Hope From Your Mama!

I've recently been listening to the New Testament on audio and in the version of The Message . It's a paraphrase of the bible written by a man named, Eugene Peterson to try to give a modern day translation of scripture.   I've read the bible many times. Read the whole thing through twice and have studied and memorized multiple passages through the years. I don't say this to brag. It's just that I've actually been having a hard time reading it lately. It's not the fault of the bible; it's just the way that I've seen it used more and more as a weapon or a political point or a fear tactic in many circles of Christianity. Eugene Peterson's version has been a really refreshing way to listen to it and has helped me fall in love with things of the bible that I fell in love with long, long ago. Things that showed me the Love of God. Sometimes I think we really need to take a deep breath, let go of perceived notions and allow the Spirit to breathe

A blind beggar realizes Jesus is passing by.  He shouts, "JESUS, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON ME!"  Instantly the crowd shouts at the man to be quiet. Everyone around the man tries to keep him from making a scene... to keep him from annoying Jesus. But the man just wants to SEE!  He, was a Tro ublemaker!! It is the nature of human beings to want to silence those who interrupt our routine activities and understandings. We don't like those who speak up, who go against the status-quo, who refuse to keep quiet , w ho reject compliance as a way of life. We would much rather shut people down than have them speak up and see.  Jesus gives this man his sight by the way. There are a new group of Christian thinkers rising up that many conservative , traditional thinkers are very fearful of.  They have categorized these thinkers as "Emergent".    I'm not really all that interested in the labels and putting things into categories.  It's not the point of this blo

I had a friend recommend a book to me. It was the book,  "NOT A FAN" by Kyle Idleman.  I remember her telling me how very, very good it was.  So I decided to pop it open just to any random chapter and read a few paragraphs.  SURE ENOUGH... I happened on a paragraph where, once again, the author was talking about Jesus "SPEWING US OUT OF HIS MOUTH" if we're not "totally committed" followers of Him. Now, I didn't read this book, so I KNOW I'm just basing my thoughts on this one section. It's probably a pretty good read... BUT I just thought it was so very interesting that I should land right on that statement.  I had a VERY eye opening experience after reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan a few years ago.  I felt as though I was starting to see how very threatening, works based and graceless a lot of these books are in a veiled sort of way. It's a WORKS based Christianity. It's early strict Catholicism in Evange

I happen to be a Hopeless Romantic.  What I mean is that I truly DO have unrealistic views when it comes to romantic relationships. I'll just come right out and say it. I struggle with the fact that fairy tales, books and movies are NOT real life.  For example, the way that Mr. Darcy finally comes to terms with the fact that he longs for Miss Bennet so fiercely in Pride and Prejudice .  In the movie, Ladyhawk , Navarre will stop at nothing to break a curse and be with his beloved Isabeau.  The sacrificial, cross-cultural and abiding love of Aragorn and Arwen of The Lord of the Rings .  The way that The Farm boy (pure and perfect) in The Princess Bride , won't give up his belief of True Love and shows Buttercup his feelings by always replying to her requests,  “As You Wish”. There is this thing inside of me that often longs for it to be the way those fairy-tales are.  Yes, I know , they are not that way in real life! But I just can't stop feeling that way. I long f

Theology= Thoughts ABOUT God. This word has been pretty distorted through the ages.  We came up with "Theologians", those are the ones who had a great following of people who agreed with their thoughts or got published or went through all the proper schooling to be considered a "Theologian". But truly, if you like to think about God, you're a theologian! I like to think about God.  I have a whole group of friends on Facebook who have varied and vast views of God. I have them listed in a special group called, "Spiritual Friends" and I often love to just look through that group on my newsfeed. If you've liked something that I've said about God on my Facebook, chances are I stole it from one of these friends.  Today is no exception. Hey! SOMETIMES they're my own! I have a friend named Bart Breen (Hi Bart! Hope you're reading this!) He has many impressive titles and experiences behind his name to qualify him as a proper "Theolo

I'm going to throw some theological words at you that I have learned from Bible school and my own study throughout the years. I hope I don't lose you right off the bat. Just hang in there.. Ready? Propitiation ... This word basically means that Jesus died on the cross to appease God's need to punish sin. Atonement ... This word talks about making up for something that has been done wrong. Example: I stole money from you, I will atone by cleaning your house for the rest of my life.  Redemption ... this word is like a legal transaction.  To Pay. Buying something back. Recovering something. Justification ... A way which people are made clean, pure, not guilty. A legal term. Sanctification ... A process which, when completed, will make a person holy, without blame. Set right. Reconciliation ... To bring two things that are at war with each other into harmonious relationship once again. The words above have been made into various doctrines and belief systems to describe w

There is a lot of talk in the Church these days about "false teachers". I do strongly recommend that if you're a Jesus follower, you should bring every teaching you take to heart and act upon before Jesus who is IN your heart. Only YOU are responsible for your actions. I ALSO would point to the type of teaching that Jesus considered "false". It usually had to do with people who wanted to use power over other people or wanted to put them in bondage rather than Freedom and the "law" of Love that Jesus came to bring.   "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five

Sometimes I just wish we could be honest and truly open with each other. It sure would save a lot of heartache and confusion at times, wouldn't it?  Other times it may cause MORE heartache and confusion. That's the thing with relationships.  They really do need to be REAL to make them worth anything. But it's HARD to do! Oh there's also MANY levels to relationship, but I don't have time to try to explore that right now. I love my relationship with my husband, my family and my very close friends.  I KNOW they LOVE me, no matter what and I love them the same!  I know that sometimes when we have a falling out or disagree or get angry with each other... LOVE covers a multitude of sins.  "Above ALL, LOVE each other DEEPLY, because Love covers a MULTITUDE of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 I think if my family had a Family Crest... THAT would be it!   Many of you who KNOW me, who read this, will think... "Oh yeah... I REALLY have put up with her crap a few time