I used to hate that word! I used to hear it and the hair on the back of my neck would bristle! I don't exactly know why I felt that way, I just did... I've just gotten off of the phone with Tina and am reflecting on what I was just sharing with her... and I'm realizing all of a sudden that this is what I was talking about; perseverance.
I was sharing that I had been going through a very difficul time personally, and that I felt like all of a sudden the clouds had parted and I was able to breathe again. I don't know what made it change, maybe it was going away and being removed from my everyday routine long enough to cause change to occur. I think it probably has alot to do with Lorna's Spiritual Direction class at SSU... three hours every other day of directed retreat - what a gift! Now, as I reflect on the last few weeks, it seems like I can see again and hope again and have vision again. During this time I could barely communicate about anything other than my need, my exhaustion. Even in my prayer time it was all about me, me, me... now I find myself being able to hear again, not just rant and rave but listen to the voice that brings me life! Because of this I'm able to give again! I guess I feel like I've tasted a bit of resurrection and its given me a thirst for more! I'm feeling hungry and thirsty again; a hunger and thirst that come not out of being parched but out of having discovered something so good that I just want more of it! I'm rediscovering my passion and my joy! Best of all I'm hearing again... I'm able to be quiet again... I'm so humbled and blessed... I am so very very thankful! I feel like I'm found again!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Risk
Dan, the girls and I were blessed to be able to attend Paul Brandt's concert last night as his guests. Dan grew up with Paul and so he invited us and Dan's dad and friend Mary to go watch him. The concert itself was wonderful, Paul is an amazing performer; but more than that, it seemed like this was one more occurance in the last week where Dan and I have looked at one another and thought - The Lord is telling us something!
It seems that at every turn, we are hearing the same thing! The last time we had anything like this happen was when we were hearing about the Arctic. Neither of us is really ready to say much about it yet, but there is something stirring in us that we both feel the Lord is doing. An invitation to adventure and RISK... so here is Paul's song (the title track of his new album) and the last verse is one more of many things in the last week that seemed to come to us through a megaphone into our spirits, compelling us forward into whatever God has for us...
RISK
I'd rather stand on the edge of a cliff
hang my toes over a bit
and then jump when they dare me
even if it scares me
and I get hurt
I'd rather build my wings on the way down
do my best not to fall to the ground
and then laugh at my mistakes
cause they're only lessons I'll learn
I'd rather burn with desire
deep in my soul
and love like a fire that's
out of control
and laugh
and dance
and fall
and chance
and kiss
I'd rather live my whole life
with a sense of abandon
squeeze every drop out
no matter what happens
and not wonder what I missed
I'd rather
Risk
Oh I just can't resist the chance to
Risk
Well I guess I could just play it safe
and forget about love hope and faith
with my eye on the shoreline
keeping my boat tied
and stayin' home
But I'll never discover new land
by keeping my feet on the sand
No I'd rather set sail
And get carried away by the storm
(Chorus)
Words & Music by Paul Brandt
©2006 Giantfoothillbilly Music
SOCAN
It seems that at every turn, we are hearing the same thing! The last time we had anything like this happen was when we were hearing about the Arctic. Neither of us is really ready to say much about it yet, but there is something stirring in us that we both feel the Lord is doing. An invitation to adventure and RISK... so here is Paul's song (the title track of his new album) and the last verse is one more of many things in the last week that seemed to come to us through a megaphone into our spirits, compelling us forward into whatever God has for us...
RISK
I'd rather stand on the edge of a cliff
hang my toes over a bit
and then jump when they dare me
even if it scares me
and I get hurt
I'd rather build my wings on the way down
do my best not to fall to the ground
and then laugh at my mistakes
cause they're only lessons I'll learn
I'd rather burn with desire
deep in my soul
and love like a fire that's
out of control
and laugh
and dance
and fall
and chance
and kiss
I'd rather live my whole life
with a sense of abandon
squeeze every drop out
no matter what happens
and not wonder what I missed
I'd rather
Risk
Oh I just can't resist the chance to
Risk
Well I guess I could just play it safe
and forget about love hope and faith
with my eye on the shoreline
keeping my boat tied
and stayin' home
But I'll never discover new land
by keeping my feet on the sand
No I'd rather set sail
And get carried away by the storm
(Chorus)
Words & Music by Paul Brandt
©2006 Giantfoothillbilly Music
SOCAN
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Personality Test
So I was on Julie's blog
and saw that she had a post on personality tests... so I decided to try it out, since I'm tired of studying and in need of a bit of leisure time. So check out what my test says about me... what do you think?
Your Type is
INFJ
Introverted Intuitive Feeling Judging
Strength of the preferences %
33 75 62 33
Qualitative analysis of your type formula
You are:
moderately expressed introvert
distinctively expressed intuitive personality
distinctively expressed feeling personality
moderately expressed judging personality
The Portrait of the Counselor Idealist (iNFj)
The Counselor Idealists are abstract in thought and speech, cooperative in reaching their goals, and enterprising and attentive in their interpersonal roles. Counselors focus on human potentials, think in terms of ethical values, and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (little more than 2 percent) is regrettable, since Counselors have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people.
Counselors can be hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. With their loved ones, certainly, Counselors are not reluctant to express their feelings, their face lighting up with the positive emotions, but darkening like a thunderhead with the negative. Indeed, because of their strong ability to take into themselves the feelings of others, Counselors can be hurt rather easily by those around them, which, perhaps, is one reason why they tend to be private people, mutely withdrawing from human contact. At the same time, friends who have known a Counselor for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that they are inconsistent; Counselors value their integrity a great deal, but they have intricately woven, mysterious personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them. This "mind-reading" can take the form of feeling the hidden distress or illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types to comprehend. Even Counselors can seldom tell how they came to penetrate others' feelings so keenly. Furthermore, the Counselor is most likely of all the types to demonstrate an ability to understand psychic phenomena and to have visions of human events, past, present, or future. What is known as ESP may well be exceptional intuitive ability-in both its forms, projection and introjection. Such supernormal intuition is found frequently in the Counselor, and can extend to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come, as well as uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance.
Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.
"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
Functional Analysis:
Introverted iNtuition
Introverted intuitives, INFJs enjoy a greater clarity of perception of inner, unconscious processes than all but their INTJ cousins. Just as SP types commune with the object and "live in the here and now" of the physical world, INFJs readily grasp the hidden psychological stimuli behind the more observable dynamics of behavior and affect. Their amazing ability to deduce the inner workings of the mind, will and emotions of others gives INFJs their reputation as prophets and seers. Unlike the confining, routinizing nature of introverted sensing, introverted intuition frees this type to act insightfully and spontaneously as unique solutions arise on an event by event basis.
Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted feeling, the auxiliary deciding function, expresses a range of emotion and opinions of, for and about people. INFJs, like many other FJ types, find themselves caught between the desire to express their wealth of feelings and moral conclusions about the actions and attitudes of others, and the awareness of the consequences of unbridled candor. Some vent the attending emotions in private, to trusted allies. Such confidants are chosen with care, for INFJs are well aware of the treachery that can reside in the hearts of mortals. This particular combination of introverted intuition and extraverted feeling provides INFJs with the raw material from which perceptive counselors are shaped.
Introverted Thinking
The INFJ's thinking is introverted, turned toward the subject. Perhaps it is when the INFJ's thinking function is operative that he is most aloof. A comrade might surmise that such detachment signals a disillusionment, that she has also been found lacking by the sardonic eye of this one who plumbs the depths of the human spirit. Experience suggests that such distancing is merely an indication that the seer is hard at work and focusing energy into this less efficient tertiary function.
Extraverted Sensing
INFJs are twice blessed with clarity of vision, both internal and external. Just as they possess inner vision which is drawn to the forms of the unconscious, they also have external sensing perception which readily takes hold of worldly objects. Sensing, however, is the weakest of the INFJ's arsenal and the most vulnerable. INFJs, like their fellow intuitives, may be so absorbed in intuitive perceiving that they become oblivious to physical reality. The INFJ under stress may fall prey to various forms of immediate gratification. Awareness of extraverted sensing is probably the source of the "SP wannabe" side of INFJs. Many yearn to live spontaneously; it's not uncommon for INFJ actors to take on an SP (often ESTP) role.
Who are you? Jung Typology Test
and saw that she had a post on personality tests... so I decided to try it out, since I'm tired of studying and in need of a bit of leisure time. So check out what my test says about me... what do you think?
Your Type is
INFJ
Introverted Intuitive Feeling Judging
Strength of the preferences %
33 75 62 33
Qualitative analysis of your type formula
You are:
moderately expressed introvert
distinctively expressed intuitive personality
distinctively expressed feeling personality
moderately expressed judging personality
The Portrait of the Counselor Idealist (iNFj)
The Counselor Idealists are abstract in thought and speech, cooperative in reaching their goals, and enterprising and attentive in their interpersonal roles. Counselors focus on human potentials, think in terms of ethical values, and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (little more than 2 percent) is regrettable, since Counselors have an unusually strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their companions. Although Counsleors tend to be private, sensitive people, and are not generally visible leaders, they nevertheless work quite intensely with those close to them, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes with their families, friends, and colleagues. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people.
Counselors can be hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. With their loved ones, certainly, Counselors are not reluctant to express their feelings, their face lighting up with the positive emotions, but darkening like a thunderhead with the negative. Indeed, because of their strong ability to take into themselves the feelings of others, Counselors can be hurt rather easily by those around them, which, perhaps, is one reason why they tend to be private people, mutely withdrawing from human contact. At the same time, friends who have known a Counselor for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that they are inconsistent; Counselors value their integrity a great deal, but they have intricately woven, mysterious personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.
Counselors have strong empathic abilities and can become aware of another's emotions or intentions -- good or evil -- even before that person is conscious of them. This "mind-reading" can take the form of feeling the hidden distress or illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types to comprehend. Even Counselors can seldom tell how they came to penetrate others' feelings so keenly. Furthermore, the Counselor is most likely of all the types to demonstrate an ability to understand psychic phenomena and to have visions of human events, past, present, or future. What is known as ESP may well be exceptional intuitive ability-in both its forms, projection and introjection. Such supernormal intuition is found frequently in the Counselor, and can extend to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come, as well as uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance.
Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.
"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
Functional Analysis:
Introverted iNtuition
Introverted intuitives, INFJs enjoy a greater clarity of perception of inner, unconscious processes than all but their INTJ cousins. Just as SP types commune with the object and "live in the here and now" of the physical world, INFJs readily grasp the hidden psychological stimuli behind the more observable dynamics of behavior and affect. Their amazing ability to deduce the inner workings of the mind, will and emotions of others gives INFJs their reputation as prophets and seers. Unlike the confining, routinizing nature of introverted sensing, introverted intuition frees this type to act insightfully and spontaneously as unique solutions arise on an event by event basis.
Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted feeling, the auxiliary deciding function, expresses a range of emotion and opinions of, for and about people. INFJs, like many other FJ types, find themselves caught between the desire to express their wealth of feelings and moral conclusions about the actions and attitudes of others, and the awareness of the consequences of unbridled candor. Some vent the attending emotions in private, to trusted allies. Such confidants are chosen with care, for INFJs are well aware of the treachery that can reside in the hearts of mortals. This particular combination of introverted intuition and extraverted feeling provides INFJs with the raw material from which perceptive counselors are shaped.
Introverted Thinking
The INFJ's thinking is introverted, turned toward the subject. Perhaps it is when the INFJ's thinking function is operative that he is most aloof. A comrade might surmise that such detachment signals a disillusionment, that she has also been found lacking by the sardonic eye of this one who plumbs the depths of the human spirit. Experience suggests that such distancing is merely an indication that the seer is hard at work and focusing energy into this less efficient tertiary function.
Extraverted Sensing
INFJs are twice blessed with clarity of vision, both internal and external. Just as they possess inner vision which is drawn to the forms of the unconscious, they also have external sensing perception which readily takes hold of worldly objects. Sensing, however, is the weakest of the INFJ's arsenal and the most vulnerable. INFJs, like their fellow intuitives, may be so absorbed in intuitive perceiving that they become oblivious to physical reality. The INFJ under stress may fall prey to various forms of immediate gratification. Awareness of extraverted sensing is probably the source of the "SP wannabe" side of INFJs. Many yearn to live spontaneously; it's not uncommon for INFJ actors to take on an SP (often ESTP) role.
Who are you? Jung Typology Test
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Ouch!
So this reading for school thing is really kicking my butt! Here is an exerpt from "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer;
"Finally, one extreme thing must be said. To forgo self-conceit and to associate with the lowly means, in all soberness and without mincing the matter, to consider oneself the greatest of sinners. This arouses all the resistance of natural man, but also that of the self-confidant Christian. It sounds like an exaggeration, like an untruth. Yet even Paul said of himself that he was the foremost of sinners (1Tim 1:15);... there can be no genuine acknowlegment of sin that does not lead to this extremety. If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all. My sin is of necessity the worst, the most grievous, the most reprehensible. Brotherly love will find any number of extenuations for the sins of others; only for my sin is there no apology whatsoever. Therefore my sin is the worst. He who would serve his brother in the fellowship must sink all the way down to these depths of humility. How can I possibly serve another person in unfeigned humility if I seriously regard his sinfulness as worse than my own? Would I not be putting myself above him; could I have any hope for him? Such service would be hypocritical. "Never think that thou hast made any progress till thou look upon thyself as inferior to all" (Thomas a Kempis)"
As I said in the title "Ouch!" What do you do when you read stuff like this other than call out to God? Over and over again I'm coming face to face with my selfishness and my ego. This is going to kill me!
"Finally, one extreme thing must be said. To forgo self-conceit and to associate with the lowly means, in all soberness and without mincing the matter, to consider oneself the greatest of sinners. This arouses all the resistance of natural man, but also that of the self-confidant Christian. It sounds like an exaggeration, like an untruth. Yet even Paul said of himself that he was the foremost of sinners (1Tim 1:15);... there can be no genuine acknowlegment of sin that does not lead to this extremety. If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all. My sin is of necessity the worst, the most grievous, the most reprehensible. Brotherly love will find any number of extenuations for the sins of others; only for my sin is there no apology whatsoever. Therefore my sin is the worst. He who would serve his brother in the fellowship must sink all the way down to these depths of humility. How can I possibly serve another person in unfeigned humility if I seriously regard his sinfulness as worse than my own? Would I not be putting myself above him; could I have any hope for him? Such service would be hypocritical. "Never think that thou hast made any progress till thou look upon thyself as inferior to all" (Thomas a Kempis)"
As I said in the title "Ouch!" What do you do when you read stuff like this other than call out to God? Over and over again I'm coming face to face with my selfishness and my ego. This is going to kill me!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Discipleship - a Life of Faith
Here are the notes from the sermon I preached this past Sunday. I was pretty nervous, considering I felt that I had to change the whole thing on Monday and didn't get my topic till Wednesday and then didn't press print till 8:45am Sunday morning (our first service is at 9am)! So bear in mind that it isn't as well organized as what I've done before, but it's what I had, so for those of you who asked for the notes, here they are!
Blessings,
Simone
....................................
A few months ago, the staff went to the Regional Leadership Summit, at one point, Joy Best asked us to pair off and discuss our answer to this question; “Are you coming here faith-filled or faithful?” At the time, it was clear to me that I was coming out of faithfulness, out of obedience to what I knew I should do, not because I was filled with any expectation of God breaking through. The most difficult thing for me about that was that in the past, I've been bursting with faith, confident that the Lord would do the things that He had said he would do, confident that when I followed his leading he would come through. It's not that I don't believe those things anymore, but the bursting part is sort of – well flat.
You see, back when I was bursting with faith, I wasn't just willing to pray for others, I was looking for opportunities to pray. I was bold, and completely expected the Lord to move when I would feel the Spirit’s nudge at an opportunity presenting itself. However, All of a sudden I was finding myself retreating, praying the old “if you're willing Lord, please consider healing this person.” or “Lord we know that you are able to intervene, so if it's your will, please would you come?” Now, at first glance there's nothing really wrong with those prayers, except for the fact that when I would really listen to myself I would hear doubt and unbelief.
What had happened to me? Here I am, I know that God works, I know that He desires to heal, I've read all of the books, even taught the classes, and so what's the problem? Why aren't I confidently proclaiming this good news and praying with expectation? Why aren't I living ears wide open, listening for the Spirit's prompting to pray, always looking to see where God is at work so that I can join him? I guess that part of the problem is busyness and preoccupation with life, it could also be discouragement with praying and not seeing much healing taking place. I guess at some point, I decided that it was just easier to deal with what was right in front of me rather than always being on the alert for something that didn’t seem to get me the results that I was hoping for. I'd taken my eyes off of the one who is able to do all things. Then once my eyes were off of him, realism, individualism, culture caught hold of me, and my faith was weakened and my expectation was lowered. In a way you could say that I'd forgotten that I've been invited to participate in what God is doing around me. In fact, I’ve not only been invited, I’ve been, and we’ve all been commissioned to participate.
Now, while all of that was happening, something else started to rise up inside of me; a discontent, a longing, something saying no! There's got to be more than this, I know this isn't everything, I know there is more! And I started experiencing a desire to not settle for less than what God's word says. All of a sudden it was time for me to wake up. Not just, get up, and go on with whatever's going on – but a WAKE UP! What I needed, and still need is A filling of the Spirit to SHAKE OFF MY SLUMBER. To build my FAITH IN GOD so that I can GO OUT IN CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS WITH ME AND that HE WILL LEAD ME. I desire to be faith-filled again! I just don’t want to settle anymore! Well, I think I'm still in the first steps of walking that out. One of those steps is to speak today. The next step, well, we'll see, but I have faith that God has good things for us.
(Acts 4:31)
"31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." This is what I'm talking about! This is what I need!
You know, the word faith is thrown around a lot these days. You hear people talk about having “a faith” pretty much anywhere. In fact it's quite fashionable to have "a faith". But for those of us who are Christians, what does having faith mean? What does it look like?
In Hebrews 11:6, Paul says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” But what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” In John 14:12 Jesus says “ I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Isn't that cool? Scripture says that Jesus is our hope; in fact it says that he is the hope of the nations. I don't know about you, but I haven't seen him face to face yet, so you can say that faith is being sure of Jesus, who we hope in and who we cannot see. Faith is being certain of God, certain that He is who he says he is and that He will do what He says He will do! Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a certainty, a trust. When we are filled with faith, we believe the things that God says and we can do the things that Jesus has called us and commissioned us to do, because our trust and confidence is in Him.
We're going to look at Mark chapter 11 and see what Jesus has to say about faith. But first I'm going to back track a little on this so that we can set the scene in context. In order to understand what's going on in the passage in chapter 11, we need to turn back a little ways to chapter10:32-34
32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
Reading this tells us that what occurs following this passage is happening when Jesus is in and around Jerusalem during the last week of His life. He's spending this time teaching his disciples those things that he knows that they really need to have settled in their hearts before his death. Let's continue to the passage I want to talk about. In verse 12 of chapter 11, Mark describes an interesting story and Jesus' response.
(Mark 11:12-14, 20-25) 12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.........
20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" 22"Have[a] faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen; it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."[b]
Wow – “Have faith in God = whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours”. What does this mean really? It’s kind of hard to believe isn’t it? Even Jesus seemed to know that it was pretty strong statement, because he prefaces it with “I tell you the truth”. My reaction to this is similar to my reaction when I read the verse from John 14:12 where Jesus says “ I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Another statement prefaced with “I tell you the truth”. What is Jesus saying here? Could it be that he's really saying the same thing in each of these passages? Have faith in God – whatever you pray for believing that it will be done, will be done.\ anyone who has faith in me will do what I've been doing. It sort of looks that way doesn't it. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree for not having fruit out of season? What’s the lesson about faith in that? The first thing I guess we should look at is: Who is Jesus talking to in these two passages? Is he talking to the crowds? No – He’s talking to his disciples. According to Eastons Bible Dictionary A disciple of Christ is one who
(1) believes his doctrine,
(2) rests on his sacrifice,
(3) imbibes his spirit, and
(4) imitates his example
(Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69). disciple. (n.d.).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disciple
So here Jesus is talking to those who will be imitators and followers of everything he has taught them. He was telling them to have faith. Faith for the things they can’t see – a fig tree out of season can bear fruit in the upside down Kingdom of God. I think that what he wanted to show them was that He wanted them to look at more than the concrete, natural reality that they are used to seeing. His words have power and God rules over everything, so even impossibility must submit to God. That means that something that naturally we wouldn’t see happen can happen in God’s Kingdom, when God desires to break through. Jesus wanted them to know that he’d be dead for 3 days, then rise again, this was what he’d been teaching them about, telling them what was going to happen to him. Also telling them that they can pray for someone who is dying or dead and they can be healed. Why? Because 2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.” We’re still trying to learn the same lesson today aren't we? It’s so easy to see what we see with our eyes, and to miss what God is doing. Sometimes the most discouraging situations in the natural, are the ones where God is wanting to move in. For some reason, he desires to use his children to do that. We are Christians, “Little Christs”. This is our call as disciples.
The thing is, that if we look to both Mark 11:22 and John14:12, there is a key that we can’t miss. “Have faith in GOD”, “anyone who has faith in me”. As we step into this, it's not about having faith in ourselves, as much as self love is important and all of that! Our confidence is not in ourselves and our ability to pray the right prayer. It's not cause we feel like we've got it together, or anything else like that. Frankly, if we all wait until we feel like we've got what it takes, or until we feel up to doing what the Holy Spirit is leading us to do, none of us are going to do anything other than maybe show up. You see, we are to have faith in GOD, in JESUS, HE IS THE ONE DOING IT. NOT US, NOT our ANNOINTING, HE is! If the Lord is leading you to pray, or to share a word with someone, or to simply BE with someone, then he's going to be with you, and all you need is to have faith in Him. I want to share a little story that happened this week. I had a sermon pretty well done for a few months now, not this one... I got home from visiting my parents Sunday night and Monday morning I sat down to put the finishing touches on that other sermon. But as I sat there, I got this sinking feeling, like, oh no! This isn't it, I've got nothing! I put my hands in my face and said, Lord, I've got nothing to say! I went to my computer to print off what I had been planning on using, hoping that something would spark when I heard a knock on the door. There's my friend, she had just been spending some time with the Lord and felt like she needed to come over and tell me that the Lord said that I did have something to say this Sunday and to just spend some time soaking in His presence.
That's cool! That's what I'm talking about. It may not have made sense to her to tell me something that would have seemed obvious – that I had something to say on the Sunday I'm speaking – besides, I don't usually have a hard time finding something to say! But at that moment, God was answering a deep cry of my heart! I needed to hear from Him and he spoke to someone else in the body that had the guts to show up at my door to tell it to me! Praise God! That’s what its all about. Listening, asking, Lord, where are you working here? Is there something you want to say to this person? How shall I pray here Lord? How can I join you Father? It’s not very complex, it’s simply making ourselves available and open to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The rest is HIS responsibility!
Matthew 10:8 says “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” God is God and he is above all things and we are to have faith in HIM and in His Word and we are called to follow His lead. Who knows where he'll lead us, but as long as we're with him, we can trust that we will be cared for!
This is what we believe. Our course, KM1 is actually titled, Kingdom Ministry 1 – an introduction to doing the Kingdom works of Jesus. This is the one of the main praxis of the Vineyard church. That as disciples of Christ the proclamation of his gospel is accompanied with the demonstrations of the Kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons and being a witness to the breakthrough of the rule and reign of God in our midst. That is what we’re talking about when we talk about the Kingdom of God. Wherever the rule and reign of God takes place, wherever HIS will is done, whenever the Holy Spirit makes himself manifest, the Kingdom of God is breaking through. So every time someone is fed or prayed for downstairs in the Storehouse, the Kingdom of God is here, you want to see the Kingdom breakthrough today? At lunch today, it will break through for at least 60 people. God will meet them personally through the hands and feet of those serving downstairs. When you come up for prayer, and someone prays for you, and the Holy Spirit speaks through that person, his Kingdom is breaking through. This is why we pray, like Jesus taught us “Lord, let your Kingdom come!” Wherever the Holy Spirit comes, wherever the Will of God is accomplished, God is breaking through and we get a glimpse of the powers of the future age, Heb 6 – the power of heaven, breaking through into the here and now. This is the life of discipleship in Christ. This is what we are part of. And right here, if I’m reading correctly, it’s saying that I am to have faith in God for this.
The problem is – the times that I do have faith for this kind of demonstration are far outnumbered by the times that I don’t. As I was pouring over these scriptures Wednesday night, my heart was broken as I cried out to the Lord – “Oh God, I know this is true, I know that your word is true and that I can trust you and that you are faithful to me in every way. But this is hard! I haven’t seen this in a long time? How can I say that you want to deliver and transform and breakthrough when in the past while my experience has been less than that? Do you want to know what the response I’ve been hearing clearly over and over? “BELIEVE”. But Lord, I don’t have the experience to back this up. “BELIEVE” Okay. So I went into my boxes of books and pulled out my copy of “Power Evangelism” by John Wimber, who is the founder of the Vineyard church. I start skimming through, and all of a sudden this jumps off of the page at me;
read from book -
“ In our first year we did not experience the signs and wonders described in the New Testament. Therefore I began a series of sermons from the Gospel of Luke. Luke is full of the healing ministry of Jesus; I was forced to begin teaching on the subject. I thought what better place to start than with the healing ministry? Soon I was praying for the sick, not because I had seen the sick healed but because that was what Scripture teaches Christians do. Over the course of the next ten months, week in and week out, I prayed for people – and not one person was healed. Half of the members left the church. I kept preaching and praying about healing because during this period (when I wanted to quit) God spoke clearly to me: “DO NOT PREACH YOUR EXPERIENCE. PREACH MY WORD”. Though I continued to sound foolish because of my lack of results, I did not stop preaching about God’s desire to heal today…..”
Eventually, someone did get healed, and then more, then it got to the point where 100s of people were being healed every month. You can borrow the book if you want to read it yourself – it's pretty amazing! This is our inheritance. This is what I believe God still wants to do. I don’t believe for one minute that something has changed so drastically in the last 29 years that this no longer applies to us. This is what our church movement was birthed for!
To be disciples today is to do the same as the disciples were asked to do then, which means: Matt 10: 7-8 "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[d] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"
This is what faith is for. It’s not so that we can hold on, huddled safely away from the world, waiting for heaven. Faith is for action. Faith is for walking out discipleship. Have faith in God. We just can’t do these things ourselves, but it is what we are called to do, this is the reason the Holy Spirit has come to us. The disciples needed the Holy Spirit to empower them for this work they were called to. Jesus told them to wait in Galilee until they received the gift he had promised them – the Holy Spirit. They trusted and waited, and the Lord was faithful to his promise, as they had Faith in Him. They stayed in the upper room, prayed and reflected on the truths that Jesus had taught them, then the Holy Spirit fell on them and empowered them to do the very things that Jesus had told them that they would do.
The very same Holy Spirit has come to us, and he has come to us for the very same purpose, to empower us to go out and make disciples, to heal the sick, to cast out demons and to pray, believing that whatever we ask in Jesus’ name in accordance to his Will and the Leading of the Holy Spirit will be done. This is what we have faith for. Lord, increase our faith. Is faith important? Yes! Is it easy? No! What does it look like – exactly the way it looks like in the book. This is why those Bible Study bookmarks are in your bulletins, you need to be reading and studying the words and works of Christ!, check it out – don’t take my word for it. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Let’s pray.
“Lord, I don’t want to live in bondage anymore to my experience and my reason. I confess to you that I've listened to the lies of culture, the lies of realism, the lies of political correctness. I ask for your forgiveness for choosing to stay comfortable rather than following your leading. I pray that you would replace those lies with your truth and that you would come Holy Spirit and fill me up so that I may go out and join you in what you are doing. I am your disciple Jesus, and I declare that your word is true and that your purposes will be accomplished in this day. Jesus, when you say “Have faith in God, I tell you the truth.” I want to say yes and amen and follow. This is the life of faith; this is the life I choose. Help me Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Holy Spirit, come, fill us up, empower us for your work”.
Blessings,
Simone
....................................
A few months ago, the staff went to the Regional Leadership Summit, at one point, Joy Best asked us to pair off and discuss our answer to this question; “Are you coming here faith-filled or faithful?” At the time, it was clear to me that I was coming out of faithfulness, out of obedience to what I knew I should do, not because I was filled with any expectation of God breaking through. The most difficult thing for me about that was that in the past, I've been bursting with faith, confident that the Lord would do the things that He had said he would do, confident that when I followed his leading he would come through. It's not that I don't believe those things anymore, but the bursting part is sort of – well flat.
You see, back when I was bursting with faith, I wasn't just willing to pray for others, I was looking for opportunities to pray. I was bold, and completely expected the Lord to move when I would feel the Spirit’s nudge at an opportunity presenting itself. However, All of a sudden I was finding myself retreating, praying the old “if you're willing Lord, please consider healing this person.” or “Lord we know that you are able to intervene, so if it's your will, please would you come?” Now, at first glance there's nothing really wrong with those prayers, except for the fact that when I would really listen to myself I would hear doubt and unbelief.
What had happened to me? Here I am, I know that God works, I know that He desires to heal, I've read all of the books, even taught the classes, and so what's the problem? Why aren't I confidently proclaiming this good news and praying with expectation? Why aren't I living ears wide open, listening for the Spirit's prompting to pray, always looking to see where God is at work so that I can join him? I guess that part of the problem is busyness and preoccupation with life, it could also be discouragement with praying and not seeing much healing taking place. I guess at some point, I decided that it was just easier to deal with what was right in front of me rather than always being on the alert for something that didn’t seem to get me the results that I was hoping for. I'd taken my eyes off of the one who is able to do all things. Then once my eyes were off of him, realism, individualism, culture caught hold of me, and my faith was weakened and my expectation was lowered. In a way you could say that I'd forgotten that I've been invited to participate in what God is doing around me. In fact, I’ve not only been invited, I’ve been, and we’ve all been commissioned to participate.
Now, while all of that was happening, something else started to rise up inside of me; a discontent, a longing, something saying no! There's got to be more than this, I know this isn't everything, I know there is more! And I started experiencing a desire to not settle for less than what God's word says. All of a sudden it was time for me to wake up. Not just, get up, and go on with whatever's going on – but a WAKE UP! What I needed, and still need is A filling of the Spirit to SHAKE OFF MY SLUMBER. To build my FAITH IN GOD so that I can GO OUT IN CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS WITH ME AND that HE WILL LEAD ME. I desire to be faith-filled again! I just don’t want to settle anymore! Well, I think I'm still in the first steps of walking that out. One of those steps is to speak today. The next step, well, we'll see, but I have faith that God has good things for us.
(Acts 4:31)
"31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." This is what I'm talking about! This is what I need!
You know, the word faith is thrown around a lot these days. You hear people talk about having “a faith” pretty much anywhere. In fact it's quite fashionable to have "a faith". But for those of us who are Christians, what does having faith mean? What does it look like?
In Hebrews 11:6, Paul says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” But what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” In John 14:12 Jesus says “ I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Isn't that cool? Scripture says that Jesus is our hope; in fact it says that he is the hope of the nations. I don't know about you, but I haven't seen him face to face yet, so you can say that faith is being sure of Jesus, who we hope in and who we cannot see. Faith is being certain of God, certain that He is who he says he is and that He will do what He says He will do! Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a certainty, a trust. When we are filled with faith, we believe the things that God says and we can do the things that Jesus has called us and commissioned us to do, because our trust and confidence is in Him.
We're going to look at Mark chapter 11 and see what Jesus has to say about faith. But first I'm going to back track a little on this so that we can set the scene in context. In order to understand what's going on in the passage in chapter 11, we need to turn back a little ways to chapter10:32-34
32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
Reading this tells us that what occurs following this passage is happening when Jesus is in and around Jerusalem during the last week of His life. He's spending this time teaching his disciples those things that he knows that they really need to have settled in their hearts before his death. Let's continue to the passage I want to talk about. In verse 12 of chapter 11, Mark describes an interesting story and Jesus' response.
(Mark 11:12-14, 20-25) 12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.........
20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" 22"Have[a] faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen; it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."[b]
Wow – “Have faith in God = whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours”. What does this mean really? It’s kind of hard to believe isn’t it? Even Jesus seemed to know that it was pretty strong statement, because he prefaces it with “I tell you the truth”. My reaction to this is similar to my reaction when I read the verse from John 14:12 where Jesus says “ I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Another statement prefaced with “I tell you the truth”. What is Jesus saying here? Could it be that he's really saying the same thing in each of these passages? Have faith in God – whatever you pray for believing that it will be done, will be done.\ anyone who has faith in me will do what I've been doing. It sort of looks that way doesn't it. Why would Jesus curse a fig tree for not having fruit out of season? What’s the lesson about faith in that? The first thing I guess we should look at is: Who is Jesus talking to in these two passages? Is he talking to the crowds? No – He’s talking to his disciples. According to Eastons Bible Dictionary A disciple of Christ is one who
(1) believes his doctrine,
(2) rests on his sacrifice,
(3) imbibes his spirit, and
(4) imitates his example
(Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69). disciple. (n.d.).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary. Retrieved July 20, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disciple
So here Jesus is talking to those who will be imitators and followers of everything he has taught them. He was telling them to have faith. Faith for the things they can’t see – a fig tree out of season can bear fruit in the upside down Kingdom of God. I think that what he wanted to show them was that He wanted them to look at more than the concrete, natural reality that they are used to seeing. His words have power and God rules over everything, so even impossibility must submit to God. That means that something that naturally we wouldn’t see happen can happen in God’s Kingdom, when God desires to break through. Jesus wanted them to know that he’d be dead for 3 days, then rise again, this was what he’d been teaching them about, telling them what was going to happen to him. Also telling them that they can pray for someone who is dying or dead and they can be healed. Why? Because 2 Corinthians 5:7 “We live by faith, not by sight.” We’re still trying to learn the same lesson today aren't we? It’s so easy to see what we see with our eyes, and to miss what God is doing. Sometimes the most discouraging situations in the natural, are the ones where God is wanting to move in. For some reason, he desires to use his children to do that. We are Christians, “Little Christs”. This is our call as disciples.
The thing is, that if we look to both Mark 11:22 and John14:12, there is a key that we can’t miss. “Have faith in GOD”, “anyone who has faith in me”. As we step into this, it's not about having faith in ourselves, as much as self love is important and all of that! Our confidence is not in ourselves and our ability to pray the right prayer. It's not cause we feel like we've got it together, or anything else like that. Frankly, if we all wait until we feel like we've got what it takes, or until we feel up to doing what the Holy Spirit is leading us to do, none of us are going to do anything other than maybe show up. You see, we are to have faith in GOD, in JESUS, HE IS THE ONE DOING IT. NOT US, NOT our ANNOINTING, HE is! If the Lord is leading you to pray, or to share a word with someone, or to simply BE with someone, then he's going to be with you, and all you need is to have faith in Him. I want to share a little story that happened this week. I had a sermon pretty well done for a few months now, not this one... I got home from visiting my parents Sunday night and Monday morning I sat down to put the finishing touches on that other sermon. But as I sat there, I got this sinking feeling, like, oh no! This isn't it, I've got nothing! I put my hands in my face and said, Lord, I've got nothing to say! I went to my computer to print off what I had been planning on using, hoping that something would spark when I heard a knock on the door. There's my friend, she had just been spending some time with the Lord and felt like she needed to come over and tell me that the Lord said that I did have something to say this Sunday and to just spend some time soaking in His presence.
That's cool! That's what I'm talking about. It may not have made sense to her to tell me something that would have seemed obvious – that I had something to say on the Sunday I'm speaking – besides, I don't usually have a hard time finding something to say! But at that moment, God was answering a deep cry of my heart! I needed to hear from Him and he spoke to someone else in the body that had the guts to show up at my door to tell it to me! Praise God! That’s what its all about. Listening, asking, Lord, where are you working here? Is there something you want to say to this person? How shall I pray here Lord? How can I join you Father? It’s not very complex, it’s simply making ourselves available and open to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The rest is HIS responsibility!
Matthew 10:8 says “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” God is God and he is above all things and we are to have faith in HIM and in His Word and we are called to follow His lead. Who knows where he'll lead us, but as long as we're with him, we can trust that we will be cared for!
This is what we believe. Our course, KM1 is actually titled, Kingdom Ministry 1 – an introduction to doing the Kingdom works of Jesus. This is the one of the main praxis of the Vineyard church. That as disciples of Christ the proclamation of his gospel is accompanied with the demonstrations of the Kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons and being a witness to the breakthrough of the rule and reign of God in our midst. That is what we’re talking about when we talk about the Kingdom of God. Wherever the rule and reign of God takes place, wherever HIS will is done, whenever the Holy Spirit makes himself manifest, the Kingdom of God is breaking through. So every time someone is fed or prayed for downstairs in the Storehouse, the Kingdom of God is here, you want to see the Kingdom breakthrough today? At lunch today, it will break through for at least 60 people. God will meet them personally through the hands and feet of those serving downstairs. When you come up for prayer, and someone prays for you, and the Holy Spirit speaks through that person, his Kingdom is breaking through. This is why we pray, like Jesus taught us “Lord, let your Kingdom come!” Wherever the Holy Spirit comes, wherever the Will of God is accomplished, God is breaking through and we get a glimpse of the powers of the future age, Heb 6 – the power of heaven, breaking through into the here and now. This is the life of discipleship in Christ. This is what we are part of. And right here, if I’m reading correctly, it’s saying that I am to have faith in God for this.
The problem is – the times that I do have faith for this kind of demonstration are far outnumbered by the times that I don’t. As I was pouring over these scriptures Wednesday night, my heart was broken as I cried out to the Lord – “Oh God, I know this is true, I know that your word is true and that I can trust you and that you are faithful to me in every way. But this is hard! I haven’t seen this in a long time? How can I say that you want to deliver and transform and breakthrough when in the past while my experience has been less than that? Do you want to know what the response I’ve been hearing clearly over and over? “BELIEVE”. But Lord, I don’t have the experience to back this up. “BELIEVE” Okay. So I went into my boxes of books and pulled out my copy of “Power Evangelism” by John Wimber, who is the founder of the Vineyard church. I start skimming through, and all of a sudden this jumps off of the page at me;
read from book -
“ In our first year we did not experience the signs and wonders described in the New Testament. Therefore I began a series of sermons from the Gospel of Luke. Luke is full of the healing ministry of Jesus; I was forced to begin teaching on the subject. I thought what better place to start than with the healing ministry? Soon I was praying for the sick, not because I had seen the sick healed but because that was what Scripture teaches Christians do. Over the course of the next ten months, week in and week out, I prayed for people – and not one person was healed. Half of the members left the church. I kept preaching and praying about healing because during this period (when I wanted to quit) God spoke clearly to me: “DO NOT PREACH YOUR EXPERIENCE. PREACH MY WORD”. Though I continued to sound foolish because of my lack of results, I did not stop preaching about God’s desire to heal today…..”
Eventually, someone did get healed, and then more, then it got to the point where 100s of people were being healed every month. You can borrow the book if you want to read it yourself – it's pretty amazing! This is our inheritance. This is what I believe God still wants to do. I don’t believe for one minute that something has changed so drastically in the last 29 years that this no longer applies to us. This is what our church movement was birthed for!
To be disciples today is to do the same as the disciples were asked to do then, which means: Matt 10: 7-8 "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.[d] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"
This is what faith is for. It’s not so that we can hold on, huddled safely away from the world, waiting for heaven. Faith is for action. Faith is for walking out discipleship. Have faith in God. We just can’t do these things ourselves, but it is what we are called to do, this is the reason the Holy Spirit has come to us. The disciples needed the Holy Spirit to empower them for this work they were called to. Jesus told them to wait in Galilee until they received the gift he had promised them – the Holy Spirit. They trusted and waited, and the Lord was faithful to his promise, as they had Faith in Him. They stayed in the upper room, prayed and reflected on the truths that Jesus had taught them, then the Holy Spirit fell on them and empowered them to do the very things that Jesus had told them that they would do.
The very same Holy Spirit has come to us, and he has come to us for the very same purpose, to empower us to go out and make disciples, to heal the sick, to cast out demons and to pray, believing that whatever we ask in Jesus’ name in accordance to his Will and the Leading of the Holy Spirit will be done. This is what we have faith for. Lord, increase our faith. Is faith important? Yes! Is it easy? No! What does it look like – exactly the way it looks like in the book. This is why those Bible Study bookmarks are in your bulletins, you need to be reading and studying the words and works of Christ!, check it out – don’t take my word for it. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Let’s pray.
“Lord, I don’t want to live in bondage anymore to my experience and my reason. I confess to you that I've listened to the lies of culture, the lies of realism, the lies of political correctness. I ask for your forgiveness for choosing to stay comfortable rather than following your leading. I pray that you would replace those lies with your truth and that you would come Holy Spirit and fill me up so that I may go out and join you in what you are doing. I am your disciple Jesus, and I declare that your word is true and that your purposes will be accomplished in this day. Jesus, when you say “Have faith in God, I tell you the truth.” I want to say yes and amen and follow. This is the life of faith; this is the life I choose. Help me Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Holy Spirit, come, fill us up, empower us for your work”.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Good Quote by Eugene Peterson
""If I, even for a moment, accept my culture's definition of me, I am rendered harmless."
Eugene H. Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor
When I read this something settled in me. The funny thing is that so many of my good friends have been saying basically the same thing for years - I think it just clicked - again. Strange how something can click one minute then need to click again a few months down the road. I'm totally into this book that Eugene Peterson has written, Dan had read it about 4 years ago during our internship, but I just picked it up for the first time a few weeks ago. I'm slowly savouring it. Eugene Peterson is such an amazing writter! His words are like poetry! I love what he says about having a sense of place, about Christianity being subversive - anyway, read it - its a great book!
Eugene H. Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor
When I read this something settled in me. The funny thing is that so many of my good friends have been saying basically the same thing for years - I think it just clicked - again. Strange how something can click one minute then need to click again a few months down the road. I'm totally into this book that Eugene Peterson has written, Dan had read it about 4 years ago during our internship, but I just picked it up for the first time a few weeks ago. I'm slowly savouring it. Eugene Peterson is such an amazing writter! His words are like poetry! I love what he says about having a sense of place, about Christianity being subversive - anyway, read it - its a great book!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Pastor's Summit
This week I had the privilege of attending the Ontario Regional Pastor's Summit for the Vineyard Churches in Ontario. It was great to deepen some friendships that have been developing and to begin to develop some new ones. Of course it was wonderful to hang out with Gary and Joy Best and to hear them speak about the things that they are passionate about. I always feel like I'm about to explode with passion and excitement when they share their hearts... Like I've said many times, the Vineyard is very much who I am! The values, priorities and message are what connect with the depth of my heart...
It was exciting to hear some of the older pastors tell the stories of what they have done, and of the new things they are doing! It was great to listen to the young guys passionately persue the things that God has put on their hearts... it was also pretty cool to be able to participate and be included in everything. I'll have to blog on a few things that stood out to me once I ponder them more fully.
It was exciting to hear some of the older pastors tell the stories of what they have done, and of the new things they are doing! It was great to listen to the young guys passionately persue the things that God has put on their hearts... it was also pretty cool to be able to participate and be included in everything. I'll have to blog on a few things that stood out to me once I ponder them more fully.
Monday, May 14, 2007
"Feminine Support"
I had a dream last Friday that really sort of stirred me up... well, maybe it just brought to the forefront something that had already been stirring up inside me and needed to be expressed - who knows! Here's a little background to what had been going on in my life prior to Friday:
- I had been praying with Dan regarding further studies in order to prepare for the pastoral call that we feel is on my life.
- I had just been to the Cambridge Vineyard Women's retreat and had the opportunity to speak with other women about my dreams, my hopes and my struggles in walking them out.
- I had been chatting with a friend and he had been joking with me about a quote from a very conservative leader who basically stated that the ordination of women in the church was causing not only the downfall of the church but of society as a whole. (I wasn't exactly in the joking mood on this subject, but I have seven brothers - so I can handle a little jab once in a while).
- Dan and I had just finished a long drive to my parent's home in Espanola during which time we were able to discuss all of these things.
All of this to say that I have been quite saturated lately with the whole "Women in Ministry" thing and the challenges that they (including me) face in their processes.
So here is my dream; I find myself needing to make myself a bra! I search frantically for the right fabric - not really knowing which one to choose. I don't know what I'm doing and I have no reference point for doing it. Then I have to get the wire and bend it and try to put the whole thing together. All of this time I'm confused, I understand how important it is to have a bra, but I've never made one before, there are no instruction manuals (in my dream that is) and there is no-one around who can help me! I'm feeling alone and frustrated. I wake up.
Hmmm... Interesting. As soon as I wake up I "feel" like this is all about me walking out my call as a woman. I feel alone, not really knowing what I'm doing. I understand the importance of "support" for those who are in leadership; be it intercessory support, mentors, friends, family support and other leaders, but it isn't easy getting it all together. In fact, there really isn't much out there for a woman who's trying to figure out the whole thing. There are plenty of comments like "just do it", but very little resources out there. There is the desire to not turn into an iron maiden, but no signposts saying how to do that.
As I sat processing this with Julie and Mary on Sunday afternoon - It kind of struck me that in the 60s women were burning their bras - rejecting their "femininity" in order to be able to become "strong" and equal in the workplace and life in general. And now here I was dreaming about making a bra - so that I could take my place in the world as a leader AND as a woman - trying to figure out how to be feminine and strong all at the same time. I guess I've been wrestling with how to be a woman and a leader without losing who I am in either part of myself.
I guess what the dream is telling me is that I need the right "support". Women don't just naturally know which bra to buy just because they have breasts... most women need to take "bra clinics" and be shown how to buy a bra that fits and that supports them properly, because what looks good doesn't always do the job right. And as they grow and change - so does the bra - most women need to change the bras they wear at different times in their lives, not because the ones they had been wearing were all of a sudden wrong - they just don't offer the support or fit that they need anymore. Isn't that just the way it is?
We don't instinctively know how to be the leaders that we are - just because we have those attributes within us, or the "call" on our lives. We need to be taught - shown what works and what just looks good. And we need help figuring it out. Sometimes we also need to check out our support system and see if we're still able to get the support we need from it. The thing is that it's been an uphill battle trying to figure this whole thing out. Where are the patterns and instruction manuals? I don't really want to do this alone. Not that I have been; I guess I've just been longing for some women who've already done it to help show me the way. (You know like how to work out being a mom/wife and a leader at the same time. What to do about the hightened emotional senses that come with PMS while in ministry mode. Learning to stop appologizing for passion/emotion... that sort of stuff) I don't necessarily want to reinvent the wheel - or the bra! So here I go on my quest for the right "feminine support". Something that can help to hold me together and that embraces all of who I am - a leader and a woman. If I have to make it myself- I guess the Lord will have to show me how - who knows, maybe the whole point is to do a bra clinic... now there's a chick day for you Tina - a bra clinic for the women leaders around us - what fits and gives the right support - and what just looks good!
- I had been praying with Dan regarding further studies in order to prepare for the pastoral call that we feel is on my life.
- I had just been to the Cambridge Vineyard Women's retreat and had the opportunity to speak with other women about my dreams, my hopes and my struggles in walking them out.
- I had been chatting with a friend and he had been joking with me about a quote from a very conservative leader who basically stated that the ordination of women in the church was causing not only the downfall of the church but of society as a whole. (I wasn't exactly in the joking mood on this subject, but I have seven brothers - so I can handle a little jab once in a while).
- Dan and I had just finished a long drive to my parent's home in Espanola during which time we were able to discuss all of these things.
All of this to say that I have been quite saturated lately with the whole "Women in Ministry" thing and the challenges that they (including me) face in their processes.
So here is my dream; I find myself needing to make myself a bra! I search frantically for the right fabric - not really knowing which one to choose. I don't know what I'm doing and I have no reference point for doing it. Then I have to get the wire and bend it and try to put the whole thing together. All of this time I'm confused, I understand how important it is to have a bra, but I've never made one before, there are no instruction manuals (in my dream that is) and there is no-one around who can help me! I'm feeling alone and frustrated. I wake up.
Hmmm... Interesting. As soon as I wake up I "feel" like this is all about me walking out my call as a woman. I feel alone, not really knowing what I'm doing. I understand the importance of "support" for those who are in leadership; be it intercessory support, mentors, friends, family support and other leaders, but it isn't easy getting it all together. In fact, there really isn't much out there for a woman who's trying to figure out the whole thing. There are plenty of comments like "just do it", but very little resources out there. There is the desire to not turn into an iron maiden, but no signposts saying how to do that.
As I sat processing this with Julie and Mary on Sunday afternoon - It kind of struck me that in the 60s women were burning their bras - rejecting their "femininity" in order to be able to become "strong" and equal in the workplace and life in general. And now here I was dreaming about making a bra - so that I could take my place in the world as a leader AND as a woman - trying to figure out how to be feminine and strong all at the same time. I guess I've been wrestling with how to be a woman and a leader without losing who I am in either part of myself.
I guess what the dream is telling me is that I need the right "support". Women don't just naturally know which bra to buy just because they have breasts... most women need to take "bra clinics" and be shown how to buy a bra that fits and that supports them properly, because what looks good doesn't always do the job right. And as they grow and change - so does the bra - most women need to change the bras they wear at different times in their lives, not because the ones they had been wearing were all of a sudden wrong - they just don't offer the support or fit that they need anymore. Isn't that just the way it is?
We don't instinctively know how to be the leaders that we are - just because we have those attributes within us, or the "call" on our lives. We need to be taught - shown what works and what just looks good. And we need help figuring it out. Sometimes we also need to check out our support system and see if we're still able to get the support we need from it. The thing is that it's been an uphill battle trying to figure this whole thing out. Where are the patterns and instruction manuals? I don't really want to do this alone. Not that I have been; I guess I've just been longing for some women who've already done it to help show me the way. (You know like how to work out being a mom/wife and a leader at the same time. What to do about the hightened emotional senses that come with PMS while in ministry mode. Learning to stop appologizing for passion/emotion... that sort of stuff) I don't necessarily want to reinvent the wheel - or the bra! So here I go on my quest for the right "feminine support". Something that can help to hold me together and that embraces all of who I am - a leader and a woman. If I have to make it myself- I guess the Lord will have to show me how - who knows, maybe the whole point is to do a bra clinic... now there's a chick day for you Tina - a bra clinic for the women leaders around us - what fits and gives the right support - and what just looks good!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Meet Maggie; Our New Puppy
My brother Rob's dogs had a litter of puppies and we have the joy of making one our own! They've named her Maggie, we've yet to decide if that's the name she'll be keeping, but for now, we'll go with that. Her mom - Pepper, is a Terri-Poo and her father - Sam, is a purebred poodle. Both are extremely good dogs, who like to play frisbee and sit at their master's feet, so we know that Maggie will be great! We get to pick her up on Mother's day weekend. I am really looking forward to it. (Now she's not the Great Dane that Dan wanted, so I'm not sure how happy he is, but the girls and I are thrilled!)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Fly Lady Crisis Cleaning Tips
Hi everyone! I got this article from my friend Shauna. As I read it I laughed out loud because the author "Fly Lady" seemed to know my cleaning MO to a T! Check it out, she's got some great tips!
I can hear the panic in your voices. "In a fewdays, we have a ton of company coming, what am I to do?" If you want a crash marathon cleaning session, I can help you, but be warned, without the routines, your home will be trashed again in a day. So you have to listen closely.
1. GO GET DRESSED ALL THE WAY TO SHOES, HAIR FIXED AND FACE MOISTURIZED OR MAKEUP PUT ON. DON'T QUESTION ME ON THIS. JUST DO IT NOW. Put on some good working music. Not too fast, just slow and steady. peppy, but not aerobic. Light a candle that has a
good scent or put on some spices on to boil on a very low heat.
We are going to start in our kitchens. As the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house.
2. Set a timer and spend 15 minutes in the kitchen. If your sink is not clean and shiny, then shine it first, then you can fill the sink up with hot soapy water and start to clear off the left and right counters. Empty the dishwasher, When the timer goes off. Stop what you are doing and go to the living room
3. Set the timer again and do 15 minutes cleaning off the coffee tables or picking up toys or newpapers. Concentrate on one thing. Not all of it. When the timer goes off, then go back to the kitchen. Get a laundry basket and put the things that don't belong in the living room in the basket. Take a garbage bag with you too. Start throwing away the trash. Don't get caught up in the guilt we have about recycling this stuff. Just bag it up for now. 20 pounds of trash in a landfill is not going to kill you. So get over this perfectionism attitude. As you get your home in order there will be plenty of time to recycle. For now we are focusing on getting the home presentable. You can't do this if you are hyperfocusing on sorting and recycling.
4. In the kitchen set the time for 15 more minutes, continue to work on clearing the counters. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND WANT TO CLEAN OUT A CABINET. WE ARE DOING ONLY SURFACE CLEANING.
5. Now take a break and walk around and look at what you have accomplished in just 45 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and drink a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you love and just relax. When the timer goes off. You are back in work mode for 15 more minutes.
6. This 15 minute session is in the bathroom. You can do this! Clean the sink in here first, then pick up towel and dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY. I MEAN THIS. LAUNDRY WILL COME LATER!
7. When the timer goes off, you are back in the kitchen. For 15 more minutes. We can do anything in 15 minutes. Keep working till the timer goes off. Then you go to the Living room once again.
8. In the livingroom, continue to pick up and put away.
9. Every 45 minutes take a 15 minute break. Do you understand this.
Adapt this schedule to fit your physical limitations and children's needs. But you get the picture. Stay focused on one job for 15 minutes. You are going to be so surprised at how much you get done in a day's time.
My timer is my best Friend.
You can do this.
Now turn off the computer and get to work!
Let's FLY through this Crisis Cleaning, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your guests,
FlyLady
P.S. Put this in your Journal for future reference, just in case a friend needs your help.
I can hear the panic in your voices. "In a fewdays, we have a ton of company coming, what am I to do?" If you want a crash marathon cleaning session, I can help you, but be warned, without the routines, your home will be trashed again in a day. So you have to listen closely.
1. GO GET DRESSED ALL THE WAY TO SHOES, HAIR FIXED AND FACE MOISTURIZED OR MAKEUP PUT ON. DON'T QUESTION ME ON THIS. JUST DO IT NOW. Put on some good working music. Not too fast, just slow and steady. peppy, but not aerobic. Light a candle that has a
good scent or put on some spices on to boil on a very low heat.
We are going to start in our kitchens. As the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house.
2. Set a timer and spend 15 minutes in the kitchen. If your sink is not clean and shiny, then shine it first, then you can fill the sink up with hot soapy water and start to clear off the left and right counters. Empty the dishwasher, When the timer goes off. Stop what you are doing and go to the living room
3. Set the timer again and do 15 minutes cleaning off the coffee tables or picking up toys or newpapers. Concentrate on one thing. Not all of it. When the timer goes off, then go back to the kitchen. Get a laundry basket and put the things that don't belong in the living room in the basket. Take a garbage bag with you too. Start throwing away the trash. Don't get caught up in the guilt we have about recycling this stuff. Just bag it up for now. 20 pounds of trash in a landfill is not going to kill you. So get over this perfectionism attitude. As you get your home in order there will be plenty of time to recycle. For now we are focusing on getting the home presentable. You can't do this if you are hyperfocusing on sorting and recycling.
4. In the kitchen set the time for 15 more minutes, continue to work on clearing the counters. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND WANT TO CLEAN OUT A CABINET. WE ARE DOING ONLY SURFACE CLEANING.
5. Now take a break and walk around and look at what you have accomplished in just 45 minutes. Set the timer for 15 minutes and drink a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you love and just relax. When the timer goes off. You are back in work mode for 15 more minutes.
6. This 15 minute session is in the bathroom. You can do this! Clean the sink in here first, then pick up towel and dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY. I MEAN THIS. LAUNDRY WILL COME LATER!
7. When the timer goes off, you are back in the kitchen. For 15 more minutes. We can do anything in 15 minutes. Keep working till the timer goes off. Then you go to the Living room once again.
8. In the livingroom, continue to pick up and put away.
9. Every 45 minutes take a 15 minute break. Do you understand this.
Adapt this schedule to fit your physical limitations and children's needs. But you get the picture. Stay focused on one job for 15 minutes. You are going to be so surprised at how much you get done in a day's time.
My timer is my best Friend.
You can do this.
Now turn off the computer and get to work!
Let's FLY through this Crisis Cleaning, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your guests,
FlyLady
P.S. Put this in your Journal for future reference, just in case a friend needs your help.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Painting
I'm so tired! We've been painting our new house this weekend, and it's almost ready to move into. Now I've got to finish the packing... ugh, I'm not even close to being as ready as I should be! I can't wait to just get in there! Once I get settled in I'll post some pictures of our tiny little cottage. :)
SC
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Joining God in What He is Doing
I've been to see more movies in the last week than I usually see in 6 months! No kidding! I took the kids to see "Bridge to Terrabithia" last Sunday night. It was fabulous! The girls and I totally loved it and have put it on our "must buy" list. Elisabeth liked it so much she has asked for the book - which of course I will not refuse her! (anytime a ten year old asks to read something, it's a good thing!) Then last night Dan and I were out on a date and the best thing we could find at Galaxy was "Wild Hogs"; which to be honest made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion - but mostly because I totally understand the man/bike thing... being married to a man who loves motorcycles almost as much as he loves me! (I have sometimes wondered... but can now say without a doubt that he does love me more!)
But tonight! Tonight I went to the movies with Tina and we chose "Amazing Grace". I know that a few of my girlfriends have already blogged about it but I must add my voice to theirs to say that this is an absolutely amazing film! I came out of there so high, so inspired, so... well you get it! The story spoke to me about joining God in what He is doing. It reminded me again that to serve God, to be His disciple wherever He takes you means that at all times you find yourself in the presence of THE world changer! All of a sudden the impossible can happen! At any moment you can be a witness to heaven invading earth! Anything can happen! All of this by simply joining God in what He is doing! But you don't just get to watch God move when you are with Him! He lets you participate! He doesn't just let you kind of hang around, He lets you be a part of the action and while you take part you are completely transformed! He captures your heart with the very things that are in His heart!
--- This was my prayer as I stepped out of the theatre with my heart racing and my breathe catching in my throat! Oh God - break my heart with the things that break yours! Capture me with your vision and purpose for this time and place and people! Let your Kingdom explode into my life and the lives of my community and city and province and country and world! Reveal where you are working that I may live my life working along side of you, joining in what you are doing! May my life be spent/poured out as an offering to you!
But tonight! Tonight I went to the movies with Tina and we chose "Amazing Grace". I know that a few of my girlfriends have already blogged about it but I must add my voice to theirs to say that this is an absolutely amazing film! I came out of there so high, so inspired, so... well you get it! The story spoke to me about joining God in what He is doing. It reminded me again that to serve God, to be His disciple wherever He takes you means that at all times you find yourself in the presence of THE world changer! All of a sudden the impossible can happen! At any moment you can be a witness to heaven invading earth! Anything can happen! All of this by simply joining God in what He is doing! But you don't just get to watch God move when you are with Him! He lets you participate! He doesn't just let you kind of hang around, He lets you be a part of the action and while you take part you are completely transformed! He captures your heart with the very things that are in His heart!
--- This was my prayer as I stepped out of the theatre with my heart racing and my breathe catching in my throat! Oh God - break my heart with the things that break yours! Capture me with your vision and purpose for this time and place and people! Let your Kingdom explode into my life and the lives of my community and city and province and country and world! Reveal where you are working that I may live my life working along side of you, joining in what you are doing! May my life be spent/poured out as an offering to you!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Tickle.com Career Test....
Thanks to Tina, I now know what career I'm made for... Here are the results of my career test;
If it weren't for guiding lights like you, the world would be a bunch of lost souls and automatons, carrying on the daily grind without any cheer or direction. Thank goodness you're around. Your stellar interpersonal skills and compassionate ear for the troubles and life experiences of others makes you a godsend when the going gets tough. And since you're especially smooth at working with groups, your listening skills and wisdom are best when called in to sort out a conflict or lead an open discussion. Consider yourself the soul doctor to the world—it's your true work personality.
Who's like you:
Oprah Winfrey
Likely careers:
Talk show host, HR director, news anchor, teacher, spiritual leader, socialite
What do you think?
Simone
If it weren't for guiding lights like you, the world would be a bunch of lost souls and automatons, carrying on the daily grind without any cheer or direction. Thank goodness you're around. Your stellar interpersonal skills and compassionate ear for the troubles and life experiences of others makes you a godsend when the going gets tough. And since you're especially smooth at working with groups, your listening skills and wisdom are best when called in to sort out a conflict or lead an open discussion. Consider yourself the soul doctor to the world—it's your true work personality.
Who's like you:
Oprah Winfrey
Likely careers:
Talk show host, HR director, news anchor, teacher, spiritual leader, socialite
What do you think?
Simone
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Article on Women in Ministry
Women in Ministry
By Don Rousu (Reprinted by Permission)
Don is the Lead Pastor of Harvest Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Edmonton, Alberta. He has helped develop "Thoughtworks" which is the pastoral training program for Vineyard Canada.
Women, I have a prophetic word for you:
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the oppressed,
and to proclaim release to the captives."
You have been held captive in the Church. You have been restrained and in many ways disqualified from public ministry ~ I know because I cooperated in that restraining process thinking it was right to do so. But by His Word and Spirit, God has radically changed my thinking and set me free to embrace my wife, Ruth, as my closest ministry partner. We are a team equal partners, and a perfect complement. I am the head, she is the heart. Today I know that God has more than doubled my effectiveness and anointing by releasing Ruth to minister with me publicly. I can no longer imagine doing ministry without her.
Why have women in the Church been restrained? In large part, it has happened because men dominated the Church for hundreds of years. We brought a male bias to the translation and interpretation of Scripture. But it also appears that the Sovereign Lord has allowed the enemy a hand in this as well. Could it really be all three? Man, the devil, and God Himself?
This pattern can be found in Scripture. For example, while in their Egyptian captivity, the people of Israel were simultaneously shackled by Pharaoh, held captive by Satan, and restrained by God - all to fulfil the purposes of the Lord at His appointed time. He is the God who brings good out of evil. When the time came, Moses called to Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" In one night all restraints fell away, and the people of God walked out of the land to their destiny.
Now is the time for a Moses-like proclamation. Right now God is orchestrating something far greater than the Exodus. Prophetic intercessors everywhere bear witness that God is preparing us for a harvest of unprecedented pro-portions in which we will need every labourer. We sense that God is about to do something so big that it will take a full expression of the Body of Christ to fulfil His purposes. It's time to hear the Lord saying, "Release my captive daughters to do my will." Just as it took both a man and woman, Simeon and Anna, to pray and prophesy over the infant Jesus in the temple, so God is raising up both men and women to birth His purposes. We need to embrace His heart.
Topling a Sacred Cow
As I embraced a radical shift in my theology regarding the role of women in public ministry, I realized that the captivity of women in the Church resulted primarily from one passage:
"Let a woman learn in silence in full submission. I permit no woman to teach or have authority over a man. She is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through child-bearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holi-ness with modesty. "(1 Tim 2:11)"
The Church has built a whole doctrine and practice essentially on this one text. In the last few years, however, valuable evidence has accumulated that the original Greek has been misunderstood and mistranslated. A particularly enlightening resource is a book published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, I Suffer Not A Woman, by a scholarly couple, Richard and Catherine Clark Kroeger.
The mistranslation hinges on the Greek verb, "authentein." The problem is that this verb is found nowhere else in the Bible. From years of studying biblical languages, I know that translators learn the meaning of a word by studying it in other Bible passages. Where there are no other Bible passages, they must look in comparative literature of the same time period. Although most translators of 1 Timothy have interpreted "authentein" to mean "to usurp authority" over a man, or "to have authority" over a man, such a translation violates both the context of Paul's writing and the first-century usage of the word in other literature. Let me explain.
The Authentic Meaning of "Authentein"
Research shows that the meaning of "authentein" changed dramatically over a period of 1,100 years. When we first find it in classical literature of the 6th century B.C., the word usually meant to initiate or to be responsible for a murder." Jumping ahead to 200 or 300 A.D., this word usually meant "to claim ownership of property" either rightfully or wrongfully through fraud. During the same period it could also mean "to usurp power. However around the time the New Testament was written, the most common meaning of authentein was "to be, or claim to be the author or the originator of something." To underscore the point with a pun, this appears to be the authentic translation of authentein, the crucial verb of 1 Timothy 1:12.
Not only have translators overlooked the prevailing meaning of the word "authentein" at the time the New Testament was written, but they also seem to have missed the cultural context in which Paul wrote his letter to Timothy.
Perversion of Scripture Infiltrates the Church
Timothy was in Ephesus. Ephesus was the world center of paganism governed spiritually by the female deity Artemis whom the Romans called Diana. The cult of Artemis taught the superiority of the female and advocated female domination of the male. It espoused a doctrine of feminine procreation teaching that this goddess was able to bring forth offspring without male involvement. The cult was characterized by sexual perversion, fertility rites, endless myths, and elaborate genealogies traced through female rather than male bloodlines. Magic, and all manner of demonic activity flourished.
Also present in Ephesus was a contingent of Jewish gnostics who represented the first century 5 equivalent of the New Age movement. The Greek word for "gnostic" is "gnosis" meaning "knowledge." Gnostics acknowledged spirit guides and combined the teachings of Artemis with the teachings of the Old Testament. An example of their distortion of Scripture is evident in their version of the Old Testament story of Adam and Eve.
In the most prevalent gnostic version of the story, Eve was the "illuminator" of mankind because she was the first to receive "true knowledge" from the Serpent, whom gnostics saw as the "savior" and revealer of truth. Gnostics believed that Eve taught this new revelation to Adam, and being the mother of all, was the progenitor of the human race. Adam, they said, was Eve's son rather than her husband. This belief reflected the gnostic doctrine that a female deity could bring forth children without male involvement.
Gnostics also taught that the Hebrew God was a lesser deity and therefore changed His name from Yahweh to Jaldabaoth. Because they believed that physical matter was evil and the world of the spirit was good, they maintained that God had made a serious mistake in creating the material universe.
These gnostic teachings infiltrated the Church, and in writing to Timothy, Paul encouraged him to confront the problem of false doctrines head on. He told him to forbid certain people from peddling their false teachings in the Church and to admonish others to turn away from myths and endless genealogies. He told him to oppose those who speak falsely of the living God, warn people about the doctrines of demons, avoid stupid, senseless controversies, and have nothing to do with old wives' tales such as the corrupted story of Adam and Eve. He urged Timothy to use the Scriptures as an antidote "for sound teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness."
What Paul Really Said
In light of the authentic meaning of the word "authentein" and of the social context within which Paul wrote his letters to Timothy, let me offer what I believe is an appropriate rendering of the text in Timothy. I believe Paul is saying, "I am not allowing (present tense for that situation) a woman to teach or to proclaim herself the originator of man (authentein)." Do you see how this translation offsets false doctrine?
The word that is frequently translated "silence," "hesuchia", also means harmony, peace, conformity or agreement. I therefore suggest Paul goes on to say, "she must be in agreement," meaning agreement with the Scriptures and with sound teaching in the Church.
He continues in this vein saying, "Adam was formed first, then Eve." This statement militates against the doctrine of Eve as progenitor. He also says, "Adam was not deceived, but the woman was! And sinned!" This statement directly contradicts the notion that Eve was the "illuminator," and carrier of new revelation.
I submit that this translation is possibly the most legitimate because it fits the social context, is true to the Greek, speaks to the troubled situation, and lines up perfectly with all of Paul's other teachings and practices concerning women.
Women: Paul's Co-laborers in the Gospel
There is no indication that Paul restricted women in their callings before God. Throughout his ministry, Paul speaks of women as his co-laborers in the gospel:
He worked with a wife-husband team in the tentmaking business. He traveled with them planting and pastoring house churches and training the great orator, Apollos, to be more accurate in the Word of God. He usually mentions Priscilla, the woman, first before her husband, Aquila.
Paul also encouraged Timothy to trust the faith he had received from two women, his grandmoth-er and his mother.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul commends a woman leader, Phoebe, to the Church at Rome. He says he is sending her himself as a minister of the gospel. The Greek word for "minister" here is diakonos, a deacon. It implies that Phoebe had the same status in the early Church as Stephen the martyr and Philip the evangelist. In speaking of Phoebe Paul also uses the word "prostatis," which means leader, overseer, or someone with stature, responsibility and authority.
In the same chapter Paul greets his relatives, Andronicus, a man, and Junia, a woman. He says that they both were in Christ before he was, and that they are highly prominent among the apostles.
Paul breaks rabbinic tradition in which he was raised and insists that women should learn the Word of God just like men in humility of heart and in full submission to the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul wants to equip women who will teach the truth of Scripture rather than myths and lies.
Paul tells Timothy which women to add to the church payroll. He counsels him to employ those who can serve a ministerial function in the church - women with good character and a proven track record.
Finally, Paul himself said, "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus Gal 3:27, 28."
God's Purpose For Women Today
Throughout the centuries, God has raised up remarkable women in the Body of Christ to places of leadership. They have stood in the five-fold min-istry of the Church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Several women come to mind who have profoundly shaped the character and ministry of numerous men, myself included: Madame Guyon, Hannah Whithall Smith, Jesse Penn Lewis, Mother Theresa, Jackie Pullinger-To.
Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho, pastor of the largest church in the world, said that his ministry would not be what it is today were it not for his mother-in-law and for women who were willing to pastor the many cell groups of which his church consists. He claims that 6,000 women were leading cell groups before he found the first man who was willing to do the task. These are but a small token of what God will do in the near future with women whose lives are yielded to Him.
Paul told Timothy to look for women who, like Jesus, have washed the feet of the saints. We are therefore called to search out those in whom He is incarnate, whether male or female, and release them into freedom to serve according to their callings. We will know them because in their submission to God's discipline they will reflect His holiness. They will demonstrate His nature and His character, have a servant-heart, walk in humility and obedience. Such people will exhibit the mind of Christ, manifesting His wisdom and His authority. His love, His Word, and His anointing will be in them, and through them, the world will see Jesus.
So, you see, this is not about the dominance of men or about the subservience of women. It's about seeing Jesus fully expressed in all the members of His Body. And today there are many women in the church who reflect the character, ministry and anointing of Jesus. The time has come to break the yoke of oppression, fear, bitterness, enmity, prejudice and distorted teaching. It is time to recognize the callings God has placed on the lives of His daughters, and release them into their ministries. The hour is late.
from the Next Reformation website under Articles.
By Don Rousu (Reprinted by Permission)
Don is the Lead Pastor of Harvest Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Edmonton, Alberta. He has helped develop "Thoughtworks" which is the pastoral training program for Vineyard Canada.
Women, I have a prophetic word for you:
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the oppressed,
and to proclaim release to the captives."
You have been held captive in the Church. You have been restrained and in many ways disqualified from public ministry ~ I know because I cooperated in that restraining process thinking it was right to do so. But by His Word and Spirit, God has radically changed my thinking and set me free to embrace my wife, Ruth, as my closest ministry partner. We are a team equal partners, and a perfect complement. I am the head, she is the heart. Today I know that God has more than doubled my effectiveness and anointing by releasing Ruth to minister with me publicly. I can no longer imagine doing ministry without her.
Why have women in the Church been restrained? In large part, it has happened because men dominated the Church for hundreds of years. We brought a male bias to the translation and interpretation of Scripture. But it also appears that the Sovereign Lord has allowed the enemy a hand in this as well. Could it really be all three? Man, the devil, and God Himself?
This pattern can be found in Scripture. For example, while in their Egyptian captivity, the people of Israel were simultaneously shackled by Pharaoh, held captive by Satan, and restrained by God - all to fulfil the purposes of the Lord at His appointed time. He is the God who brings good out of evil. When the time came, Moses called to Pharaoh, "Let my people go!" In one night all restraints fell away, and the people of God walked out of the land to their destiny.
Now is the time for a Moses-like proclamation. Right now God is orchestrating something far greater than the Exodus. Prophetic intercessors everywhere bear witness that God is preparing us for a harvest of unprecedented pro-portions in which we will need every labourer. We sense that God is about to do something so big that it will take a full expression of the Body of Christ to fulfil His purposes. It's time to hear the Lord saying, "Release my captive daughters to do my will." Just as it took both a man and woman, Simeon and Anna, to pray and prophesy over the infant Jesus in the temple, so God is raising up both men and women to birth His purposes. We need to embrace His heart.
Topling a Sacred Cow
As I embraced a radical shift in my theology regarding the role of women in public ministry, I realized that the captivity of women in the Church resulted primarily from one passage:
"Let a woman learn in silence in full submission. I permit no woman to teach or have authority over a man. She is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through child-bearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holi-ness with modesty. "(1 Tim 2:11)"
The Church has built a whole doctrine and practice essentially on this one text. In the last few years, however, valuable evidence has accumulated that the original Greek has been misunderstood and mistranslated. A particularly enlightening resource is a book published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, I Suffer Not A Woman, by a scholarly couple, Richard and Catherine Clark Kroeger.
The mistranslation hinges on the Greek verb, "authentein." The problem is that this verb is found nowhere else in the Bible. From years of studying biblical languages, I know that translators learn the meaning of a word by studying it in other Bible passages. Where there are no other Bible passages, they must look in comparative literature of the same time period. Although most translators of 1 Timothy have interpreted "authentein" to mean "to usurp authority" over a man, or "to have authority" over a man, such a translation violates both the context of Paul's writing and the first-century usage of the word in other literature. Let me explain.
The Authentic Meaning of "Authentein"
Research shows that the meaning of "authentein" changed dramatically over a period of 1,100 years. When we first find it in classical literature of the 6th century B.C., the word usually meant to initiate or to be responsible for a murder." Jumping ahead to 200 or 300 A.D., this word usually meant "to claim ownership of property" either rightfully or wrongfully through fraud. During the same period it could also mean "to usurp power. However around the time the New Testament was written, the most common meaning of authentein was "to be, or claim to be the author or the originator of something." To underscore the point with a pun, this appears to be the authentic translation of authentein, the crucial verb of 1 Timothy 1:12.
Not only have translators overlooked the prevailing meaning of the word "authentein" at the time the New Testament was written, but they also seem to have missed the cultural context in which Paul wrote his letter to Timothy.
Perversion of Scripture Infiltrates the Church
Timothy was in Ephesus. Ephesus was the world center of paganism governed spiritually by the female deity Artemis whom the Romans called Diana. The cult of Artemis taught the superiority of the female and advocated female domination of the male. It espoused a doctrine of feminine procreation teaching that this goddess was able to bring forth offspring without male involvement. The cult was characterized by sexual perversion, fertility rites, endless myths, and elaborate genealogies traced through female rather than male bloodlines. Magic, and all manner of demonic activity flourished.
Also present in Ephesus was a contingent of Jewish gnostics who represented the first century 5 equivalent of the New Age movement. The Greek word for "gnostic" is "gnosis" meaning "knowledge." Gnostics acknowledged spirit guides and combined the teachings of Artemis with the teachings of the Old Testament. An example of their distortion of Scripture is evident in their version of the Old Testament story of Adam and Eve.
In the most prevalent gnostic version of the story, Eve was the "illuminator" of mankind because she was the first to receive "true knowledge" from the Serpent, whom gnostics saw as the "savior" and revealer of truth. Gnostics believed that Eve taught this new revelation to Adam, and being the mother of all, was the progenitor of the human race. Adam, they said, was Eve's son rather than her husband. This belief reflected the gnostic doctrine that a female deity could bring forth children without male involvement.
Gnostics also taught that the Hebrew God was a lesser deity and therefore changed His name from Yahweh to Jaldabaoth. Because they believed that physical matter was evil and the world of the spirit was good, they maintained that God had made a serious mistake in creating the material universe.
These gnostic teachings infiltrated the Church, and in writing to Timothy, Paul encouraged him to confront the problem of false doctrines head on. He told him to forbid certain people from peddling their false teachings in the Church and to admonish others to turn away from myths and endless genealogies. He told him to oppose those who speak falsely of the living God, warn people about the doctrines of demons, avoid stupid, senseless controversies, and have nothing to do with old wives' tales such as the corrupted story of Adam and Eve. He urged Timothy to use the Scriptures as an antidote "for sound teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness."
What Paul Really Said
In light of the authentic meaning of the word "authentein" and of the social context within which Paul wrote his letters to Timothy, let me offer what I believe is an appropriate rendering of the text in Timothy. I believe Paul is saying, "I am not allowing (present tense for that situation) a woman to teach or to proclaim herself the originator of man (authentein)." Do you see how this translation offsets false doctrine?
The word that is frequently translated "silence," "hesuchia", also means harmony, peace, conformity or agreement. I therefore suggest Paul goes on to say, "she must be in agreement," meaning agreement with the Scriptures and with sound teaching in the Church.
He continues in this vein saying, "Adam was formed first, then Eve." This statement militates against the doctrine of Eve as progenitor. He also says, "Adam was not deceived, but the woman was! And sinned!" This statement directly contradicts the notion that Eve was the "illuminator," and carrier of new revelation.
I submit that this translation is possibly the most legitimate because it fits the social context, is true to the Greek, speaks to the troubled situation, and lines up perfectly with all of Paul's other teachings and practices concerning women.
Women: Paul's Co-laborers in the Gospel
There is no indication that Paul restricted women in their callings before God. Throughout his ministry, Paul speaks of women as his co-laborers in the gospel:
He worked with a wife-husband team in the tentmaking business. He traveled with them planting and pastoring house churches and training the great orator, Apollos, to be more accurate in the Word of God. He usually mentions Priscilla, the woman, first before her husband, Aquila.
Paul also encouraged Timothy to trust the faith he had received from two women, his grandmoth-er and his mother.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul commends a woman leader, Phoebe, to the Church at Rome. He says he is sending her himself as a minister of the gospel. The Greek word for "minister" here is diakonos, a deacon. It implies that Phoebe had the same status in the early Church as Stephen the martyr and Philip the evangelist. In speaking of Phoebe Paul also uses the word "prostatis," which means leader, overseer, or someone with stature, responsibility and authority.
In the same chapter Paul greets his relatives, Andronicus, a man, and Junia, a woman. He says that they both were in Christ before he was, and that they are highly prominent among the apostles.
Paul breaks rabbinic tradition in which he was raised and insists that women should learn the Word of God just like men in humility of heart and in full submission to the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul wants to equip women who will teach the truth of Scripture rather than myths and lies.
Paul tells Timothy which women to add to the church payroll. He counsels him to employ those who can serve a ministerial function in the church - women with good character and a proven track record.
Finally, Paul himself said, "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus Gal 3:27, 28."
God's Purpose For Women Today
Throughout the centuries, God has raised up remarkable women in the Body of Christ to places of leadership. They have stood in the five-fold min-istry of the Church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Several women come to mind who have profoundly shaped the character and ministry of numerous men, myself included: Madame Guyon, Hannah Whithall Smith, Jesse Penn Lewis, Mother Theresa, Jackie Pullinger-To.
Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho, pastor of the largest church in the world, said that his ministry would not be what it is today were it not for his mother-in-law and for women who were willing to pastor the many cell groups of which his church consists. He claims that 6,000 women were leading cell groups before he found the first man who was willing to do the task. These are but a small token of what God will do in the near future with women whose lives are yielded to Him.
Paul told Timothy to look for women who, like Jesus, have washed the feet of the saints. We are therefore called to search out those in whom He is incarnate, whether male or female, and release them into freedom to serve according to their callings. We will know them because in their submission to God's discipline they will reflect His holiness. They will demonstrate His nature and His character, have a servant-heart, walk in humility and obedience. Such people will exhibit the mind of Christ, manifesting His wisdom and His authority. His love, His Word, and His anointing will be in them, and through them, the world will see Jesus.
So, you see, this is not about the dominance of men or about the subservience of women. It's about seeing Jesus fully expressed in all the members of His Body. And today there are many women in the church who reflect the character, ministry and anointing of Jesus. The time has come to break the yoke of oppression, fear, bitterness, enmity, prejudice and distorted teaching. It is time to recognize the callings God has placed on the lives of His daughters, and release them into their ministries. The hour is late.
from the Next Reformation website under Articles.
Next Reformation
I found this great new site (well... new to me) called Next Reformation It's got tons of great articles, some by our own Vineyard guys here in Canada. Here is one recent post which I really connected with;
the life we hoard and protect..
“….The life we hoard, clutch, protect, safeguard out of fear or timidity ends up being of little use to us or anyone else, least of all to God and his kingdom. The kind of life Jesus lived would appear to be foolishness to any uninformed onlooker (he had no money, no home, no car, no organizational support). His close friends proved unreliable (with the exception of a few women), and his death was a scandal, a scandal that turned the world around forever.”The cliff edge of our anxiety about the future may indicate that God is calling us to a new and different level of faith. When we walk, praying for guidance, to the edge of all the light we have and breathlessly take the first step into the foggy mystery of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen: either God will provide us with something rock-solid to land on and stand on, or he will teach us how to fly.”
Luci Shaw, The Crime of Living Cautiously: Hearing God’s Call to Adventure, p. 137
Simone
the life we hoard and protect..
“….The life we hoard, clutch, protect, safeguard out of fear or timidity ends up being of little use to us or anyone else, least of all to God and his kingdom. The kind of life Jesus lived would appear to be foolishness to any uninformed onlooker (he had no money, no home, no car, no organizational support). His close friends proved unreliable (with the exception of a few women), and his death was a scandal, a scandal that turned the world around forever.”The cliff edge of our anxiety about the future may indicate that God is calling us to a new and different level of faith. When we walk, praying for guidance, to the edge of all the light we have and breathlessly take the first step into the foggy mystery of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen: either God will provide us with something rock-solid to land on and stand on, or he will teach us how to fly.”
Luci Shaw, The Crime of Living Cautiously: Hearing God’s Call to Adventure, p. 137
Simone
Friday, March 02, 2007
One Night With the King
I rented this movie and watched it with the girls tonight. It's the story of Ester from the Bible. Julia fell asleep near the end, but Elisabeth was mesmerized. The sets are beautiful, so are the costumes, and it helped us get into some great dialogue once it was over. We talked about courage, about obeying God and trusting that He will be faithful to do what he says he will do. It was a great mom and daughter movie. We also talked about beauty, inner as well as outer, and how God wants us to take care of ourselves, and to offer our beauty to him. It was really a great night. We'll probably buy it... Ester is a great role model at a time when Elisabeth especially is in need of heroines who are worth emulating. Check it out.
Simone
Simone
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Squatters
Dan was at the house for the building inspection and look at what he saw! We have huge black squirrels making themselves comfortable in our attic. I hope their not getting too comfortable, cause their going to have to move out soon!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Our New House
We bought a house today! I'm totally amazed at God's goodness! 6 months ago we would never have thought that we could own our own house this soon. In fact we had anticipated having to be here for another few years in order to even consider it! But tonight the sellers have accepted our offer and we are the proud new owners of a tiny 900 sq foot home with lots of parking, a garage, a big back yard and room to improve (an unfinished attic which will eventually be my master bedroom with walk-in closet and ensuite! At least that's what we're planning!!!) We've still got to go through the inspection, find insurance, get everything ready - our possession date is April 13th. The first thing to do once we get possession is redo the electrical; it has nob and tube right now, but we'll take advantage of the upgrade and wire it so that Dan can have 220 in the garage - so he can weld to his heart's content!
Thank you Lord for your faithfulness. You told us to look and that you would take care of the details, and you've done just that!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
The God who sustains
I first encountered this verse about 3 years ago at a women's retreat. At the time it struck me. For some reason it came back to me tonight. Like a soft whisper reminding me that he is carrying me; just remember, He's carrying you too!
Isaiah 46:4
"4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you. "
SUSTAIN:
–verb (used with object)
1. to support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of, as a structure.
2. to bear (a burden, charge, etc.).
3. to undergo, experience, or suffer (injury, loss, etc.); endure without giving way or yielding.
4. to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction.
5. to keep up or keep going, as an action or process: to sustain a conversation.
6. to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life.
7. to provide for (an institution or the like) by furnishing means or funds.
8. to support (a cause or the like) by aid or approval.
9. to uphold as valid, just, or correct, as a claim or the person making it: The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.
10. to confirm or corroborate, as a statement: Further investigation sustained my suspicions.
Isaiah 46:4
"4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you. "
SUSTAIN:
–verb (used with object)
1. to support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of, as a structure.
2. to bear (a burden, charge, etc.).
3. to undergo, experience, or suffer (injury, loss, etc.); endure without giving way or yielding.
4. to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction.
5. to keep up or keep going, as an action or process: to sustain a conversation.
6. to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life.
7. to provide for (an institution or the like) by furnishing means or funds.
8. to support (a cause or the like) by aid or approval.
9. to uphold as valid, just, or correct, as a claim or the person making it: The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.
10. to confirm or corroborate, as a statement: Further investigation sustained my suspicions.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Focus
Sometimes I get distracted by life, by what is going on at work, at home, in my heart. I am blessed with great passion which helps me to maintain vision, but sometimes its that very vision and passion which can distract me from the one who is the source of my passion and vision. Yesterday Laurel spoke out a word during worship and it soothed my heart once again... it reminded me that whatever is happening around me, I can look to the one who sends me out, calls me into being and extends his rest to me all at the same time - Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lord Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on you. My desire is that you would forever be the source and focus of my life. Thank you for your great faithfulness and everlasting kindness.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Lord Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on you. My desire is that you would forever be the source and focus of my life. Thank you for your great faithfulness and everlasting kindness.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Daddy's Little Girl
As many of you know, Elisabeth turned 10 last week. It's a wonderful thing to see my child grow, yet it's also completely disturbing. I TOTALLY remember being 10!!! I am not old enough to have a 10 year old!!! For some reason I never really saw this coming! And what do I do when she comes home and tells me that this is her new favorite song (lyrics below) and is carrying a picture of Jesse McCartney (picture below) which she got from her friend at school and starts commenting about how much cuter he is on his new album cover "'cause he's so much older and cuter!" What is a mom supposed to reply to a comment like that? I don't think that locking her up is the answer, but all of a sudden my little girl is singing songs called "Daddy's little girl" and its not as sweet a song as the title implies!!! I'm telling you, this is serious! She's growing up!
Daddy's Little Girl
You just turned eighteen a week ago
You want to learn what you don't know
You're grown up don't need permission
Find out what you've been missin'
It took some time but now you really want to figure out
Just what it is that all the other girls are talkin' 'bout
And it's driving you're mama crazy
'Cause daddy's little girl is now my baby
I think you're ready baby
I think you're ready baby
Come on and get it baby
I think you're
I think you're
You've always followed all the rules
Done just what you're supposed to
Stick the key in the ignition and light it up
Have a taste of what it's like to be old enough
Move your body baby let me see you work it
Looking at you make me wanna blow a circuit
And it's driving you're mama crazy
'Cause daddy's little girl is now my baby
[Chorus:]
I think you're ready baby
I think you're ready baby
Come on and get it baby
I think you're, I think you're
I think you're ready baby
Daddy's little girl is ready baby yeah
I think you're ready baby
I think you're, I think you're
Tell me girl if I'm mistaken
All the signals that you're makin'
Brought you to the road you're takin'
So come on, come on
Come on, come on, let's go
Girl shake what your mama gave you
Shake it like you're trying to break it
'Bout to start an earthquake
This is Jesse McCartney who sings the song Elisabeth likes so much.
Daddy's Little Girl
You just turned eighteen a week ago
You want to learn what you don't know
You're grown up don't need permission
Find out what you've been missin'
It took some time but now you really want to figure out
Just what it is that all the other girls are talkin' 'bout
And it's driving you're mama crazy
'Cause daddy's little girl is now my baby
I think you're ready baby
I think you're ready baby
Come on and get it baby
I think you're
I think you're
You've always followed all the rules
Done just what you're supposed to
Stick the key in the ignition and light it up
Have a taste of what it's like to be old enough
Move your body baby let me see you work it
Looking at you make me wanna blow a circuit
And it's driving you're mama crazy
'Cause daddy's little girl is now my baby
[Chorus:]
I think you're ready baby
I think you're ready baby
Come on and get it baby
I think you're, I think you're
I think you're ready baby
Daddy's little girl is ready baby yeah
I think you're ready baby
I think you're, I think you're
Tell me girl if I'm mistaken
All the signals that you're makin'
Brought you to the road you're takin'
So come on, come on
Come on, come on, let's go
Girl shake what your mama gave you
Shake it like you're trying to break it
'Bout to start an earthquake
This is Jesse McCartney who sings the song Elisabeth likes so much.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Evolution video
Hi All,
I was sent this link by a friend who has 2 daughters. I watched it with Elisabeth and we were both amazed at it. It's by Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty" check out the link below!
Evolution Video
Simone
I was sent this link by a friend who has 2 daughters. I watched it with Elisabeth and we were both amazed at it. It's by Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty" check out the link below!
Evolution Video
Simone
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Vision + PMS = ?
So I've been scanning this book "Visioneering" (which I still totally recommend)looking for the some indication of what Nehemiah did with his vision and plans when he had PMS... and as you can well imagine, I'm coming up blank! I don't know what you guys are like, but as I'm getting older my PMS is getting uglier. It's not that I'm angry, it's that all of my emotions bubble to the top and at any second any one of them can appear. The exhaustion of trying to maintain order in myself and to continue as much as possible to display the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5)leaves me feeling like I'm stuck in a swamp stinking of a general sense of failure (among other things). My question is, how do I keep from getting derailed on a monthly basis? It seems that fighting my way back out of the swamp takes me about a week, after which I get a good two weeks feeling myself and I start all over again. It's such slow going! Any advice?
SC
SC
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Vision
Visioneering
God's Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Personal Vision
By: Andy Stanley
"Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. Visioneering, according to bestselling author Andy Stanley, is “a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.” With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his God-given vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. He shows how the life of this great ancient visionary, determined to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem, reveals principles that can prepare us to find and follow God’s multifaceted vision for our own lives."
So I'm reading this book... I must say, it's been stirring things up like mad since I've picked it up! The thing is, that it's also helping me to find some focus in the things that the Lord has been wispering to me for years. I'm amazed by the practicality and insight that Andy Stanley brings to the whole area of vision. Each chapter ends with a project which really helps you to work out what the author has said for yourself, I've really been challenged and fired up by it! He gives building blocks for vision, here they are;
#1 A vision begins as a concern.
#2 A vision does not necessarily require immediate action.
#3 Pray for opportunity and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers.
#4 God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you to accomplish his vision for your life.
#5 What God originates, He orchestrates (How is never a problem for God)
#6 Walk before you talk, investigate before you initiate
#7 Communicate your vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately.
#8 Cast your vision to the appropriate people at the appropriate time.
#9 Don't expect others to take greater risks or make greater sacrifices than you have.
#10 Don't confuse your plans with God's vision.
#11 Visions are refined, they don't change; Plans are revised - they rarely stay the same.
#12 Respond to criticism with prayer, rememberance and if necessary, a revision of the plan.
#13 Visions thrive in an environment of unity; they die in an environment of division.
#14 Abandon the vision before you abandon your moral authority.
#15 Don't get distracted.
#16 There is divine potential in all you envision to do.
#17 The end of a God ordained vision is God.
#18 Maintaining a vision requires adherance to a set of core beliefs and behaviors
#19 Visions require constant attention.
#20 Maintaining a vision requires bold leadership.
I highly recommend this book. Pick it up and check it out. If you want to chat about it, give me a call!
Simone
Monday, January 15, 2007
Home Sweet Home?
For the last several months we have been house hunting. Not necessarily because we are in the financial position to buy a house, but because of a series of occurences that have brought us to the conclusion that the Lord has directed us to. Here they are;
In August, Dan and I start dreaming about buying a house... looking on MLS once in a while. Talking about what we would like in a house - you know for the future.
In October I have a vivid dream and feel that the interpretation is that the Lord is telling us to buy a house. I tuck it away and don't say anything. The next morning I'm woken up and "feel" the Lord saying that I NEED to tell Dan right away, so I call him at work and tell him. That night, Elisabeth has a melt down, she is full of anxiety and fear and blurts out that she thinks its because of the way the people downstairs are continually yelling/swearing/screaming day and night at their little girl. We pray and feel that the Lord is saying that he wants us to start looking for a house, as this is not a good place for our kids.
Since then we have been looking - and having to put up with increasing meltdowns from the people in the basement appartment. It is very difficult to live with, but it does keep us focused. We really feel that we need to get out. The problem is, that we applied for a mortgage and got refused. (long story) The mortgage guys said that we would need a coapplicant to get approved. So we went back and prayed, asking God if we heard wrong and where the money was going to come from. We heard, "keep looking and trust me". So here we are, no downpayment, no mortgage but with the Lord strongly telling us to keep looking. What choice do we have? None really. So we just keep looking and wondering how the Lord is going to do this.
It has been very stretching. We spent all of our savings - cashed out our rrsps etc in the year of going north and coming back. It makes no sense to us that we would be able to buy a house, but whenever we pray about it we hear "keep looking". So that's what we've been doing. We're looking at another one this afternoon. Even the kids have created lists of what they "want" in a house - we just keep praying that the Lord would show us which one and how. I guess he'll tell us when he's ready.
SC
In August, Dan and I start dreaming about buying a house... looking on MLS once in a while. Talking about what we would like in a house - you know for the future.
In October I have a vivid dream and feel that the interpretation is that the Lord is telling us to buy a house. I tuck it away and don't say anything. The next morning I'm woken up and "feel" the Lord saying that I NEED to tell Dan right away, so I call him at work and tell him. That night, Elisabeth has a melt down, she is full of anxiety and fear and blurts out that she thinks its because of the way the people downstairs are continually yelling/swearing/screaming day and night at their little girl. We pray and feel that the Lord is saying that he wants us to start looking for a house, as this is not a good place for our kids.
Since then we have been looking - and having to put up with increasing meltdowns from the people in the basement appartment. It is very difficult to live with, but it does keep us focused. We really feel that we need to get out. The problem is, that we applied for a mortgage and got refused. (long story) The mortgage guys said that we would need a coapplicant to get approved. So we went back and prayed, asking God if we heard wrong and where the money was going to come from. We heard, "keep looking and trust me". So here we are, no downpayment, no mortgage but with the Lord strongly telling us to keep looking. What choice do we have? None really. So we just keep looking and wondering how the Lord is going to do this.
It has been very stretching. We spent all of our savings - cashed out our rrsps etc in the year of going north and coming back. It makes no sense to us that we would be able to buy a house, but whenever we pray about it we hear "keep looking". So that's what we've been doing. We're looking at another one this afternoon. Even the kids have created lists of what they "want" in a house - we just keep praying that the Lord would show us which one and how. I guess he'll tell us when he's ready.
SC
Friday, January 12, 2007
Where has the time gone?
I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since November! Where have I been and what have I been doing? Well, I had to wade through my first Christmas working at the Vineyard. All I can say about that is oy!!! Next year I will definitely try to delegate a bit more! Christmas at our house was good, but busy because I had to work as well as host Dan's family - I'm thankful that they were so understanding - (sorry about not having dinner till almost 9pm on Christmas eve, 3 services made it hard to accomplish what I wanted to!) It was great to see Will and Jenn and the boys again! It had been so long and they seemed to be doing well. It's so great to hear what the Lord is doing in their lives! It was also good to have Bill and Mary there. We were one big happy family!
We headed to my family's on boxind day. It was great to arrive and see some of my siblings and their family's whom I hadn't seen in well over a year! Michele's little Ben was so cute! He is 2 and he fell in love with "Uncle Dan". What fun to have a little one around! It was great to see Michele's not so little ones as well! Danielle is in 1st year at Kings College in Halifax and Nadia is in grade 11 - wow! They are so beautiful, confident,talented and brilliant! Michele and Lowell were great as well. Monique and Jim were also there with their kids - Martin, who is 18, full of charm and witt (I keep realizing that he's the same age Dan was when we got married - omgosh!) and Siana who is 13 and has become an - "Emo" - which to my understanding is punk/goth with emotion. She is very cute either way! Roger and Gisele were there with Lindsay who is in first year at Laurentian University and Stephanie who is in grade 10 and plays competitive basketball (along with swimming and volleyball). What a dedicated girl! Robert and Lise came around with Patrick and Roxanne - Roxanne is trying to decide which university to go to next year and Patrick is only 1 year behind her! They both work as well as doing amazing in school - they grow so fast, I used to babysit them before and after school! Denis and AnnMarie came with Alix (whom I also used to babysit and is growing up so fast - she's in grade 8! and Dennan who is the spitting image of his Dad and the same age as Elisabeth - who is also growing up too fast!) Ray and Pam came with Andy - who has the best hair ever! And Aaron - who is the same age as Julia and just the cutest little boy! I'm telling you it was great to see so many! I did miss my sister Ariane, her husband Eric and their kids as well as Joel and Michelle, Andre and Pierre. I'm hoping to see them soon! We're thinking of planning a family camping trip at Sandbanks this summer - hopefully we can all get together then!
We had an awesome New Year! Tim and Julie and Steve and Caroline came over. We had turkey dinner and then learned how to play poker! It was 2am when we finally decided to pack it in for the night. The next day we went to Tim and Julie's and the girls watched "13 going on 30" while the boys went and detailed their cars. A great way to start the new year!
Now we're getting back into routine - work, school, lessons, studying... and all that jazz! I'll talk a bit more about that next post.
Simone
We headed to my family's on boxind day. It was great to arrive and see some of my siblings and their family's whom I hadn't seen in well over a year! Michele's little Ben was so cute! He is 2 and he fell in love with "Uncle Dan". What fun to have a little one around! It was great to see Michele's not so little ones as well! Danielle is in 1st year at Kings College in Halifax and Nadia is in grade 11 - wow! They are so beautiful, confident,talented and brilliant! Michele and Lowell were great as well. Monique and Jim were also there with their kids - Martin, who is 18, full of charm and witt (I keep realizing that he's the same age Dan was when we got married - omgosh!) and Siana who is 13 and has become an - "Emo" - which to my understanding is punk/goth with emotion. She is very cute either way! Roger and Gisele were there with Lindsay who is in first year at Laurentian University and Stephanie who is in grade 10 and plays competitive basketball (along with swimming and volleyball). What a dedicated girl! Robert and Lise came around with Patrick and Roxanne - Roxanne is trying to decide which university to go to next year and Patrick is only 1 year behind her! They both work as well as doing amazing in school - they grow so fast, I used to babysit them before and after school! Denis and AnnMarie came with Alix (whom I also used to babysit and is growing up so fast - she's in grade 8! and Dennan who is the spitting image of his Dad and the same age as Elisabeth - who is also growing up too fast!) Ray and Pam came with Andy - who has the best hair ever! And Aaron - who is the same age as Julia and just the cutest little boy! I'm telling you it was great to see so many! I did miss my sister Ariane, her husband Eric and their kids as well as Joel and Michelle, Andre and Pierre. I'm hoping to see them soon! We're thinking of planning a family camping trip at Sandbanks this summer - hopefully we can all get together then!
We had an awesome New Year! Tim and Julie and Steve and Caroline came over. We had turkey dinner and then learned how to play poker! It was 2am when we finally decided to pack it in for the night. The next day we went to Tim and Julie's and the girls watched "13 going on 30" while the boys went and detailed their cars. A great way to start the new year!
Now we're getting back into routine - work, school, lessons, studying... and all that jazz! I'll talk a bit more about that next post.
Simone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
- Simone
- Ontario, Canada
- I'm a creative soul who is living on a 6.5 acre property in Northern Ontario, Canada. We have a maple sugar bush and bees. I love the adventure of creating new things. I do upholstery for a living and enjoy sewing for my family, making soap and working in my ever growing garden.
Grab a Button
Blissfully domestic
U Create
You Sew Girl
Presser Foot
Little Birdie Secrets
Tea Rose Home
Inuksuk
Simone with an Inuksuk in the northern tundra of Baffin Island
Sunny Days
Dan and some Inuit boys we met on the beach
