everything goes back to the garden

August 6, 2008 at 5:36 pm (church plant, rant, wife)
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It probably started about a year ago for me (earlier for more scholarly types), but this fact finally settled inside me. It took hold of my thinking and as I moved through life, I found it to be unbelievably true. It was just too simple, almost childlike in concept.

The sins we battle today, the problems we encounter, the issues we face can all be traced back to the garden. Back to the original sin that took place there and ultimately the consequences of that sin handed down by God. Many people call this the curse, however I can’t seem to find God cursing anything but the serpent and the ground for which man will toil.

I don’t believe we are cursed, but we do have to deal with the consequences of that original sin. Everyday. Which is why we desperately need our Lord and Savior.

One of the hot topics of today is the feminization of the church and/or why men don’t go to church.

The church building is too foo-foo. The church building has too many flowers. The worship music is played in keys too high for my voice. The pictures of Jesus are too girly. Everything about the church is done for women.

Seriously? This is what keeps men from church? Flowers and kleenex? When did so many men become such gutless wimps?

The fact is that men, in general haven’t stepped up the ladder to lead in various ministries, so women have filled that gap. However, when men do put their feet on the bottom rungs, women are the first ones to get their hackles up because men are trying to “rule over” what we’ve already done and the fear of being subjugated takes over. The past abuse of authority in the lives of women is still too fresh for many to grow beyond.

So here we are…back to the garden.

The man said, ““The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”” (Genesis 3:12)

The woman You gave me decorated the church with foo-foo and flowers and put kleenex boxes on the chairs and I am making You responsible via her actions for my problem.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ““Did God actually say, ‘‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’’?”” (Genesis 3:1)

Men gave over their responsibilities and we took on leadership (and headship for many) and now, we’re supposed to just bow down and let them have it back? That can’t possibly be what’s written in Your word. No man will ever rule me.

Family issues today.
Marriage problems.
Church divisions about men/women roles in church.
Cultural norms.
All of it…traces back to the garden.

The results in our lives today?
Unaccountability,
Abdicating leadership.
Usurping authority.
Rebellion.
Pride.

I am very thankful for a husband like Derek, who loves God more than he loves excuses. A man who clearly sees what God intended for him from the beginning. A man who can tuck in his shirt, zip up his own pants and walk the path of a Godly man. He isn’t emasculated over a flower pot. He isn’t threatened by worship music. He doesn’t even care about the color of the walls.

He is a godly man in service to the most high God. He is setting an example for other men, who will in turn set the example for other men and so forth and so on.

And my advice to women? If your man is at the bottom rung of the ladder, he can’t get to the top with you standing in his way. You want a godly man to lead? Be a godly woman and let him.

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impact of the spiritual

July 24, 2008 at 8:59 pm (church plant, serving, spiritual battle, spiritual storm)
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What if this is your welcoming committee upon entering the kingdom of heaven:

Convicted felon now teaching bible studies
Meth addicts now praising God
Angry sons and daughters now filled with God’s love
Suicides now sitting at the banquet feast
Adulterers who are forgiven
Rebellious teen turned missionary
Serial killers reconciled to God

I recently viewed a video titled, Cardboard Testimonies. Powerful stuff. Thought provoking. And, in the moment, life changing.

I say “in the moment” because as soon as the next life altering crisis or trauma enters my life, that video will be forgotten. I might remember it as I’m falling asleep, but the impact this video has in my life will not be as weighty as its content warrants.

There are a handful of powerful videos, songs and messages that impact me intensely as I’m watching/listening to them. Every single time. But it would seem that the effect stops there. I don’t carry the message of impact with me into my everyday life. I feel greatly moved, deeply touched and then WHAM! The phone rings, the cat meows or someone else needs to be served and the message of hope and love I was just immersed in is like a vapor in the wind. It’s gone. Just like that.

What is wrong with me? Am I so weak-minded that I can’t stay focused and meditate on these things? Am I so weak-willed that I allow other issues to cloud my mind?

Or…does God have me right where He wants me so that “none may boast…” When I do finally become a mature Christian, it will be so blatantly obvious that it was all due to His work in me, that I am able to do nothing but point others to my Lord and Savior?

Of course, the last option would be my choice. It is, after all the “holy” answer. The answer that makes me feel better about the blackness of my heart. The answer that allows me to continue in the same manner I am, displacing all the pressure of results on God alone.

What do we do with the impact of the worshipful in our lives? How do we share it with others when we can’t get it to stick in our own lives?

I struggle with these things. A lot. I want to be God’s vessel for change, for ministry, for furthering His kingdom. But I’m not sure if I’m the willing vessel for God or simply the vessel of convenience for the emotionalism of this human body.

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holy spirit or magic 8 ball

July 11, 2008 at 8:00 pm (spiritual storm)
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Hasn’t everyone treated the Holy Spirit like one of those Magic 8 Balls we played with as kids?

I mean we all have asked questions expecting immediate and definitive answers to many issues when, in fact the answer itself is progressive. The answer takes some inward work, a heart change or even some outward work such as self control. And yet we want immediate results, instant gratification and pop culture responses.

I wonder what would happen if we actually tried using the Magic 8 Ball instead of waiting on the Holy Spirit.

I desire to live my life in God’s will. So, Magic 8 Ball am I living my life within God’s will?
Magic 8 Ball: Concentrate and Ask Again
okay…eyes squeezed shut…am I living my life within God’s will?
Magic 8 Ball: Outlook Not So Good

I would like to stop working at a job and devote my time to serving in ministry. How’s that looking Magic 8 Ball?
Magic 8 Ball: Reply Hazy, Try Again
I just want to quit my job!
Magic 8 Ball: My Sources Say No

After asking these questions of the Magic 8 Ball, I’m not convinced that the answers are any clearer or better or faster than what the Holy Spirit convicts in us, works through us and comforts our hearts.

For some reason, we have forgotten that most of the time, the progression of working and thinking through an issue is the answer. We forget that our relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is somewhat interactive. It is not always about receiving some divine inspiration, sometimes it’s about giving when in pain and learning from our sins and how to love others as God loves us. It’s not magic and it doesn’t appear to be immediate. But it is for our benefit and for us to glorify God with.

So once again, Magic 8 Ball, is my future hopeful?
Magic 8 Ball: Ask Again Later

Great…out of all the Magic 8 Balls, I get the one with attitude.

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passion re-defined

July 1, 2008 at 9:05 pm (church plant, serving, women's ministry)
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When Christians say or hear the word passion, a few specific things come to mind.

The Passion of Christ - as so vividly demonstrated in the recent movie. Or this question, What is your passion or calling with regard to ministry?

I’m speaking of the latter in today’s blog.

I remember being asked that question many years ago and trying to figure out what it meant. What was I passionate about? What did I get excited about, what rejuvenated me, etc. I always thought it was women’s ministry since the programs, the studies, the events all fit under the banner of women’s ministry and it was really all I knew.

After many years of thinking this way, I just got so frustrated with the same programs, studies and events. Wondering why women were not being reached.

what was wrong with them?
or me?
or anything aside from the actual program, study or event?

Because it couldn’t possibly be those things. Those things had been meticulously thought out by people smarter and much more holy than me. Thought out, put in writing, correlated, stapled, glued and packaged into a neat box, ready to implement with a group of willing women.

Then another epiphany. I seem to be getting these closer together and somewhat more obvious, so the end must truly be near.

But I digress…

I heard an amazing and clarifying word from the Lawd via Shawn Maze, the founding pastor at Sanctuary. An amazing group of people who love the Lord with a great passion.

He spoke of passion in terms of dying for something. Serious terms of being so passionate about something, you would be willing to forfeit your life for it.

Wow.

Jesus did it. That must be why it’s called His Passion. He loved us and was so passionate about the Father, that Jesus died for it. For us.

Well, I can tell you. That changes the way I view my passion for anything now. I am surely not willing to die for a program or a study or even an event. I am not willing to die for a building or a tradition. I’m not even certain I’d die for an ideal or even the baby seals, no matter how many signatures were on the petition.

But I would put my life on the line for the Truth. The Truth that is Jesus. The truth that is the body of Christ.

So, what am I passionate about? What would I be willing to sacrifice my life for?

It goes without saying that I would give up my life for my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my parents, my brother and sister and any other family member.

However, I wanted to talk about the non-obvious…

I am passionate about those women who have been shot in the foot by other Christians. Those women who have been dissed by their Christian sisters in the name of homeschooling or some other ridiculously unbiblical cliche. And no…homeschooling is not unbiblical but making it a cliche to keep others out most certainly is.

I’d put my life on the line for those women who suffer, those women who stumble through life just looking for a kind word, a loving smile and genuine relationship.

My passion is for women who don’t know what they’re missing when they focus on anything but Jesus. When they find greater satisfaction in things of this world than their Lord and Savior.

My passion is for those dear sisters who don’t know that they are loved. They don’t know that others feel what they feel. Other women have been through what they have been through.

And through it all…they are loved by a God with a passion for them. A passion that I finally get. A passion that has now been adequately defined.

A passion for redemptive relationships.

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green is no longer mean

June 27, 2008 at 8:35 pm (rant)
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After reading page after page of the revitalization of being Green, and as a former Green’er I just can’t resist blabbing about it.

So, what is up with the reintroduction of Green?

I feel like I fell into a time warp and landed smack in the middle of a Greenpeace rally. I am also shocked to learn that today’s Green is not the same as yesteryear’s Green.

Yesteryear’s Green was all about joining Amnesty International and chaining oneself to a tree or a whale or even a baby seal. It was about anger. Anger at the injustice shown to the world we had been left in charge of since the Garden of Eden. Anger at big business overtaking the world with a bulldozer and barrel full of toxic waste.

Today’s Green seems to be more about things like recycling tuna cans or using solar power. I think that’s great - we need to turn tuna into some kind of power source. The smell alone could power a small vehicle for days.

My point is: where is the righteous indignation at the atrocities mankind has done to the environment in the name of big bucks and big business.

Seriously, take a look back at the 60’s-70’s tree huggers and then fast forward to the tree huggers of today…what happened? It’s like everyone got neutered.

I went from angry, tree-hugging vegetarian to going with the flow for many years now, but am ready to get back on the Green horse and wagon. I have a few products that when used up…well, they’ll just be used up and I won’t be buying any more. I’m nearly rid of all the plastic grocery store bags, too.

I’ve made the plunge into buying those really cool canvas bags for toting groceries and other purchased items, figuring the one time cost will certainly outweigh any future damage to the planet by my hands. I had to find just the right color with the correct lettering so people would admire me for being so Green. After all, we as Christians were left in charge as caretakers of this world and what have we done with it? Might as well be Green with style.

So, I think I’m all set for a Green future with cloth napkins, reusable flatware and plates along with a canvas tote bag and earth friendly cleaning products.

Now all I have to is arm myself with a cell phone, iPod, palm pilot, blackberry, blueberry and any other radioactive or unstable piece of technology that I have available.

That should just about do it. I still don’t know what to do with this big chain I saved for tree huggin’.

Peace y’all.

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first storm of the battle

June 23, 2008 at 6:42 pm (church plant, spiritual battle, spiritual storm)

Have you ever had one of those defining moments? An epiphany of sorts, a sudden and intuitive realization.

One that was undeniable, even undesirable and yet you knew something had changed..

There was no warning. No forethought of the dark clouds. No anticipation of any change in temperature. Just one of those storms that rumbles in and astounds you with it’s ferocity. You find yourself in the aftermath of broken branches and overturned flower pots - wondering what happened? Where did all that come from?

Storms are not fun, they wreak havoc in our lives while they are moving through. They can cause panic, anxiety, even physical pain. Storms are no picnic. But storms do clear out the cobwebs, dust off the dirt and leave us with a sense newness that we get to re-group, re-think and possibly re-do in preparation for the next one.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing……12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Today I look behind me at the storm that has already passed, and the piles of brokenness left behind. Piles of emotions that just sit there, waiting on the spiritual cleansing that only God can give. Not understanding why some storms carry considerable debris within them and why so much is left behind rather than being washed away clean.

Then there it is.

That wonderful smell. The aroma of protection, the scent of relief. The wonderful smell of clean air and rain, wet grass, wet pavement, wet dirt and maybe even a wet cat. (Okay, maybe not the cat.)

But you can’t deny there is definitely a smell when the rains are gone and the coolness of the water drips from every leaf. There is a cleanness that wasn’t there before the storm. There is a freshness that has been uncovered.

Derek has been heard to say on many occasions, “I’ve not heard of anyone receiving Christ right after winning the lottery.”

Nope, we are drawn to God in the midst of our thunderstorms. During those spiritual flashes that remind us of the Gospel and bring us back to the Truth. The storms that bring us to our knees in confession, repentance, adoration and selflessness.

This first storm of the spiritual battle has come and gone. I am stronger for it and I’m healthier because of it. I get it now. The storms are for my benefit. They are actually a grace shown to me by God for the protection of His people. I can’t attack a storm with wind and rain, but I can certainly stand strengthened under the protective cover of God’ word.

Something has changed. An epiphany has happened. I am more aware of being made in His image and not in the image of “approval” or the “fear of man.” I am a new creation in Christ. My position is one of spiritual authority over satan and is supported by the unity within the Body of Christ.

The battleground might be invisible, but it is definitely real and it is now.

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ye ole worship video shop

June 20, 2008 at 7:34 pm (music)

This week I’m sharing some of my most favorite songs with y’all. I took refuge into music this week as the spiritual battle is just heating up. I will write more about that later, but for now I am sharing my heart with you through music.

One of the most powerful songs and videos on the net. Jeremy Camp is one of favorites - his testimony is awesome.

Dave Crowder reminds me who I am serving
(besides, ya gotta love the hair…)

This one is written by Chris Tomlin, but I think this is Matt Redman singing - who cares? It’s fabulous!

Last one…this is just good for my soul to be reminded of who I am
(and I would really like to see the movie, too.)

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community of saints

June 13, 2008 at 3:48 pm (church plant)

What does that mean? Is it limited to a local body of believers? Is it a label we use to describe church membership? What exactly does the term, Community of Saints bring to mind?

1 John 3:11-18 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (Emphasis mine)

This is what community is. This is what community will be at Oasis. The body of Christ, the community of saints, in my opinion is not limited to membership or tithing or some other prerequisite that tradition dictates. If a fellow brother or sister in the Lord has a need that I have been made aware of, then I am responsible to an Almighty God to take action regardless of their religious or denominational affiliation.

On a random rant, I am so grieved and angry (maybe even righteously so) that so many of the churches today give lip service to community, give lip service to serving their members, give lip service to pretty much all of the “one anothers” in scripture, but can’t be bothered with actually doing anything about it. Living in community is not convenient, it might take a sacrifice or two. Do you think Jesus with His arms outstretched on the cross knows exactly how ya feel? duh…

Make the willing sacrifice, do what God has commanded you to do and get over your pettiness.

Isn’t that the very core of the Community of Saints? Living life out loud. Sometimes, very loud - warts and all. We work alongside each other in ministry and service to others and to each other. We do it with a genuine love. Not because it is a duty, but because it is a privilege to do so as a fellow brother or sister in the Lord.

The expectation of spiritual attacks in our daily lives as Christians becomes almost normal as we mature. Unfortunately, the origin of those attacks can take us by surprise. And the personal affect of those attacks can break our hearts and destroy relationships.

The love and community we will be sharing throughout Oasis might sometimes be misunderstood. But it will be up to us as the body of believers to remain strong, steadfast and filled with compassion for those we are loving on, living with and serving.

I can’t wait!

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babies and their bathwater

June 6, 2008 at 6:26 pm (rant)
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How many times have we heard, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater?” And how many times have you scratched your head and thought, “what baby?”

I do nearly every time I hear this phrase. Usually because of the context of the conversation and the fact that this phrase makes little sense to me. The actual meaning states: to get rid of the good parts as well as the bad parts of something when you are trying to make improvements.

So how does this phrase get used in Christian circles today?

I know you were waiting to see how I was going to parlay that one into a spiritual discussion.

A perfect example is ridding the church of today’s pop psychology. I’m not talking about medical conditions, I am talking about convenient labels, excuses for behaviors and an overall worship of what a man in a lab coat says over what the God of the universe has already stated.

When psychology/psychiatry is combined with the bible or you actually use the belief system (meaning Christianity) of a state licensed psychologist/psychiatrist as a descriptive label, i.e. “Christian” Psychologist/Psychiatrist then you get what is commonly referred to as an Integrationist - someone who attempts to take what they learned for their state license (complete with Freud, Jung, Wundt and a host of others) and fuse it with the “principles” of scripture. Confusing? Absolutely.

I’m addressing the baby of sound doctrine and the bathwater of psycho-babbled nonsense that inhibits the Gospel and weakens the body of Christ. The bathwater that encourages us to look to labels and personality tests rather than God’s word and the instruction found there. The bathwater that does not include spiritual affirmation within the body.

But the baby states very clearly:
2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

The bathwater further frustrates the Gospel in our lives by allowing us the sinful excuse to blame our past for the way we live our lives today. We can justify and rationalize our behavior because of some past abuse or the way our parents raised us or because we didn’t get enough ice cream as a child. Who knows…everybody’s got some traumatic experience relevant only to them. (And I am not making light of any real tragedy in someone’s life - I am addressing the dwelling on the past via whatever excuse we might have in the present.)

However, once we have learned the truth of our sinful hearts, the godly way to handle our past and even the biblical way to move through life . . . then, we become responsible for it. We no longer have the convenience of “blame” and therefore, as Christians we must look to God’s word for the answers. We find and know the Truth and the Truth should lead to obedience. The Truth never encourages us to wallow in our past. I capitalize Truth because in scripture it is referring directly to Jesus as the Truth.

So, while we are encouraged by many of our Integrated friends to not be so hard on ourselves because of something in our past, we must first look to God’s word as our foundation and learn what is at the heart of our current state. I know for me, it’s usually a pride issue or at the very least an area in my life that I am clinging to because I don’t want to do the work it takes to rid myself of it. Laziness. Sloth.

Many of us are like that. Yes, we can be free from depression, but it’ll take some work. I will have to admit my own sin in the midst of my suffering in order to gain clarity about it. I will have to confess any unforgiveness and move through obedience and trust God for that outcome. It’s work and there’s always the personal luggage that we’ve dragged behind us for so long, we can’t even begin to think who we’d be without it.

Can’t I just take the blue pill?

God has reassured us of our freedom. Part of that freedom is having the faith to trust God!

So, throwing out the baby with the bathwater?

The reality is that I love the baby too much to NOT throw out the bathwater.

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if we are the body

June 3, 2008 at 8:12 pm (church plant, evangelism)
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I read one magazine. Only one. Real Simple and yes, I do take a little too much pride in the fact of buying just one magazine per month. Course, that one magazine is like $5 or something ridiculous.

This months edition has a great article in it about improving relationships by listening. I mean it. It’s very practical, simple language, great application. So why does that article set my teeth a little on edge? Why do I wish that magazines and other such publications would just stick to issues of politics and economics or the latest recipe of the month?

Because…

Because in my most personal of opinions, Christians should be the ones leading the pack and demonstrating to the world how to improve relationships. Seriously, we have the owner’s manual for it and yet, how many times is a Christian the last person we want to hear from regarding relationships. Why is that?

What have we, as a church culture, so misrepresented to the world that it’s not even interested in asking us about our lives or our convictions?

Well, let’s see …

Do our marriages show Jesus as alive and well? When’s the last time you heard a wife (even in a church setting) say something nice about her husband in a public way and not quickly apologize for it. Many women feel embarrassed that their marriages are good. It’s far too trendy to complain about everything. How many women would be so blessed to hear about how wonderful marriage is, how strong the committment is and how loved they feel.

Do we as parents show Jesus to our children? Has anyone ever heard a parent or anyone else, for that matter say something good about a teenager. What we normally hear are groans and mutterings and a little fear slipping into our lives when it comes to the dreaded teen years. I’ve done it myself. Someone tells me they have a teenager and I’ve found myself responding with a humorous, “I’m so sorry…” That might get a smile, but it’s certainly not very godly. Has anyone bothered to actually have a conversation with a teenager without turning it into a debate. Teens love to talk about fashion, music, sports, where they might live after they leave home…anything. Just let them talk. And then shut up.

Do we as Christians love our neighbors? Do we really? Would you be willing to drive a neighbor to work for a week if they lost their car? Would you include them in your meals for a month, if their health went downhill? Would you do more than wave, more than a fleeting prayer, more than a dismissive “how are ya” when you see them? All this without a bitter thought, an angry comment or some harbored resentment.

Do we as Christians love the Lord? Openly, with conviction and without reservation?
I have a book study every other week at a local coffee shop. Along with my book, I also bring my bible. There has been a time or two when walking into the crowded shop, I’ve thought to minimize the fact that I have a bible in my hand. Even if I don’t do anything about it, I still have the thought of wondering if anyone is staring at the lady with the huge purse and big bible. What’s that all about?

I don’t know why. I love the Lord. I’m not afraid to pray in public. I’m not afraid to talk about Jesus. So why…why does that initial entrance just make me twinge ever so slightly?

hmmmm ::evasive maneuver:: well, that’s enough about me…

Back to the original thought of something about magazines and Christians having the owner’s manual. Oh yeah…

What does it say? Open it up, read it, check the index for words that lead to verses that in context, will help you grow. Become convicted. Have spiritual conversations.

If we want to impact our communities, we gotta get our hearts right. We have to learn to listen to people with real interest, with a genuineness of heart and spirit. Listen to their emotions, listen to what is left unspoken. Get rid of the scarlet letters and targets on their foreheads. Allow our marriages to be examples, allow our teens to serve and take ownership in our church body and community.

Let us, as His Body be the dearest place on earth.

I love this song by Casting Crowns - Derek and I were singing it on the way to dinner and a movie Saturday. It’s perfect for today.

yes, yes, I stole the dearest place on earth from CJ Mahaney…although, I’m sure he won’t mind.

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