GODISNOWHERE

What does the title say to you? Some people will read one thing while it will read totally differently to another. both readings would be correct. (although not both statements would be true.)

Did you read GOD IS NOWHERE? You might correctly read that. However, the statement might be more accurate if you read GOD IS NOW HERE.

The point is that we sometimes can look at the same thing, but see totally different things.

My friend Kevin wrote about differences of opinions today. this is certainly a time of year that highlights our differences of opinion. Although we may have these differences all year, it is now that our opinion of Alabama or Auburn (or UAB or LSU or Georgia or Tennessee, etc.) may may be highlighted. With only five weeks until the election, our opinions regarding Obama/Biden or McSame/Pain may be more evident.

I am often disappointed when people of faith cannot lovingly disagree. One reason I cannot listen to Rick & Bubba is that they ridicule and belittle anyone who does not think exactly like they do. I am disappointed when I read a pastor's condescending and judgmental email responses or comments on blogs. It disappoints me when people who claim to be Christians became hateful and disrespectful to those who don't see things they way they do.

GODISNOWHERE.

We can all look at the same things, but they can mean very different things to us. The important thing is that we recognize that different does not always mean wrong. (but sometimes it does)

Fireproof - the movie

Wednesday night at youth we asked what the church is supposed to be. I assigned one element of church to a youth or group of youth and asked them to convince the rest of us that their element was the most important. So for most of our time together we heard about why witness, support, instruction, fellowship, worship and service are important to the church being the church. If you are reading this now, I would like to know your thoughts.

Whether or not it is the most important, I cannot say, but fellowship is important. So tonight a group of us went to a movie and then dinner. Part of our LEGS (Let's Enjoy God's Spirit) group checked out Fireproof. You may know that this movie is the latest release from the people who brought us Facing the Giants. This time they have a professional actor - one with a name many recognize - Kirk Cameron. Otherwise, the acting is pretty much like that in Facing the Giants. That is really the first thing you notice about the movie - low budget, weak acting skills. But the movie is actually pretty good. There are some very funny characters. There is action. (dramatic rescues). And then of course there is the love story. Even my cold hearted self started to tear up. I might have actually cried until I got tickled at the synchronized sniffling of all of the other women (and some men) in the theatre. But then I don't think my neighbors appreciated my laughing at this tear-jerking part.

One thing the movie made me think about was that whether it is in a marriage or in a church, our selfishness creates a multitude of problems. Clear communication and caring are important in any relationship. If we are only concerned with our own agenda and what feels good to us at the time, we will continue to have problems. try listening to others. pay attention. And pray.

I leave you to swirl those thoughts in your brain. I am tired.

What is wrong with the church today?

Oh the fun of being on a church staff. People are quick to tell you what is wrong with the church. And to be honest there is a lot wrong with churches. All churches have problems. So if you think you need to change churches because of the problems, let me assure you that you will be just be leaving one set of problems for another. Point in fact - I have been monitoring discussion of two different churches with two very different sets of problems.

Of course since I am on staff at one church, there will be some people who will say that I am part of the problem at that church. I don't claim to be perfect. I don't claim to fit most people's idea of what their clergy should be. But I promise you that I am not as evil or crazy as some people seem to think. (Ok - I might be crazy. And I suppose I can be evil. But not evil and crazy at the same time.)

For some people, I have created a problem because in their minds their preacher should have penis. It will not matter what I do or don't do. It doesn't matter what I say or don't say. I simply cannot be a preacher because I female. That alone creates a controversy.

For others it is more complicated. I don't believe Halloween originated with the worship of evil. I don't appreciate e-mails with erroneous information about presidential candidates. I don't believe the war in Iraq was justified. I would dare to talk about current events of a sexual nature (teenage pregnancy, purity/promise rings) with the youth. I allow an unmarried mother to be teach children's church and be a youth counselor. So I must be evil and crazy.

Then I think some people are just unhappy, whiny-baby, complaining never-happy-about-anything idiots. And these people usually don't have the balls to tell you to your face that they have a problem with you. They just go around recruiting people to join in their whiny-baby ways. They pick apart every tiny thing you do. They criticize everyone around them. For example, a couple of months ago I had a parent tell me they had some concerns about one or two of the youth counselors, but they couldn't tell me anything specific that I could address. Since then, I have had a couple of issues with on which we did not see eye-to-eye. But she never addresses her concerns about me to my face. I have tried approaching her to deal with the issues directly, but she brushes me off. Tonight some her round the world ways of dealing with issues came up in a committee meeting and quite frankly it pissed me off. She was not even at the meeting, but by mentioning it to someone who would mention it to someone who would be the meeting, she basically accused two of my workers of stealing.

It all has to do with the honor system basket that we use for Wednesday night dinners. First, I think the person is wrong in their accusations. But even if she is right, it brings up the delicate balance - the question about whether a church should turn away someone who does not have the money to pay for dinner. At the risk of sounding like church leaders who accuse anyone who disagrees with them of being un-Christian, I must say that worrying over being $2 short on Wednesday night seems a little un-Christian.

It is obvious to me that all churches have problems. That is because churches are made of people. People are imperfect. People are selfish. People create problems.

ok i've waited as long as i could

I have avoided jumping on the political blog bandwagon, but events and comments over the last week or so have pushed me straight to said bandwagon.

Today I emailed several people asking if they thought Jesus was a liberal or conservative (or neither - perhaps something else). This came about because of political ads about liberals about politicians I don't even know and more personal comments regarding whether or not I am too liberal.

First let me note that liberal and conservative are relative terms. If I am more traditional than you, you would describe me as a conservative while someone who is even more traditional would describe me as liberal. The division of the world into "liberal" and "conservative" is kind of restrictive. It has to be one way or the other. We define everything as either liberal or conservative even though it is difficult to even define these terms.

On many issues I would probably describe myself as conservative. But I am quite sure I do not want to be lumped in that group if the picture of conservative is Sarah Palin. What a scary thought! So scary that someone today said that they would spend the next several months praying Obama is elected, but if for some reason McCain becomes president, they would have to spend the next 4 years praying for his good health and long life. Perhaps that is why McCain selected Palin - so all of us would be praying that Palin has no opportunity for becoming president.

Please people!!!! I do not believe a mother has to stay home with her children to be a good mother. But I do wonder if she has had time to adjust to life with a special needs child. And I wonder why the same conservative people who have for years said that the problem with society is that moms care more about their careers than staying home to raise their children now think that it is admirable for Palin to work outside the home. I do not fault her for having a unwed pregnant teenage daughter. But I do think she is extremely selfish to throw that daughter under the bus of a media frenzy. Being 17 is tough. Being 17 and pregnant is tougher. Being 17, pregnant and have the whole world watching your every move has got to be hell. You have to think Palin knew that the world would find out and it would be a big story. But the advancement of her political career was more important than her daughter. So is she just so selfish she did not care? Or is she one of those tough love kind of moms? You know - you got yourself into this mess so you will just have to deal with the consequences. Or was she really so naive that she did not think it would be a big deal? Any of these options make for a scary leader of our country.

Scary is seeing the after-convention bump in the McCain/Palin ticket in the polls. Scary is listening to people still justifying this war. Now it is not about weapons of mass destruction. It is not even about oil. It is a religious war. That was not the stated policy when we went to war. But recently I have had people tell me that the war in Iraq is a religious war - because all Muslims want to kill Christians. And Sarah Palin has stated that it is God's war - God's plan. Really? God planned the invasion? It would be nice to think that somebody had a plan, but I think God is smart enough to have a better plan.

So people can think I am too liberal if they want. I would rather be too liberal than some conservative crazy religious right selfish stupid bitch. Perhaps that seems harsh. But I think she has popped up on the scene as a pompous, self-righteous, self-absorbed diva.

Please people. Comment on this? Is the war God's plan? Is Palin an admirable woman or lunatic? I would love to read your thoughts.