“guest post” on the Duck thing

December 22, 2013Freedom, personal growthlouise

I’ve never watched Duck Dynasty, but as a Southern girl, I’d probably like it if I did. I also haven’t read a lot about Phil’s recent issue with A&E, but you can’t be online at all without seeing the subject light up cyberspace. This post is not about what Phil should or should not have said to a reporter.

A Facebook friend of mine reposted Jen Hatmaker’s recent blog post giving another perspective on how Christians might respond around inflammatory subjects. Well-intentioned Christians taking a hard-line are not necessarily “wrong.” But perhaps it’s worth considering what’s my heart’s motivation? Which of our responses best reveals and reflects Jesus? Should we respond the same to to other Christians as we do to strangers who do not know Christ? Jen’s message was articulate and eloquent. It so closely mirrors the heart of my Christmas blog, I wanted to share it here.

By the way, I don’t see either message as being at all incompatible with speaking the truth in love — to believers or non believers. I don’t believe in a watered down Gospel. To me, it’s about leading with love, and hopefully, earning the opportunity to share my relationship with Jesus (especially how he’s saved me and continues to work in my sinful life). We want to actually be heard by the open heart and mind of another. Thank you, Jen — for expressing what I was thinking with so much grace and wisdom.

http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2013/12/21/the-duck-thing-is-there-another-way

The Duck Thing: Is There Another Way?

by Jen Hatmaker on December 21st, 2013

I know. No one needs to spill any more ink over the Duck Dynasty Debacle. I’m barely online these days, and even I was saturated with the crazy. A quick scroll through Facebook revealed about an 85% DD preoccupation in my feed, whether it was for, against, or that uber cool other response: “I don’t even care.” (But I will go ahead and make that my status…sic.)

Maybe just bear with me for five more minutes, okay?

As many have mentioned, this is clearly not a First Amendment issue. Phil had every right to say whatever he wanted. He could take issue with any people group or demographic on earth, right into a microphone. This isn’t North Korea where the wrong public statement lands you in prison. Or dead. Freedom of speech means you are free to speak. The end.It does not mean you are free from consequences. Isn’t this obvious?This swings both ways, folks. I’ve been unhired from an event for things I’ve said publicly, because they made a Christian organization uncomfortable. Those things were well within my rights to say, and that group had every right to can me for them. That’s how things work. If you are getting paid to represent a church or network or brand, then the First Amendment does not protect your contract, only your freedom to speak your mind.In light of this Duck stuff, here is my little hope for our Christian tribe: May we be peacemakers, because Jesus cast blessings on that role. To me, that means making peace within the church and making peace with those outside of it. I think folks will know us by the love we show others, because the Bible is OBSESSED with that concept apparently. I hope we use our public words to build bridges, not reinforce caverns, because peacemaking is truly a blessed business, my favorite thing. Specifically with issues that have caused such heartache and damage already like gay marriage and racial inequity, we should refuse to contribute to someone’s pain by speaking about them abstractedly, distantly, as if they aren’t real human beings whose lives bear actual repercussions of our casual public conversations. The sterile public sphere outside of the protective confines of relationships is not a safe place for such weighty discussions, and we should not add to the pile of condescending, degrading comments about real human people. These precious, fragile conversations belong among people who love one another, who’ve earned the right to be heard, who can look each other in the eye and listen with grace and humility.We are not judges, because how could we possibly be?? How dare we? What right do we have to cut someone to the quick when we are nothing but sinners saved by grace? Sanctification is Jesus’ territory, and we can safely leave Him to it; He can handle the human heart. Our only sane offering to our fellow man is mercy.Why are we here? I teach often about the Last Supper in Luke 22, when Jesus broke the bread and poured the wine and commanded: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” A close study of the original language reveals a better translation: “Constantly make this real.” This sacrifice, this gospel, this love that saves the world…make this real for people.Do you know how many people are starving for real love? Real hope? Real mercy? This world is dark and lonely and suffering, and Jesus seemed to think the best course was to send disciples out who were willing to constantly make the kingdom real for people who were searching for something true.Jesus didn’t tell us to make the gospel right.He didn’t tell us to make it law.He told us to make it real.For me, this is the most extreme obedience to “biblical truth” I can imagine. I think of my gay and black friends watching the outcry this week, and I can’t help but think the gospel yet again feels like a bludgeon to them, not a real balm, a real grace, a real sanctuary. And the tragedy is, Jesus is the most real source of mercy in the history of time, and He loves us all with a fierce, indescribable love, and none of us deserve it any less than anyone else, and THAT is the shocking headline we should be proclaiming.

I don’t think God needs any of us to defend Him…I believe we are here to represent Him. I’m not worried about the kingdom, since Scripture seems to think it is “unshakeable.” God has managed to stay on his throne all this time, so we can go ahead and just let him be God. (For the record, I don’t think Phil fancied himself some valiant defender either…I think he was just being Phil. And these were just a few sentences taken out of a greater context, but in a viral world where every word matters, well, every word matters.)

As for me, I care deeply for all the watching eyes, waiting for something real, something that heals instead of wounds. I dream of a faith community that demonstrates a love so scandalous and embarrassing that only the foolish and the rejected and the misfits and the cynics will find any solace in it. My heart’s cry is that someone far outside the sphere of Christian endorsement might whisper, “Even me?” and be stunned by Jesus’ answer: “Always you.”

Because if we are only good news to each other, where will that leave the gospel in our generation? I know exactly what moral issues to declare so Christians will take up my cause and Defend Jen, but I don’t want your spiritual energy…I want us to care about this suffering world more than we care about our Christian rights. Our rights were secured on the cross; the discussion is over. No one can steal from us what Jesus already won for us. Rather, let’s take all our victory, our hope and love and share it. That’s the hill I’m going to die on, friends.

I’m going to choose love.

This is not a gray area. I’m telling you now that I will find a way to preach the scandalous love of Jesus in the face of any issue, demographic, or debate. I will insist on jerking a door open for dialogue with people who’ve been previously maligned by my faith. I will not reinforce the notion that anyone is less than, condemned, or left out, because if that is true, then my salvation is a lie. Because I love mercy for myself, I can’t help but love it for everyone else, and I won’t cheapen it by imagining that my grace is free but someone else’s must be earned. Jesus is the best news in history.

Not one heartache on earth will be solved with more judgment; this world needs more love. It is what saved us and still sets us free. It is the magic balm that soothes tensions, crosses divides, and creates safe spaces. Love is the only answer. May we become beacons of it, Church.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~Jesus

Christmas Opportunities

December 20, 2013Christmas, Freedom, personal growth, Purposelouise

** click on the title to expand to entire text**

I was almost ready to hit the streets to finish my Christmas shopping, when visions of a Christmas blog danced in my head. I was compelled to type. Ministers say Easter and Christmas are the toughest sermons to prepare. Dare I say anything about Christmas?

I’m not coming from a place of believing I have it right — rather this post is written from the bottom of the trail, looking up at my “Christmas path,” contemplating how I might look differently at the holidays.

I question how well I’m actually celebrating Jesus’ birth. I’m spread thin and tired. Possibly spending too much. Not giving enough to the truly needy. Is all I am doing in the name of Christmas glorifying Jesus? Is it about Him at all? Should I be “more focused” on Jesus now than in, say February or August?

We’ve seen the buttons: “Jesus is the reason for the season.” True, for a Christian. But is the message effective? Even many sincere followers of Christ find December to be a tough time to squeeze in prayer and reading the Bible. Stress can rise as we prepare for the joys of seeing extended family, squeezing in one more event, and shopping…

We try to be extra jolly and bright, but it can be hard. Sometimes we resign ourselves to the merriment and set aside being with Jesus until the calm of winter. Or possibly we begin to resent the “secular side” of Christmas and all the traditional “trappings” we can’t seem to escape. Some of us are lonely and just wish we could skip Christmas. Others hang Christmas trees upside down and stop exchanging any gifts — all in the name of keeping Christ in Christmas. The extreme even become possessive of the Christ child, and militant toward the non Christians who are participating in our holiday.

What if we took off the well-intentioned, but slightly preachy buttons that might alienate, and simply reminded ourselves that Jesus is the reason for life in every season! Christmas is fun. It’s just the date we choose to outwardly celebrate His birth.

We know the Gospel is our joy and our responsibility to celebrate EVERY day. What if we took the pressure off ourselves to be more attentive to Jesus in December? Isn’t that really our everyday privilege? What if we believed that Jesus really did come for everyone, and experienced Christmas as a unique opportunity to be a little more bold in letting Jesus shine through us to others — to strangers, our families, believers and non believers alike? What if the joy of our Christmas boldness grew into the new year?

It is open season on Christ all year long. But at Christmastime, the average person is more tolerant and celebratory — no matter what their faith. Most people on the street know Christmas originated in Jesus’ birth, so they’re a little more tolerant of our prayer and worship. They love Santa and gift-giving. They accept our offerings and enjoy our singing — even about the little child in Bethlehem. Most Americans wave white flags around Christmas. Everyone seems to want a little more goodwill toward men. “Christmas spirit” (whatever it’s source) is contagious.

What an opportunity! Instead of letting others see us struggle within our ranks about how to celebrate and what “should not” be the center of the Christmas celebration, let them see that Jesus always reigns in our hearts! Christmas is a great opportunity to share the One we celebrate all year long.

They may not understand our faith, but they’re watching. We can give gifts of grace as well as wrapped packages, because we’re the children of our King! His abundance is ours! We can celebrate family as one of God’s most precious gifts. We can have fun and joyfully receive and celebrate the mystery of the Gospel as little children.

Hopefully, some will ask the reason for our joy, and give us an opportunity to tell them about the Jesus who is always with us — our personal Savior. We don’t have to make heroic or divisive efforts to be sure outsiders see we’re all about Jesus in December, because we constantly surrender and accept His grace by faith — usually in the quiet of our daily prayers. Jesus knows our hearts.

We don’t enter God’s kingdom through debate or problem-solving, but we receive it in faith as little children. Maybe at Christmas we need to be less pious and scholarly. As we continually open our heart, mind and soul to Jesus, we can leave it to Him to create opportunities to reveal Himself to others through us — or not. How is Christmas different from any other time of year in this regard? Only in that others are watching more intently.

We as Christians are on the world’s stage whether we like it or not. What are we saying? Let’s reflect Him. Let’s give gifts and make merry — all with the purpose, not of preaching, but of loving. Let’s open our hearts first to Him in intentional prayer and worship. Then, to each other and our neighbors. We have a golden opportunity to share our everyday friend and Savior, Jesus, with the watching world.

Just how we celebrate Christmas isn’t the point. Rather we join together at Christmas and everyday to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself” as Luke 10:27 teaches. To be thankful. To praise Him and to share what He has done in our lives.

Let’s realize that “Christmas” might not be just for Christians, but also a God-given opportunity for us to enter the world of nonbelievers, with a hall pass to share our faith and our holiday freely and generously. We can have total faith that as we open our hearts to Him and to others, the Babe of Bethlehem will be with us, and He will appreciate our celebration.

B-U-S-Y

December 18, 2013Busyness, Purposelouise

One of my dearest friends tried to drop off Christmas treats to us last night. We weren’t home. Thanks to Rob our exterior was bright with lighted Christmas balls, but the front porch light was off. Later that night I read the following text from my friend: “I think I am at your house, but it doesn’t seem like it… do you have a bunch of lighted balls out front?”

It’s a funny text… but also a sad commentary. We have been so busy building a home and business since we moved, that we have been somewhat isolated socially. I keep up with people via scattered calls and facebook, but I am disconnected without a real sense of community. We need to build a life – rich in relationships and meaning! My sweet friend has so seldom been to my house, that she isn’t sure if she’s in my driveway when she comes! What happened to having friends in our homes?

I used to have a house full all the time — birthdays, Young Life, families: just adults and with kids, after the game, before the prom, pot luck, Bible Studies, fund raisers, committee meetings, just to talk, getting a friend’s opinion about decorating, gardening or a new outfit… our house was vibrant. What happened to that way of life?

The children left home, people went back to work, I moved, remarried and returned. But I don’t think any of those things tells the whole story, because it seems that I’m in good company. These days I hear from friends of all ages comments like: “I never see anyone,” “we really do need to plan a get together,” “I’m so busy, but I don’t know what I do.” Every now and then there’s a birthday lunch, a ball game, or a charity event to see friends — but what happened to just having people over? For a celebration? Or for no reason other than fun and fellowship?

What happened to making the effort to know your neighbors and to friends dropping in for a visit — sharing flowers, vegetables or baked goods? I usually don’t even see people I know at church, and few linger to talk afterwards. What happened to simpler times where people had more time for each other — just to enjoy each others company and “do life” together?

is this friendship? life? worthy of the time I give it?

Now it seems that WAY too often “conversations” and the sharing of lives happens through the viral youtubes and blogs of strangers, texting and facebook with friends — even emails, the junk mail of our day, go unread. Phone conversations are avoided, because they interrupt plans and tie up too much time and energy. The art of a hand-written letter or note is all but lost, and even shopping and pizza deliveries are scheduled online! We are eliminating a myriad of face to face interactions (opportunities to show love) — all in the name of what? Efficiency?

Check out this info graph to see what all that “efficiency” is getting us! No one will be surprised to hear we are a tired and stressed-out nation. What happened to the virtue of rest from our labor and Sabbath rest in Him? Even in church we are often busy, overwhelmed, tired and lonely.

And is all this cyber-connectedness making us feel more sense of community? One man’s own loneliness spawned research and an article containing the following quote: “Loneliness has doubled: 40 percent of adults in two recent surveys said they were lonely, up from 20 percent in the 1980s. All of our Internet interactions aren’t helping and may be making loneliness worse. A recent study of Facebook users found that the amount of time you spend on the social network is inversely related to how happy you feel throughout the day.”

I want to change my life. “BUSY” in my book is the latest addition to bad 4 letter words. I want to be available to people when they need me — family, friends and strangers — and reach out more to form relationships and share my life. I want to write frequent notes of thanks and encouragement. I want to meet my neighbors and rekindle old friendships– in person! I want to give more away: my belongings and myself. I love the ideas of paying it forward and small acts of kindness, and want to be intentional in my “stranger” interactions. Won’t you join me? More “busy” posts to come. I would love to hear your experiences and ideas!

Even my blog and art pulls me away from face to face interactions; I can be an artistic hermit… I’m going to schedule my writing and schedule our LIVING! Have more parties and visit with more real-live people! 😉 There’s a place for meeting in restaurants and talking on facebook or in texts. Hard work is Biblical… these things aren’t bad.

But being together in someone’s home is different… it’s intimate and vulnerable. I remember sitting around my maternal grandmother’s big dining table, multiple generations just talking without rushing off after the noon meal. Our small town didn’t have many restaurants, so she had guests for “dinner” almost every weekday after she retired. Granny grew vegetables and roses in the back yard and shared them generously. She volunteered reading at the elementary school library well into her 90s, and offered long term housing to many relatives and friends at various times in their lives. I think these activities help explain why she lived to be 107!

My mom is also a gifted hostess. She and my dad housed business associates and friends overnight on a regular basis, with tremendous grace and welcome. They had dinner parties, and were frequently invited out. They considered it a privilege and a priority to visit their friend’s in their homes all over the country! She and her neighbors share “treats” year round — the first bloom in season, a welcome gift left by the door when someone’s been away, custard when someone’s sick, tomatoes from the garden, or something they picked up for a friends just because. My mom and dad created holiday traditions that no one wants to miss! I want to claim back some of my mother and grandmother’s “old-fashioned” hospitality to family, friends and strangers. I put it out there.. hold me accountable!

Verses about Hospitality

1 Peter 4:9 ESV

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Matthew 25:34-46 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

Romans 12:13 ESV

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Leviticus 19:34 ESV

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Titus 1:8 ESV

But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Luke 14:12-14 ESV

He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Romans 16:2 ESV

That you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Acts 28:2 ESV

The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

1 Timothy 5:10 ESV

And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

Ephesians 6:7 ESV

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

Mark 9:41 ESV

For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Luke 10:25-37 ESV

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Isaiah 58: ESV

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Proverbs 31:20 ESV

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Matthew 6:1-3 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Luke 19:1-10 ESV

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.