Life is messy, people are messy … and the church is therefore messy. But would we want it any other way? If the church were perfect, that would simply mean we had stopped letting in the world’s wounded … that we had stopped being a triage space for the desperate, the needy, the oppressed, the orphaned, the widow. May it never be so.
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Messy Church
Friday, April 11, 2008
Build Homes, Feed the Hungry in Mamelodi, South Africa
... and never leave your home! Jeff and I have commited to going to Mamelodi, South Africa this coming November. How can you help and what will we be doing? We're glad you asked! (Well, maybe you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you anyway!)Please read on. (The following is the FAQ from our church's website. (The links in the copied FAQ below are disabled. Please click on the GO Mamelodi website for access to more information.)
GO ahead and ask.
Quick Facts
DESTINATION: Mamelodi, South Africa
DATES: Nov 13-22, or Nov 20-29, 2008
DAMAGE: (breathe in) $3000 for one week. $4500 for two weeks. (breathe out…more below)
DEADLINE: 5/5 at 5pm for all applications and deposits
The Important Stuff
(You should know this)
Where are we headed?
Mamelodi, South Africa—A community of one million people about a half hour outside of Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. This is where our partner church, Charity & Faith Mission Church, is located. It’s a place overrun with serious problems like HIV and extreme poverty, as well as serious (serious!) dancing, singing and joy. We guarantee you’ve never been anywhere like it. If you're interested in more background on our South African partnership, you can read this.
Why are we going?
Because when a lot of us GO, God shows up…and we want to see what happens this time around. Also, we are in year four of our partnership (see background document) and we want to throw some fuel on that fire. We are specifically going to create more friendships, build homes, plant food, develop more infrastructure, love on kids and do pretty much anything else we can think of to make a difference.
When are we going?
Group 1 leaves Cincinnati on Thursday, November 13, returning on Saturday, November 22. Group 2 leaves Cincinnati on Thursday, November 20, returning on Saturday, November 29 (two days after Thanksgiving). You can preference either week, and, if we have space, people can go for both weeks at an additional cost. We are going in November because 1) it’s cheaper to go in the fall (see below), 2) it takes less vacation time if you use the Thanksgiving holiday, and 3) based on current plans this is probably your last chance to travel on a big trip to Mamelodi until early 2010…don’t miss it!
***Jeff and I will be heading out for the second week. What's especially cool about this week is that it is our 5th wedding anniversary and it falls on the same exact same day as the day we got married in 2003; the same Wednesday before Thanksgiving on November 26 (Thanksgiving is the 27th this year), just like in 2003 when we got married! What an awesome way to spend celebrating our love for God and each other ... by sharing that love with the people in South Africa!***
Who can go?
We have space for up to 200 participants each week. If we have more than 400 sign up we will hold a random lottery to pick who gets to go (though that has never happened). This trip is for anyone—Crossroads people, non-Crossroads people, friends and family from out of town, people from all over the faith spectrum—basically any person who wants to serve others. The only requirement is that you are 18 years old (or 13 years old with a parent or guardian). And groups of two or more, like families or small groups, can let us know they'd like to travel and work together.
How much does it cost?
$3000 for one week. $4500 for two weeks. This covers your flight, hotel, meals, work supplies and activities. Stuff not covered are things like souvenirs, snacks at the airport, passport fees (if you need a new one) and shots (if you decide to get them). Also, because we are going in the fall, our per person trip cost is $500 cheaper from what it was the last two years. Wahoo! Love those fall airline prices!
What if I don’t have that much money?
Join the club. We have a handshake. Close to 90% of people who have been to Mamelodi did not have the funds sitting in their bank account when they decided to go. And nearly everyone raised the funds. Don’t let money stop you. Raising money is actually a very cool part of this experience. We’ll talk a lot more about the finance stuff—and help you generate ideas for how to raise funds. We have an awesome web system that helps with this process, and a little faith goes a long way. Have some and see what happens.
Is there a deposit?
Of course. Airlines and hotels demand one and so must we. The deposit is $300 per person ($450 for two weekers) and is due with your application. It can be paid online via credit/debit card, or via check (mailed to Crossroads or dropped off in the office with “GO Mamelodi – your name” in the memo). And the deposit is non-refundable (unless you lose a lottery) because it costs us that much to change your tickets if you cancel. If you don’t have this much money readily available, but truly feel called to go, please talk to us.
How do I sign up?
Fill out an application no later than May 5 at 5pm. We’ll ask you all kinds of questions like if you’re part of a group, who you’d like as your roommate, what you want to work on, if you smell and so on. Once you complete your application, you will need to pay your deposit of $300, either online or by mailing a check. Applications are not complete until the deposit is received in the Crossroads office. All applicants will be contacted by May 9 to confirm their trip participation.
The Other Stuff
(More info to convince you that we know what we're doing)
What work will I be doing?
We’re not totally sure. Most participants will be put on one of our three main teams: construction, planting food or working with kids. We can’t guarantee where you’ll be working, or exactly what you’ll be doing because our work changes based on need (as identified by Titus). People have had awesome experiences on all three teams. Also, we form small teams of trained professionals (i.e. medical, business, IT, etc.) called SWAT teams to help transfer skills and do more specialized work. See the application for more details.
***The teams we plan on serving on will be different for both of us. Jeff will be on the IT SWAT team, helping to set up computers and teaching the South Africans how to use them. This is huge in helping them get online in more areas, helping to create jobs and businesses, foster independence, and move towards relieving the devastating poverty of Mamelodi. I will most likely be spending time serving the children there. Children in poverty and AIDS stricken Mamelodi rarely get the love and attention they desperately need. The percentage of children orphaned by AIDS is staggering and the percentage of children stricken with AIDS is devastating. Those who are fortunate to not be orphaned are often left on their own as the parent(s) work hard to support their families. Then again, I may be planting food gardens or building homes! Both of us will be available to serve where the need is the greatest.***
What else are we doing in South Africa?
Seriously? Geesh. We will go on a safari, go to an African market, go to the Apartheid Museum, some of us will celebrate Thanksgiving African style (do they even have turkeys?), go to worship services in tents, eat bugs (joke), stay a night in people’s homes (only if you want to) and generally have a seriously awesome adventure. Let’s just see what happens.
Will I have to preach or pray in front of people?
Not unless you want to. This trip is for everyone, regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. You will not be required to do anything you are not comfortable doing back at home.
What is the travel like?
It takes about 24 hours to get there. It’s a great time to catch up on sleep, talk to the 100 or so people you are traveling with, read, watch movies on your 21st century in-seat entertainment system, listen to every song on your iPod twice, or just do nothing…which you probably haven’t done in a long time. Everyone departs from Cincinnati or Dayton (out-of-towners need to get themselves here) and lands in Johannesburg. And you will fly on a commercial airline, most likely Delta or South African Airways.
Can I use miles, fly in first-class, or make my own travel plans?
Nope. We are taking this trip as one group with one mission. And that means we work together, eat together and travel in the back of the plane together. Because of the complexities of getting 400 people to the other side of the world, all of our travel plans are centrally booked. No exceptions. You will, however, earn many thousands of miles for your flights. So that’s kinda cool.
Where are we staying?
In a Holiday Inn-type hotel in the city of Pretoria, about 30 minutes from Mamelodi. You’ll have access to the basic stuff – showers, beds, food, strangely compelling Afro-Euro TV programming, etc. We will eat breakfast and dinner together at the hotel. And yes, you will have a roommate. And no, there is no shacking up in co-ed rooms unless you are married.
Is it safe in South Africa?
Of the hundreds of people who have been to Mamelodi before, not a single person has had a serious incident. If you are smart, you will be perfectly fine. We will always travel in groups, and we will always have people with us who speak the many languages (English is common). You’ll probably need to get some standard shots (that’s up to your doctor), and we’ll have plenty of water available. And the only place you will see an animal that is capable of eating you is on the safari…where you’ll be in a big truck.
What if I can’t do the work?
While we have jobs for all skill sets, ages and 5k times, please know that the trip can be exhausting. We will be on our feet a lot, getting up early, and the 18 or so hours in a plane is an obstacle we can’t change. If you have concerns about your physical situation, please talk to us. We want everyone to go, but if you ignore your physical limitations up front, you could end up being miserable.
What is the trip preparation like?
We will have a series of meetings (approx. one per month) leading up to the trip, where you will learn more about South Africa, learn more about what we are doing, meet others who are going on the trip and just have a good time. We also have a website full of trip resources. Out-of-town people will have a special coordinator assigned to keep them in the loop via e-mail so they don’t have to keep coming to the ‘Nati.
Anything else you really want to tell me?
Thanks for asking. If you want to take a vacation to South Africa, then we encourage you to do so. It’s beautiful. That being said, this is not that trip. Deciding to go with us means you want to be a part of our mission to change the world. In pursuit of that group goal, however, you may not get to do everything you want to do in the way you like to do things. It’s a posture of submitting to something bigger than yourself. But if you do it, we promise an incredible experience! We can do more together than we can as individuals.
***How can you help us change the world? Well, we need your prayers and we need your money! Please ... if you were considering any gifts to us this year (birthdays, anniversary, Christmas ... or even if you weren't!), we ask that you please redistribute that money towards this trip. Checks can made out to Crossroads and are 100% tax deductible. Once our deposit is raised and paid (by May 5th, in case you forgot. Hehe.), contributions can be made online to our account. Your contributions go far beyond changing our lives and rocking our world forever ... they go towards combatting poverty, providing health care, shelter, food, love, and so much more to an entire village impacted by life-shattering poverty, sickness, and oppression.
Checks should be made out to Crossroads and mailed to Crossroads,ATTN. GO MAMELODI, 3500 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45209. Please write our names (Jeff and Joyce Kendrick/Go Mamelodi) in the memo).
We thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support! And please know that no contribution is too small (or too large. We like the large contributions, too!)
We love you!***
Friday, April 4, 2008
Before I speak
I love prayer. Anyone who knows me well knows that prayer is a passion of mine. I consider it a privilege to be able to talk freely and honestly to God about everything in my life; my fears, doubts, longings, desires, failures, victories, friends, family, petitions for others and myself ... oh, the list never ends!
I am so blessed that the Lord has called me to use certain gifts that He has given me to honor Him and bless others. This morning He really convicted and challenged me about how I use those gifts ... and when. What He taught me today is that in order to use those gifts effectively, I need to make sure of one thing: that I spend much time before Him in prayer before I even open my mouth.
No surprise to those of you who happen to read my blog occasionally, God brought this to my attention through my daily devotion from Tozer. Here it is.
April 4
Prayer: Long Before the Lord
But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. --Exodus 34:34
It is written of Moses that he "went in before the Lord to speak with him...and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel." This is the Biblical norm from which we depart to our own undoing and to the everlasting injury of the souls of men. No man has any moral right to go before the people who has not first been long before the Lord. No man has any right to speak to men about God who has not first spoken to God about men. [Emphasis mine] And the prophet of God should spend more time in the secret place praying than he spends in the public place preaching....
One swallow does not make a spring nor one hot day a summer; nor will a few minutes of frantic praying before service bring out the tender buds or make the flowers to appear on the earth. The field must be soaked in sunshine over a long period before it will give forth its treasures. The Christian's heart must be soaked in prayer before the true spiritual fruits begin to grow. The Root of the Righteous, 121-122.
"Lord, it seems like much of what we've been emphasizing all year requires that we slow down from our frantic pace. It takes great spiritual discipline to 'spend more time in the secret place praying than we spend in the public place preaching.' Quiet my heart today, slow me down I pray. Amen."
I am so blessed that the Lord has called me to use certain gifts that He has given me to honor Him and bless others. This morning He really convicted and challenged me about how I use those gifts ... and when. What He taught me today is that in order to use those gifts effectively, I need to make sure of one thing: that I spend much time before Him in prayer before I even open my mouth.
No surprise to those of you who happen to read my blog occasionally, God brought this to my attention through my daily devotion from Tozer. Here it is.
April 4
Prayer: Long Before the Lord
But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. --Exodus 34:34
It is written of Moses that he "went in before the Lord to speak with him...and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel." This is the Biblical norm from which we depart to our own undoing and to the everlasting injury of the souls of men. No man has any moral right to go before the people who has not first been long before the Lord. No man has any right to speak to men about God who has not first spoken to God about men. [Emphasis mine] And the prophet of God should spend more time in the secret place praying than he spends in the public place preaching....
One swallow does not make a spring nor one hot day a summer; nor will a few minutes of frantic praying before service bring out the tender buds or make the flowers to appear on the earth. The field must be soaked in sunshine over a long period before it will give forth its treasures. The Christian's heart must be soaked in prayer before the true spiritual fruits begin to grow. The Root of the Righteous, 121-122.
"Lord, it seems like much of what we've been emphasizing all year requires that we slow down from our frantic pace. It takes great spiritual discipline to 'spend more time in the secret place praying than we spend in the public place preaching.' Quiet my heart today, slow me down I pray. Amen."
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Cry of a Soul on its way Up
While I'm still processing so much from our latest church journey called "Consumed", God brought the thought back to me of a prayer I publically displayed, boldly and brightly:
Less of me, more of YOU.
These are the words that I painted on the wall in the Prayer Experience. It's not only a reminder of when I scrawled out that prayer on the wall with bold, colorful sharpies, words lost in a landscape of thousands of other prayers of gratitude and love and healing and surrender - but a personal reminder that He is delighting in me that I am longing for more of Him. Perhaps this shall be my personal mantra, my personal prayer for this very season that I am in right now. Less of me, more of YOU.
So ... my daily Tozer devotion is emailed to me at 1:30 a.m. every day. I had a bad night of insomnia so I decided it would probably be a good thing to spend some time reading him and spend some quiet time in prayer and contemplation. Tozer has a way of cutting straight to the core and it's one of the things that I love so much about his way of teaching: 'Here it is', he seems to be saying, 'plain as day, now what are you going to do about it?'
It really hit home and spoke volumes to me this morning. I figured I'd go ahead and share it with the rest of you.
Less of me, more of YOU.
These are the words that I painted on the wall in the Prayer Experience. It's not only a reminder of when I scrawled out that prayer on the wall with bold, colorful sharpies, words lost in a landscape of thousands of other prayers of gratitude and love and healing and surrender - but a personal reminder that He is delighting in me that I am longing for more of Him. Perhaps this shall be my personal mantra, my personal prayer for this very season that I am in right now. Less of me, more of YOU.
So ... my daily Tozer devotion is emailed to me at 1:30 a.m. every day. I had a bad night of insomnia so I decided it would probably be a good thing to spend some time reading him and spend some quiet time in prayer and contemplation. Tozer has a way of cutting straight to the core and it's one of the things that I love so much about his way of teaching: 'Here it is', he seems to be saying, 'plain as day, now what are you going to do about it?'
It really hit home and spoke volumes to me this morning. I figured I'd go ahead and share it with the rest of you.
March 28
Pastoral Ministry: Just a Huckster
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 3:13-14
Some young preacher will study until he has to get thick glasses to take care of his failing eyesight because he has an idea he wants to become a famous preacher. He wants to use Jesus Christ to make him a famous preacher. He's just a huckster buying and selling and getting gain. They will ordain him and he will be known as Reverend and if he writes a book, they will make him a doctor. And he will be known as Doctor; but he's still a huckster buying and selling and getting gain. And when the Lord comes back, He will drive him out of the temple along with the other cattle.
We can use the Lord for anything--or try to use Him. But what I'm preaching and what Paul taught and what was brought down through the years and what gave breath to the modern missionary movement that you and I know about and belong to was just the opposite: "O, God, we don't want anything You have, we want You." That's the cry of a soul on its way up. ~A. W. Tozer Success and the Christian, 29.
"Lord, give us that hunger to know You; deliver us from the pride that makes us want to use You. Let me pray today with John, 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' Amen."
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Quote of the Day
"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." ~ Alvin Toffler
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thank you
I had a crazy, beautiful and baffling thing happen to me this week. I was at church for my Bible study. There were hundreds of people roaming around, meeting in their groups and just hanging out.
Out of nowhere, a beautiful woman who I didn't know came up behind me at my table and asked if I was Joyce. I said yes and she gave me a pink giftbag with my name on it. I looked at her quizzically and she told me that she was asked to give this to me anonymously, smiled at me and walked away.
I was a bit overwhelmed and didn't want to open the bag in front of the rest of my group so I placed it beside me and we continued with our Bible study (which was fantastic, by the way. Jeff and I have been doing this study with such a wonderful and diverse group of couples ... we love them so much and have made some really great new friends in the process).
When our group ended, I picked up the bag and opened it. Inside was a beautiful little box. I opened the box to find a note:
"Joyce, Bless you & buy yourself a nice new outfit! Enjoy!"
No signature. And $75 worth of gift cards to Macy's!!!! I am never able to go to Macy's! Especially not to buy myself an outfit! (I buy 95% of my clothing at Goodwill.)
Wow.
I don't know who. I certainly don't know why. But I do know that I am overwhelmed. I do know that I feel incredibly humbled (why me?!), grateful, excited, loved, and completely amazed that I was on someone's mind and that, for whatever reason, they wanted to bless me.
Wow again.
So whoever you are ... thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so very, very much. Thank you for thinking of me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for your generous heart. Thank you for making my heart swell with joy. Thank you for bringing tears of wonder and amazement to my eyes.
And thank you for the new dress I will be buying!
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. (Philippians 1:3,4 The Message)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A Call to Lament and Repent
A Call to Lament and Repent: Guide Our Feet to the Path of Peace
“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” —Luke 1:78-79 (NRSV)
This season of Lent, we are truly living “ in darkness and in the shadow of death” as we mark, on March 19, 2008, the fifth anniversary of the war with Iraq. It is a war that is being waged by our country, financed by our taxes, and fought by our sisters and brothers. As U.S. Christians, we issue a call to the American church to lament and repent of the sin of this war.
We lament the suffering and violence in Iraq . We mourn the nearly 4,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have died, the unknown numbers of both who are wounded in body and mind, and the more than 4 million Iraqis who are displaced from their homes. With the families of U.S. soldiers torn apart, our families are also torn apart.
We lament the effects of this war on our country. The war has undermined our religious and national values. International perceptions of the U.S. church’s support for the war have hurt the cause of Christ. The abuse of prisoners and use of torture have damaged the U.S.’s moral standing in the world. The war is squandering billions of dollars that are urgently needed for other domestic and international needs.
We repent of our failure to fully live the teaching of Jesus to be peacemakers. Some of us believe our faith leads to a rejection of war, while others affirm just war principles—but after five years of conflict, we are convinced that continuing occupation and war in Iraq cannot be reconciled with just war teaching, and it is the obligation of Christians to help bring unjust wars to an end. The U.S. occupation must end; a transition to an international solution to Iraq must be found. A peaceful resolution is possible and must be pursued. Our country should end this war, not try to “win” it, and we must help the Iraqi people build a safer and more peaceful country.
We believe repentance means more than just being sorry. Repentance requires a change of heart and a commitment to a new direction. Repentance means transformation—breaking out of our conformity to a foreign policy based on fear and war to a policy that is rooted in seeking justice and pursuing peace. There is a better way—and the U.S. church must take the lead.
We dedicate ourselves to the biblical vision of a world in which nations do not attempt to resolve international problems by waging war on other nations . We believe the followers of the Prince of Peace should be the hardest ones, not the easiest, to convince to go to war. We are not utopians—we acknowledge that human beings and nations will have conflicts. But given the toll that the habit of war has taken in our violence-torn world, we must begin to learn to resolve our inevitable conflicts by learning the arts and skills of conflict resolution and a new international approach to just peace-making and law enforcement. We must seek a world in which we allow our Lord “ to guide our feet into the path of peace."
As a sign of repentance and commitment to lead our nation toward a new path, I pledge to:
● Pray for our nation to learn lasting lessons from th e tragedy of the war in Iraq and commit to greater wisdom in the future.
● Help heal our nation by talking and listening to our fellow Christians, finding better ways to resolve conflicts—by seeking the reconciliation of our divisions and working together for a more peaceful world.
● Reach out to the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, who often, after making terrible sacrifices, feel abandoned.
● Urge our elected representatives to:
pursue a foreign policy consistent with moral principles, wise political judgments, and international law
ensure that veterans and their families are provided with the medical, psychological, financial, and spiritual support they need
fulfill our responsibility, working with the international community, to stabilize and rebuild Iraq, provide humanitarian support, and resettle those displaced by war.
Repentance requires a change of direction and a new commitment to follow Jesus, who tells us very clearly, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
Sign the statement
“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” —Luke 1:78-79 (NRSV)
This season of Lent, we are truly living “ in darkness and in the shadow of death” as we mark, on March 19, 2008, the fifth anniversary of the war with Iraq. It is a war that is being waged by our country, financed by our taxes, and fought by our sisters and brothers. As U.S. Christians, we issue a call to the American church to lament and repent of the sin of this war.
We lament the suffering and violence in Iraq . We mourn the nearly 4,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have died, the unknown numbers of both who are wounded in body and mind, and the more than 4 million Iraqis who are displaced from their homes. With the families of U.S. soldiers torn apart, our families are also torn apart.
We lament the effects of this war on our country. The war has undermined our religious and national values. International perceptions of the U.S. church’s support for the war have hurt the cause of Christ. The abuse of prisoners and use of torture have damaged the U.S.’s moral standing in the world. The war is squandering billions of dollars that are urgently needed for other domestic and international needs.
We repent of our failure to fully live the teaching of Jesus to be peacemakers. Some of us believe our faith leads to a rejection of war, while others affirm just war principles—but after five years of conflict, we are convinced that continuing occupation and war in Iraq cannot be reconciled with just war teaching, and it is the obligation of Christians to help bring unjust wars to an end. The U.S. occupation must end; a transition to an international solution to Iraq must be found. A peaceful resolution is possible and must be pursued. Our country should end this war, not try to “win” it, and we must help the Iraqi people build a safer and more peaceful country.
We believe repentance means more than just being sorry. Repentance requires a change of heart and a commitment to a new direction. Repentance means transformation—breaking out of our conformity to a foreign policy based on fear and war to a policy that is rooted in seeking justice and pursuing peace. There is a better way—and the U.S. church must take the lead.
We dedicate ourselves to the biblical vision of a world in which nations do not attempt to resolve international problems by waging war on other nations . We believe the followers of the Prince of Peace should be the hardest ones, not the easiest, to convince to go to war. We are not utopians—we acknowledge that human beings and nations will have conflicts. But given the toll that the habit of war has taken in our violence-torn world, we must begin to learn to resolve our inevitable conflicts by learning the arts and skills of conflict resolution and a new international approach to just peace-making and law enforcement. We must seek a world in which we allow our Lord “ to guide our feet into the path of peace."
As a sign of repentance and commitment to lead our nation toward a new path, I pledge to:
● Pray for our nation to learn lasting lessons from th e tragedy of the war in Iraq and commit to greater wisdom in the future.
● Help heal our nation by talking and listening to our fellow Christians, finding better ways to resolve conflicts—by seeking the reconciliation of our divisions and working together for a more peaceful world.
● Reach out to the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, who often, after making terrible sacrifices, feel abandoned.
● Urge our elected representatives to:
pursue a foreign policy consistent with moral principles, wise political judgments, and international law
ensure that veterans and their families are provided with the medical, psychological, financial, and spiritual support they need
fulfill our responsibility, working with the international community, to stabilize and rebuild Iraq, provide humanitarian support, and resettle those displaced by war.
Repentance requires a change of direction and a new commitment to follow Jesus, who tells us very clearly, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
Sign the statement
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
This ain't no bull
Mixing the church and state is like mixing ice cream with cow manure. It may not do much to the manure, but it sure messes up the ice cream.
--Rev. Tony Campolo, p.20 Jesus for President
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Consider this
To cure us of our immoderate love of gain, we should seriously consider how many goods there are that money will not purchase, and these the best; and how many evils there are that money will not remedy, and these the worst.
Charles Caleb Colton
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Quote of the Day
I think joy and sweetness and affection are a spiritual path. We're here to know God, to love and serve God, and to be blown away by the beauty and miracle of nature. You just have to get rid of so much baggage to be light enough to dance, to sing, to play. You don't have time to carry grudges; you don't have time to cling to the need to be right.
- author Anne Lamott, in a recent interview. (Source: The Washington Times)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Today
Well, today are the Ohio Primaries. Ohio does things differently from other states that I have voted in ... and I like it. Even though I voted for a different party in the last election, I was able to go to the polling place, ask for the ballot of the party I want to vote in this time, sign a form stating that I am changing my party affiliation, and bam! Time to vote! Sweet.
Definitely out of character for me, I was up and out of the house by 8 am this morning and on my way to the polling place.
Oh. Who did I vote for? Well ... it wasn't for the last party I voted for. You know, the one that sent us to war. The one that has destroyed our economy. You know the one.
And um, I voted for a man.
Do the math.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
And yet there's more!!!!!! Yay!
If you read the previous blog below, this speaks for itself. If you haven't, read that one first!!! Oh my gosh ... this guy is hilarious!
And I am really impressed by the accuracy -- it's circumsized and all!!!!
Seen the Virgin Mary Pretzel? Now See Mose's Staff! Item number: 120225438566
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Item location: Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
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Starting time: Feb-21-08 17:42:22 PST
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Meet the seller
Seller: notanotheronlinebuyer( 4 )
Feedback: 100% Positive
Member: since Dec-15-07 in Australia
Description
Forget that dodgy 'Virgin Mary Pretzel'. We all know it is just a wonky-shaped normal pretzel (or perhaps shaped and cooked that way...!)
This is an actual copy of Moses' staff - straight out of the packet!
I could not believe it. Moses' staff - the same staff that separated the oceans and split the stone tablets.
What powers does it hold - they could be endless:
* hold it up at the office and give commandments - it worked for Moses
* stuck in floods? - hold it up and see if it separates the waters
* work in construction? if the real thing can split stone, maybe this can too.
I can't explain why, but the good Lord put this replica pretzel of Moses' staff in my pretzel packet for a reason.
Shipping and handlingServices available
Check item description and payment instructions or contact seller for details.
Ships to
United States
Return policyItem must be returned within: 7 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Return policy details: The buyer has 7 days to return the item (the buyer pays shipping fees). The item will be refunded.
Payment details
Payment method Preferred/Accepted Buyer protection on eBay
Item title: Seen the Virgin Mary Pretzel? Now See Mose's Staff!
Place a bid
Starting bid: US $0.99
Your maximum bid: US $
(Enter US $0.99 or more)
Get it while it's hot!!!
Ok, so it's not hot. It's hard. And crunchy. And salty. But this is a real item up for bid on eBay. I just had to share!
***Warning: Crude language in some of the questions. Don't say I didn't warn ya***
CNN even has a video on the story here: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/02/21/harrington.virgin.mary.pretzel.kval
Check eBay if you think I'm kidding about this. *****UPDATE: ebay has removed this item. This Listing Is Unavailable
This listing (180217528954) has been removed or is no longer available. Please make sure you entered the right item number.
If the listing was removed by eBay, consider it canceled. Note: Listings that have ended more than 90 days ago will no longer appear on eBay.
Too bad. It was a lot of fun. But here's the listing in full, just for your viewing pleasure!!*****
(BTW, Jeff thinks it looks more like the Easter Bunny than the Madonna & Child. What do you think?)
The Virgin Mary Pretzel
Item number: 180217528954
Current bid:
US $99,000,100.00
PayPal account required
Q: Have you seen the replica for sale for $5000????
A: It is just the image of ours reversed. Don't be fooled by the fool!
Q: Would you be willing to throw in honey mustard dip?
A: In no way would we ever add anything that would lead to the eating of this pretzel, for it is a gift from the heavens!
Q: Would you consider this item a Holy Relic?
A: I consider it a pretzel that looks like the picture it sits next to. Don't read into it.
Q: This is the work of the devil!!! Repent all you sinners!!!
A: Halleleuja!!!
Q: This is so fucking stupid...
A: A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO EVERYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS "SO FUCKING STUPID," Welcome to the stupid auction, thank you for stopping by the stupid auction, you must enjoy spending your time on stupid things. We appreciate you stupid hit and your stupid bid, so send us your stupid money and we will send you the stupid pretzel.
Q: CON ARTIST
A: Jerk
Q: Did you eat paint chips when you were a child?
A: Good one David Spade
Q: PRAISE THE LORD! It is miraculous! Are you sure this salty delicacy of a divine nature is mint? No chips, cracks, repairs, loss of salt? What is the expiration date on the bag? Is it still fresh or has it turned soft and rancid? Since it is not stated in the listing, I assume shipping is FREE Priority with insurance. Do you take checks? I don't use PayPal. Most importantly, should this sacred biscuit end up with a non-paying bidder, will it be available after the strike? PRAISE EBAY BOYCOTT!!
A: The pretzel has been locked in a box for almost 3 years since it was found. The original packaging is included, but seeing as this is a collaborative effort, the bag is not on my person as I answer this question. Yes shipping is free priority with insurance, no we will not take a check, PayPal only
Q: Is she salty?
A: Of course she is salty, she's a damn pretzel
Q: Thank you for confirming that eBay attracts the galactically stupid.
A: You betcha
Q: can you get me 10 of this. I am willing to pay $100,000.00 for all 10. Let me know as soon as possible cause I already have a buyer lined up for all of them. Shamcy
A: We didn't make it dude, God did.
Q: How many little nuggets of holy salt are visible on the blessed pretzel? Are you willing to sell the divine salt nuggets individually, or is it strictly a package deal?
A: Sorry this salty treat is far too divine for us to risk her life scraping the salt off...
Q: Does this pretzel come with the original Rold Gold package? What are the dimensions?
A: Yes the packaging comes with the pretzel... and the dimensions are the size of a pretzel... About 1 1/2" tall
Q: Just curious, item is described as "coveted", "a religous icon", and as a "relic". Could you provide any proof to support these claims? (or atleast look them up in the dictionary, so that you can re-think your description?)
A: No
Q: I notice your 'God Given' pretzel also resembles the Hindu symbol for 'Om: Symbol of the Absolute'; would you be willing to rename your offer to 'The Hindu Om Pretzel; previously known as the Virgin Mary Pretzel' in exchange for my bid?
A: Sorry, auction is as is
Q: "Good Morning" or is it "Welcome to Planet Eerf" my question is - if I were to win - and I am in Eugene - would I have to pay shipping costs???
A: No, shipping is free on this item
Shipping and handling
Services available
Check item description and payment instructions or contact seller for details.
Ships to
United States
Return policy
Item must be returned within:
7 Days
Refund will be given as:
Money Back
Return policy details:
The buyer has 7 days to return the item (the buyer pays shipping fees). The item will be refunded.
Payment details
Payment method
Preferred/Accepted
Buyer protection on eBay
Accepted
Up to $200 in buyer protection. See eligibility
Learn about payment methods
Help
Take action on this item
Item title: The Virgin Mary Pretzel
Place a bid
Current bid:
US $99,000,100.00
Your maximum bid:
US $
(Enter US $99,000,200.00 or more)
Place Bid > You will confirm in the next step.(PayPal account required)
eBay automatically bids on your behalf up to your maximum bid. Learn about bidding.
To place a bid of US $15,000.00 or more, you'll need to provide a valid credit card or complete the ID Verify process ($5).
***Warning: Crude language in some of the questions. Don't say I didn't warn ya***
CNN even has a video on the story here: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/02/21/harrington.virgin.mary.pretzel.kval
Check eBay if you think I'm kidding about this. *****UPDATE: ebay has removed this item. This Listing Is Unavailable
This listing (180217528954) has been removed or is no longer available. Please make sure you entered the right item number.
If the listing was removed by eBay, consider it canceled. Note: Listings that have ended more than 90 days ago will no longer appear on eBay.
Too bad. It was a lot of fun. But here's the listing in full, just for your viewing pleasure!!*****
(BTW, Jeff thinks it looks more like the Easter Bunny than the Madonna & Child. What do you think?)
The Virgin Mary Pretzel
Item number: 180217528954
Current bid:
US $99,000,100.00
PayPal account required
$10 back with a new eBay MasterCard Apply
End time:
Mar-01-08 14:00:00 PST (8 days 21 hours)
Shipping costs:
Check item description and payment instructions or contact seller for details
Ships to: United States
Item location: Eugene, OR, United States
History: 94 bids
High bidder: a***r(
Starting time:
Feb-20-08 14:00:00 PST
Starting bid:
US $10.00
Duration:
10-day listing
Payment methods:
PayPal
See details
Meet the seller
Seller: insanitydrummer( 2 )
Feedback: 100% Positive
Member: since Jan-04-05 in United States
Description
You are bidding on the coveted Virgin Mary Pretzel. A member of the staff at The Donkey Show (101.5 KFLY and 106.3 KZZE) stumbled across this religious icon a little over two years ago in a Rold Gold pretzel snack bag. Of course we saw the financial implications of this relic, and decided to sell it to the highest bidder. This is a once in a lifetime auction, this pretzel is in mint condition, and could be yours if the price is right. If it was not for the Lord Jesus Christ smiling upon the pretzel factory on the day of this little pretzel's conception, you would never have the opportunity to have it for your very own. Think of the magic that would enlighten your soul every time you looked at The Virgin Mary Pretzel sitting on your mantle or nightstand, right next to your rosary and bible. Jesus decided to commemorate his virgin mother in a salted treat that can be yours with the highest bid. Bid with confidence, as this item is being posted by a radio show, and we can't legally lie about something of this magnitude! This little morsel is 100% legit, in the most Holy of ways. This item comes with the original packaging, with "sell by" date included!
End time:
Mar-01-08 14:00:00 PST (8 days 21 hours)
Shipping costs:
Check item description and payment instructions or contact seller for details
Ships to: United States
Item location: Eugene, OR, United States
History: 94 bids
High bidder: a***r(
Starting time:
Feb-20-08 14:00:00 PST
Starting bid:
US $10.00
Duration:
10-day listing
Payment methods:
PayPal
See details
Meet the seller
Seller: insanitydrummer( 2 )
Feedback: 100% Positive
Member: since Jan-04-05 in United States
Description
You are bidding on the coveted Virgin Mary Pretzel. A member of the staff at The Donkey Show (101.5 KFLY and 106.3 KZZE) stumbled across this religious icon a little over two years ago in a Rold Gold pretzel snack bag. Of course we saw the financial implications of this relic, and decided to sell it to the highest bidder. This is a once in a lifetime auction, this pretzel is in mint condition, and could be yours if the price is right. If it was not for the Lord Jesus Christ smiling upon the pretzel factory on the day of this little pretzel's conception, you would never have the opportunity to have it for your very own. Think of the magic that would enlighten your soul every time you looked at The Virgin Mary Pretzel sitting on your mantle or nightstand, right next to your rosary and bible. Jesus decided to commemorate his virgin mother in a salted treat that can be yours with the highest bid. Bid with confidence, as this item is being posted by a radio show, and we can't legally lie about something of this magnitude! This little morsel is 100% legit, in the most Holy of ways. This item comes with the original packaging, with "sell by" date included!
Questions from other members
Question & Answer
Q: How would you rate the pretzels freshness? Do you think it is still edible?
A: It is just as crisp golden and delicious as the day it blessed us by coming into our world through a holy deliver. (out of a oven)
Question & Answer
Q: How would you rate the pretzels freshness? Do you think it is still edible?
A: It is just as crisp golden and delicious as the day it blessed us by coming into our world through a holy deliver. (out of a oven)
Q: Have you seen the replica for sale for $5000????
A: It is just the image of ours reversed. Don't be fooled by the fool!
Q: Would you be willing to throw in honey mustard dip?
A: In no way would we ever add anything that would lead to the eating of this pretzel, for it is a gift from the heavens!
Q: Would you consider this item a Holy Relic?
A: I consider it a pretzel that looks like the picture it sits next to. Don't read into it.
Q: This is the work of the devil!!! Repent all you sinners!!!
A: Halleleuja!!!
Q: This is so fucking stupid...
A: A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE TO EVERYONE WHO THINKS THIS IS "SO FUCKING STUPID," Welcome to the stupid auction, thank you for stopping by the stupid auction, you must enjoy spending your time on stupid things. We appreciate you stupid hit and your stupid bid, so send us your stupid money and we will send you the stupid pretzel.
Q: CON ARTIST
A: Jerk
Q: Did you eat paint chips when you were a child?
A: Good one David Spade
Q: PRAISE THE LORD! It is miraculous! Are you sure this salty delicacy of a divine nature is mint? No chips, cracks, repairs, loss of salt? What is the expiration date on the bag? Is it still fresh or has it turned soft and rancid? Since it is not stated in the listing, I assume shipping is FREE Priority with insurance. Do you take checks? I don't use PayPal. Most importantly, should this sacred biscuit end up with a non-paying bidder, will it be available after the strike? PRAISE EBAY BOYCOTT!!
A: The pretzel has been locked in a box for almost 3 years since it was found. The original packaging is included, but seeing as this is a collaborative effort, the bag is not on my person as I answer this question. Yes shipping is free priority with insurance, no we will not take a check, PayPal only
Q: Is she salty?
A: Of course she is salty, she's a damn pretzel
Q: Thank you for confirming that eBay attracts the galactically stupid.
A: You betcha
Q: can you get me 10 of this. I am willing to pay $100,000.00 for all 10. Let me know as soon as possible cause I already have a buyer lined up for all of them. Shamcy
A: We didn't make it dude, God did.
Q: How many little nuggets of holy salt are visible on the blessed pretzel? Are you willing to sell the divine salt nuggets individually, or is it strictly a package deal?
A: Sorry this salty treat is far too divine for us to risk her life scraping the salt off...
Q: Does this pretzel come with the original Rold Gold package? What are the dimensions?
A: Yes the packaging comes with the pretzel... and the dimensions are the size of a pretzel... About 1 1/2" tall
Q: Just curious, item is described as "coveted", "a religous icon", and as a "relic". Could you provide any proof to support these claims? (or atleast look them up in the dictionary, so that you can re-think your description?)
A: No
Q: I notice your 'God Given' pretzel also resembles the Hindu symbol for 'Om: Symbol of the Absolute'; would you be willing to rename your offer to 'The Hindu Om Pretzel; previously known as the Virgin Mary Pretzel' in exchange for my bid?
A: Sorry, auction is as is
Q: "Good Morning" or is it "Welcome to Planet Eerf" my question is - if I were to win - and I am in Eugene - would I have to pay shipping costs???
A: No, shipping is free on this item
Shipping and handling
Services available
Check item description and payment instructions or contact seller for details.
Ships to
United States
Return policy
Item must be returned within:
7 Days
Refund will be given as:
Money Back
Return policy details:
The buyer has 7 days to return the item (the buyer pays shipping fees). The item will be refunded.
Payment details
Payment method
Preferred/Accepted
Buyer protection on eBay
Accepted
Up to $200 in buyer protection. See eligibility
Learn about payment methods
Help
Take action on this item
Item title: The Virgin Mary Pretzel
Place a bid
Current bid:
US $99,000,100.00
Your maximum bid:
US $
(Enter US $99,000,200.00 or more)
Place Bid > You will confirm in the next step.(PayPal account required)
eBay automatically bids on your behalf up to your maximum bid. Learn about bidding.
To place a bid of US $15,000.00 or more, you'll need to provide a valid credit card or complete the ID Verify process ($5).
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
I Pledge Allegiance
Shane Claiborne has a new book and tour happening. It's called Jesus for President. Shane has been so influential in helping me to see and rethink things in so many ways. His way of living and acting has helped teach me more about living out a life that reflects living a life of seriously following Jesus rather than the religion of "Christianity". Shane will be bringing his tour to Cincinnati in June (the venue isn't posted yet) and I will also be seeing him at Cornerstone Festival this summer. Please make a point to go and see this man speak when he comes around this summer. And prepare to be blown away.
The following is a litany that will be shared during this tour. It's a perfect time and year to begin praying, reciting, and living this out now.
Jesus For President Litany of Resistance
Created with the help of our friends Jim Loney (CPT Reservist) and Brian Walsh (activist theologian)
--------------------------
One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
All: Have mercy on us
One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
All: Free us from the bondage of sin and death
One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
All: Hear our prayer. Grant us peace.
One: For the victims of war
All: Have mercy
One: Women, men and children
All: Have mercy
One: The maimed and the crippled
All: Have mercy
One: The abandoned and the homeless
All: Have mercy
One: the imprisoned and the tortured
All: Have mercy
One: The widowed and the orphaned
All: Have mercy
One: The bleeding and the dying
All: Have mercy
One: The weary and the desperate
All: Have mercy
One: The lost and the forsaken
All: Have mercy
One: O God -- Have mercy on us sinners
All: Forgive us for we know not what we do
One: For our scorched and blackened earth
All: Forgive us
One: For the scandal of billions wasted in war
All: Forgive us
One: For our arms makers and arms dealers
All: Forgive us
One: For our Caesars and Herods
All: Forgive us
One: For the violence that is rooted in our hearts
All: Forgive us
One: For the times we turn others into enemies
All: Forgive us
One: Deliver us, O God
All: Guide our feet into the way of peace
One: Hear our prayer.
All: Grant us peace.
One: From the arrogance of power
All: Deliver us
One: From the myth of redemptive violence
All: Deliver us
One: From the tyranny of greed
All: Deliver us
One: From the ugliness of racism
All: Deliver us
One: From the cancer of hatred
All: Deliver us
One: From the seduction of wealth
All: Deliver us
One: From the addiction of control
All: Deliver us
One: From the idolatry of nationalism
All: Deliver us
One: From the paralysis of cynicism
All: Deliver us
One: From the violence of apathy
All: Deliver us
One: From the ghettos of poverty
All: Deliver us
One: From the ghettos of wealth
All: Deliver us
One: From a lack of imagination
All: Deliver us
Created with the help of our friends Jim Loney (CPT Reservist) and Brian Walsh (activist theologian)
--------------------------
One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
All: Have mercy on us
One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
All: Free us from the bondage of sin and death
One: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
All: Hear our prayer. Grant us peace.
One: For the victims of war
All: Have mercy
One: Women, men and children
All: Have mercy
One: The maimed and the crippled
All: Have mercy
One: The abandoned and the homeless
All: Have mercy
One: the imprisoned and the tortured
All: Have mercy
One: The widowed and the orphaned
All: Have mercy
One: The bleeding and the dying
All: Have mercy
One: The weary and the desperate
All: Have mercy
One: The lost and the forsaken
All: Have mercy
One: O God -- Have mercy on us sinners
All: Forgive us for we know not what we do
One: For our scorched and blackened earth
All: Forgive us
One: For the scandal of billions wasted in war
All: Forgive us
One: For our arms makers and arms dealers
All: Forgive us
One: For our Caesars and Herods
All: Forgive us
One: For the violence that is rooted in our hearts
All: Forgive us
One: For the times we turn others into enemies
All: Forgive us
One: Deliver us, O God
All: Guide our feet into the way of peace
One: Hear our prayer.
All: Grant us peace.
One: From the arrogance of power
All: Deliver us
One: From the myth of redemptive violence
All: Deliver us
One: From the tyranny of greed
All: Deliver us
One: From the ugliness of racism
All: Deliver us
One: From the cancer of hatred
All: Deliver us
One: From the seduction of wealth
All: Deliver us
One: From the addiction of control
All: Deliver us
One: From the idolatry of nationalism
All: Deliver us
One: From the paralysis of cynicism
All: Deliver us
One: From the violence of apathy
All: Deliver us
One: From the ghettos of poverty
All: Deliver us
One: From the ghettos of wealth
All: Deliver us
One: From a lack of imagination
All: Deliver us
One: Deliver us, O God
All: Guide our feet into the way of peace
One: We will not conform to the patterns of this world
All: Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds
One: With the help of God’s grace
All: Let us resist evil wherever we find it
One: With the waging of war
All: We will not comply
One: With the legalization of murder
All: We will not comply
One: With the slaughter of innocents
All: We will not comply
One: With laws that betray human life
All: We will not comply
One: With the destruction of community
All: We will not comply
One: With the pointing finger and malicious talk
All: We will not comply
One: With the idea that happiness must be purchased
All: We will not comply
One: With the ravaging of the earth
All: We will not comply
One: With principalities and powers that oppress
All: We will not comply
One: With the destruction of peoples
All: We will not comply
One: With the raping of women
All: We will not comply
One: With governments that kill
All: We will not comply
One: With the theology of empire
All: We will not comply
One: With the business of militarism
All: We will not comply
One: With the hoarding of riches
All: We will not comply
One: With the dissemination of fear
All: We will not comply
One: Today we pledge our ultimate allegiance… to the Kingdom of God
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To a peace that is not like Rome’s
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the Gospel of enemy love
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the Kingdom of the poor and broken
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To a King that loves his enemies so much he died for them
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the least of these, with whom Christ dwells
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the transnational Church that transcends the artificial borders of nations
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the refugee of Nazareth
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the homeless rabbi who had no place to lay his head
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the cross rather than the sword
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the banner of love above any flag
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the one who rules with a towel rather than an iron fist
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the one who rides a donkey rather than a war-horse
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the revolution that sets both oppressed and oppressors free
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the Way that leads to life
All: We pledge allegiance
One: To the Slaughtered Lamb
All: We pledge allegiance
One: And together we proclaim his praises, from the margins of the empire to the centers of wealth and power
All: Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
One: Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
All: Long Live the Slaughtered Lamb
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The times they are a'changin'
There's a shift in the wind. Those of us who are Christ followers have felt it for some time. Now the rest of the world is beginning to as well.
All of my Christian life, I've been voting as the religious rightwing has advised me to. These past couple of years, something has changed.
I began to get concerned about issues that I believe are close to Jesus' heart. And as I did, I began to take action. No, I didn't carry protest signs -- not against abortion clinics or even the war. Instead I began to act as I thought Jesus would (and I cannot picture Jesus carrying a protest sign in any situation, so I don't either. However I do wear buttons or shirts declaring my love of peace and such ... I find it far more productive to be known for what I stand for rather than what I am against). I decided the best action is to do: care and love those in situations that break Jesus' heart and call us to action -- the poor, the afflicted, the "least of these". Everywhere in the New Testament, Jesus talks about loving our neighbors. And who is our neighbor? The modern-day Samaritan, the one that society has overlooked and rejected, the one we cross the street to avoid -- and everyone else in-between.
There's a fresh voice among those who are considered "evangelicals" and I couldn't be happier that finally ... finally! ... we're being heard. My ministry leader and friend Andrew posted this great article on his blog (and so much other incredible stuff ... you should really read his blog. It's exciting: http://iniconium.blogspot.com) and I had to post it here as well.
Thanks, Andrew!
Evangelicals a Liberal Can Love
By
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: February 3, 2008
At a New York or Los Angeles cocktail party, few would dare make a pejorative comment about Barack Obama’s race or Hillary Clinton’s sex. Yet it would be easy to get away with deriding Mike Huckabee’s religious faith.
Liberals believe deeply in tolerance and over the last century have led the battles against prejudices of all kinds, but we have a blind spot about Christian evangelicals. They constitute one of the few minorities that, on the American coasts or university campuses, it remains fashionable to mock.
Scorning people for their faith is intrinsically repugnant, and in this case it also betrays a profound misunderstanding of how far evangelicals have moved over the last decade. Today, conservative Christian churches do superb work on poverty, AIDS, sex trafficking, climate change, prison abuses, malaria and genocide in Darfur.
Bleeding-heart liberals could accomplish far more if they reached out to build common cause with bleeding-heart conservatives. And the Democratic presidential candidate (particularly if it’s Mr. Obama, to whom evangelicals have been startlingly receptive) has a real chance this year of winning large numbers of evangelical voters.
“Evangelicals are going to vote this year in part on climate change, on Darfur, on poverty,” said Jim Wallis, the author of a new book, “The Great Awakening,” which argues that the age of the religious right has passed and that issues of social justice are rising to the top of the agenda. Mr. Wallis says that about half of white evangelical votes
will be in play this year.
A recent CBS News poll found that the single issue that white evangelicals most believed they should be involved in was fighting poverty. The traditional issue of abortion was a distant second, and genocide was third.
Look, I don’t agree with evangelicals on theology or on their typically conservative views on taxes, health care or Iraq. Self-righteous zealots like Pat Robertson have been a plague upon our country, and their initial smugness about AIDS (which Jerry Falwell described as
“God’s judgment against promiscuity”) constituted far grosser immorality than anything that ever happened in a bathhouse. Moralizing blowhards showed more compassion for embryonic stem cells than for the poor or the sick, and as recently as the 1990s, evangelicals were mostly a constituency against foreign aid.
Yet that has turned almost 180 degrees. Today, many evangelicals are powerful internationalists and humanitarians — and liberals haven’t awakened to the transformation. The new face of evangelicals is
somebody like the Rev. Rick Warren, the California pastor who wrote "The Purpose Driven Life.”
Mr. Warren acknowledges that for most of his life he wasn’t much concerned with issues of poverty or disease. But on a visit to South Africa in 2003, he came across a tiny church operating from a dilapidated tent — yet sheltering 25 children orphaned by AIDS. “I realized they were doing more for the poor than my entire megachurch,” Mr. Warren said, with cheerful exaggeration. “It was like a knife in the heart.” So Mr. Warren mobilized his vast Saddleback Church to fight AIDS, malaria and poverty in 68 countries. Since then, more than 7,500 members of his church have paid their own way to volunteer in poor countries — and once they see the poverty, they immediately want to do more.
“Almost all of my work is in the third world,” Mr. Warren said. “I couldn’t care less about politics, the culture wars. My only interest is to get people to care about Darfurs and Rwandas.”
Helene Gayle, the head of CARE, said evangelicals “have made some incredible contributions” in the struggle against global poverty. “We don’t give them credit for the changes they’ve made,” she added. Fred Krupp, the president of Environmental Defense, said, “Many evangelical leaders have been key to taking the climate issue across the cultural divide.”
It’s certainly fair to criticize Catholic leaders and other conservative Christians for their hostility toward condoms, a policy that has gravely undermined the fight against AIDS in Africa. But while robust criticism is fair, scorn is not.
In parts of Africa where bandits and warlords shoot or rape anything that moves, you often find that the only groups still operating are Doctors Without Borders and religious aid workers: crazy doctors and crazy Christians. In the town of Rutshuru in war-ravaged Congo, I
found starving children, raped widows and shellshocked survivors. And there was a determined Catholic nun from Poland, serenely running a church clinic.
Unlike the religious right windbags, she was passionately “pro-life” even for those already born — and brave souls like her are increasingly representative of religious conservatives. We can disagree sharply with their politics, but to mock them underscores our own ignorance and prejudice.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
We are Family
This is the first family picture that we've ever had of all of Jeff's side of the family. We were all together for Christmas this year and our church took family pictures for everyone! Thanks, Crossroads!
Back row: Me, Jeff, Don (Jeff's dad), Nevan & Nyla (Jeff's kids -- aren't they cute?!?), Toby (Jeff's sister's husband) Front row: Chris (Jeff's mom), Justin (Donna & Toby's son), Donna (Jeff's sister)
Friday, January 4, 2008
Friday, December 21, 2007
You can't remove Christ from Christmas
Thanks, Roland, for saying this better than I could. Merry Christmas!!
(CNN) -- This whole push to remove Christ from the Christmas season has gotten so ridiculous that it's pathetic.
Because of all the politically correct idiots, we are being encouraged to stop saying "Merry Christmas" for the more palatable "Happy Holidays." What the heck are "Seasons Greetings"? Can someone tell me what season we are greeting folks about? A Christmas tree? Oh, no! It's now a holiday tree. Any Christmas song that even remotely mentions Christ or has a religious undertone is being axed for being overtly religious. And I'm sorry, forget X-M-A-S. Malcolm X? Yes. X replacing Christ? No.
Don't get me wrong; I'm very respectful of other religions. I don't want anyone to be afraid of discussing the Jewish faith when we address Hanukkah. And we shouldn't dismiss Muslims when the annual pilgrimage to Mecca is held during December. In fact, Americans are so ignorant of other faiths that we can all learn from one another.
But this seeming backlash against Christianity is bordering on the absurd, and we should continue to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
I know that may sound strident, but it's true. We spend an inordinate amount of time focused on shopping and buying gifts, but really, what does any of this have to do with the birth of Jesus? We have families all over the nation killing themselves to buy a tree they can't afford, running up their credit to buy toys and other gifts, all in an effort to make someone else happy.
What if families decided to forgo gifts, and instead, used their shopping days giving back to those in need? What if more of us went into our closets, grabbed old toys and clothes, repackaged them, and provided them as gifts to those without? Instead of gorging on food, what if we used some of the dough to feed those who are in need? What if we blew off those gift cards to electronic retailers and signed up with Networkforgood.org, and gave someone a gift card to their favorite charity?
Sure, I know I sound like a reincarnation of a flower child, but really, do we have to be so crass during the Christmas season?
Its time that we return to traditional values, and end this ridiculous charade. It's important that we take a fuller account of WHY we celebrate Christmas, as opposed to falling for the barrage of ads that tell us what is most important.
Parents, don't be so consumed with the notion that your children will have a terrible Christmas because the tree isn't overflowing with gifts. The true love that you show them is more important than anything else.
America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/roland.martin/index.html
Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning journalist and CNN contributor. Martin is studying to receive his master's degree in Christian communications at Louisiana Baptist University, and he is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith." You can read more of his columns at http://www.rolandsmartin.com/.
(CNN) -- This whole push to remove Christ from the Christmas season has gotten so ridiculous that it's pathetic.
Because of all the politically correct idiots, we are being encouraged to stop saying "Merry Christmas" for the more palatable "Happy Holidays." What the heck are "Seasons Greetings"? Can someone tell me what season we are greeting folks about? A Christmas tree? Oh, no! It's now a holiday tree. Any Christmas song that even remotely mentions Christ or has a religious undertone is being axed for being overtly religious. And I'm sorry, forget X-M-A-S. Malcolm X? Yes. X replacing Christ? No.
Don't get me wrong; I'm very respectful of other religions. I don't want anyone to be afraid of discussing the Jewish faith when we address Hanukkah. And we shouldn't dismiss Muslims when the annual pilgrimage to Mecca is held during December. In fact, Americans are so ignorant of other faiths that we can all learn from one another.
But this seeming backlash against Christianity is bordering on the absurd, and we should continue to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
I know that may sound strident, but it's true. We spend an inordinate amount of time focused on shopping and buying gifts, but really, what does any of this have to do with the birth of Jesus? We have families all over the nation killing themselves to buy a tree they can't afford, running up their credit to buy toys and other gifts, all in an effort to make someone else happy.
What if families decided to forgo gifts, and instead, used their shopping days giving back to those in need? What if more of us went into our closets, grabbed old toys and clothes, repackaged them, and provided them as gifts to those without? Instead of gorging on food, what if we used some of the dough to feed those who are in need? What if we blew off those gift cards to electronic retailers and signed up with Networkforgood.org, and gave someone a gift card to their favorite charity?
Sure, I know I sound like a reincarnation of a flower child, but really, do we have to be so crass during the Christmas season?
Its time that we return to traditional values, and end this ridiculous charade. It's important that we take a fuller account of WHY we celebrate Christmas, as opposed to falling for the barrage of ads that tell us what is most important.
Parents, don't be so consumed with the notion that your children will have a terrible Christmas because the tree isn't overflowing with gifts. The true love that you show them is more important than anything else.
America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/roland.martin/index.html
Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning journalist and CNN contributor. Martin is studying to receive his master's degree in Christian communications at Louisiana Baptist University, and he is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith." You can read more of his columns at http://www.rolandsmartin.com/.
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