Category Archives: Pop

The White Smoke Matters

14 Thursday Mar 2013

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Sports fans have the Superbowl.  Movie fans have the Oscars.  Theological fans have the conclave.

Facebook, Twitter and the entire internet exploded with the news of white smoke billowing from the Vatican.  As indication of a new pope was selected, we exchanged comments on the historical news of the hour.  I’ve seen and engaged in many interesting online conversations March 13, 2013 regarding the selection of Pope Francis I.  Very few of the friends I was communicating with were Roman Catholic, but the excitement transcended religion.  This was history.

Now, I’ve heard how some Protestants think a selection of a new pope may not impact us.  There are many who may not realize how much Vatican II impacted relationships between Catholics and other faiths.  They may not know that post-Vatican II music that Catholics created (songs like “Here I Am, Lord” and “One Bread, One Body”) have brought much beauty into our congregations.  When a change happens within one part of Christianity, it can’t help but impact the rest of Christianity.

While it’s tough to talk about, when doctrinal decisions are made, it impacts us too.  Sometimes, this means we are on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to an issue.  The power that the Church has in influencing politics can be wonderful if it’s something we agree upon or difficult if it’s a divisive issue.  We see things in different ways because we hold different sources of authority.  For instance, Scripture and tradition are huge in the Catholic church.  In many of our Protestant faiths, we have Scripture and tradition, but we also have reason and our own experiences.  So we often arrive at issues from opposite ends.

But never forget that we are all part of this one Body of Christ.

And that’s the other reason we should care.  We are all God’s children made in God’s image.  We are all part of the same vine.  So we do care what happens in your faith.  We care that you feel connected to your denomination.  We rejoice with you that you have a new pope.  We cry with you when you have scandals that plague your churches.  Because we are all part of the Body of Christ, our common work feeding, clothing and healing provides greater resources for the Kingdom of God.

Let us keep the faith together even when we take separate spiritual paths.

To my Catholic friends – may God bless your Church, your new Pope Francis I and your clergy and lay members.  May God find ways to bring us together on issues such as poverty, creating a world where all have dignity.  May God give us love to disagree with one another peacefully on divisive issues.  And may we walk together in times of joy and times of sadness.  Amen.

“Women’s History Month and God’s Call”

11 Monday Mar 2013

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“Women’s History Month and God’s Call” – An article I wrote for the Huffington Post Religion Page – March 13, 2013Image

Someone Lost…

10 Sunday Mar 2013

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rip

This sermon was delivered at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Old Blue Rock Rd., Cincinnati on March 10, 2013.

Last night, the following was trending on Twitter: reasons we stopped talking.  For those new to Twitter, trending in social media means that it’s a very popular topic, and many people respond with their own answers and tweets.  So people were giving reasons why their relationships had ended.  Reasons included: “You didn’t make an effort to talk to me or make us work.”  “You changed.”  “You shattered my best friend’s heart.”  “We weren’t making the effort to communicate.”  “You doubted my intelligence.”  “I couldn’t trust you.”  “Because I always tend to push people that care away.”  “I was treated like a fool.”  “I really wish I knew, no clue.”

While some of these reasons are commonly found in romantic relationships, I think they can apply to any broken relationship.  A relationship breaks apart, and the person who you love and care for is no longer part of your life anymore.  And your mind goes through all of the possible reasons this happens.

Have you ever endured a broken friendship or relationship of some sort?  Specifically I’m talking about the kind of relationship with someone close.  Whether its parent-child, brother-sister, best friends, boyfriend-girlfriend, spouses – ending relationships hurt.

So who is affected?  How are they affected?  Our broken relationships ripple into the rest of society.  Not only are we hurt to our very core, but the negativity that is created by those relationships seeps into all that we do.

Luke 15 reminds us of those who have been affected by the ripping of a relationship: the story of the lost (or the one who wanders away), the story of the one who has lost something or someone and those affected by this broken relationship.

Today I give you reflections on three perspectives:

I start from the perspective from the one who was lost.

If you see me in Luke 15 – I’m the lost sheep.  I’m the coin – although coins typically don’t react to being lost.  I’m the son who wants to experience the wild and crazy life from home.

And now that I’m far from home, I’m scared.  Now that I’m away from those I love, I miss my previous life.    How would it be if I go home?  Would they curse at me or give me the cold shoulder?

Do I dare go back?  How would they take me if I go back?  What would my shepherd or my family think if I were to go back now?  I’ve messed up so much by leaving.

I’m holding on to so much shame from the past.  I don’t deserve love after leaving.  I’ve messed up so much with my life.  There is no way I could go back or dare to go back.  Maybe I’ll just stay here – away from everything.   But I’m not good being so far away from home.  They may have lost me, but I’ve lost myself too.  I don’t know who I am now that this relationship is over and I’m in this place of exile.

Maybe you’ve been like me… a friend who decided to walk away from a friendship.  A significant other who left their love.  A child who walked away from a parent.

Could it be that it’s not too late to go back?  Could it be that they are looking for me?  Might they rejoice when they see me again?  Dare I risk my heart by contacting them?

Now let’s look through the eyes of the one who has lost.

When you see me in Luke 15 – I’m the shepherd who has lost the sheep.  I’m the woman who has lost her coin.  I’m the father whose son has left home.

Have I said something to make them leave?  Have I done something to sever this relationship?

I keep going over and over in my head to see where I’ve messed up.

I don’t know who I am without this person in my life.  I live with the guilt that I did something wrong.  Should I spend all of my time trying to repair this relationship, or should I just love them and let them go.  If they love me, they’ll return when they are ready.  Which is best?

So yes, not only have I lost the relationship with my loved one, it’s starting to affect the relationship I have with myself.  I blame myself.

And it’s starting to affect the relationship I have with my other loved ones.  They think I’m obsessing over this.  I’m not spending enough time with them.   Let them go, they tell me.  I wish I could.

Might my loved one come back?  Or should I go after them?  These decisions are horrific to make.

In Luke 15 – the shepherd went after the sheep while leaving the others behind.  The woman frantically searched for the one coin.  But the father allowed his son to leave, knowing that loving someone means letting them go.  Which of these examples should I follow?

Finally, I give you the perspective of the one affected by the broken relationships

When you see me in Luke 15, I’m one of many sheep, left vulnerable by our shepherd running after just one other sheep.  I’m the son, faithful to the very end and angry that my father doesn’t appreciate me and my steadfast commitment to him.

I feel left behind.  To the one grieving their loved one, you aren’t the only one left.  All you do is spend your time thinking about the one who walked away.   From where I’m standing right now, I feel so much less important in your eyes.  And I’ve been by your side the whole time.  I’ve been trying to stand by you while you grieve this relationship.

So now that he’s back, you want me to rejoice with you?  He left you behind!  I never left your side and you can’t give me the time of day.

I feel lost too.  I don’t feel safe in our relationship.  My trust is lacking because you have decided to spend your energy on someone who deserted you.

What could I have done to make you love me more???

**********************************************************************************************************

It’s tough to celebrate life when we’ve lost a relationship.  It’s tough to rejoice when we see our loved ones return to a relationship with someone who hurt them terribly.  Here’s a few points to think about when building and grieving relationships.

  • Loving another person in any capacity is risky.  When we love someone, we have no idea if they will leave or crush our hearts at some point.  Is it worth the risk?
  • Broken relationships affect so many.  When someone walks away from us, how do we react?  How do those reactions affect the friendships we still have?  Do we lose a string of relationships because one relationship ends?  Does that feed into our loneliness?
  • Broken relationships call for a period of grieving.  One thing I wish is that we could escape grieving in our life.  But that’s not going to happen.  We will grieve when we lose an important item or a way of living.  And we will definitely grieve when a relationship is lost, a friend, family member or significant other leaves or dies.   Are we setting aside the proper time and space for that grief?  Are we honoring our friends’ times of grief?
  • We often can lose ourselves and others trying to deal with broken relationships.  Again, we go over and over in our heads what led to the severed friendship.  How is this loss making us doubt ourselves?  How is this robbing our committed loved ones from our love and time with them?
  • Is it best to run after a person when they leave, or if you love something let it go?  I guess it all depends on the situation, lots of prayer and time to listen for God.
  • It’s tough to find trust after it has been lost.  How do I know whether or not you are going to leave me again?  How do I know you still love me?  We don’t know.  That takes faith.
  • If abuse is part of that relationship, then sometimes our only option is to walk away.  Yes, we will still grieve, but we each deserve the dignity of being physically, mentally and spiritually safe.  And being made in God’s image, none of use deserve abuse as part of our lives.  There are times when broken relationships are unavoidable, and safety is a primary reason.
  • Lastly, God is the God of broken hearts.  Our God walks with us when our relationships break and we try to piece together how that relationship ended.  God gives us the grace to throw aside our shame and repair relationships when they can be repaired.  If a relationship can not be repaired, God walks with us in our grief.  God gives us seeds of trust when all trust is lost.  And in one way or another, God will help us see resurrection once again.

What Does Failure Mean?

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

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thumbsdownThroughout my life, I’ve wondered if failing at something meant that I shouldn’t be doing it.

I failed my first time at my driver’s test.  The second time I passed without any issues.

I received a third place on my piano solo during my senior year of high school.  Each year until that point, I had received a first place.  This particular year, I was performing Clair de Lune.  Every day, I would practice at least an hour or so on the piece.  Months of dedicated rehearsal felt wasted.

I failed the first time I applied to seminary.  I doubted God’s call in my life.  It took me years to find the courage to reapply once again.  When I reapplied, I found the seminary to which God had called me.

I did not pass my second-year seminary oral examination during the first try.  I completely froze during the exam.  Oh how devastated I was!  I used the experience to become stronger in my oral delivery skills and think quicker on my feet.  The failure forced me into a time of reflection, challenging me on how dedicated I was to the call from God.  From that failure, I was called by God to walk with others who had experienced similar failures.

During each of those failures, I wondered if I should stop trying.  Maybe God was calling me in a different direction, and I was the one who was wrong in my perceptions.  There was great praying and reflecting after each incident.  Should I continue in the process?  We often think that failure is a mandate that we cease our efforts.

In my failures, there was also great lamenting and grieving.  My emotions swung high and low.  I found moments of hope and promise then moments of dead ends and finished desires.  When our dream fails, even temporarily, we forget that a piece of us dies with that failure.  Our journey through life includes the grieving process – a slice of life we hope to avoid.  At some point, we must acknowledge the sidestepping grief just delays pain as all of us will have our days of heartaches.

I don’t think God causes us to fail.  And I don’t think our self-worth is always the cause of the failure, either.  Many factors often determine whether failure happens – from the judge’s perspective, to where God may be calling us, to our shortcomings.

Each day we succeed at a variety of tasks, and each day we fall short of our expectations.  In our careers, we perform some tasks easily and achieving great results, and other tasks do not produce the tasks we expect.

I still find little failures in my life.  Should I continue to write when something is rejected or my last product was mediocre?  Should I try a project at church when it didn’t work spectacularly the first time?

And then I remind myself success is not how others adore my talents but my faithfulness to God’s call.  I’m working for God’s kingdom not my glory.  If I am called to write, and I write, then I am successful because I have completed what I’ve been asked to do.   If I live in a mindset of fear and despair that causes me to cease my efforts, then my talents have been buried, and there’s no chance they will multiply.

Something Greater – A Sermon on the God Who Expands Outside of the Box

04 Monday Mar 2013

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Image0255This sermon was delivered on March 3, 2013 at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Old Blue Rock Rd, Cincinnati.

During this past week, I watched the PBS documentary Makers: Women who make America.  Watching this program was a great way to usher in women’s history month which started on March 1.  This program documented the transitions, achievements and rights that women have accomplished in the past 60 years.

Did you know there was a time when women were not allowed to run in marathons?  I never realized the story of the 1967 Boston Marathon when Katherine Switzer signed up and ran the race.  Women were not allowed at that time to run in the marathon, and the race director tried to physically pull her out of the race.  Instead, she continued to run.  The men running along side of Katherine were so excited to see her in that race.  The call of God stirred inside of her, got her on that path and kept her running.  Because Katherine followed her call, more races became available to women.

As I continued to watch this documentary, I never realized how many limitations there were on women sixty or seventy years ago.  Sure – so many women were called by God to stay at home and take care of their children full time, a truly important and beautiful vocation.  But, there were so many women who were called elsewhere, maybe in the workplace or as social activists, other valid and genuine calling.  But sixty years ago – society frowned upon that.  As this documentary showed, jobs were primarily open to young, single women before they were married.  There were segregated help wanted ads – one list for men and one for women.  And jobs for African American women were even more limited – mostly to maids.  All of this opened my eyes to a world that I never had to live in, even though, now, I’m one of these women called outside of the box.

Maybe there are still small limitations here and there, but today women can honor the direction that God is calling them without society saying a definite no.

We’ve locked God in a box and have a very limited view of the Divine working in the world.  Even when society is becoming more relaxed, there are those of us who sell ourselves short even when we are being called to something greater.

I also realized that I was holding myself back in my younger days, not seeing that God’s dreams was bigger than human dreams.  During my senior year in high school, I gave a speech that would shock all of you right now: it was on “why women shouldn’t be pastors.”  Yes, looking back, it’s very ironic.  I’m sure I probably used the text from 1 Timothy 2 – that women should be silent in churches.  After taking various speech, acting and debate classes over the years, it was the only time I received a C on any speech.

In 1991, even I didn’t think it was possible that I could be a pastor.  I had squished God inside of a very small box.  As God’s ways are bigger than my ways and God’s dreams bigger than my dreams, God got the last laugh on that one.

By the time I was in my late twenties, my mind had not only changed about female clergy, but I could also tell that God was starting to call me in that direction.

But women clergy is still kind of something new in our culture.  While women really started becoming pastors in the seventies and eighties, I’ve had people tell me that they’ve never met a female pastor before.  It’s a joy to be a testimony on the still-speaking God in our world.

Reflecting upon this scripture today, I kept wanting to focus back on two particular verses: Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

What we often see are two opposing viewpoints using God.  Some would tell me that God’s ways are not my ways and I shouldn’t be a pastor.  They would quote the same 1 Timothy 2 text that I used in my high school speech to quiet me.  But what if God doesn’t take sides and God wants everyone’s voices to be heard?  What if God wants women to be pastors?

When I look at whether a group of people should have rights, I don’t just quote scriptures that limit them – whether it’s women, or racial minorities or when others have a different sexual orientation.  I personally base my ethical frame with these principles in mind: Is there Justice where everyone has the same rights and the same way to achieve?  Are all people being loved as we would want to be loved?  Are we giving others the same dignity we deserve?

I often think that if we are afforded certain rights, shouldn’t others have the same rights as we have.  People who are older or younger?  People who are gay or transgendered?  People who celebrate their faiths in other ways?

I also remember the scripture of the Syrophonecian woman that used her voice to stand up for her own dignity.   Even when Jesus felt limited by what people deserved love and grace, God was working through the voice of this woman to show a greater way of living.  And Jesus changed his mind.

I think about Mary Magdalene.  According to John’s gospel, she was the first follower asked to spread the good news of resurrection.  Yes, according to this gospel, it was a woman.  I think about Acts 2 and how women are called to prophesy.  I think about early church leaders like Phoebe and Lydia.

What great things are God calling us to?  What kind of world is God seeing that we can’t see?  Women can stay at home if that is where God is calling them.  Women can go into the workplace if God is calling them there.    Likewise, if a man is called to be home while his wife works, that is fine too.  Men can be nurses and secretaries like women can be doctors and CEOs.  There is something greater than our societal limits: it’s God’s call.

And many say that I’m being disobedient by standing up here today and being in this pulpit.  Even my 18 year old self would say that.  But what I didn’t realize at 18 was that God was bigger than a few Bible verses.  That God called both men and women into the pulpit and to teach in various contexts.

Women and minorities have had visions for years, vision and dreams that God has called us to.  But why do we hold back the dreams of others by holding back their rights?  Why should humans limit when God has called?  How does the Church still limit what God has called?  When we limit people we limit God’s action in this world.

For many of us who have felt limited by the church or a few doctrines or for those of us who have limited ourselves, we deny ourselves nourishment of social justice that everyone deserves.  Years ago, nourishment was denied when American society had separate water fountains or lunch counters or help wanted sections.   We have forgotten that all of us deserve these great things because we are ALL made in God’s image and that God’s ways are bigger than our ways.

It’s true that humans often place God in a box and sometimes it is done to control other people.  We, as individuals and the Church, can no longer place God in a box.  God is in all and around all and always present.  God is the God of resurrection and new starts.  And God will find a way to burst out of the box that we put Him… or Her… in.

In what ways is God calling you to new areas?  What kinds of things have you been called to – even though society still has certain expectations?  The God of great thoughts and dreams will walk with us as we follow our great call, leading us in new places that have been closed to us.

What Movies Gave, Oscars Took Away

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

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MH910216353Sunday’s Oscar performance was a spotlight shining on the differences between being marginalized and privileged.

Here are some of the ways Seth MacFarlane, the writers and producers of the Academy Awards distastefully chose to produce an evening intended to celebrate the accomplishments of artists.

People might say that MacFarlane was being an equal opportunity offender.  However, do we hear jokes at the expense of women as often as men?  Do we hear jokes from white people about white people as often as we hear them about racial minorities?  How about people who are Jewish, gay or overweight?  Are their lives joked about more about than people who are Christian, straight or thin?

The isms were solidly present within minutes of the broadcast.  MacFarlane performed a song about women being nude in movies.  He made a joke about a popular domestic violence relationship.  Then, over the course of the evening, he made jokes about women’s sizes and the way minorities talk (among other things, of course).

Abominable.

Sure that’s MacFarlane’s way, or at least that’s what people tried to tell me over and over.  I wondered why did the Academy choose to be represented by him?  Why did the producers of the show choose a person who will belittle people based on a number of various factors?

Again, as much as I love the Oscars, this year’s ceremony reflected greater issues in our culture.  For instance, when the media focuses on hair, makeup and wardrobe, we take the attention away from the reason that these artists are there: their brilliant accomplishments.  (Sure, we all love to dress our best, but criticisms do not have a place in dressing up to feel great.)

Throughout 2012, we’ve had some wonderful reminders that people of multiple races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, looks and ages have such amazing talents.  We are reminded by these accomplishments and efforts that no matter who you are or what you look like, you are able to accomplish great things.  We had storylines that lifted the human spirit.  And, yet, the people holding these awards decide to hire a host and a team of writers.  It was this “creative” team who chose to demean those who were celebrated.

These movies and performances helped us in seeing God’s grace, God’s presence, God’s love and God’s image within ourselves.  Unfortunately, the ceremony to recognize gifts in film achievement was clouded by disrespect.  Sad.

Chronic Illness in the Body of Christ

22 Friday Feb 2013

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As many of you know, I struggle with endometriosis.  It’s an illness that causes endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus.  The health issue causes me to occasionally feel extreme pain around my cycle, extra fatigue and stomach discomfort.

I’ve learned how to live in pain and exhaustion.  I’ve done what I can to improve my condition including having surgery and changing my diet just so that my pain and discomfort will be minimal.

But so many people have conditions that are painful in very different ways or even completely debilitating.  Some of these include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease – among so many others.

In the past number of months, I’ve connected with many women who have endometriosis and, often, other chronic health issues.  Many work but have very limited lives beyond work.  Some can’t work at all.  There are a number of people in this country who have no health insurance.  Those who are able to see doctors are often given excuses that “it’s in your head.”  I’ve heard that many women with endometriosis are told that incredible pains are “normal” (but I’ve never experienced this myself).  Each month, these women live at a pain level of ten.  Eventually, when the pain gets bad enough, they have an exploratory surgery to see what is happening.   At that point, they are told they are infertile or need a colon resection surgery because no one listened to them years earlier.

Many chronic illnesses take a while to be diagnosed and treated.  Sometimes, there are no treatments for the aches and exhaustion of some of these health issues.  How frustrating it is to be told that there’s no solution to exhaustion and pain, except for cognitive therapy and antidepressants!

Frustration does not stop there.  They work and parent even though their bodies feel as if they are to fall apart at any moment.  If they can’t work because of the extent of their illness, many people with these chronic illnesses are told by society that they are lazy and don’t want to work.  Their pain is not believed because it doesn’t show on the outside of their bodies.  I’ve  heard one person with one chronic illness tell others that their health problem is not a “real” illness.

Because we are all part of the Body of Christ, we all suffer from endometriosis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and the entire list of autoimmune and chronic diseases.  Because we are one in humanity and one in Christ’s body, we also all suffer from diseases like Parkinson’s, MS, cancer, AIDS.  When one part of our body hurts, our whole body hurts.

So when someone  with a chronic illness is disregarded, they do not receive the dignity they deserve.  They feel even less dignity than they did when they kept their illness to themselves.

Unless we walk in their shoes, we can not understand their pain, their slowness in movement, their foggy minds and their fatigue.

As people of faith, what can we do to give dignity to our sisters and brothers who hurt?  Of course we can pray for them and with them.  We can offer scriptures, like Psalm 6, Psalm 22, Psalm 23 or Psalm 38.

But people with chronic health issues will need more than a few Bible verses handed to them.  They yearn to feel human, desire to reclaim their dignity and want to be heard.

When each and every day you wake up with another symptom or feeling overwhelming pain, you feel like Job.  You may feel that God has deserted them.  When you can’t get your health problems resolved, you feel like the woman with the hemorrhage.

So as people of faith, how can we be a support to them when their doctors and friends don’t even believe them?  Frankly, it starts with listening and praying with them so they know that someone else is cheering for their healing.  It starts with helping them sort their feelings, giving them a space to vent and cry.  It helps if you can go to their appointments with them or pick up their medicines for them – if they ask.  It begins with helping them reclaim their dignity as made in God’s image.  Our care for them includes spending time with them in fellowship; many of them can’t leave their homes or have limited energy for fun activities.  They find isolation in their illness.

And it begs for us to be advocates for their health in broken health care systems.

I don’t think God gave me the endometriosis pain “for a reason.”  God experiences pain when we do, and I don’t think of pain as punishment or a method of teaching.  But I believe God is calling all of us – those who have experienced pain and those completely healthy – to use our voices and stand with those who hurt, knowing that we aren’t alone on our journeys.

Loving My Voice

18 Monday Feb 2013

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I have a funny relationship with my voice.

I’m not exactly happy with the sound of my voice.  There have been moments of absolute disdain that began from the sounds which come out of my mouth.

In the eighth grade, I had a teacher tell me how horrible my voice was.  I never bothered to act in high school because I hated my voice and assumed that everyone else hated it too.  I took a public speaking class in high school and still managed to squeak out an A.

Then I went to college.  For my first career, God called me into public relations, a vocation that people would surely hear the sound of my voice.  My college classes included Acting (again, I got an A), Voice and Articulation (which I got an A+) and Public Speaking (which, believe it or not, I got an A+ in that class, too).

Maybe I’m not as bad as I thought… Maybe…

And then God called me into the ministry.  There is no doubt that my voice will be used.  But there is doubt on how well I speak.  I think back through my past and critically analyze the many perceptions of the way I speak.

Over the course of my life, there are times people have praised me for the sound of my voice.  And then there are times people have critiqued the way I talk.  I know that when I get nervous, I talk fast.  When I get passionate, the tone of my voice goes up and down.

Like everything else, my speaking is a work in progress.

I don’t believe I’m monotone, and the text I write for the speech is fine.  But the nerves kick in and my voice can go in any direction.

And, yet, God has called me to use my voice.

Here I am, for the umpteenth time, watching A King’s Speech.  King George VI, also known as Bertie, is called to take on the role as monarch.  In his new position, he must make countless speeches.  But Bertie has issues with stuttering and wonders how he can be king with such an impediment.

God didn’t call Bertie based solely on his voice.  Through this calling, God brought people into his life to strengthen his voice.  And Bertie continued to work on his speaking as part of his answer to God’s call.

Granted, my speaking may not be quite a choppy as Bertie’s, but there are times I lose great faith in the sound of my voice.  There’s this tension I’m called to live into: working to improve my speaking yet loving the way I speak right now.  Sure, I know I can always grow as a speaker, and I must keep working on it.  But I know that I must love who I am at this very moment, that God has called me to be here whether or not I have a spectacular voice.

This voice has the potential to bring hope to those who are in need and words to challenge people into action.  If I silence this voice, so much that needs to be said won’t be spoken.  Words in an adequate or average voice is better than no words spoken at all.

Sure – I still wince each time I listen to a recording of myself, although I must admit that I have improved greatly in the past six months.  My challenge to myself is to love my voice – love the nasal sounds that it brings, love the pitch and tone.  For if I fail to use my voice, God is limited in this world.

In Christ’s Love – A Letter From a Ally

11 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by in Current Events, Life, Movies, Pop, Pop Culture

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Last night, I tweeted this:

“I’m a straight ally pastor who is here for you dealing w/#TheStrugglesOfBeingGay. God loves you just as you are! :)”

I received a few responses from people on Twitter.  I think they needed to hear that there are people of faith who support and love them.

How could I not tweet this?  Jesus the Christ loved everyone.  Am I not called to do the same thing?

But that’s not the only reason.

I have experienced the unconditional, steadfast love of God through my gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered friends.  They have been open to sharing Christ’s radical love.  And this has led me to becoming a straight ally.

Since college, I continuously have new LGBT friends coming into my life.  I’ve met them through friends, work and school.  Some of my dearest friends have come out to me since we’ve met, and others have come out years prior to our meeting.

This is what I would say to those of  you who are my LGBT friends in a friendship letter of love:

I think you are all so very brave to truly be the person God has made you.  And I am blessed by all of you in my life.

When I’ve been down, you have listened to me.  When I’ve been sick, you have brought me food.  You have prayed with me in times of trouble.  We’ve laughed together, and we’ve cried together.  You have encouraged me in my calling and been a huge part of my faith journey.

You are witnesses to the steadfast presence of Christ in our friendships and in this world.  You’ve extended hands of  hospitality and truly cared about me just as I am.

To my friends who identify as gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual, queer, asexual, questioning and fellow straight allies… thank you.

This is a letter of love back to you.  Our orientations and gender identities may be different, and I don’t know the true capacity of strife you’ve experienced in  your lives.  But I am proud to stand next to you and say we are all children of God, and we are all made in God’s image.  We all want joy in our lives, and we all want to be loved just as we are.

Thank you for inviting me to your weddings to see new covenants being made.  Thank you for breaking bread with me.  Thank you for allowing me to be a visitor in your homes.  My life is better because you are in it.

Love, Michelle

Now, to my friends who are still in the camp of “traditional” marriage (a.k.a. marriage between one man and one woman): I recognize that you will not all will agree with me.  Many just  aren’t there when it comes to expanding marriage, yet you treat LGBT people with respect.  I try to be sensitive about voicing my views to people who aren’t quite at the same place I am about gay marriage and various gay rights.  Experiencing new people and new situations takes a certain comfort level.  I highly encourage you to continue conversations with LGBT friends, and maybe your views on love, life and God will change.

And then there are people who are relentless about keeping love in a box: those who use the Bible against their fellow sisters and brothers.  I realize that standing quietly by and allowing seriously bigoted views to float through our atmosphere does not make sense anymore.  Allowing bullying and slanderous words should no longer be in our society.

I’ve heard from some people think that loving a person requires trying to change someone into becoming straight, and that being gay is not good enough.  So here’s what I’d like to say to these friends.  Here’s my letter to those who have closed themselves off from having unconditional loving relationships with their LGBT sisters and brothers:

I have to ask you a couple questions: How would you like it if someone wanted to change something about you that you could not change?  How would you enjoy living in a world where people didn’t love you for who you are.

You see, my LGBT friends are moral.  Extremely moral and kind.  They know Christ in ways that many bigoted people seem to miss.  They know Christ in ways that I have even neglected sometimes.  All they want is to have the same chances at love as you do.  And I’m sorry that those of you who are my close-minded friends have missed out on such love and beauty in your lives.

I also do not want my LGBT friends hurting anymore.  I want them to feel the same dignity you and I feel.  I want them to feel no shame.  I want them to experience the overflowing love of God.  And that is why I write to you today.

My prayers are that God helps you see people and the human condition in new ways – mostly so that you will have an enriched life full of overflowing love.

Love, Michelle

After watching Lincoln this weekend, I had to write this.  It came to mind that, generation after generation, some people feel the need to oppress others to keep their status of life more valid.  What happens when slaves are freed – will they get to vote?  What happens when they vote – will women get to vote?  Justice is a slippery slope.  But that’s the good and decent slippery slope that needs to happen.  Through logic, I see how those who defended slavery and stood against voting rights for minorities and women were on the wrong side of justice.  Those who stood against interracial marriage were on the wrong side of justice.  In 50 years, people will wonder why so many in the early 21st century stood on the wrong side of justice.  Just like those defending injustice decades ago, they used God and the Bible as their reasoning (yet continued to eat bacon-wrapped shrimp).

For Martin Luther King, Jr. said “The arc of the universe is long but it bends towards justice.”

Join me on this side of the arc of justice.  If you haven’t had the chance to get to know LGBT people around you, I highly suggest it.  They will bless your lives in new ways.  Listen to their stories.  Hear the struggles they’ve endured.  Know that God will be presence as you listen to each.

I feel that writing this is a bit of a risk.  But, in this life, I feel the necessity to share God’s overflowing love.  That’s the love that brings connection and understanding.  And how wonderful of a world it would be if we could experience this in one another!

I thank all of you who have open my eyes to new types of love.  Let’s keep love outside of the box today, this Valentine’s Day and throughout the year.

Bible Stories: Early Tales of Beautiful Imperfection

08 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in Life, Movies, Pop, Pop Culture, Television

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This week I was overjoyed to hear that Helen Fielding is in the process of writing another Bridget Jones’ novel.

As some of you remember in these books or from the movies, Bridget is a single thirtysomething woman.  She is always hoping to improve upon her life.  She is always feeling and acting a bit awkward.  Unlike many women on our televisions and in our movies, Bridget isn’t the model-thin, she says the wrong things in many situations, and she isn’t polished.

When I see a Bridget Jones movie or read one of the Bridget Jones’ novels, I feel less alone.

I always wonder why there aren’t more books and movies that feature the everyday female.  Sure, maybe the our culture wants us all to look a certain way, but that’s not reality.  So, we need books, movies, and films to help us feel that we aren’t alone in being our truest self.

In this respect, the Bible is like Bridget Jones novels, Carrie Bradshaw tales, and episodes of Hannah Horvath‘s life.  We see the true humanity in the characters and can understand their journeys.  Each of them are spectacularly flawed yet they continuously reflect and try to improve upon their lives.

That’s one of the greatest things about the Bible: we are able to relate to its stories and feel less alone.  We are able to see that being flawed is nothing new, and grace is needed for us to keep moving forward.

How many of us have felt the world crashing down around us, like Job, or the frustrations with not being able to conceive, like Sarah?  How many of us have had our voices silenced when we were standing up for our own dignity, like Vashti?  How many of us have felt frustrated waiting for the love of our life, like Rachel?  How many of us have lived with guilt, like David?

This is why the Bible still works in our society today: our world has been, is, and will be full of imperfect characters.  Who will be our culture’s next story of beautiful imperfection?