It is hard to believe that this happened in 2009...

A woman who is being installed as the pastor of a local church received a smack-down letter from another pastor in her town. (She is ELCA, he is Baptist.) The outright prejudice and gall of the other pastor is, well, appalling.

And I will just let you read it... here.

If you are so inclined, please leave her a love note. And pray that we will all live out Christ's command...

"A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35

Pop Quiz

It would help if I could spell AND type fast. But not bad... and it was interesting what I forgot! Try it and let me know how you did! (Probably your fifth grader will beat me, but oh well..)

62

The Weapon of Love

Photo by Barbara Gluck
taken during the Vietnam War

Use only the weapon of love and let no man pull you so low as to hate him. Look at your oppressor hard enough to see in him something of God's image; yes, it might be just a spark, but if you work on him long enough, it can develop into a leaping flame.

-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in
Paul's Letter to American Christians (1956)

THANKS...

THANKS!!!
for your encouragement and your interest in our mission trip to France... This is the celebration video that Bill (our worship and arts pastor) put together for our church... but I'm linking it here.

If you look vewy vewy carefully, you will find me...



Deb

Home.

Home. Tired. Dirty clothes and wine unpacked. Must. find. bed. More later...
And yes. BEAUCOUP pictures to share. And stories. Soon.

Love,
Deb

Crazed

IT'S FINALLY TIME!!!!

No, I'm not packed, finished with my paper, my sermon or the chores that need doing before I go. It's gonna be a LOoooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggg night. And an early morning. ai yi yiiiiiii!

We are leaving for France tomorrow, right after church!!!!!!!!!! I am on a team with 8 super folks. It is going to be fun, hard work, exhausting and exhilarating. Catch you when we're back!

Deb

fun vs. madness

As this rant begins, please understand that I like to have fun. I like to dress up. I've bought my share of Disney costumes because "nothing else" would do.

We've handled Hallowe'en different ways. We've just gone to a "holy" Hallowe'en party at a church (aka "Harvest Party" or "Trick or Trunk" which takes the holiday and plasters it with Bible characters.) We've been at a friend's house. We've walked our kids around the neighborhood and socialized with friends... and we've gone away for the weekend. I've sewn elaborate costumes, and created simple ones. This year I have done nothing to help the girls with their costumes... they both had their own ideas. One is dressed as "Polly" from "An Acceptable Time" and the other one is "A Paradise Lost" (A pair of dice- lost). I am going to be "Miss Understood". Tiara, scepter and regal banner across my chest.

It was the article in the Washington Post yesterday on the highly hyped and sexied-up costumes for our girls that first got my thoughts whirling. Though I don't know what took so long to get people's attention, because I have been distressed by some of this "tarting up" of Hallowe'en (not my favorite holiday, anyway.)

I wonder why we feel the need to give in to these whims of our kids, especially our girls. Why we let them bare their bellies or wear fishnets and high heels. Yes, it is only make-believe. Yes, they can pretend. But do you really REALLY want your 10 year old to be dressed up as a "french maid"? Or as some kind of "fairy-licious" creature who is showing more skin than they do in a bathing suit? Why is it that boys don't seem to feel the need to accentuate their various body parts?? Google "pre-teen Halloween" and see what I mean...

There is a line between being a prude, being creative, and being exploitative. I don't know as I have figured that one out yet. But there's one thing I do hope becomes clear...

I hope parents will finally realize that most of the costumes out there are market-driven, product placement cheap "made-in-prison-factories" outfits. They are not creative. They are not fun. They sell movies. They capitalize on games. This is all OK, I guess, as long as you can see yourself as a market-driven pawn.

I really dislike it. (That summation was in case I wasn't clear...)

heehee...

Deb

sometimes I won't lock-step

I got one of these emails that we all probably get...

"I wanted to alert you to this terrible _______ (movie/book/product/activity) that is being promoted. It will destroy our children's faith and bring us all into heresy if we _______________ (watch it/read it/use it/do it). Tell all of your friends to boycott ________________!"

NOTE: This is not an actual email.
This is similar to many I have received.

OK. It's time for a mild rant...

First of all, I have usually deleted without a thought the emails that suggest I don't love Jesus if I don't forward whatever someone has sent with with artsy-fartsy graphics and glitter text, with a Bible verse tacked on the end. I do love Jesus. I just don't think He wants to see His Name linked with this stuff. And I also don't like the ones that expect me to send it back to you if you are my BFFIJC - (...for those of you not in the know, that "Best Friend Forever In Jesus Christ.") And if you have sent me these emails, I apologize for being so rude about it. But I am still your friend if I don't send it back to you. I promise.

Second, I really, REALLY dislike Bible verses used out of context. And in these kinds of emails, they usually are. Don't make me get out my commentaries and use them on you.

Third, I don't think that just because a leading Christian organization or speaker doesn't like a specific movie/book/product/activity excuses me from the right to use my own MIND and DISCERNMENT to prayerfully evaluate it. Your life may require that you abstain from things like this. Or, your personality make-up may cause you to struggle with certain things that don't bother me. (And to be honest, the reverse may be true.) I think in these cases, it calls for acceptance that others may interpret the "shoulds" differently that you or I do. And it's OK. Really.

That's it. I'm done. (Stick a fork in me...)

Deb

A Coalition? or a Reaction?

I am intrigued by the recent establishment of "The Gospel Coalition". Apparently, the likes of John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, Mark Driscoll and D.A. Carson felt that the "modern evangelical church" was "drifting away" from the constructs and designs of Her "roots."

A recent conference, attended by fifty men who comprise a "Who's Who" of evangelical conservatism, announced a call to reform and renewal in the evangelical church today. The head shots of forty male "stakeholders" are comprised of two African-Americans, three or four of Asian descent and the rest were the majority: white males with a few Hispanic pastors sprinkled in for diversity.

What is more noteworthy are the faces and names of those who are NOT on their website. Names like N.T. Wright, T.D. Jakes, Bill Hybels, and Brian McLaren. This is what gives me hope. Brighter, better trained minds than mine can see through the smoke screen! The "finger in the dyke" mentality is being rejected in favor of a truly Biblical world view and living out of the Christian faith.

Why am I "intrigued" by this? Shouldn't I be outraged?

I see this as another sign of the defensive posturing and a reactionary attitude of many in the Church towards the egalitarian work of men and women in ministry.

Also, I guess I have come to see that I am not, and will never be, invited to scratch in their sand box. I'm not about to start a war of words with those who have established and successful "churches." They hold the credentials card and I acknowledge that. But though they may command large congregations with big budgets, that is not how they will be Judged as successful. Or noteworthy. Or influential in the grand scheme of things.

I will agree on the need for the personal renewal for all who call themselves followers of Jesus. I will affirm their statements that the Church exists to be a witness of Jesus Christ to our world, and that we have lapsed into a comfortable, self-centered existence. I will pray for the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct any of us who are involved in Church leadership and nurturing of the sheep. And, I will ask for God to convict us all in our areas of blind spots and misguided theology.

The rest of their actions will be judged by God now, and by history. If this indeed a "reaction" and not a "coalition" then we will all know. Soon. And no amount of defensiveness on my part or theirs will be able to stop the movement of God in the Church.

Deb