Women Pastors

There has always been a topic within churches and religions that perplexes me and that is the IDEA that women can't be pastors.  Right before I married Ross I had to have outpatient surgery, it was nothing big but still the last time I had been in a hospital was when I was born.  I was lucky enough to have never broken an arm or a leg or gash myself deep enough that I needed stitches.  I thought I was fine having the surgery until one of our pre-marital sessions with a pastor brought to light how upset I really was.  I had watched too much ER (remember that show!) and I was afraid that while my procedure was simple something would go wrong.  The pastor giving us the sessions showed up at the hospital, walked into the room, sat down next to me, took my hand, prayed with me and told me everything was going to be okay.  When I looked at the pastor I could see an aura surrounding the pastor's body. It was the most heavenly thing I had ever seen and the feeling of peace that come over me was overwhelmingly calm.   In my whole life (all 21 years at the time), I had never met anyone that I could say with absolute certainty had been touched by God.  Not only did this pastor preside over my marriage to Ross but attended our celebration as a friend.  Her name is Robin.

I now have another pastor in my life and this pastor is very encouraging, warm, open, accepting and has pushed me past the limits I thought I was capable of achieving.  When I think I have reached one level in my faith my pastor holds out a carrot and makes me work and push even more.  I have been given a confidence that I didn't even know I needed and a belief in myself that has transcended into all aspects of my life.  Her name is Carol.

I know different religions have different views on women being pastors and our church obviously allows women to be in leadership roles and encourages it.  But, I have people in my life that won't even attend our church because there is a woman pastor and when I was given an opportunity to fill in for our pastor awhile ago, I had friends who were more stunned than they were happy for me.  This has weighed on my mind for years and I finally decided to address the issue.

I will use the Old Testament and the New Testament to further my position and I mention this upfront because in arguments I have listened to and read the Old Testament is considered null and void. I disagree.  I don't believe you can have true faith without using both texts and accepting both texts.  As part of the Christian doctrine I believe in the Trinity.  The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Father is God, Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God.  Without the teachings of the Old Testament we wouldn't have comprehension of the New Testament and Jesus was well aware of the importance of the past and how it dictated and encouraged his teachings.  Dismissing the teachings of the Old Testament is to dismiss the reasoning for God to walk the earth as Jesus and for him to continue to be a presence in our current lives as the Holy Spirit.

I will also preface that before I ever speak or write a verse I read everything surrounding it.  I encourage you to do the same if I only write one verse and, know that I never give a verse for verse argument.  The proper meaning of a verse lies in the message of the chapter containing it and most times chapters before and after. Also, all my verses come from the New Revised Standard Version.

When I started my research on this topic I found that there is ONE verse mainly used for this argument.  There are many verses that pertain to this type of subject matter but this is ONE verse that appears to be at the root:  1 Timothy 2:11-15 "

11 Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. 12 I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

There are many arguments that go with these verses.  "Man and Woman" are addressing "Husband and Wife" or "Man and Woman" are gender specific roles that need to be applied across the board. There is also debate in the translation of word "silence" and it actually meaning peaceful and the word used for "authority" was not defined as our modern use of the word. It was defined and used to mean something more vulgar.  To really get a look at what these verses are referring to and what Paul meant when we wrote the letter we need understand what  1 Timothy was about and the purpose for which the letter was written.

1 Timothy is considered a Pastoral Letter along with 2 Timothy and Titus.  These three letters are different from the rest of the letters written by Paul during his life. Questions over authorship have been raised about the letters because the style, tone and vocabulary are different than previous letters and the concepts of faith righteousness and being "In Christ" are examined differently. For our argument though, we will not question the authorship and view this letter as written by Paul.  Timothy is first mentioned in Acts 16:1-3,

1 Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Timothy and Paul's relationship was one of mentorship. Timothy traveled many places with Paul spreading the word of Christianity and doing mission work.  When Paul was leaving Ephesus he left Timothy to take care a problem that was taking over the church. 1 Timothy 1:3-7,

3 I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, 4 and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. 5 But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. 6 Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.

Timothy's mission in Ephesus is very clear as is the reasoning behind writing this letter.  This letter was not a statement for all churches and how they were to be run but it was a letter written for this specific church and the need to make sure that false teachers were not spreading false information about faith. 

Going back to the original quote that has started this debate not only among different religions but also within religions themselves we will address these four verses with other text written by Paul to show that this was not a universal statement for women.  1 Timothy 2:11-15

 11 Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. 12 I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

Verse 11 and 12 state that women should learn in silence and have no authority over man.  That is not something that Paul believed in for all churches. In fact, in Acts and Romans when he mentions Priscilla and Aquila, Priscilla's name is always mentioned first.  It was very unusual that a woman's name would appear first and three out of the four time she is mentioned her name comes first (1C 16:19, her name is noted after her husband).  Acts 18:18-28 tells the story of how Priscilla and Aquila traveled with Paul to Ephesus while there they came across a Jew named Apollos who was well-versed in the scriptures.  He only knew of the baptism of John so Priscilla and Aquila "took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately" (v 28).  It wasn't just Aqulia who taught Apollos but it was Priscilla as well. In Romans (Chp 16) Paul says "Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. At the end of Romans (Chp 16) Paul also asks that the Christian Romans greet Phoebe who is a deacon in the church at Cenchrea that they "welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints (apostles), and help her in whatever she may require from you,". Paul also mentions Andronicus and Junia as relatives who were in prison with him and are "prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before I was.".  Junia was a woman who was not just in high standing with the apostles but was an apostle herself.

 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 also address the issue of women in silence, the same as Timothy,

34 women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

What is important to acknowledge is the verses that follow, 36 and 37,

36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?) 37 Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.

Using the word OR indicates that Paul wasn't necessarily stating that women couldn't speak in church but more addressing a statement that had been made by the church.  Paul states the position on women and the says "Or did the word of God originate with you?", meaning did God speak this to you or is the a human law.  Paul is very careful in his letters to state what is the Law, the Law of God, not the Law of Humans. He continues stating that if you claim to be a prophet then you must acknowledge that his words have been commanded by God.  Given when this letter was written, prior to his letter to the Romans and knowing that Priscilla and Phoebe are members of this church, it would be very uncharacteristic of Paul to make a blanket statement that women would have to be silent in church.  It is also noteworthy to point out that only married women are being address here.

Verses 13, 14 and 15 address the fall of Adam and Eve.  This particular statement is contradictory in the way the Paul address the fall where he places the transgressions on Adam and not Eve.  Using Eve in this purpose may indicate that the women were more easily deceived by the false teachers at the church in Ephesus.  In Romans, Paul specifically writes about Adam and Christ compares the relationship by claiming that Adam brought sin into the world through his one transgression and Jesus brought redemption to all through his one act of righteousness.  He doesn't even mention Eve's role in the fall (Romans 5:12-21, please read). Paul is making a huge comparison here between Adam and Jesus and their roles, it is a very profound passage and it would be hard to believe that Paul would completely change his opinion on the matter for the Church as whole.  He was most likely comparing the women in Ephesus to Eve, not women everywhere.

Women have always been very important in the ministry of God during the Old Testament. Judges 4 & 5 tell the story of Deborah and her command of Barak and their battle against a strong Canaanite force.  The Book of Ester tells the story of a Queen standing up to her husband to stop the persecution of her people (Jews) and her command of the death of Haman.  In 2 Kings 22:11-20 King Josiah directed his men to seek the word of the Lord concerning the book of Law that had been found in the house or the Lord.  It was Huldah who spoke the words of the Lord and confirmed the book of Law.  Through her affirmative words King Josiah made a covenant to the Lord to keep his commandments, decrees and statutes.

Women are also highly regarded in ministry in the New Testament as well, as mentioned above.  Throughout the OT and the NT there are numerous verses that put women in equality with men when it comes to speaking the word of the Lord and taking one section of a passage and using that as a reasoning for saying women don't belong behind the pulpit does a disservice to those who have been given a gift to speak and educate those who don't understand the bible.  When making pronouncements based on the bible it is important to read everything that is surrounding the verses and comprehend why passages where written in the first place. 

Women are a gift in the life of the church and it has been women pastors that have affected my life the most and I am insulted when I am told that women don't belong in leadership in the church and they should "learn in silence."

Where is our Superhero?

I was very humbled when Carol asked me to give the message this week since she is out of town and I have been very nervous for weeks!  I know it is hard to believe that I would be nervous seeing that I stand up here each week for a few minutes and share personal details of my life.  But... there is something different about being asked to “fill in” for Carol.  Then I realized that I didn’t need to “fill in”.  I wasn’t going to be able to "fill in" anything of Carol…so I decided to do what I have been doing…just for 10 minutes longer! 

I am going to Keep It Real.  I was talking to my mom awhile ago about the state of affairs in our nation and our society and in our own lives and my mom said, “We need a Superhero of our own.”  She said it quietly and there was no noise outside (which is surprising since we live on a farm with goats, chickens, donkeys and cows) and I really thought about what she said.  I came to the conclusion that we  do have  a superhero of our own…we just forget sometimes.

My first comic books were the Archie series but other than Jughead’s ability to eat massive amounts of food there were no real superhuman powers.  My brother had comic books but his were more graphic than mine…and for those comic book lovers out there I will be careful to distinguish between Archie comics and Graphic Novels!  His told tales of men that could leap buildings in a single bound, that could take corners in a SUPER fast vehicle, shoot arrows that never missed and of course the famous woman with a lasso and bracelets….although I think that one was more about the woman than the abilities!  I have always known the phrase “It’s a bird, It’s a plane, It’s Superman for as long as I can remember and I even say it to my own children.  Superheroes are a part of our culture and no matter how many times they kill off Superman, he seems to just keep coming back. 

The problem with GRAPHIC NOVEL superheroes is that I can’t measure up to them.  Even if I have the same convictions, wear a super cool costume, develop an arch nemesis (in my case, dirty dishes), and gather myself an entourage (Jack and Jake); I will never be able to fly, I will never  swim across the oceans and breathe underwater (my parents tried to get me to take scuba lessons, didn’t work out for the girl afraid of sharks), I will never fly through the city on a web (primarily because I am terrified of spiders), I will never be able to control someone’s mind, see through objects and create weather shifts just by waving my arms around. I won’t ever be able to do any of that and after watching movie after movie that has come out…I am not really sure I would want that kind of responsibility. They are on a pedestal that I can never reach.

Since we have so many superheroes portrayed in various forms of media I thought it would be neat to find out what it took to qualify as a superhero… 

1. Extraordinary Powers:  Either Inhuman or created by man
2. Strong Moral Code
3. A Secret Identity
4. A Distinctive Costume
5. A Supporting Cast
6. An Archenemy or a number of enemies standing against you and your beliefs
7. Headquarters
8. A Back Story
9. A Weakness

Hmmm…Extraordinary Powers, Strong Moral Code, Supporting Cast, A Back Story,….A superhero that is here to save us all, a superhero that that is so convicted in his beliefs that he would die for them and for us, a superhero that had such a great supporting cast that they have an entire testament to tell their stories.  But what is one key difference about this superhero that varies from the others, he was sent to earth to live among us so that we would know Him better.  He was sent here so that through him we might live a better life. He was sent here so that because of him we would be able to learn from, teach others and live our lives they way he lived his.  And by now I am pretty sure you have guessed I am talking about Jesus.  There is no other way I know to Keep Jesus Real and apply him to our everyday life than to view him like Superhero.

Before I mentioned what it took to be considered a Superhero and I want to go through those one more time:

             

1. Extraordinary Powers: He healed the sick, blind and brought the dead back to life. He walked on water to teach his disciples to really believe in him, he was able to feed 5000 on 5 loaves and 2 fish and there are countless more examples in the Gospels. Supernatural Powers, meaning not of this earth. 
2. Strong Moral Code: Do we really need examples of that?  In Matthew Chapters 5-7 Jesus expands on the commandments that Moses gave and gives even further explanation.  He ends in Chapter 7 with what we all are taught in Grade School, the Golden Rule:  “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.   And not only that, knowing death is coming he stands strong, faces his accusers even though he is innocent of any wrongdoing and he prevents his disciples from interfering on his behalf because he knows what must be done if he is going to show the people who he is.
3. A Secret Identity:  It isn’t quite so secret since he says he is the Messiah; however I think it still applies since many of the Jews didn’t believe in him. Many times, even his disciples would questions him and ask for proof. And he would provide it.
4. A Distinctive Costume:  Jesus may not have been walking around in tights but when you see a purple cloth and a crown of thorns don’t you feel a twinge inside and know that those items belong to him.
5. A Supporting Cast: We can name 12 of them right way (even though one falls into two categories) but he also had many followers as well! His Disciples continued his teachings after his death and help spread what is now known as Christianity.
6. A Number of Enemies:  off the top of our head we may say Pontius Pilate and Herod but we know through the stories that they both found Jesus to not be guilty of any crime and wanted to release him, Luke 23:13-25,   but it was the people who didn’t believe, the people he was here to teach.  In Superhero stories how many times do the people of the “city” turn against their hero on false information and betray him as soon as hero does something they don’t like.  It is in almost every movie made about Superheroes. And then, there is Judas, a follower that turns his back on Jesus.
7. Headquarters: Jesus had mobile headquarters. He didn't get a nifty bat mobile but he traveled to Galilee, Bethsaida, Capernaum, Gennsaret, synagogues, beaches, desserts and Jerusalem.  And he traveled more places that those.  He was a moving practice and the more places he went the more people followed.
8. A Back-story: A back-story pretty far back…all the way to Deuteronomy with Moses  (D18:17-19) and Isaiah 7:14-16 .  A Virgin Mother, born of the House of David, born to be the Son of God. No comic book hero has that kind of story!
9. A Weakness: Us.  Which also proves his strength.  He dies for us. He dies for our sins. He dies so we may experience freedom. 

Jesus came to live amongst us, to grow amongst us, to teach us. He grew up a common man in a common family as a common child, teenager and adult.  He did so not only would we hear his teachings but so that we would UNDERSTAND them, witness his power and live his message. This Superhero lived so that we could be like him in the way we live. And while we may not be able to put our hands on someone and heal their blindness through the kindness of our touch we can help heal them inside. By collecting shoes and socks and traveling to other countries we touch and heal the lives of so many, by helping hurricane victims we heal them, by tutoring students and providing them with meals we heal them, by building wheelchair ramps we heal them, by visiting the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten we heal them all with hope and love, by giving our time to children with VBS, Sunday School, Topsy Turvy, Youth, Crop Walks and by going that that extra mile we teach them to love and live through Jesus. By listening to Carol on Saturdays and Sunday we are often reminded of the power of God and how we got to experience that power through Jesus.  We are constantly reminded, even when we forget as we go through our days, that someone believes so much in our enormous potential.  

So the next time you think we need a Superhero in our city, pick up the bible, read a story and then look in the mirror. Jesus made superheroes out of all of us.

Searching for a Signal: 515 Making it Real Segment

Searching for a Signal.  Most of the time when we go in search for a signal from God, we are in the midst of an EVENT.  It can be tragic event, a turning-point event or even an event that we don’t quite understand.  It could be a child coming home and asking questions about God, even though you don’t understand God yourself.  It could be asking why is this happening to me, happening now, or to people in my life. It could be asking, are You there?  Those are big questions to be asking and by asking those questions you are looking for a specific signal from God.

But what happens when those events pass?  While Events can have long-lasting effects, the event itself only happens for a short period of time.  And when they end we stop seeking the signals.  We stop asking the questions because we go back to our lives of carpool, work, PTA, gym, weekend games, volunteering.  We go back to attending church with what we think will be a newfound purpose but then our lives get in the way and we attend church as a routine on Sunday. 

I am guilty of all of the above.  I am guilty of really seeking out God when I NEED it and when it is convenient for me.  I am guilty of going back to my life and forgetting everything I have learned because I get so caught up in the minute by minute of my day that I forget to look for God’s signals. I get frustrated, angry and fed-up when everyday there are five pairs of shoes for each member of my family but the one time (okay more like five times) we are running behind there is one of each shoe and it is for the same foot.  Or how my son Jake, has a knack for every time, EVERY TIME, I set one foot out the door, he poops.  Without fail, he poops.  He could have just gone and I changed his diaper and had him all ready but then one foot out the door, there is that familiar smell.  And then I heard a song…A song that made me stop and see Gods signals in a whole new way.  A way that taught me that Gods signals are in thousands of every day blessings and if I just take one moment to stop, breathe and revel in what is happening around me I can see Signals of God’s Grace, Love and Abundance everywhere.  Now, I by no means can practice this newfound wisdom on a daily basis and I still get frustrated and angry and fed-up (ask the cashier at WalMart) and in order to remind me seek God’s Signals I actually had to make the song my ringtone.  But every time I hear it, it gives me new resolve to find those everyday blessings in the simple signals God puts in my everyday life.

I would like to share this song with you and while you are listening think of some things that have happened in your life that in the middle of your day made you say “Thank you God”.  Things that while it was raining on you, your $6 latte spilling down your shirt and everything was going wrong, you just had to chuckle and smile. Things that came of out of no where and yet you knew they came from Him?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqqdA8LHN7I&ob=av2e

Stories of the Bible

With September approaching I am getting ready for my next Bible Study.  I am very excited about this particular study because we will be studying a good mix of the old and new testament; as well as, the history behind the characters, authors, chapters and both books.  The most important part is that we will be taking all of that information and applying it to our modern lives. 

Applying the bible to our modern lives.  That is an interesting concept that I have encountered as I have grown in my life and in my studies of the bible.  So many times I hear,"Things have changed so much over the years, can we really expect the lessons of the bible to pertain to the here and now." I was a follower of that train of thought. I was a modern girl and with changes in science and society there was no way the whole bible applied to my current life.  They were just stories of a time long ago.

As I  grew, I came to realize that the modern girl was just a misinformed girl and I really wasn't reading the stories that were being presented in front of me, but rather, I was trying to find a counter-argument from the beginning. I was trying to prove that I was right and even though I had faith in God there were just some things I couldn't do or be expected to do. Could I blame the non-modernization of the bible for not trusting its Word and could I really have faith in God if I wasn't following the lessons given to me? 

No,  I could only blame myself for not reading each story with open eyes as well as an open heart and unless I embraced all of the stories from God, I couldn't have a real faith and trust in Him.  Fortunately for me, my lesson was learned early and I now approach the bible and its stories in a new way and through my openness I have discovered that the bible does apply to the here and now.  The bible has ageless wisdom running through each page and if you are lucky enough to really see it and apply it to your life, it really does have the recipe for making you happy.  I wish I could say that since I uncovered my little secret everything is perfect and I just rattle the wisdom off each time I get frustrated, angry or upset but that is just not true.  The "modern girl" that is still in me has to remember, often,  to revisit the "old text" and open my eyes and heart.

Here is some advice that I treasure from the bible so much so that I keep them on my purse so when I am having a breakdown moment with my 2 & 5 year-old in Walmart, I can be reminded.  While it doesn't fix the problem at hand, they do allow me to compose and think about the situation before I react.............or go back and fix my reaction (this one happens the most)!

 Please share yours with me!

• All of Joshua and Judges taught me the real meaning of parental love and forgiveness.
• "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18
• "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better." Ephesians 1:17
• "Do let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
• "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." Psalm 103:8-10
• "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32
• "for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,..." Proverbs 24:16

The Meaning of Bad

For those of you that were in the bible study on Wednesday you know I had a really strong reaction to Chapter 13 in our book.  I really only had a strong reaction to one section of the book and by now if you have read it I am sure you can guess where I got upset. For those who haven't read it yet I will put the section in this blog.  I have spent days thinking about this book and what I wanted to say and I wanted to be careful that I wasn't writing from anger, disappointment or shock. Every study we do is a teaching experience to help us grow in our faith journey and while we may or may not agree with everything that is written we must take the text before us and learn from our reaction.  By the end of our time with that book, chapter, or study we must find a way to take what we have been given and process the facts, find our own facts and come up with an answer that stretches our mind and strengthens our faith.

In Chapter 13, Lysa, discusses the concept of Mommy Guilt.  Now we know Mommy Guilt, exists because we all have it or have had it.  We guilt ourselves about not spending enough time with our children, we guilt ourselves when we snap at them, we guilt ourselves when we shoo them away and we guilt ourselves when we take time to be alone because we think we should be doing something for the children.  As we grow older and our children grow older we realize that we shouldn't have Mommy Guilt and that we are doing the best we possibly we can and every once in awhile we need time away from those precious bundles of joy.  Newer moms have a little bit longer to go on the journey of being freed from Mommy Guilt but they too will reach the freedom and happily pass on the knowledge to other moms. 

Lysa gives rules for the No More Mommy Guilt Club and Rule #1 is where I had problems:  "I will no longer be fooled into thinking that my kids came to me good and anything bad they do is a reflection of my poor mothering.  No, kids are bad when they come to us. They have the same sin nature that causes you and me to sin, and they need a Savior just as much as we do.  How else do you explain that sometimes great parents have rotten children and rotten parents have a great child?  I mean, even God, the perfect parent, had Adam and Eve, who had to be sent to the most serious time-out of them all...all the way out of the Garden!  Therefore, instead of pointing the finger at myself when they act bad or make poor choices, I will point them toward their heavenly Father.  I will assess what correction the kids need and administer that, but I will not let my kids' poor choices define me as a mother."  I don't have problems with the whole section. It is really like one statement: 'No, kids are bad when they come to us."  I disagree with that statement and I am surprised it was made.  As a mother I am careful not to tell Jack that he is bad but rather I tell him his behavior is bad and those are two very different things. So when I read this statement I really had to process it and learn from it and ask myself why it bothered me so much.  The answer is simple: I know children don't come to us bad.  One look in my children's eyes and I know it to be the truth.

Lysa uses Adam and Eve as an example of children being bad.  And I am going to throw out an idea that I had never thought of before until I started to do my own thinking and reading but what if Adam and Eve aren't God's children. I am going to pause for a gasp! God never refers to Adam and Eve as His children. God had one son and he was sent to earth to save us from our sins. "For God so loved the world that he gave his ONLY Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (John 3:16).  I spent my whole upbringing being told I was one of God's children and it was a concept I didn't really think about it too much.  I know I am one of God's people because I have chosen to be and I know he loves me but just because I am one of his people doesn't make Him my parent.  I do believe that we are all "children" of God but in Lysa's context I think there is a difference in raising your children and being a "child" of God.

God created man and woman from the dust and he created man in his image.  When Adam and Even ate from the tree of knowledge they didn't do it because they were bad, I believe they did it because they were curious. They were told they would be like God and have His knowledge. Yes, they disobeyed God but it wasn't out of malicious intent and when you describe someone as bad you are describing someone who is unfavorable, morally objectionable and mischievous.  Those words do not describe children. In Genesis Chp 6 the text refers to "sons of God" and I believe that to mean "Men" that God created and the daughters are referred to as daughters of men, men that were born not created. There is a  big difference here between created and born. And through the line of Adam, through birth, Noah was born and Noah was righteous. So righteous that he and his family were chosen by God to survive the flood and give birth to the new humankind.

I do agree that children are born with a sinful nature and it is the parents that teach the children to follow God.  Many times throughout the bible it is mentioned how important children are to the kingdom of heaven and how if you were turn even a child away from God you would be punished.  One of my favorite verses comes from Matthew 18 and it was the first verse I thought of when I read this chapter: "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large mill-stone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea." (18:1-4,6)

Knowing how important children are, can we really believe they are born bad?  Isn't our job as parents to guide and nurture them and pray that the sinful nature that is a part of us won't break through.  That we teach our children to know the difference between good behavior and bad behavior and show them that they are loved by us and they are loved by God.  If we aren't doing those things than we should have a big dose of Mommy Guilt.

Exceeding Expectations

I have been married to my husband for over 8 years.  I like that I can say "over" since our 8 year anniversary was in December.  It makes me feel older and wiser, even though the actual digit is still a single number!  I still have "arguments" with my husband, we still "disagree" about things and even after 8 years of marriage and 31 years of life (I have double digits there) I still call my mom when things aren't going right with Ross.  And I don't just mean he left the toilet seat up, went out for a weekend with his buddies and left me home with kids, I mean: Where is my life going?, Is he still the right person for me?, and Are we going to grow old together? kinda questions/fears/vents.  My mom always gives me the same advice: Don't have any EXPECTATIONS of Ross and accept him.  Don't EXPECT him to change because you don't want to. Don't EXPECT him to bring home flowers, by them yourself. Don't EXPECT him to read your mind when he doesn't even read his own! Don't EXPECT him to do everything exactly the way you have pictured in your head because then you ARE EXPECTING him to fail.  No Expectations.  Easier said than done.  But RIGHT!

As I was planning our last bible study on having a loving, intimate relationship with God, I thought how is that possible.  I say I love God. I say God loves me. But how do I know. I don't always feel that complete connection  I think I should. He isn't always the person I turn to first when there is a problem, even though I know I should. He doesn't always answer me or show Himself to me when I need Him. I can say the words but I don't always see the actions. And then it hit me: when you are achieving true intimacy with someone you are completely giving yourself to them.  Everything about you is put on the table. You bear your complete soul: the good, the bad, the pretty and the ugly.  All of it is out there. And you hope your partner does the same to you. You take everything they have and love them for and in spite of it.

The same is with God.  You give yourself completely but you shouldn't expect anything in return.  We are blessed to have a relationship with God and He told us many times in the bible that he is always there for us and will take care of us. If we lose the EXPECTATIONS that He needs to prove his love to us by answering prayers in a certain and timely manner, by fixing our lives for us when they take a turn for the bad and that he needs to show us in physical ways daily how he loves us, then we can have the loving, intimate relationship we yearn for with God.  We will learn to take Him for everything he is  and love and cherish him just as he takes us and loves and cherishes us. 

Relationships are hard work and our relationship with God is no different.  As we nurture and grow our relationships with spouses, children, friends and family members we must also take that care in our relationship with God.  And in time it isn't work anymore...it just is. The loving and intimate relationship we have been craving is just a part of us. A part of our heart, our soul and our might.

 "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give your a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all you hear, I will let you find me, says the Lords, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you fall all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile." ( Jeremiah 29:11-45)  This is part of the letter Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylon letting them know that God was still watching out for them and he was still there for them and the should continue the live their lives how He has asked and when the exile is over he will come back for them.  Even when we don't feel God surrounding us every day and every minute as we nurture our relationship with Him we will one day come to the understanding that he is always with us.  Continuing to grow and nurture your faith journey will bring you closer to that understanding.

What are ways you grow and nurture your love, intimacy and understanding of God?

Is the Devil around the corner?

When I was a little girl my parents had me in Catholic Sunday School and Confirmation classes.  When you are Catholic you start preparing for your confirmation (age 16) when you have your first communion (age 7).  You are in class for a loooonnnngggg time. And during that time it was pounded in my head that the devil was waiting for me to jump out and steal my soul at anytime.  And then the description of Hell.  Fire and Brimstone doesn't even begin to describe what I was taught. And purgutory... So far I have made it 31 years and no one has jumped out from behind a bush and carried me off to a fiery pit of doom, but that doesn't mean I don't fear it.  In fact, it is something I fear very much.  Even if Hell isn't what is permanently seared into my brain, I am not willing to take that chance.

In Lysa's book she mentions that "fear not" is mentioned 365 times in the bible.  One for everyday to remind you not to be afraid and that the Lord is with you. I brought up in class today that I was struck by the 8 (condensed) pages of verses where we are told to "Fear God".  We also discussed that Fear is one of the 4 basic emotions we experience and Fear is a distressing reaction to a perceived threat.  A great point was made that "Fear" for God can be used as astonishment and amazement at his wonder and I agree with that but I also take it for it's literal meaning.  I love God, I believe in God, but I am not going to lie...I also fear God.  I fear the idea that there is no God, I fear the idea of not living my life according to the commandments and not getting to be in the Kingdom of Heaven, I fear the idea that when the day of reckoning comes I won't be the woman plucked from the field, I fear not pleasing God.  But not in an incopactitating  way.  I see the fear as a positive. If I didn't have these feelings what kind of person would I be, would I still make the right choices? I don't know.  What I do know is that when I am faced with choices I ask, What Would God Do. And I am not the only one, many people throughout the bible did not have faith but they knew of God and they Feared him more than anyone else so they went against their community to serve, help and protect a God (and his people), they said they didn't believe in.

I was trying to figure out a problem and a friend asked me "What would God Do? It stopped me right in my tracks and a problem that consumed my entire day was answered in 2 seconds.  Isn't that an amazing power. 

Do you Fear God?