I just wanted to add that I feel SO good today…for the first time in months…I think that this new allergy medicine (#3 or 4 now) is actually working, so I am becoming very excited that my health might begin to be restored! I feel happy today, I can think, I can breathe, and I feel pretty good. I’m not 100% yet, but getting there. 🙂
Just wanted to say that!
There are times when I forget why I am attending a university…why I am seeking to become better educated…
Then, times like last night, remind me very clearly of why I am here.
Our church hosted a discussion on “The DaVinci Code” last night, with a book club from the surrounding area. There were many people there from the book club, including a lady who apparently went to church somewhere, judging by the comments she made throughout the evening.
But one of her comments was unbelieveable (this may not be as funny as it is to hear it explained, but I’ll do my best!).
We were discussing the names of God, because there is mention of these in “The DaVinci Code”. She spoke up and said that when she was reading her Bible a few months ago, God showed her a new name for Himself.
We all looked at her, expectantly, wondering what on earth she was talking about.
She said that she had been reading the Lord’s prayer, and it says “Our Father, who art in heaven, HALLOWED be thy name.”
The room was silent.
I was sitting by two people from my Bible study group, who are also in college, and we just looked at each other incredulously.
Hallowed?!
Hallowed: Consecrated, holy, set-apart.
No one corrected this lady, in part because we were all stunned, and also because I’m sure no one could have said anything without laughing outloud.
Let’s pray to Hallowed today, LOL.
I felt badly for the lady, because I can see why she made that assumption…but it also reminded me that it is so important to be educated in this world, especially when you might open your mouth and say things that are just not accurate.
Anyway, we thought it was so funny.
The discussion was fascinating, over all. Lots of history presented, which I love. I am going to reread “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, which presents all sorts of evidence as to why the Bible is true, etc., (Lee was an athiest who set out to prove that the Bible was false, and ended up going the opposite direction.) because I feel that it is important in this day and age to know your stuff and to be able to use outside historical sources to show others the validity of the Bible.
Have a blessed day!
This has really come to be a burden upon my heart, so here are some recent articles I discovered about the incidents in France.
I also forgot to mention something interesting that Mary (the Messianic Jew I met yesterday) mentioned to us…she said that the Jewish community is wondering if this is one way that God is bringing the people back to Israel. From what she said, in order for “Yeshua” to return, Jews must come from all over the world back to Israel, and she said that they feel that, as horrible as this is, maybe this is one way that God is bringing them back. I don’t know…it’s just something to think about…it’s just so sad! Anyway, like I said, that’s just what she said, I don’t know much more about it…
Nazi graffiti found on French graves (this one disturbed me the most, I think)
Anti-Semitism Rising, Jews in France Ponder Leaving
Increase in Violence Worries French Jews
Time for Jews to leave France? Nazi hunter says it’s best way to fight anti-Semitism
International conference on anti-Semitism, racism on Internet opens in Paris
Vandals ruin French mural painted by concentration camp children
Each generation has had their “tool” for evangelism that worked. In the late eighteenth and early twentieth century, the circuit rider preachers were effective, and revivals were common. In the ’60s and ’70s, during the “Jesus Freak” movement, street evangelism worked. People responded. That was something that really reached people.
However, what is going to be the effective tool for our generation?
(Of course, these are generalizations, because not everyone is like this…just my observations)
* People don’t like to be bothered…they don’t like things to take up their time.
* People don’t talk to other people while walking down the street, and if someone talks to them, it is generally not well-received.
* People don’t mind if you are religious, as long as you don’t talk to them about it.
* There are so many misconceptions of religion, so many stereotypes…hard to defeat them all.
* Society is so individualized; yet, everyone longs to “belong” to something of their choosing.
It goes without saying that society today is a much different place than it was in the ’60s and ’70s…it’s even different than it was in the ’90s. Things are constantly changing in our world, and people are no exception.
Some of my own observations from my two summers as a missionary:
* Backyard Bible Clubs are no longer an effective way to reach children. With technology these days, going back to arts and crafts, Bible stories, and outdoor games are just not things that children are interested in. It was a great day if we had 5 kids at our BYBCs. Also, parents are less apt to allow their children to be somewhere with people they don’t know, because of the crimes that have happened in recent years with children.
* Many people don’t like to be bothered at home. My church always liked to do “visitation”, where one night a week they would go and visit the people who had attended the service the previous Sunday. I had to do “follow-up” visits after Vacation Bible School and BYBCs both summers, and it was–with one exception–unsuccessful.
* People don’t like to be “preached at”…they are less likely to accept the message you are bringing if you have no current relationship with them.
I have found that relationships are key. I’m not saying that I think you should go build relationships JUST so that you can tell them about Jesus…if that is your only motivation, to “win another soul”, then I don’t think I agree with that. But, people are more likely to go to church with a friend, someone they trust, than they are to go with someone who was doing door-to-door evangelism and handed them a tract.
So, what can we do to “reach” out to the world around us? We have to invent new ways…ways that we can reach them where they are. Perhaps we need to look at Christ’s example (heaven forbid, LOL) at how He touched lives…at how He ministered…
What is a “post-modern” church going to look like?
Well, I was unable to spend “Father’s Day” with my father, as I live 8 hours away. I will be going home this Friday, however, so we’ll spend time together then.
A few of my favorite memories of my Dad:
* Traveling all over the Western United States for boat racing…
* Being so proud of his amazingly beautiful paint jobs of boats, cars, go-karts, etc.
* Watching NASCAR, NHRA and other racing events on Sundays, after church.
* His quirks (many of which I have as well)…always made me laugh…
* How he loved to wake me up on Saturday mornings, knowing that I wanted to sleep in.
* Learning about automotive maintenance and repair from him (before my auto-shop days)
* Watching him hold and play with our rabbit, even though he “never wanted one.”
* Knowing that he and I were so much alike, that he’d understand my ideas.
I just realized that most of those have to do with racing in one way or another, LOL. That is why racing is so fun for me, I think, because it was always something we did with Dad (Mom participated, but I don’t think she “loves” it like he does). We are by NO means a red-neck family. Like my Dad always says about racing: “It’s something to do on the weekends.”
Since I couldn’t be with family, I spent the day with two women who are like family to me. I drove down to Orange County to spend time with two of my roommates from my semester in D.C., because the three of us became very close while there. One of the girls, Katie, just moved to So Cal from Ohio last week, and it was so awesome to talk to her. We have a lot in common as far as health problems go, so it was really good to dialogue with her about the difficulties in life.
We also discussed French Anti-semitism with her roommate, Mary, who is a Messianic Jew. I had NO idea that things were so bad in France…no idea. She wrote her senior thesis on this topic, and will be sending it to me sometime so that I can read it and learn more about it. According to the New York Times, there has been a “spectacular rise” in anti-semitism in the past three years, and these acts have been committed by Muslims…and according to Mary, the Jewish community fears another holocaust. It was incredibly astounding to me, and also amazed me that the press hasn’t been picking up on these things, or at least not reporting them (not that I give the media much credit or respect). If any of you know more about this, please let me know. It breaks my heart to know that this people group is once again being persecuted in such horrible ways.
Just in case anyone is curious, my shingles are looking better, LOL. It’s been a week now, and though the medicine isn’t cooperating very well with my stomach, it is keeping the virus under control. Praise the Lord!
More to come in my series about the Church…more thoughts this weekend, just need to put them all together in a logical pattern. 🙂
This is post #1 of a series regarding my own musings on the Church, evangelism, and Christian culture. To begin, I’d like to simply post a passage from Paul Marshall’s book “Thine is the Kingdom”, because it is among the many I have read today that sparked an interest in my mind.
I’ll be discussing ideas from theologians such as Lesslie Newbigin, Stanley Hauerwas, and other respected minds as I try to express my own personal frustrations. In all that I will write, please understand that I am by NO means exempt from these things. I am just as much at fault for being too wrapped up in “Christian culture” and secluding myself from the realities of the world (I attend a Christian university, which tends to be a “bubble” of sorts). These are just my musings, ponderings, my journey to discover how to be a Christian in a post-modern world.
As always, I’d love for this to become a “conversation”, and it is open for comments. I’d love to dialogue about these issues, as they are becoming increasingly important. It seems to me that the church (using the term “Church” as a general statement–I realize that there are exceptions, of course) is becoming more separated from the world as time goes by. In brief, I believe that when the Bible mentions being in the world but not of the world, it doesn’t mean to create our own “religious club.” Rather, I think that we should be following Christ’s example in reaching out to the world, meeting them where they are, meeting their needs…but most importantly, just loving them. Not trying to change them, not trying to push our beliefs on them…just loving them, and allowing Christ to transform their lives as He desires.
So here is the passage from Paul Marshall…
“Our task as Christians is, in principle, to do everything in a Christian way that can be done by a human being—from what we eat when we get up in the morning (if we have anything to eat) to what clothes we put on, to how we get to work (if we have any work), to what we work at, making what, for how much, in what sort of conditions, to how we vote, how we engage in research, how we understand the news, how we relax, what we do with and for the poor, and so on throughout the livelong day. In all these activities we are called to be new creatures taking our place as the stewards of God’s world, being servants of our neighbor and proclaimers of the good news of Jesus Christ. In all of them we are to learn what God calls us to do or, in other words, to see how redemption in Jesus Christ can bring healing and redirection. We are to proclaim and to show in our lives that Christ is Lord over every part of life. Just as every part of life is affected by human sin, so all parts of life can be renewed and redeemed by Jesus Christ. That is our only solid hope for families, factories or politics.
True Christian social action is always evangelistic work, for no area of life is ‘neutral’, supposedly immune from the effects of sin and the reach of redemption. We do not act merely on the basis of Christian ‘principles’ or ‘morality’, we are to act as witness to Jesus Christ. All areas of life must be linked to new life in Jesus Christ. In turn, true Christian evangelism is always social action because it lives and proclaims what is good news in each area of life.
Through the gospel God calls a new nation, a new people, a new humankind into being. As men and women turn to Jesus Christ in real, concrete, repentance from sin and, by grace through faith, are restored in God’s favor, they begin to live out the healing and restoration of Christ’s redemption and take up their Christian responsibility for the direction of human life and culture. Evangelism is, in a way, the recruiting process for this life whereby people come ‘on board’ for service to God’s kingdom. Evangelism calls people to repentance and to a restored and renewed love for God and, through that love, to a new life of service to our neighbors. This is the Christian life.”
Paul Marshall, Thine is the Kingdom, p. 37-38.
The quarter that Californians chose
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I was just informed that the quarter that Californians picked as our state quarter has been replaced. The state officials gave us the opportunity to vote on a quarter, and now they are taking matters into their own hands. If you are a Californian, please take the time to contact the government officials, because there is no reason for them to ask us to make the decision, then not listen to what the people want.
I decided to finally begin reading “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Phillip Yancey, as it has been on my shelf for about 3 years. On page 16, he makes an interesting point:
“Today, people even use Jesus’ name to curse by. How strange it would sound if, when a businessman missed a golf putt, he yelled. ‘Thomas Jefferson!’ or if a plumber screamed ‘Mahatma Gandhi!’ when his pipe wrench mashed a finger. We cannot get away from this man Jesus.”
Why is it that people use the name of Jesus in such a way? Why don’t they use other names? This has picqued my curiosity, for some reason, and I’d love to hear your opinions on the matter.
A quick update on the life of Lesa Close:
* Blood tests were normal–meaning that we still have no idea what’s wrong with me. Back to square one.
* Shingles are less painful today–Praise God! Yesterday was pretty intense, and I ended up icing the blisters to keep the pain down. Should be over this in 7-14 days.
* Roommates are still wonderful. Last night we made a late Wendy’s run, where we were the loudest people in the restaurant 🙂 Good times. Took Erin to the airport this morning, very early…Jess and I might go to a movie tonight at the “ghetto theatre” (only $3)–either Shrek 2 or 13 Going on 30 (second time, for both of us).
* Sleepover this weekend…worship team really hit the groove on Wednesday night, which means that Sunday’s service should be a great experience. After church, I’m heading down to see two of my roommates from DC (Katie and Alli), which will be awesome. I love those girls!
* I’ve been pondering several policy issues as of late…may post about them in the near future. Also been thinking a lot about NASA, and how the money that is put into the space program might be better spent in times of need (I’m not a NASA hater–I wanted to be an astronaut for 11 years…), like now.
I really don’t have much else to say today, so I’ll keep this short. Lots of interesting discussions happening on Michael’s blog. Check it out!
I know some of you probably just skim over the words to songs that I post…but this song is seriously worth reading/hearing. Plumb is a “Christian” group that actually challenges “Christian culture” with its music and lyrics…calling Christians out on things that just aren’t working. I heard this song tonight, and it just gripped my heart in so many ways. I have put in bold the words that seriously are so what I am feeling right now.
DC Talk also has a song that speaks to this…”What have we become?”
We go to church because “it’s what we’ve always done…” We sing songs to the Lord whether or not our hearts are really worshipping…In fact, our campus pastor said last semester that we shouldn’t sing the words to songs if we don’t really mean them…otherwise, it’s basically hypocrisy. But we do it…I do it…why? Because I’m concerned about what other people will think if I’m not singing (especially because I’m a worship leader in the youth group and on worship team for church)…and, it’s what I’ve been “taught to do”, so I sing, all the words, all the time.
For the past week specifically, I have become increasingly frustrated with “Christian culture.” I have been realizing more and more just how right Brian McLaren is in his book “A New Kind of Christian.” Some things just aren’t working! I am interested in seeing the movie “Saved!” just to see how accurate their portrayal is of what we have become…because, as I work with youth each week, I am aware of how their generation views “the ways things have always been done,” and I know that it just doesn’t reach them effectively, for the most part.
When are we going to stop playing games?
This post isn’t complete–because there is so much going on in my mind right now, that it is difficult to put it all together right now. But here is the song…please read the words…listen to the song if you have the opportunity. I’ll post more regarding this, I’m sure, in the near future. I hope this doesn’t shock my readers too much…it’s been under the surface for awhile now…
Candycoatedwaterdrops
by PlumbWhat is this
Mass confusion
This crazy way we’re living
This emptiness we’re passing out
Like candycoatedwaterdrops
I’m spilling out my thoughts
You’re spilling out your gutsAnd I can’t help but stop and think that
If the world stopped spinning
If the end was beginning
Would you even notice if I wasn’t there?
If the world stopped spinning around“All that’s worth dying for
is already dead”
An empty religion
you’ve learned to accept
When nothing means everything,
your daily routine
You go through the motions
like a helpless machineYou’re spinning ’round
You’re spinning ’round
And I can’t help wondering
You’re spinning ’round
You’re spinning ’round
And I can’t help wonderingWhen the answers to everything
are right in your hands
You lose your conviction,
but you can’t help standing
On the one thing that held you
for so many yearsYou ask for forgiveness
and hold back the tears
Even So, Joy 