I have been hearing a lot lately that “the right” side of Christianity, those who have predominantly influenced politics (until recently), and been the ones represented most in the media (until recently), and generally the ones many people think of when they think of Christianity (again, until recently), had a bit of a corner on “morality”. The argument goes something like this: “The “right” has gotten a lot of things wrong, but historically they have been the ones who have insisted on the preservation of Biblical morality.”

Many people who were fairly conservative (”right”) in times past are now finding themselves leaning a little to the liberal side (”left”) in their pursuits of the Kingdom of God. The argument I presented above generally goes on to imply that with that shift comes a general forsaking of Biblical morality, continuing with: “Leftist Christians cuss, smoke, drink, and generally partake in the evils of society more than the ones on the right do, and even hold theologies that allow for such things as homosexual relationships and other ‘deviant’ behaviors.” (Disclaimer: for those who don’t know me, I don’t believe it is a sin to be gay, nor to pursue a gay relationship )

Whereas I see where the argument is coming from, and agree to a certain extent that the right has been a bit of a safe house for certain moral issues, I do not believe that the religious left is accurately characterized by Biblical immorality. Perhaps in the postmodern age we can admit that what conservative Christians call moral does not necessarily equate to God’s absolute truth. For example, generally, the right insists that gay marriage is immoral, whereas the left insists it is not. Both, again generally, come at the issue equipped with the Bible and the Holy Spirit, yet don’t agree as to the moral nature of the subject. I would say that here, it is quite possible that the right are safeguarding not morality, but exclusivity based on a false understanding of the statements made about homosexual activity in the Bible itself. Further, in the case of those who go even further to use that belief to condemn and alienate, it is clear that Biblical morality is not in play.

There are moral issues that are being presented to us today that go beyond the ones the right have been preserving and promoting, and unfortunately the right has been unwittingly perpetuating a set of quite immoral scenarios for some time now. In the building of grand church building structures in the name of Jesus we have forgotten to build wells in African communities that are suffering without any source of clean water. In the fight for the life of the unborn child in the name of Jesus we have forgotten to fight for the lives of the already born. In the fight for purity in the name of Jesus we have forgotten to open our doors wide to the kind of imperfect people Jesus spent his life with on Earth.

I can be so easily misunderstood on this topic I have been tempted to not post it at all. But it is important to me. I don’t think the right are immoral, but I don’t think the left deserve the bad wrap they have received necessarily either. I must admit, most of my Christian friends fall somewhere in the middle, but definitely on the left side, and when I hear this argument I think of them and think no way do they deserve this description. My understandings are incomplete, and I am asking for your input as much as I am giving mine. It is an argument, like I said, that I have heard a lot of lately, and it doesn’t sit well with me. What are your thoughts?

I find that through the years my favorite way to praise and connect with Jesus is through intimate interaction. As a very small child I was approached at the local Fair by a person at a little church’s booth and asked Jesus into my heart. I began to attend their little church via the bus, but my parents never came. After a while I was able to convince my best friend and neighbor to come too, but eventually gymnastics won out for her and I was alone on the bus again. After a while I just fizzled out. But I had received a gift by that time that I have carried with me and treasured through the years. I suppose you could call that gift prayer, but for me it is so much more than that. I began to develop this deep, intimate conversation life with God at that young age, and it has blossomed into a beautiful connection with him that I return to time and time again. It was him who I fell asleep with every night. It was him who I turned to in times of need. It was him who I rushed to in my depression growing up. This has built a strong foundation that I believe goes beyond prayer, into worship as well. He is present when I sing to him, he is there when I choose to acknowledge him, he is there when I think of Him. I often feel his presence but not always with the same intensity. I treasure this connection and find that I even use it in corporate worship times in the church fellowship through music. Those times aren’t really community times for me most of the time, but rather another opportunity to stop and get intimate with Jesus again.

How do you worship? I mean, worship has many, many faces, and means many things. How do you best worship Jesus? What is your favorite way to praise Him? Is it an intimate experience, or more of a group or community experience? I would love to hear ways people are sharing their hearts with Jesus. There are a lot of books out there exploring different ways of worshiping, some hearkening back to ancient practices, liturgies, and even songs. So what about you?

Nick Fiedler recently wrote a post on The Great Disappointment (A post about Emergent). Here is the response I left there. What are your thoughts?

We really must keep moving toward the Kingdom of God, whatever that means for each of us individually. Emergent has awakened me to much, and although I am Emergent to the core, my life is still my life, my calling is still my calling, and my dreams are still my dreams. I must forge ahead with what I have received and continue to let the Spirit of God guide and direct me. After all, what is Emergent other than a vast array of people who are hearing from God that he has given his Bride a heart transplant, but that many parts of her body have rejected it. Will we now reject what God is doing? No. Will we stay in one “new” place, one conversation, and become stale? No. The people who are known for being emergent because they are vocal, famous, etc, are still people following God’s call in their lives. We must be the same. What are you doing to make sure you do your part to help “everything change”? And how long do you think something like this might take? Surely more than ten years. A heart transplant is a lengthy, costly procedure. The goal is not the transplant though! The goal is life. The heart facilitates that, but the heart is not the prize. Life is. Life more abundant. Life in the Kingdom, today, and tomorrow, and forevermore.

Sommer Haven Ranch International

This is another company people are using to feed the poor. Here is a quote from their “Our Work” tab:

“Every week Sommer Haven Ranch International provides 60,000 pounds of food to more than 100 groups and churches who distribute to the needy in the Antelope Valley.”

They also work globally, from a flood in Mexico to the hurricanes in the US to indigenous peoples. Here is a quote from their “Mission” tab:

“Sommer Haven sends teams to developing countries who help to raise indigenous leaders for preventative healthcare, basic first aid, hygiene, nutrition, education and sustainable agriculture … so indigenous leaders can reach their own community or village.”

Okay, this is a little off topic from my usual posts, but I wanted to share this with you.

We will soon be going on a date that has been prearranged for us by some friends. Here are our instructions:

When We Wish Upon a Star-

On a clear night, grab an extra sweatshirt and head out to the desert for some stargazing. Find an open, dark, safe area to park the car. Get out and bundle up as necessary – snuggling works well too! Take a few minutes to just take it all in; breathe deeply as you quietly look around. Think of a childhood dream or ambition your spouse might not have heard you share before. Wife, tell your husband first, then listen to his. Enjoy the laughter and joy that is rekindled by these carefree dreams.

Now take a few more minutes to think about one of your current dreams or ambitions. Think big, well beyond the boundaries of circumstance. Wife, listen to your husband first this time. When he is finished, reflect back to him the core of his dream. Next, husband, you listen and reflect. Finally, record a 1-3 word phrase on the paper star included in this envelope for each of the two current dreams. Pray together that God would shape these dreams to suit His will and then fulfill them for you both. When you return home, pin the stars us somewhere where you can both continue to pray for God’s fulfillment of that dream for your spouse.

Jonathan Brink just wrote an excellent blog entitled “The circle of inclusion” in which he discusses the inclusive nature of emergent Christianity in light of a conversation he recently had with a friend. These are his closing words, which I found particularly helpful and inspiring:

“My friend was looking for our differences. And in doing so was participating in a means that would eventually exclude. At some point our differences would emerge and a barrier to relationship would be created. When we begin with defining people by what they believe, as opposed to who they are, we create natural barriers that instinctively create exclusion even when we don’t want to. And those barriers end up excluding US at some point. What we end up with is 27,000 different version of church. Our desire for unity becomes impossible because we are beginning with a method that is broken to begin with.

“When we begin with love we create, what I think Jesus was really trying to get to, which is a circle of inclusion. Love begins with our similarities, not our differences. It draws people in as opposed to pushing people out. It looks past our brokenness to discover the best of who we are. It destroys barriers as opposed to creating them.

“But when we begin with love, we step into a very different way of operating. We begin with the idea that we are each created in His image. Differences don’t define us. They express the subtle facets of a different part of God’s image working its way out. We can’t control it. We can only participate in it. And when we do, we engage what Jesus said was the only true way to live. We create an unshakable foundation that fulfills what it means to be human: to love.”

David and I would love to attend this event! If you are going will you please register for the event using the code “LOVE” so we can get credit toward our possible trip? It promises to be excellent! 21 voices, 21 ideas, 21 minutes each… Here is a quote from their website: “Christianity21 is less a conference and more a happening, an event—a gathering of voices and ideas that will shape the future of our faith. And to the 21 voices, we want you to add your voice, whether you’re a seeker or skeptic, leader or layperson, disciple or doubter.” We would absolutely love to see you there!

Christianity 21: Faith in the 21st Century

Register here

It is getting harder and harder for many groups, individuals and organizations to provide food for those in need (including themselves). However, a very cool program has been brought to our attention which provides $100 worth of food for $30, purchasable in advance and delivered in a box. They call them treasure boxes.

http://thetreasurebox.org/

I cannot express this enough, cannot express it enough times, cannot capture it as fully as I would like to, but if you are gay know this: Jesus loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.

I understand that many of His people, who are supposed to love you (because, after all, we are supposed to be known for our love for one another, as He has first loved us when we were not worthy), do not necessarily love you, and for that I cannot express to you my sorrow clearly enough. But He does love you. He loves you. He loves you.

I understand that many of His people, His very Bride, have communicated to some of you that homosexuality is an unpardonable sin, deserving of eternal flames. That can’t be farther from the truth, and for that message many of you have received I am sorry. I know they have used the Bible to try to convey that message to you, and I can assure you that nowhere in there does it say that if you are gay you are automatically destined for hell. It just isn’t true.

Whoever you are, wherever you may be, know this: Jesus loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.

In this video Tony Campolo addresses a woman who calls him at 10pm in tears over the future judgement of her gay son who had just committed suicide three weeks earlier. Toward the end of the short video he says that many like to say, “I love the sinner, but I hate his sin.” His response is that “that is just the opposite of what Jesus says…. Jesus says, ‘love the sinner and hate your own sin; and after you get rid of the sin in your own life, then you can begin talking about the sin in your brother or sister’s life.”

Another golden nugget from this interview segment is Tony’s reminder that “wherever someone is hurting, there is Jesus.”