In response to a post of Tim Neufeld
Tim,
I remember reading your article and being drawn in ... again ... to the new ways of thinking, praying, worshiping, experiencing, expressing our love to, and for, God. I have taken part in a prayer labyrinth and it was the most moving and meaningful prayer experience in probably, well probably ever. There are practices that other persons of faith (whether Christian or other) that I don't understand and that do not resonate with me. But I would never assume that just because I don't "get" them I should ban those practices for all or be afraid of them ... unless, of course, they are in direct conflict with the teachings of Jesus.
Amen to your refereces to some of our accepted "props" used in the church today: the organ, cymbals and tambourines, a sanctuary, pews, the sermon, the baptistry, the professional pastor, etc. I am grateful for the church building, especially on days with extreme climate difficulties. I appreciate the many giftings God has shared with those who are musical, creative, articulate, those who have vision and wisdom to share (even from the pulpit on occasion :-)).
I suppose I am sounding a bit negative. It seems that I have held on to a tad bit of bitterness that stems from being a part of so many churches that did not encourage me to think for myself, to ask questions, to let the Holy Spirit guide me and speak to me. I don't think anyone should follow someone else's "recipe" for acceptable church gatherings, prayer practices, or anything else for that matter.
God is a god of movement. I think we should be people of movement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 11, 2008
Ancient Spiritual Practices
I wrote an article for our monthly Mennonite Brethren publication, Christian Leader, entitled "The New Old Spirituality." The result was a fair amount of critique and criticism and three months worth of letters-to-the-editor. My intent was to demonstrate how teens and young adults are vitalized by new forms of prayer, forms which have their roots in ancient practices. Here's a thrilling image: teens waiting in line to pray! Somehow that got lost amongst a discussion of what is orthodox or pagan. Prayer, it seems, is only to be practiced in certain approved fashions.
Here's what I've learned:
There are many MBs who are anti-Catholic; my apologies to my Catholic friends, people who are deeply committed to following Christ and his teachings.
There are many MBs who are afraid of anything new. Many complaints came from those saying that Menno (Simons) would never do this (whatever "this" practice might be). They point back to a standard that was set by Menno and must be maintained. Hmm, but didn't Menno himself start new practices? See http://rollovermenno.wordpress.com/ for more critique at this level from a group of folks who are self-proclaimed gatekeepers of Menno-traditions. [Update: I just discovered that this site is now password protected - not quite sure why.]
There are many MBs who are afraid of anything old (or older than 1525). Prayer labyrinths, lectio divina,the Jesus Prayer - not acceptable, they're not found in the Bible. Hmm, tell me again what verse the organ is found in? (I do think I saw some cymbals and tambourines mentioned a number of times however.) How about a sanctuary, pews, the sermon, the baptistry, the professional pastor, etc.?
Paranoia spreads quickly and anything a person disagrees with can be labeled heresy.
We're becoming more Southern Baptist by the day; my apologies to my SBC friends, people who are deeply committed to following Christ and his teachings.
If you are interested in reading the article that started the controversy, here it is. Here's a teaser as well:
Imagine this scene. Teens silently form a line in a hallway, patiently waiting late into the night to enter a room in which they will experience an ancient spiritual discipline: contemplative prayer. When they emerge from the prayer room an hour later, many have tears in their eyes, smiles on their faces and peace in their hearts. They have just walked a prayer labyrinth, an interactive eleven-station experience in which the participants learn to practice the presence of Christ. Scenes like this are happening again and again in churches, camps and conferences all over North America.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
My treasure
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
While my direction the last two years has been pointed toward finishing the renovation of our house, I realize that it has shifted more lately toward the vitalization of my community.
While my focus has been ensuring that our house is more than a physical structure, that it is a home, I notice that I have been concentrating on solidifying the efforts that make my community my home, wherever they are.
While my actions have proven that I want to provide more than enough space for myself & my "stuff" and that I want to live freely and within my right to privacy, I acknowledge that I am interested in sharing my material possessions and broadening my "bubble", letting people get closer, sharing my time and energy more than ever before.
While my treasure has lain in these goals and in the tangibility of my own comfortable existence, I find that I am increasingly mindful of what it could mean to lose a bit of my own entitlements in order to be with, serve with, be in closer proximity to those in my community.
This being said, an idea that Barry came up with many months ago (and that I consistently shot down) won't get out of my head (or is it my heart?).
Communal living
What could/would this look like?
What would the benefits be?
environmental
community ever present
convenience
economical?
responsible
extended family
care for one another, as in physically should one of us become ill
losen my grip around what I consider "mine"
share vehicles / share kid care (more easily) / one Costco card!! hehe
What would the drawbacks be?
too much time with others?
not enough privacy?
relationships change?
accountability - sounds like a benefit, but feels like a drawback :-)
could all be a part? or only those who could contribute financially?
Many more questions ...
Matthew 6:21
While my direction the last two years has been pointed toward finishing the renovation of our house, I realize that it has shifted more lately toward the vitalization of my community.
While my focus has been ensuring that our house is more than a physical structure, that it is a home, I notice that I have been concentrating on solidifying the efforts that make my community my home, wherever they are.
While my actions have proven that I want to provide more than enough space for myself & my "stuff" and that I want to live freely and within my right to privacy, I acknowledge that I am interested in sharing my material possessions and broadening my "bubble", letting people get closer, sharing my time and energy more than ever before.
While my treasure has lain in these goals and in the tangibility of my own comfortable existence, I find that I am increasingly mindful of what it could mean to lose a bit of my own entitlements in order to be with, serve with, be in closer proximity to those in my community.
This being said, an idea that Barry came up with many months ago (and that I consistently shot down) won't get out of my head (or is it my heart?).
Communal living
What could/would this look like?
What would the benefits be?
environmental
community ever present
convenience
economical?
responsible
extended family
care for one another, as in physically should one of us become ill
losen my grip around what I consider "mine"
share vehicles / share kid care (more easily) / one Costco card!! hehe
What would the drawbacks be?
too much time with others?
not enough privacy?
relationships change?
accountability - sounds like a benefit, but feels like a drawback :-)
could all be a part? or only those who could contribute financially?
Many more questions ...
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
"Tell McCain to End the Politics of Hate" on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5mdIPNB8t8
That brought on a 5-minute crying spell. Where are we headed as a human race, let alone a nation? Will we EVER learn how to love one another? ... respect one another? ... show grace to one another? ... at the very LEAST (using a word I have learned to despise) tolerate one another? I am so incredibly saddened to hear the hatred in these voices, to see the unjust practices in these hearts, and to sense the quiet call to continued violence.
That brought on a 5-minute crying spell. Where are we headed as a human race, let alone a nation? Will we EVER learn how to love one another? ... respect one another? ... show grace to one another? ... at the very LEAST (using a word I have learned to despise) tolerate one another? I am so incredibly saddened to hear the hatred in these voices, to see the unjust practices in these hearts, and to sense the quiet call to continued violence.
Monday, September 29, 2008
derogatory response
my response to a senseless forwarded derogatory e-mail about Obama (included at end of post):
The only way I know how to respond to this is: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus
I feel for Obama and for McCain in the spotlight right now. All the candidates are taking a beating. I am surely grateful that (most) people don't judge me for my past or my upbringing. No one is the sum of all his or her mistakes, nor is anyone completely a product of his or her environment. We (we humans) are all works in progress and we have, hopefully, learned from our mistakes and have, or are working on, recovering from our imperfect relatives and selves. I've read these "truths" about Obama before. No one can know all about a person based on her or his ethnicity, upbringing, race, social status, financial position or faith practices. Our very own first amendment calls for freedom of religion. The Constitution does not require that our chief executive be of a Christian faith. I don't know what is in Obama's heart regarding his faith beliefs and practices, but he does claim to be Christian. What would be his purpose for lying about that?
There are things about this man that I may not think are right on (or should I say in line with my thinking). But one of his mottos is to take care of the poor and the oppressed. We have gradually become complacent about our love for each other, our care for each other, our support for the poor, the orphan, the widow and (as stated in the old testament) the alien. I remember another pretty important guy in history claiming that we should clothe and feed the poor and to love others. "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Talk about a great orator!
Peace, Shelley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this was the post to which i responded:
A pilot's perspective on Obama
DO I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT?
HIS FATHER WAS A BLACK AFRICAN MUSLIM FROM KENYA .
WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF HIS AFRICAN FAMILY.
HIS MOTHER WAS A WHITE AMERICAN ATHEIST FROM KANSAS .
WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HIS AMERICAN FAMILY?
HIS FATHER DESERTED HIS MOTHER WHEN HE WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD
AND WENT BACK TO AFRICA BY WAY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY .
HOW? WAS HIS FATHER WEALTHY?
HIS MOTHER MARRIED AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM
AND THEN MOVED TO JAKARTA WHERE HE WAS ENROLLED IN A MUSLIM SCHOOL
WHEN HE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL AGE HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO HAWAII TO BE WITH HIS WHITE GRANDPARENTS AND HE WAS PUT INTO AN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOL.
HE LATER WENT TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY .
HOW? WERE HIS GRANDPARENTS RICH?
HE LIVES IN A $1.4 MILLION HOUSE OBTAINED THROUGH A DEAL WITH A WEALTHY FUNDRAISER. HOW?
HE 'WORKED' AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CHICAGO .
HE HAS NEVER HELD A PRODUCTIVE JOB OR RECEIVED A PAY CHECK THAT WAS NOT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AND/OR TAYPAYER SUPPORTED.
THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS POSITION, NOR IS IT SUBJECT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SET ASIDES; ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WON'T CUT IT.
HE ENTERED POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE HE HAS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE.
HE IS PROUD OF HIS 'AFRICAN HERITAGE' (A FATHER WHO GOT A GIRL PREGNANT AND DESERTED HER).
WHERE IS THE PRIDE IN HIS 'WHITE HERITAGE'? (A MOTHER WHO FLAUNTED CONVENTION AND DID NOT BELIEVE IN GOD).
SOME MIGHT THINK THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO BE PROUD OF EITHER WAY.
HE BELONGS, AND HAS BELONGED FOR OVER 20 YEARS, TO AN 'AFRO-CENTRIC' CHURCH IN CHICAGO THAT HATES WHITES, HATES JEWS, AND BLAMES AMERICA FOR ALL THE WORLD'S PERCEIVED FAULTS. (INCLUDING CREATING THE AIDS VIRUS IN ORDER TO INFLICT IT ON AFRICANS).
HE REPEATEDLY WHITEWASHES THE PASTOR, HIS CHURCH AND THE MEMBERS WHO CHEERED AFTER HEARING VITRIOLIC TIRADES AGAINST AMERICA ..
HE COULD NOT CONFRONT HIS PASTOR BUT HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE HE CAN CONFRONT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN ?
YEAH RIGHT ! !
DURING HIS VERY BRIEF TIME IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE HE HAS MANAGED TO AMASS THE NUMBER ONE ULTRA LIBERAL VOTING RECORD OUT OF THE ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS.
HE HAS VOTED CONSISTENTLY FOR BIGGER GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER TAXES. HE HAS VOTED FOR BIG ENTITLEMENTS AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SEVERELY CURTAIL AMERICA 'S ABILITY TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS AND OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT, HE IS A GOOD ORATOR. ISN'T THAT A COMFORT?
YEAH, I THINK I SEE HOW WELL HE COULD UNITE THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THE TRUTH IS THAT HE HOPES NO ONE WILL PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR WANNABE CHIEF PILOT. HE HAS NEVER FLOWN AN AIRPLANE, IN FACT HE HAS NEVER EVEN SAT IN THE COCKPIT, BUT HE SAYS HE HAS RIDDEN ON PLANES BEFORE. WE ARE SURE HE WILL GUIDE US SAFELY THROUGH THE STORMS WE MAY ENCOUNTER ON THIS FLIGHT.
PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD THE STORY ABOUT THE WOLF HIDING IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING SO HE CAN DESTROY THEM FROM WITH-IN ? THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL, DO YOU NOT HAVE EYES TO SEE IT ?THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THIS GUY! CO NSIDER YOUR KIDS & GRANDKIDS.
THEIR FUTURE IS IN OUR VOTING HANDS.
The only way I know how to respond to this is: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus
I feel for Obama and for McCain in the spotlight right now. All the candidates are taking a beating. I am surely grateful that (most) people don't judge me for my past or my upbringing. No one is the sum of all his or her mistakes, nor is anyone completely a product of his or her environment. We (we humans) are all works in progress and we have, hopefully, learned from our mistakes and have, or are working on, recovering from our imperfect relatives and selves. I've read these "truths" about Obama before. No one can know all about a person based on her or his ethnicity, upbringing, race, social status, financial position or faith practices. Our very own first amendment calls for freedom of religion. The Constitution does not require that our chief executive be of a Christian faith. I don't know what is in Obama's heart regarding his faith beliefs and practices, but he does claim to be Christian. What would be his purpose for lying about that?
There are things about this man that I may not think are right on (or should I say in line with my thinking). But one of his mottos is to take care of the poor and the oppressed. We have gradually become complacent about our love for each other, our care for each other, our support for the poor, the orphan, the widow and (as stated in the old testament) the alien. I remember another pretty important guy in history claiming that we should clothe and feed the poor and to love others. "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Talk about a great orator!
Peace, Shelley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
this was the post to which i responded:
A pilot's perspective on Obama
DO I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT?
HIS FATHER WAS A BLACK AFRICAN MUSLIM FROM KENYA .
WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF HIS AFRICAN FAMILY.
HIS MOTHER WAS A WHITE AMERICAN ATHEIST FROM KANSAS .
WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HIS AMERICAN FAMILY?
HIS FATHER DESERTED HIS MOTHER WHEN HE WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD
AND WENT BACK TO AFRICA BY WAY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY .
HOW? WAS HIS FATHER WEALTHY?
HIS MOTHER MARRIED AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM
AND THEN MOVED TO JAKARTA WHERE HE WAS ENROLLED IN A MUSLIM SCHOOL
WHEN HE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL AGE HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO HAWAII TO BE WITH HIS WHITE GRANDPARENTS AND HE WAS PUT INTO AN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOL.
HE LATER WENT TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY .
HOW? WERE HIS GRANDPARENTS RICH?
HE LIVES IN A $1.4 MILLION HOUSE OBTAINED THROUGH A DEAL WITH A WEALTHY FUNDRAISER. HOW?
HE 'WORKED' AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CHICAGO .
HE HAS NEVER HELD A PRODUCTIVE JOB OR RECEIVED A PAY CHECK THAT WAS NOT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AND/OR TAYPAYER SUPPORTED.
THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS POSITION, NOR IS IT SUBJECT TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SET ASIDES; ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WON'T CUT IT.
HE ENTERED POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE HE HAS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE.
HE IS PROUD OF HIS 'AFRICAN HERITAGE' (A FATHER WHO GOT A GIRL PREGNANT AND DESERTED HER).
WHERE IS THE PRIDE IN HIS 'WHITE HERITAGE'? (A MOTHER WHO FLAUNTED CONVENTION AND DID NOT BELIEVE IN GOD).
SOME MIGHT THINK THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO BE PROUD OF EITHER WAY.
HE BELONGS, AND HAS BELONGED FOR OVER 20 YEARS, TO AN 'AFRO-CENTRIC' CHURCH IN CHICAGO THAT HATES WHITES, HATES JEWS, AND BLAMES AMERICA FOR ALL THE WORLD'S PERCEIVED FAULTS. (INCLUDING CREATING THE AIDS VIRUS IN ORDER TO INFLICT IT ON AFRICANS).
HE REPEATEDLY WHITEWASHES THE PASTOR, HIS CHURCH AND THE MEMBERS WHO CHEERED AFTER HEARING VITRIOLIC TIRADES AGAINST AMERICA ..
HE COULD NOT CONFRONT HIS PASTOR BUT HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE HE CAN CONFRONT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN ?
YEAH RIGHT ! !
DURING HIS VERY BRIEF TIME IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE HE HAS MANAGED TO AMASS THE NUMBER ONE ULTRA LIBERAL VOTING RECORD OUT OF THE ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS.
HE HAS VOTED CONSISTENTLY FOR BIGGER GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER TAXES. HE HAS VOTED FOR BIG ENTITLEMENTS AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SEVERELY CURTAIL AMERICA 'S ABILITY TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS AND OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT, HE IS A GOOD ORATOR. ISN'T THAT A COMFORT?
YEAH, I THINK I SEE HOW WELL HE COULD UNITE THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THE TRUTH IS THAT HE HOPES NO ONE WILL PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR WANNABE CHIEF PILOT. HE HAS NEVER FLOWN AN AIRPLANE, IN FACT HE HAS NEVER EVEN SAT IN THE COCKPIT, BUT HE SAYS HE HAS RIDDEN ON PLANES BEFORE. WE ARE SURE HE WILL GUIDE US SAFELY THROUGH THE STORMS WE MAY ENCOUNTER ON THIS FLIGHT.
PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD THE STORY ABOUT THE WOLF HIDING IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING SO HE CAN DESTROY THEM FROM WITH-IN ? THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL, DO YOU NOT HAVE EYES TO SEE IT ?THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THIS GUY! CO NSIDER YOUR KIDS & GRANDKIDS.
THEIR FUTURE IS IN OUR VOTING HANDS.
Friday, September 26, 2008
art
creativity
freedom
insecurity
uninhibited
satisfying
mystical
mysterious
interpretational
personal
flowing
process
beautiful
cause and effect
daring
stages
capture
neat
messy
out of the box
in the lines
individualistic
communal
effective
liberating
emotional
story
snapshot
life
encompassing
deliberate
magnetic
inviting
compulsivity
moving
gratifying
simple
complex
texture
repulsive
feeling
perspective
binding
bonding
created
shared
freedom
insecurity
uninhibited
satisfying
mystical
mysterious
interpretational
personal
flowing
process
beautiful
cause and effect
daring
stages
capture
neat
messy
out of the box
in the lines
individualistic
communal
effective
liberating
emotional
story
snapshot
life
encompassing
deliberate
magnetic
inviting
compulsivity
moving
gratifying
simple
complex
texture
repulsive
feeling
perspective
binding
bonding
created
shared
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
missing Narnia
A friend recently lost her beloved companion, her dog Narnia. I can imagine how much she'll miss him and how much she learned from him ...
"Wisdom usually does not fall from high places. The mighty and the splendid have taught me little. I have learned more from my dog than from all the great books I have read. The wisdom of my dog is the product of his inability to conceal his wants. When he yearns to be loved, there is no pouting in the corner. There are no games entitled "Guess what is the matter with me." He puts his head on my lap, wags his tail and looks up at me with kind eyes, waiting to be petted. No professor or sage ever told me I might live a more successful life if I simply asked for love when I needed it."
Gerry Spence
"Wisdom usually does not fall from high places. The mighty and the splendid have taught me little. I have learned more from my dog than from all the great books I have read. The wisdom of my dog is the product of his inability to conceal his wants. When he yearns to be loved, there is no pouting in the corner. There are no games entitled "Guess what is the matter with me." He puts his head on my lap, wags his tail and looks up at me with kind eyes, waiting to be petted. No professor or sage ever told me I might live a more successful life if I simply asked for love when I needed it."
Gerry Spence
OH FRUIT!
Spencer and I were out one afternoon and, not unlike a lot of afternoons (yes, Tamara, even with my directional pointer thingy in my car!), I got myself turned around. I couldn't think of the next street that I should be coming up on, but I thought that when I saw it I would know if I were going the right way ... or not. As we got closer and the letters came into focus, I shouted, "Oh Fruit!" ... because we were indeed going the wrong way and Fruit should NOT be the next street!
Spencer now believes this is my new expletive during times of frustration.
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