Summer Blogging

Why does it seem like summer is such a more difficult time for me to blog? After all, the days are longer and I should have more time on my hands right? Right! But I have grass to mow and kids who are home from school to chase around and things to fix...So maybe I shoudl just wait for school to start up again and then start blogging. Or maybe I shoudl wait for the snow to start falling...then I'll have more time on my hands right? All cuddled up inside my house with nothing else to do except sip hot cocoa and blog right? So what do I do right now in the middle of the summer? Is anyone home reading this stuff anyway? Maybe it's all just a waste of time...or is it? What am I trying to accomplish by sharing my life with people like this anyway?

Silence is Golden

Every year I try to take a few days just to get away and be quiet. I think it's important for me to learn the discipline of silence. I work with people every day. I talk to a lot of people. I love people. But becasue I use my mouth so much, I also need to learn how not to use it. Silence is tough work. Learning to be quiet with God and do nothing is a challenge. But silence also brings my soul back to life again. It lets me "breathe" spiritually. On Nov. 3-6, 2008 I will be taking my annual trip to Gethsemane Monastery in Trappist, KY for a few days of absolute silence. Gethsemane has been a silent monastery since 1848 and they set aside separate weeks for men and women to come down and enjoy the silence with God. If you'd like to join me, just let me know. There may be some openings still available...

The Body of the Resurrection

Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead to eternal life. His resurrected body was very different from the body He was born with. He was still recognizable by his disciples, but He had the ability to walk through walls. He still bore the wounds of His crucifixion, but He could still share a meal with his disciples on the beach. His new body was very unusual. He didn't seem to have the same limitations as He did before. And to think that one day, we will receive a new body in the resurrection as well! Jesus was the first to receive this new body that will never die again, but He certainly won't be the last. We who choose to follow Christ with our lives will receive this new body as well. I can't wait for that day!

What's All the Buzz About "The Shack"?

Have you heard anything about this book The Shack? It seems like everywhere I turn people are talking about it. Some love it, and are deeply moved by the story. Others are bothered by the potential theological ramifications that may come out of the book. A few weeks ago I read an article about the book in the USA Today and heard many different peoples' opinions about the book, so I decided to pick up a copy for myself and read it. (I have a pet peeve over people who critique things they've never read themselves...) And I've got to tell you, the book was hard for me to put down! The story gripped me form the very first page and brought me to tears on a few different occassions. It caused me to ask myself questions like: What is God really like anyway? How does the Trinity interact? Does God really care about my hurt and my pain? I would encourage you to pick up a copy and read it for yourself. And then...let's talk about it together! I know it will stimulate some good discussion!

The Power of the Gospel

The power of the gospel lies not in the offer of a new spirituality or religious experience, not in the threat of hellfire (certainly not in the threat of being "left behind"), which can be removed if only the hearer checks this box, says this prayer, raises a hand, or whatever, but in the powerful announcement that God is God, that Jesus is Lord, that the powers of evil have been defeated, that God's new world has begun." N.T. Wright - Surprised by Hope, p. 227

Evangelism?

I've been forming a friendship with a guy over the past year in order to show him the love of Jesus in a practical way. He knows I'm a follower of Christ. Today he shared with me that one of his clients came in yesterday and basically asked him: "If you were to die tonight, how could you be sure you'd be going to heaven with God?" He didn't have an immediate answer and this person went on to point out how he was sinful and probably on his way to hell unless he repents. This person kept at it pretty hard until my friend had to walk away. I asked him how he felt about the experience and he said he's never felt more attacked in his life. He asked me if this was how all Christians behaved. I apologized and said I hoped not.

Where does someone come up with that kind of stuff? Why do they feel like they're the Judge in another person's life? What gives them that rite? Isn't just really a form of Idolatry for someone to set themselves up in a position of judgment in another person's life? And why do so many "Christians" feel compelled to "save the entire world" before they die? Isn't that God's job? Isn't our job to love people with the love of Jesus Christ and serve them and offer them hope?

I feel like the time I've invested with my friend was severely damaged by this person and I'm pretty frustrated about it...