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If God is interested in “putting things back to rights”…what does that mean for me?

posted:  27:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Emerging

I’m being challenged.

By God.

I think He’s saying…”Ok, Miss smarty pants….(at least that’s how I hear Him)…so, you’ve finally discovered that I’m about renewal, restoration and reconciliation. So, what are you going to do with that?”.

It’s easy for me to think about the poor…to go to Africa…to work with kids without parents…. and those things are part of what God has called the church to do. That’s the kind of stuff that excites me, the issues I feel passionate about.

What I don’t feel passionate about is going back to the churches where I have been hurt. Going back to the places and people that have wronged me “in the name of Jesus”. What I want to do is walk away from those people and places, shrug and say, “They just don’t get it.” However, for the last few weeks, through a variety of different situations, I’m afraid that God may be saying “Hey, dummy, renewal, restoration and reconciliation is for those people too.” In response, I say to God “Let someone else restore, renew and reconcile those people. They hurt me. That’s too close to home. I don’t wanna. Come on God, (in my best whining voice), let somebody else do that. They have hurt my feelings. A LOT. I want to feed the poor, volunteer at a homeless shelter, go to Africa again.” And if I said what was really in my heart, I would add, “I want to do things for the Kingdom, that I’m not as emotionally involved with.”

But perhaps, just perhaps, God is telling me to start where it hurts most. Start with the thing that I least want to do. Start in the place that I feel most vulnerable. Start in the places that I would rather walk away from.

To be honest, I’d rather not. I’d REALLY rather not. Tonight, however, I’m thinking that it is exactly what God may be calling us to.

Most Merciful God,

I confess that I have sinned against you,

in thought, word and in deed.

By what I have done and what I have left undone.

I have not loved You with my whole heart.

I have not loved my neighbor as myself.

I am truly sorry and I humbly repent,

for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me;

that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.

Amen.

John Stackhouse

posted:  26:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Africa, Social Justice, AIDS

John Stackhouse has a great article entitled “William Wilberforce as an Evangelical Leftist?”.

Stackhouse says, with tongue in cheek-

Whatever happened to proper evangelical social concerns: abortion, promiscuity, euthanasia, homosexuality? You know: beginning of life, end of life, and sex in between?

Sharing the love

posted:  26:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Blogosphere, Missional, Emerging

From Brother Maynard —undervalued missional/emerging blogs…..

Here’s what we’re going to do. Think of between 3 and 5 blogs which you think are under-rated, under-appreciated, or under-valued. More people should be reading them, in other words. They need to be blogging largely on EMC themes and topics, and they should not be on the list of leading blogs on these areas, say 150ish+ links on Technorati. Got your list? I’ll wait. If you come up with 7, that’s fine… you can borrow 2 from someone else.

  • Emerging Grace
  • Robbymac
  • Lily a.k.a. Erin
  • Nathan Colquhoun
  • John Smulo
  • Todd Hiestand
  • Theopraxis
  • Chuck Warnock
  • John Lunt
  • Webb Kline
  • Mark Wilson
  • Rick Meigs
  • Brother Maynard
  • MakDaddy
  • Glenn Hager
  • Paul Mayers
  • Jamie Swann
  • Paul Walker
  • Jerry Frear
  • Phil Wyman
  • Rainer Halonen
  • Shannon-great new site
  • Matt Stone
  • Two and Two Makes Five
  • Graceful Journey
  • aBhantiarna Solas
  • To participate, copy this list into a new post on your own blog, and add the names you have to the bottom of the list, and encourage others to do the same. Your list will be about twice the length of mine, and people who follow you will have lists three times this length. It could get fairly long, but that’s part of the point — each link will help boost the undervalued blog’s profile… and you might even get some link love from it too! Include these instructions (this and the preceding paragraph). When you’ve done that, leave a comment here so we can keep track of who ends up participating. Sound like fun for the weekend?

    1………………….
    2…………………….
    3………………………
    GO!

    100 things

    posted:  23:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Random Thoughts, humor

    Stealing from Addison Road, here are 100 things about me….

    1. I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t be as entertaining as the folks at Addison Road.

    2. I don’t know what color my real hair is anymore.

    3. I frequently refer to my house as an estrogen fest.

    4. I’d secretly like to go to seminary. (Don’t tell)

    5. I say completely inappropriate things to my teenage daughters.

    6. I hate that attending church in the South is part of the culture.

    7. I don’t want to move back North.

    8. For the first 10 years of my marriage, my husband thought I’d never finish anything.

    9. I lived in a group home as a teenager.

    10. I’ve been to Africa 3 times.

    11. Sometimes, I think I want to live there.

    12. Other times, I think I must be crazy.

    13. I have freakishly small hands. Really. Like the hands of a 10 year old. (But they are kind of chubby)

    14. My feet aren’t much better.

    15. I’m opinionated. (If you’ve read my blog before, you know this)

    16. One time, at church, my husband was playing the guitar and I was supposed to be singing BUT I started singing the WRONG SONG. I got confused for a minute.

    17. I’m still worried that this list is boring.

    18. When I was a teenager, I worried about having ugly children. I’m not sure why.

    19. I have never lived in any one house for more than 5 years. We’ve been here for 4.5 years. I guess it’s time to move.

    20. I love to read.

    21. I panic if I can’t find my ipod.

    22. Oh, this other time, I was at a party with people from church. I went to use their bathroom and there happened to be a little window at the level of my tee hiney boo, that I didn’t notice, so I flashed everyone that was in the back yard. I was really embarASSED.

    23. My husband is funniest when he’s not trying.

    24. I’m currently wondering if there ARE 100 interesting things about me.

    25. I used to be very homemaker-ish…cooking, homemade bread, the works. Now, I’d rather cut off my own hand than cook.

    26. I hate the grocery store, too.

    27. The older I get, the more I like to stay home.

    28. I gave myself whiplash dancing, one time.

    29. I’ve been in 2 car accidents. Both my fault.

    30. I tend to like men better than women. I don’t know why. At a party, you will always find me gravitating toward the group of men. Perhaps because the women are talking about cooking. (see #25)

    31. I still can’t figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

    32. I love coffee.

    33. I had one cesarean section. I hated it.

    34. If I were to have a baby right now (which I WOULDN”T), I would have a home birth.

    35. I have a sneaking suspicion that Carilion Health Systems (the largest employer in the area), is secretly running the whole valley in which I live.

    36. I went to India once. I didn’t like it.

    37. I once found myself riding in the back of a VW bus, with a hippy midwife driving, and a woman half naked in the back of the bus, getting ready to give birth. (we made it to the hospital, by the way)

    38. You know those real life stories that are so funny that you think someone must be making them up? I think I may have one of the best ones ever. It has to do with valium, a french airline attendant and dog poop.

    39. I go to sleep listening to Harry Potter, every night. Jim Dale has the most lovely voice you have ever heard.

    40. I hardly ever dream.

    41. I have the most wonderful husband in the world.

    42. On the rare occasions that I do cook, I never use recipes. Recipes are for sissies.

    43. I think that my oldest daughter is a fabulous story teller.

    44. I get excited about electric floor cleaners, –vacuums, carpet shampoo-ers, steam cleaners and the like.

    45. If I could afford it, I’d live on the water. Lake, ocean, whatever.

    46. I’ve often thought I could write a novel about my childhood and make millions. I had a really bizarre childhood. I think I’d call the book “The Hero and The Whore” (that title has so many layers….)

    47. I’d have to write that book with a pseudonym.

    48. I have a half-brother that I’ve never met.

    49. I really like knitting.

    50. I’ve knit 2 children’s sweaters so far. I’m afraid to knit a grown up sweater. I’m sure it will be awful if I do.

    51. I like the show “House”, but always forget to watch it.

    52. I applied to be on “Survivor” about 6 years ago. I didn’t make it. But my audition video is really funny.

    53. I’ve been blogging for 7 months and 3 days.

    54. I am planning to start nursing school this year. Sometimes I think I should be a physician’s assistant instead. Or go to seminary. (see #4)

    56. 100 things is a lot.

    57. My middle daughter is one of the most unique people I’ve ever met. Other people would like to be as cool as she is.

    58. Sometimes I wonder how I got here. Married, 3 kids, 2 dogs and a mortgage. I still feel like I’m 18 and I think someone is going to tell me it’s time to quit playing house.

    59. Every time I go to Africa, I realize how spoiled I am. That lasts about a month, then I forget to be grateful.

    60. My youngest child is a freshman in high school. I’m a bit scared of life without kids at home.

    61. Teenagers are hard, but I really like them.

    62. When I watch our old home videos of when my kids were small, I get very nostalgic. They were just so CUTE!!! I’d like to squeeze them.

    63. I taught all my children to read and I’m proud of that.

    64. I really like Stephen King’s books. I think his characters are fabulous. Early in my faith, though, I threw out all my Stephen King books, because I thought they might be demonic. I wish I had them all back. That was stupid.

    65. I’m wondering, if you are still reading, if you are saying to yourself, “Who cares?”

    66. I didn’t finish college.

    67. I want to finish college.

    68. I’m a little bit vain.

    69. My youngest daughter is very self-confident. I think that’s so cool.

    70. I have a theory. You have 2 choices as you age. Stay skinny and get wrinkly or get chubby and have fewer wrinkles. I can’t decide which is better.

    71. I have a friend that refers to chubby people as “fluffy”. I think this is funny. She’s fluffy (by her own admission).

    72. I like Canadians (not to the exclusion of other nationalities….I just like them).

    73. I think I understand why Jesus said “It is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, than for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.” This verse plagues me.

    74. I can’t go to bed without a bottle of water next to my bed.

    75. I am 3/4 of the way done with this list.

    76. I have to pee. (probably because of #74)

    77. I’m back.

    78. I’d love to be able to fix up our house…paint, fix all the broken things, put in some landscaping…you know. But then I think about #59 and realize that I should be grateful for what I have.

    79. I think getting married young is fine for some people.

    80. I don’t necessarily think that waiting to get married prevents divorce.

    81. I don’t trust very many people.

    82. I tend to make snap decisions about people and their motivations. I’m often right, but not always.

    83. My husband tells me I’m beautiful all the time. Don’t listen to him, he’s just in love.

    84. I really like my oldest daughter’s boyfriend. I couldn’t have hand picked a better guy.

    85. I have a close friend named Cecil. She’s English and is old enough to be my mother. She’s regal looking, very pretty, and speaks with the most lovely accent. She makes me feel classier when I hang out with her.

    86. I’d rather wear pajama pants than any other type of pant.

    87. I never go to the movie theater. I think it’s a ridiculous waste of money.

    88. I hate professional sports.

    89. I was one of the few goyim at my high school.

    90. My hair loved the 80’s.

    91. My car is older than my youngest daughter.

    92. I need to be on “Pimp my ride”

    93. A good cut and color can take 10 years off of your age. Sometimes, I let my hair go to hell, just so I can get aforementioned cut and color and look in the mirror and think I look 10 years younger. If I keep my hairstyle maintained, I never get that thrill. (perhaps only my women readers will understand this)

    94. I have attended the following churches:

      Methodist
      Independent Baptist. (see #64)
      Southern Baptist
      Anglican
      Non-Denominational

    95. We may have the steepest driveway in the world. Little kids raise their hands and scream “WHEE!” when their parents are brave enough to actually drive down it.

    96. My email inbox is NEVER empty.

    97. I started using the internet before browsers. I lived in Cleveland, where the worlds first “freenet” began. I still remember telling my husband about this new thing, called a browser, that was supposedly going to allow you to use the internet in a graphical format. He bought me Mosaic Netscape that Christmas. At that time, I didn’t even know who Al Gore was.

    98. These are the books I currently have sitting on my desk:

    “Evil and The Justice of God” NT Wright
    Bible (ESV)
    “Jesus and The Victory of God” NT Wright
    “Ancient Hebrew Lexicon” Benner
    “The Parables” Brad Young
    “The Life Application Study Bible” NIV (yuck)
    “Matthew For Everyone” NT Wright
    “Halley’s Bible Handbook”
    “Body, Soul, & Life Everlasting” John Cooper
    “Orthodoxy” Chesterton
    “The Christian Theology Reader” McGrath

    99. I currently need more bookshelves.

    100. I have to pee again.

    Dispensationalists and Premillennialists and Preterists, OH MY!

    posted:  23:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Church, theology, Eschatology

    So, Through a series of discussions here, here, and via email, the question seems to be “what are Jamie’s eschatological beliefs?” Well, well, wouldn’t we ALL like to know the answers to this question.

    I have taken to reading blogs that are written by well trained theologians. A theologian I am not. Theology has only recently grabbed my interest and boy, I’m hooked. I am fascinated. Why have I not been taught this before? Why is that the average Jane (or Joe) in the pew isn’t encouraged to explore the width and breadth and beauty of the different interpretations of Scripture? Why have I always been taught that people who hold different interpretations of Scripture are just wrong, (and probably going straight to hell) instead of being taught the scriptural basis for WHY they believe the way they believe.

    Thanks to Virgil, I am exploring preterism. (And Virgil, I think I’m leaning towards a partial preteristic view….but that remains to be seen). Thanks to TA for enlightening me to the beauty of reformed theology (even when I pushed back hard). Thanks to Scot McKnight for putting brilliant, sensitive and thoughtful words to my current frustrations with the evangelical church. Thanks to Rob Bell to helping me understand the Gospel in a more holistic sense. Thanks to NT Wright for helping me understand that “Heaven’s nice, but it’s not the end of the world.” Thanks to people like Phil, John and Molly for showing me what it looks like to come out of one set of theological beliefs, into another. Perhaps not unscathed, but stronger and loving Jesus more. To Brian McLaren for showing me what a generous orthodoxy might look like.

    There is so much to learn about why people believe these different views. The Church Universal is exciting and intriguing. All this to say, that I’m still not sure what my eschatological beliefs are, BUT I’m questioning people, I’m searching the Scriptures, and I’m seeking God for the answers. While I’ve been frustrated and hurt by the local church, I’m discovering that the Church (both visible and invisible) is beautiful.

    Quick thoughtful read on “The Rapture”

    posted:  21:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Blogosphere, theology, Eschatology

    Bop over to my friend, TA’s blog to read a thoughtful post entitled “Why I cannot support the rapture theory.”

    Hmmmm….

    posted:  21:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  What hacks me off!, humor

    Ok, I don’t know why I do this, but I can’t quit looking at my referers. The things people search for, and end up on my blog….

    Just a few to get you giggling, or crying, or snorting in disgust.

    Why people think American’s are stupid. Hmmmm…I wonder.

    Does God say it’s ok to be scared of health problems? Only when you don’t have enough faith to get healed. (said tongue in cheek)

    Hate you because of me, rejoice. Arghhhh….

    Christians against hypnosis. oops.

    Epilepsy demons and spiritual reasons for epilepsy Don’t even get me started.


    Christian women how to to follow your husband
    To where?

    what female wanted to birth jesus
    What?

    purity balls I hope they weren’t looking for how to have one :)

    Campolo prostitute cake (this makes me giggle for some reason.)

    Why people agree to purity balls? why, indeed.

    ingrid schlueter Boy, I bet that’s an interesting search.

    saint is less dangerous than a rebel YES!

    when epilepsy medicine does not work. My heart breaks on this one.

    Did Jesus Really Rise From The Dead?

    posted:  19:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  N. T. Wright

    For those of you interested in N. T. Wright, Roanoke College has made the talk available for download.

    There may be more downloads coming….

    Enjoy!

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    Interesting interview about worship with Matt Redman

    posted:  18:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Music

    Q: Is charismatic worship unfriendly to most men? Are all those love songs to Jesus off-putting?

    A: …If a blokey bloke comes into church, is he going to connect with what’s going on? Some of the romantic imagery used in worship, the more I think about and study scripture, I’m not so sure about it.

    Read the whole thing…

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    God’s Future For The World-N. T. Wright

    posted:  18:03:07,  by:  morethanstone,  in categories:  Christianity, N. T. Wright

    Wright maintains that many Christians start off with personal salvation, and there it begins and there it ends. New Creation is often simply an appendage. Did God create the world and say “It is Good”, only to then say “Well never mind, on second thought, it’s not that good, but I WILL save you from it (creation or the world)”

    Romans 8
    20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

    What is our inheritance, Wright asks. Is it heaven? No, it is New Creation.

    “Heaven is important, but it’s not the end of the world. The Holy Land has not been abandoned, but broadened. “

    Range of metaphors for new creation;

      Harvest: God is sowing new creation
      Marriage: New Jerusalem is the bride. Heaven and earth will be one
      Military victory: Final battle whereas sin and death will be defeated.
      Birth: Groaning in travail, the new creation from the old.
      Court setting: The God of justice. God will sort it all out.

    In Judaism, the temple was viewed as a place where heaven and earth overlapped. Torah study was also a place that this overlap took place. Jesus isn’t “coming back”. He’s already here. He will appear. The curtain will be torn apart. As new creations, we, by the Spirit, can sometimes see through the curtain as a thin veil and glimpse the new creation.

    Wright maintains that many Christians today have forgotten about new creation and bodily resurrection. This can be seen by the change in tombstone engraving. Up until the mid-18th century, many tombs were engraved with things such as “I shall arise”. Now, we see “Gone Home” on many tombs, as though heaven is the final destination. He tells a joke about an Anglican and a Baptist:

    Baptist: What is your position on eschatology?
    Anglican: He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. There will be bodily resurrection, and his kingdom will have no end.
    Baptist: That’s all?
    Anglican: That’s enough.
    Baptist: That’s refreshing.

    What God did for Israel and Jesus, He will do for you and I, but also for the whole of creation.

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