
And so, I write this letter to let you know how I work as a person. If you want to influence me, there are a few things you should know.<br />
First, you don't get to determine if I need to be hurt by the truth or not. I trust the Holy Spirit to lead and convict.<br />
Second, looking back on my life, the people who influenced me most were people who did not believe it was their job to save me. They were my friends and are my friends no matter if we agree or disagree politically, theologically, or in life style. They would never consider me their enemy because I see things differently or live out my faith differently. When we disagree, they are not out to make a point and save me from the "lies I believe." They have come to understand that, as I Corinthians 13 says, we all see things dimly. And so they don't call me heretic, enemy, ignorant, foolish, stupid, wrong. Instead they say something like these statements:<br />
~"I see where you are coming from but have you thought of....?"<br />
~"When I come to this subject, I am informed by this Scripture...."<br />
~"What I find helpful....."<br />
~"You know, another way of looking at that subject is..."<br />
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They approach where we differ as my friend, hoping for the best for both of us.<br />
Third, those who influenced me most know I already have a Savior. And they trust that Jesus will remain true to his word--the one who has begun this good work will finish it. Where we all get this thing called life and this thing called faith wrong, God will sanctify us. Where we are getting it right, God will refine. They trust God is at work in my life just as God is at work in their life.<br />
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I am trying to live these points out also. I remind myself regularly, when we like being proven right more than we like being like Christ, we are getting it wrong. One can speak the truth and not be Christ like--I Corinthians 13 speaks to that. What good is it if we speak the truth but people to feel loved?<br />
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Can we disagree about who is the better President, political party, theology and still be friends?Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-25390317105790732552012-01-24T13:15:00.000-08:002012-01-24T13:15:50.998-08:00MarkThe Gospel of Mark can be divided into 2 main parts. Chapters 1-8:27 focus on answering the question, "Who is this Jesus? and covers most of the ministry years. From 8:27 to the end, Mark focuses on "what is the mission of Jesus?" and from chapter 11 on you are in Holy Week.<br />
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These two segments frame how I read each section.<br />
Mark 1:1-11 Preparation<br />
God sends a messenger to prepare the way of the Lord. John the Baptist appears on the scene proclaiming a baptism of repentance. Repentance.....I have heard it taught that repentance is not just feeling sorry for sins but turning from your sins. I have heard people say one must repent to be saved.<br />
But what is repentance in Mark 1?<br />
This is preached to Israel, the chosen people, the people of the Covenant. They knew the story of Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah. The prophets had come to them. They are the ones being called to baptism and a new start. They are the ones being called to prepare through repentance.<br />
Why?<br />
Maybe because God is about to do something that has not happened before. The miraculous interventions of God in Israel's history were many times military victories, deliverance from their enemies. The people were looking for one who would free them from Roman occupation. But this time God was rescuing all who have been exiled from Eden. And this rescue was not from tyrants like Caesar, or empires like Rome. This rescue was from sin and death. God was about to invade human space through Jesus Christ. This is something new. And its time. Time to prepare. Time to change course. Time to join the Kingdom of God.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-75284954926569540372012-01-13T07:56:00.000-08:002012-01-13T08:01:21.950-08:00An open letter to Newt GingrichDear Mr. Gingrich,<br />
In Iowa you said you wanted to run a positive campaign and you did. You also challenged your fellow candidates to run positive campaigns, you could not control them but you challenged them. And when that didn't work and you won 4th place, you said unilateral disarmament only works when all parties participate and promised political Armageddon in South Carolina.<br />
You are also courting the Evangelical vote, pointing to your faith and how you are a true conservative. But I have an issue. It is not just enough to be on the "right" side of the two political topics for the stereotypical evangelical for all us Christians. For me your change in position on a positive campaign says a lot. And as a fellow believer, I feel I need to point a couple things out.<br />
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1. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This teaching of Christ, actually none of Christ's teachings have fine print stating "void in the following circumstances." Christ's teachings do not apply only when people are reciprocating your good will, your love or your positive stand. It is not promised that if we do unto others as we would want them to do unto us they will change to be like us. If you want to run a campaign against opponents who talk only issues, that is how you should live no matter what--not because it will make your opponents act that way but because it will put on display the Kingdom of God to be compared to the way the broken world works.<br />
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2. You are completely right that you probably could not win the election if you stayed positive while everyone else went negative. Now the issue is not whether being positive or negative is Christian. The issue is your letting your yes be yes, and your no be no--keeping your promise in all circumstances. When we live out our standards as Christians, we are not promised the world will applaud, elect us or shower us with power and praise. In fact, Jesus said the world hated him so we are to expect the world will hate us. No, living by the teachings of Christ will not win American elections. But I am not sure that is the goal of Christianity. Our goal is to contrast the brokenness of this world by living out the healing of the Kingdom. We are to love God and love neighbor more than power and influence.<br />
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I believe you had an opportunity--an opportunity to show the American public that integrity is its own reward. You could have shown us that the Kingdom of God--living out the standards we believe we were called to is greater than the presidency. You could have reflected the Kingdom. While this broken world and other politicians will sell their standards when their power is threatened, the Kingdom of God will not sell its values when the going gets rough.<br />
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I understand that if you can't be elected as the President you will miss out on the powerful influence of that office. One can imagine the potential. But I do not find in Scripture where we are to sacrifice all to gain power and influence. We are to sacrifice all to spread God's love. And so even in the little things, we are to live out the Kingdom--keep our promises and standards. Live by the Golden Rule.<br />
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I am not saying this makes you unelectable in my book. I am not against you. I just think the Kingdom is greater than our kingdom.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-81135072472212297802012-01-10T06:23:00.000-08:002012-01-10T14:34:17.832-08:00Mark"The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."<br />
And so Mark begins---not with a genealogy or the birth narrative---but just jumping right in with John the Baptist and Jesus' baptism.<br />
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The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.....there is a dynamic aspect to this statement. Mark is simply the beginning of the good news......there is more to come. Am I being invited to join in the good news.....to continue the story of Jesus Christ?<br />
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Good news, crying, proclaiming, message---are all used in some manner throughout the first chapter. Jesus himself says in verse 38 he has to go on to the neighboring villages to proclaim the message there. What is this good news? Jesus doesn't start talking about his death and resurrection until after chapter 8. Is the Good News more than the death and resurrection of Jesus? Does it include the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ? And Mark doesn't have the long passages of Jesus' teachings that Matthew and Luke include. What is this good news? It seems we need to find the message in the person of Jesus and what he is doing in the Gospel of Mark.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-54553435950101134732012-01-09T15:05:00.000-08:002012-01-09T15:05:16.221-08:00The Gospel according toI have heard Christians and others say, "we need to take back America." I find that odd since we do not have any evidence that non Americans voted in the last presidential election. But I digress. I personally think we might do better if we took back the Gospel--back from what we have created it to be. Somewhere along the line it seems we have created the Gospel in the image of our culture. We need to rediscover the Gospel.<br />
And so, I am going to begin to look at the Gospel. First through the eyes of Mark--shortest of the Gospels and also, the lectionary is focusing on Mark this year.<br />
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At first glance, in a quick read through, Mark portrays a Jesus who has drunk one too many energy drinks. The various translations seem to use the terms "suddenly" and "immediately" over and over again. Jesus is always on the move. There is no catching your breath. Some argue the roughness of this Gospel may indicate this being the first Gospel written, despite tradition saying Matthew was the first written.<br />
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But I wonder if it doesn't give us a glimpse into how the disciples felt. The Gospel of John may give us the glimpse into the close relationship between Jesus and the disciples. But I can't help but think Mark captures what it was like to follow Jesus. Listening to Jesus teach with authority, I would want to sit back and ponder his words or maybe discuss it amongst my friends. But the disciples don't seem to have that luxury. Jesus is off and casting out an unclean spirit. I would like to stop and take that in, process what I have just witnessed. But there's no time, Jesus is healing someone. I get the picture from C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe where Aslan is in the witch's castle freeing all the Narnians from their stone prisons. Lucy and Susan cannot keep up as Aslan is bring these creatures back to life. The disciples cannot keep up with Jesus as he spreads the Good News--God is rescuing Creation, bringing us back to life.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-59096218340181896542012-01-07T11:37:00.000-08:002012-01-07T12:09:04.373-08:00Please don't call me an evangelical<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please don't.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, I still believe. I believe God has come into our brokenness, walked among us in the person of Jesus Christ, and through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus we are offered new life. God heals our brokenness and invites us to join the work of salvation in this world. I believe I am called to share that Good News with all of Creation. And so you might want to call me evangelical--which comes from the Greek word which means Good News. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But don't call me Evangelical. The other day as the news organizations reported the results of the Iowa Caucus, they used the term Evangelical in the same manner they use the terms Democrat or Republican. One person even went as far as to create the term Teavangelical--the marriage of the Tea Party and Evangelicalism. Evangelical has become a political party.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now the term Evangelical has been hard to define in the past century. There are those who would tie Fundamentalism to Evangelical. But one could be Evangelical without being a fundamentalist. Being evangelical at one time simply meant that you believed in sharing the Good News (probably an over simplistic view of the term) but denominations and theologies have attempted to lay claim to the term. They all wish to be known as the ones who care for the lost and bring the Good News.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now the term has been hijacked by politics. Somehow Evangelical means being against abortion and homosexuality, being for small government, and voting conservatively. But no where in Scripture do I see the Good News being described as those things. I don't see Evangelical being described as large government, and regulations on businesses either.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It seems we have traded the Good News that God has come to dwell with humanity again, bringing healing and love, peace and hope to our brokenness for the American Dream. We have chosen to bring the Kingdom through political parties, when it came in a Savior who gave up his own rights and loved us with his life. Instead of following in the Savior's footsteps, having the same mind as Christ did and being like Christ, we have followed politics, the American Dream, and a list of things to believe and stand for and attempted to vote the Kingdom into existence. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">America's dreams and news, as good as they are, are not good enough. And so if being an Evangelical means bringing the good news of America, I must ask you to not call me evangelical. The Good News of Christ is so much bigger and better. And it doesn't come through a political party or through violence. It doesn't come through a list of rights or the constitution. The Good News comes when we the people of God allow the Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ. The Good News is God has come, walked among us, and made a way for us to be whole again. That is the news I choose to proclaim!</span></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-79814638674360530262011-12-06T08:09:00.000-08:002011-12-06T08:09:39.708-08:00Isaiah 40My parents milked a television for all it was worth. We didn't get cable into well into the 80's if not 90's. I remember watching reruns of Mighty Mouse as a kid. The bad guy would have someone captive. Mighty mouse would hear a distress call and zoom into the air. And somewhere along the way, you would hear Mighty Mouse sing from the skies, before he got to the bad guy: "Here I come to save the day!"<br />
When I read Isaiah 40, I hear those words "Here I come to save the day!" but this time it is God who is on the way. The prophet/messenger scouts before the Almighty telling all to prepare the way. Nothing will stand in God's way from rescuing his people, his creation. "Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough--to keep God from his creation" <br />
As we journey the wilderness of life, can we hear the cry "prepare the way of the Lord." Can we hear our God sing out "Here I come to save the day!"<br />
Are we preparing the way to encounter Christ again this Christmas? Are the high places of arrogance, pride and self sufficiency in our lives being made low? Are the low places of doubt, regret, and unforgiveness being filled in with the hope, mercy and grace of God?Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-46555736167509802992011-11-28T06:01:00.001-08:002011-11-28T13:28:17.841-08:00Advent 2<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 1:23 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">“Look! The virgin will conceive child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,<b> </b>which means ‘God is with us.’”</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God is with us. That is good news. And if we ponder the name Emmanuel in light of the Scripture from Romans 5: 6 “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” it takes on a new depth. While we were busy running our own lives, keeping God out, Christ was born in a manger, walked among us, ate with us, and died for us. While we were enemies of God, busy building walls to keep God and others at a distance, Jesus entered our world, invaded our space, and loved us with his life. While we were slaves to ourselves, to sin and death, God came to be with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Yet the message I hear sometimes from Christians is “God is with us but not with you.” Oh, we don’t say it so blatantly but we say it nonetheless in word and deed. In arguments or debates, we say God is against you because you are a sinner, a democrat, a republican, fill in the blank ____________ by calling them heretics, sinners, unbiblical. I wonder how many times when I pulled back from someone’s touch that was homeless or sick, I sent the message “God is not with you.” Yet the message of the Incarnation is “God is with us.” Christ came and touched the untouchables. I wonder how many times I have placed boundaries between me and someone else because of political or theological differences, sending the message “God is with me but not you.” Yet when Christ was on earth, he bridged those divides, tore down the walls which separated humanity and God, as well as people from each other. By being in his presence, the people were called to new life and changed. They were not required to change and then God would be with them. The Good News was and still is---“hey sinners! God is with you!” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We celebrate the Incarnation—God chose not to allow our sinfulness to keep us from him. In fact, while we were yet sinners, the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. May we reflect the truth God is with us—sinners and saints, republican and democrat, homeless and middle class and upper class, sick and healthy, imprisoned and law abiding, straight and not. God is with us. Let us journey deeper into that truth. Let us live like God is with us and with those who are not like us. Let us trust God to bring us to life again</span>. <span style="font-family: Arial;"> I want to declare with my words and my life “Immanuel!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-72151037506847506262011-11-27T10:42:00.000-08:002011-11-27T10:49:26.833-08:00Advent--Day 1 Isaiah 64<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18862" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">Isaiah 64 </sup></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> How the mountains would quake in your presence!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18863" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">As fire causes wood to burn</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and water to boil,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> your coming would make the nations tremble.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18864" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">3</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">When you came down long ago,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> And oh, how the mountains quaked!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18865" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">4</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For since the world began,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> no ear has heard,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> and no eye has seen a God like you,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> who works for those who wait for him!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18866" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">5</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You welcome those who gladly do good,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> who follow godly ways.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes! Open the Heavens and come down! Let your salvation spring up from the ground. Let nature declare you are God. Set things right! Let those who mock me, who hurt me, who hurt my friends, my nation know I was.....I mean....You are right! Show them all God!! You welcome those who follow your ways and do good. So come, Lord Jesus, come! Set everything right.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But you have been very angry with us,<br />
for we are not godly.<br />
We are constant sinners;<br />
how can people like us be saved?<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18867" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup> We are all infected and impure with sin.<br />
When we display our righteous deeds,<br />
they are nothing but filthy rags.<br />
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,<br />
and our sins sweep us away like the wind.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18868" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">7</sup> Yet no one calls on your name<br />
or pleads with you for mercy.<br />
Therefore, you have turned away from us<br />
and turned us over<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-18868c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2064&version=NLT#fen-NLT-18868c" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> to our sins.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, show those ungodly people we, your people, are right.......wait, what? "we are ungodly?" Excuse me, Isaiah, but I think you made a mistake. We are the people of God. And when Christ comes back all those who are not part of "us--godly people"--you know, those who are ungodly-- will be shown the error of their ways and God's people will be shown to be right. How can we be part of the ungodly?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ok, I will admit that I haven't forgiven that person yet....but she hasn't asked for forgiveness. But that is such a small thing, isn't it?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, yes, I guess sometimes my "prayer requests" are bordering on gossip, but if it gets others to pray.....no, its not justifiable.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What? My attitude about those in poverty or those of the opposing political opinion? Well they are just lazy and ignorant......oh, you're right, I am generalizing and not hearing their story. I could probably be a little more Christ-like in this area too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, yes, I am angry and bitter towards that person but he acts like he has the perfect theology and uses Scripture as a weapon against me. I mean, does he not see that I Corinthians 13, the fact we see things dimly now means he sees things dimly now?!? What? That verse is for me too? I see things dimly too and probably should be a bit more humble? Well, I can see your point.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, you're right, I am quite impatient, judgmental, selfish, quick to talk, slow to listen....ok, ok.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am ungodly and I don't call out for your help but rely on my own strength to be a good person. I am comfortable as I am. I want you to right this world but let me be. I am part of the ungodly.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18869" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">8</sup> And yet, O L<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span>, you are our Father.<br />
We are the clay, and you are the potter.<br />
We all are formed by your hand.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-18870" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">9</sup> Don’t be so angry with us, L<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span>.<br />
Please don’t remember our sins forever.<br />
Look at us, we pray,<br />
and see that we are all your people.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So when you come in your glory, don't forget me, please. Please don't leave me in my sin and brokenness. As you make the rest of the world whole and right, please make me whole and right. Don't just rend the Heavens but rend my heart too.</span>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-91542425397476051532011-11-26T17:35:00.000-08:002011-12-05T07:38:21.631-08:00Assumptions about a woman in ministry<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee;">Being female and an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church I have found that people assume a lot about me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee;">~it is assumed that I am liberal in my theology. I have been accused of hating Scripture or when people quote Scripture. In fact here is a quote from someone’s message on Facebook: “<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11pt;">Just stating God's word, and liberal preachers don’t like it.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11pt;"> ~Well, I actually read Scripture regularly. I love to study the Bible and hold Scripture in high regard. I want to find where each Scripture fits into the whole picture of the Bible. Most people who consider themselves liberal theologically consider me quite conservative theologically. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11pt;">~people assume I have a rebellious spirit. I have heard people say anyone who supports women in ordained ministry are in open rebellion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11pt;"> ~You are assuming I didn’t spend lots of time in prayer, Scripture reading and study. You are assuming I didn’t struggle with what I felt God was calling me to do. I spent decades studying, praying, fasting, talking to pastors and other Christian leaders. I tried to do other things. God closed those doors but opened every door into ministry. In the end, I felt I was in open rebellion not following God’s call to ordained ministry. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11pt;"> ~You are assuming that I am simply ignoring the “catch” Scriptures on women in ordained ministry. You don’t even consider that I have done studies on these Scriptures and have read Church history on these passages and read scholars from all sides on these Scriptures –and have come to a different understanding than you on them. Yes, we disagree on the interpretation of these Scriptures. I disagree with the conclusions some powerful theologians have come to on these Scriptures. But here is the thing, there are amazing, powerful theologians on both sides of this issue. The Church doesn’t seem to fully agree on this issue. Church history and Biblical history is replete with women in the position of bringing the Good News, preaching, judging, teaching, leading. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee;">Sitting in discussions with most male pastors I find no one assumes where a man stands theologically. Instead they enter into dialogue. As a woman, I simply ask for the same courtesy. Please don’t assume. </span><o:p></o:p></div>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-5421752633544771592011-10-05T11:25:00.000-07:002011-10-05T11:25:44.419-07:00what if...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if.....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if the world is looking for a safe place to ask questions rather than a place which claims all the answers?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if faith is more about living in the tension and uncertainty than having control?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if the Gospel is not about who is in and who is out but rather about the Kingdom encompassing everyone?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if Christianity is about bringing God to everyone, not having people come to God?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if God is found in the doubts?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if Jesus really meant love your enemies, repay evil with good, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the meek?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What if....</span></span>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-37506629557853574552011-09-06T17:28:00.000-07:002011-09-06T17:31:25.802-07:00Burning buildings, drowning victims.......and evangelism-- part 2I remember clearly the calls to evangelize given by speakers as they used the burning building or drowning victim illustrations. As stated in my last post, I find stating unbelievers are in a burning building and it is the Christian's job to warn them of the danger puts the emphasis on the conversion, not on discipleship.<br />
I also think these illustrations to motivate evangelism also inspire a "talk at ya and convince ya" type of evangelism. I need to tell you from safety that you are drowning or in a burning building. I need to point out your sin to convince you that you are a sinner and you need a savior. The Roman Road approach. While I am certain there are many who have been converted by this manner, I just don't see this in Scripture.<br />
Philippians 2 tells us to have the same attitude or mind that Christ had--who was God but didn't claim hold to his rights as God but instead humbled himself as a servant even unto death. The picture I see in Philippians is Jesus jumping into the water or running into the building. God didn't shout how sinful we are from heaven then jump down to die on the Cross and rise again. Instead, as John's Gospel states, The Word tabernacled with us. God made his dwelling with us, walked among us so we could see his glory. And swept a bunch of people along for the journey of salvation. I wonder if Christians adopted the Philippians 2 attitude in their evangelism if the world would look a little differently.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-41223555979646412032011-09-04T13:29:00.000-07:002011-09-04T13:29:10.015-07:00Burning buildings, drowning victims.......and evangelism<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In a conversation on Facebook, a person stated he believed he must point out people's sins in order to love. He then used the illustration of a burning building. If a person was in a burning building, is it loving to tell them everything is ok or to tell them to get out because the building is on fire? When I asked why are there only two options to love--pointing out sin or telling everyone everything is ok, he asked what the third option is in the illustration of the burning building. Perhaps the answer to that is going into the burning building and helping the person out. His response was the person doesn't believe the building is burning or that they need a way out. So his way to love is to tell a person the house is on fire. If they don't listen, he moves on to the next house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have heard this illustration before. A preacher attempts to motivate his listeners to evangelize by employing the illustration of the burning building. The unsaved are in a burning building. You as the Christian must warn them of the fire and offer them Christ as the answer. Or the preacher used the drowning illustration. We Christians are in a boat and all around us in the water are lost souls drowning. Jesus is the life preserver. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Is this the best illustration for evangelism? The emphasis falls on the moment of conversion. The object of salvation is to save someone from Hell. Yet when I read Scripture, I never find conversion to be central to the Gospel. I find discipleship to be the emphasis. I find God is interested in re-creating me from a self centered being to a God-centered being. I am reborn and must learn to walk again in steps of a peace which seeks everyone's wholeness and talk again using the language of self sacrificial love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In my experience, we are not in a burning building but on a journey. God wishes to join us on this journey, invade our space, and redeem all of the journey. I am not saved from my sins in some vague eternity. I am saved from sins now and forever. The journey is redeemed. That which would break me on my journey or break others through my journey, God offers healing and wholeness. At some point in this journey, I joined God's Story, not to get to Heaven, but to bring Heaven to me. The Presence of God is mine in the here and now.<br />
So does the burning building or the drowning victim imagery inspire you to evangelize? What imagery would you use to paint the picture of what God is doing in your life?</span>Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-31393258165076508992011-09-03T17:56:00.000-07:002011-09-03T17:56:09.395-07:00all you need is love.....part 3So the last two blogs were about I Corinthians 13. I find it interesting the love chapter is found in a letter to the church at Corinth, not Philippi. The Philippian Church was a persecuted church and Paul had very kind words for them as they lived the Gospel in the midst of hard circumstances. But the love chapter goes to Corinth--the church which is divided (I was baptized by Paul, I was baptized by Apollos) and a church which loved its rituals (spiritual gifts) more than people. They get the love chapter. And the Love chapter does not talk anything about agreeing with each other. Instead, it promises we will not see things eye to eye here. No we are reminded that right now, we are seeing things dimly. And because we see things dimly, perhaps a love which is patient, kind, not rude, seeks the best for the other person, does not boast in being right, rejoices in justice not evil is the kind of love which we are called to.<br />
Interestingly enough, I have been in a conversation on my friend's facebook wall about responding to atheists who "blaspheme" God. One person insists the loving thing to do is to point out they are in a burning building, point out their sin and if they don't respond move on to the next house. I asked if love always has to point out the sin. He responded it was either that or embracing sin and saying all things are fine. <br />
Is there a love in between those two extremes? Is there an act of love between pointing out sin or saying everything is fine? Have we lost our God given creativity if we can only see two sides to love?<br />
Is this life really a burning building and we need to accept Jesus to get out of the burning building of sin? Or is life a journey where we are shaped by the encounters with a loving God who patiently waits for us, calls to us, walks with us until we respond? Perhaps I see things too simplistically. I know I only see things dimly. But from my experience, God seems to take the scenic route. If its a burning building, God doesn't seem to be in a hurry in my life or the lives of anyone around me. The only answer I keep hearing is: love any ways.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-55737061399308428352011-07-13T14:57:00.000-07:002011-07-13T19:50:32.694-07:00All you need is love....part 2 I shared on FB and in my last post, Rachel Held Evans' blog: <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/guest-post-david-nilsen">http://rachelheldevans.com/guest-post-david-nilsen</a>, which made me think of some of the conversations I have had over controversial issues. The question about love--whether love condones or agrees with the other side, how do we love?--has come up on many occasions. In my last post, I stated how agape love is a love which chooses to love. So I thought I would continue with the type of love we are to choose. How do we love those who differ from us theologically, socially, or politically? As Christ has loved us is the simple, straightforward answer. If that is too abstract--you know--loving to death people who were his enemies, we can look at I Corinthians 13:<br />
Love is patient and kind. Love bears, calmly endures even opposing views, pain, mistakes. Love responds not with labels which push people away, put others down, mock the opposing view but responds with kindness.<br />
Love is not jealous, boastful or proud. Love does not abandon someone who agrees with us some points when they differ from us on a controversial issue. You know, the Christian who believes Jesus is Lord but does not support the literal 6 days of Creation or has a different view on homosexuality or is a *gasp* Democrat or a Republican. Love does not get jealous of the other camp and disown the Christian as a brother or sister in Christ. Love does not boast. Love is not proud. Love doesn't have to have all the answers and can discuss issues without acting like it is my way or you're completely wrong.<br />
Love is not rude. Love does not call names or throw labels around. Love does not invite people to mock other people. Love does not mock others.<br />
Love does not demand its own way. Love does not require the other person to be completely persuaded to my point of view. Love allows the other person to choose and remain in relationship.<br />
Love is not irritable. Love is not offended when someone disagrees with me.<br />
Love keeps no records when it has been wronged. Love doesn't let the wrongs someone has done define who they are, allowing them to still have a voice into other people's lives, into my own life.<br />
Love is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins out. And so, even when a beloved pastor or church leader is leading a mega church and doing wonderful ministry, when he is unjust in his treatment of any other human being, love does not rejoice. The wrong someone does in no way negates the good. But the good does not negate the bad. Let us call each other to a higher standard of love.<br />
Love never gives up. Love doesn't unfriend or leave a fellowship lightly.<br />
Love never loses faith. I can love those who differ from me theologically, politically knowing that God's love wins. God will correct them or God will correct me, perhaps not in this conversation or life. But I have faith, God wins. God's promise is true--those who seek God will find God and be conformed to the image of Christ.<br />
Love is always hopeful. Love expects the best out of others. Love doesn't assume because someone believes a certain way about a theological, political or social issue that they don't love God and don't believe Scripture. Love gives them the benefit of the doubt.<br />
Love endures through all circumstances.<br />
In this list, we do not find love agrees 100% all the time. In fact, the list has more to do with how we deal with each other in times of disagreement and hardship--being patient, kind, not being rude, not keeping record of wrong.<br />
Let us choose to love--no matter what.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-76344005818225300392011-07-13T08:51:00.000-07:002011-07-13T08:51:16.285-07:00All you need is love.....part oneAll you need is love. So why is it so hard? I have been part of dialogs between friends, on line, on blogs, etc. where the tensions rise and accusations are hurled. In the middle of a heated discussion, someone will call people to love. Another will say "love the sinner, hate the sin." And then someone will ask, "how can we love someone who is in opposition to Scripture?" And yet another will state, "we cannot condone this lifestyle or these actions, or this sin. Christianity is not a feel good, hippie religion." Why is love so difficult? When Christ says "love your enemies," what did he mean?<br />
I think part of the problem is our English.<br />
I love ice cream. So obviously, when ice cream is served I am going to partake.<br />
I love hockey. So obviously, I condone hockey games.<br />
I love my sister. I accept her.<br />
We use the term love for silly, temporary things and for deep, eternal matters. Our culture portrays another version of love which a highly sexual one. And so our understanding of love is blurred in our culture and by our language.<br />
But the Greek, which the New Testament was written in, has more than one term for love. I am going to focus on the term agape, the love of God in the Septuagint and the New Testament, because we are to love others as Christ has loved us. It is the agape love we are to show.<br />
I have often heard preachers discuss how agape love is the unconditional love. When I was in seminary, I did a word study through Kittle's Theological Dictionary on the term agape. Kittle looks at each word in the New Testament in the context of the culture--how did the Greek people in history and the contemporaries of Jesus use the word, in the context of the Septuagint and the Old Testament (the Jewish translators chose specific Greek words for specific Hebrew and Aramaic words when they translated), and in the context of the New Testament--how has the author of the Scripture used the term in other places or other NT authors used the term. I found the term agape is more than just unconditional love. The Jewish translators used the term agape for the love of God or the Hesed in the Septuagint because it is a choice love. While the other terms for love in Greek mean affection or brotherly love, agape denotes choice. God chose Israel out of all the other nations to love. God chose to love Israel, even though they turned from God, God chose them, loved them, and used them to bring the Messiah.<br />
So how do we love people we disagree with theologically, politically, socially? Its a choice! We choose to love first whether the person will agree with us or disagree. We choose love before we know where they stand. Rachel Held Evans had an interesting post on the subject of disagreeing theologically with people: <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/guest-post-david-nilsen">http://rachelheldevans.com/guest-post-david-nilsen</a> Choosing to love is to give people the benefit of the doubt and allow them to voice their view. That will be a discussion for the next post.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-46655923953968974412011-07-01T04:55:00.000-07:002011-07-01T04:55:04.543-07:00Hell and God's waysEarlier this week, I was at a table with colleagues and the discussion came around to a new book about Hell, responding to Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins." I can't remember the author or the name of the book in rebuttal. All I recall is my colleague highlighting the argument which reinforced his understanding of Hell. So this blog is not a defense of either books, since I have not read either, but a discussion on my friend's argument. My colleague stated the argument which he agreed with was the thought that God's ways are higher than our ways--Isaiah 55:9. And so when we have a problem with God sending someone to Hell, God's ways are higher than our ways.<br />
I have a couple of issues with this argument.<br />
1. Using Isaiah 55:9 in this manner is an easy way out. If you don't agree with me, "well, you know God's ways are higher than our ways, so it may not sound right to you." Those who disagree with the author or my friend's view of Hell could use the same argument against them. "I know you believe that only those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior will be saved, but God can pardon who ever he wants. You know God's ways are higher than our ways." I do not believe we can have complete understanding this side of Glory of all spiritual truths but I don't think we can simply dismiss different views with "God's ways are higher than ours."<br />
2. What is the context of Isaiah 55:9? Isaiah 55 begins "if anyone is thirsty, come and drink." It is an invitation to come back to God. Turn from your wicked ways. Verse 7--right before the "my thoughts are above your thoughts, my ways are above your ways," states, "God will abundantly pardon." What? God's thoughts and ways are above ours.....in the context of God will abundantly pardon. It is not our way to pardon so greatly. It is not in our way to expect to be pardoned for the wrong we have done. But it is God's way. Now this is in no way near a complete exegesis of Isaiah 55. But I think we need to look at the context of a verse before we quote it to back our position. We can and should respect the Bible more than simply using it as a bunch of loosely connected Proverbs we can whip out whenever we need a defense or even a word of encouragement. God's story is much bigger than mere snippets.<br />
So those are my thoughts on my friend's defense on his view of Hell. No, I didn't share it with him at the time. There were an awful lot of social dynamics at play and well, lets say I wasn't comfortable. But I share it with you. What is your take on Isaiah 55 and how we use verse 8-9?Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-33418552902115465102011-06-22T18:51:00.000-07:002011-06-22T18:56:01.313-07:00Weeds in the GardenI would love to start this with the phrase "my gardens are growing...." but I really cannot begin that way. To be brutally honest, I must say the places where there were gardens in my yard are chaotic tangles of flora and fauna. Bushes, flowers, weeds, saplings all compete for a place in the sun. And its a mess. There is nothing inviting about my yard. Outside my front door, I have a visual picture of Matthew 13:24-30--the parable of the wheat and the weeds. The wheat is planted by the Master's workers and then the enemy plants weeds. And the Master tells the workers to allow them to grow up together. This, Jesus said, is what the Kingdom of God is like. Well, my garden is messy because the desired plants are growing up alongside the weeds and thorns. And so, does that mean, God's Kingdom, until Christ returns, is a messy place?<br />
How does that affect what I expect from church? Perhaps grace is the only acceptable response. But I'm not sure how to respond with grace. We all have our pet peeves about church and about Christians.Those things, those sins, those hypocrisies which press our buttons and try our patience. How do we show grace to each other and the world even in the areas that try our patience?Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-26176549487178999772011-06-22T07:49:00.000-07:002011-06-22T14:13:17.803-07:00I just want to love JesusI just want to love Jesus.<br />
But so much gets in the way.<br />
I just want to love Jesus by spending time quietly in prayer and Scripture.<br />
But instead, I press the snooze button or the laundry suddenly becomes a desperate need.<br />
I just want to love Jesus by serving others.<br />
But instead I many times treat people as interruptions to my daily tasks.<br />
I just want to love Jesus in all that I do.<br />
But doctrinal differences, political differences, cultural differences all get in the way.<br />
I just want to love Jesus.<br />
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The Southern Baptist have reinforced their understanding of Hell in light of Rob Bell's book. There are numerous books out to combat Rob Bell's "unorthodox" view. "God's ways are higher than ours so just because an eternal Hell is repugnant to us doesn't mean it isn't God's way." And anyone who doesn't believe in a literal hell is dismissed or better yet, a heretic. We assume we can know completely about Hell, Heaven and all Spiritual Truths beyond any shadow of a doubt. And that assumption drives a wedge between us.<br />
There is the debate over homosexuality. Actually it isn't debated much. We simply talk over each other, around each other, at each other. And somehow, if you believe one way you are a liberal heretic who doesn't take Scripture seriously or you believe the other way, you are ignorant, narrow minded and don't understand Scripture as well as you should. And our assumptions destroy our trusts.<br />
The political realm is heating up for the presidential campaigns. And the Christian propaganda is churning. "We need to save our country, take it back." And we pray God's Kingdom come but we cannot understand why its taking so long to get here despite the fact we seem to be living for the glory of America instead of the glory of God. And our zeal burns so hot, we burn each other.<br />
I just want to love Jesus. I just keep getting in the way. And I just keep letting lesser things get in the way.Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-29487908366833246212011-06-18T17:27:00.000-07:002011-06-18T17:27:00.329-07:00mundane to sacredmarinating in<br />
the mundanity of life<br />
God makes it sacredLeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-36382163460118626072011-06-18T07:17:00.000-07:002011-06-18T15:41:31.820-07:00another haikusun shine prances as<br />
leaves dance in a summer's breeze<br />
calms a stormy soulLeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6185657362594066158.post-25503320174407899922011-06-18T04:51:00.000-07:002011-06-18T04:51:38.040-07:00a HaikuI travel from heights<br />
to the lowest of places,<br />
will you go with me?Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13871113199862816451noreply@blogger.com2