You’re not a pacifist are you?
But I actually don’t claim the label of pacifist, and for this reason: pacifism is a political position on violence; it’s a position one could adopt apart from Jesus Christ — as for example the great writer and humanist Kurt Vonnegut did. But I am not a political pacifist. What I am is a Christian. And as a Christian we can talk about how Christ informs humanity on the subject of violence.
I cannot ever recall seeing armed guards in a church service until after the turn of the millennium. There probably were some in some churches before then, but now it seems it has become a status symbol. You know, “My church has more guns than your church.” Who wants to attend a church where there are no badges on display?
We push the blank check across the counter to God, only to be miffed if he writes “nursery duty” in the line. We tend to assume we will be sent to do something public, but most of us will be quite ordinary. We are making casseroles for new moms and preparing the communion trays. So many little tasks need to be done for the church. So many ways we need to love those in our local church body. So many people in our neighborhoods and towns who think Christianity is just a list of dos and don’ts, who need to be told the good news of the gospel.
The Real Truth about ‘Boring’ Men — and the Women who Live with Them: Redefining Boring
Don’t ever forget it:
The real romantics are the boring ones — they let another heart bore a hole deep into theirs.
Be one of the boring ones. Pray to be one who get 50 boring years of marriage – 50 years to let her heart bore a hole deep into yours.
Let everyone do their talking about 50 shades of grey, but don’t let anyone talk you out of it: committment is pretty much black and white. Because the truth is, real love will always make you suffer. Simply commit: Who am I willing to suffer for?
Good feelings derived from affirmation too often unravel at the first sign of disapproval. They feed an ache to win people over in moments when no one claps, when the room falls silent, when others attack, interrupt or dismiss us. They subtract from our emotional state on all the days when people don’t notice what we’re doing or how hard we’re working; when people don’t “like” or retweet us or support our work.
If we want to do good in a hurting world, we can’t preoccupy ourselves with the public affirmation—or lack thereof—of others. There is too much work to be done than to risk sitting around waiting for the reactions of fans or critics.
The trouble with self-deprecation
The Scripture’s teaching on the variety of gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12) is true sanity and a wonderful corrective to both boasting and self-deprecation. For all of us are good at something and lousy at something. And if we could only get that through our skulls, we would be freed once and for all to speak comfortably of our strengths and faults, and those of our brothers.
I am hopeful that by reconsidering the legacy of the feminist movement, we might be better able to find creative solutions for women, while acknowledging the real sacrifices that must also be made by both women and men. Women might not be able to achieve “a happy harmony,” or to sustain the perfect balance between career and family, since we are indeed limited beings. However, we can happily flourish in the midst of real, concrete human relationships and in the midst of a variety of good and excellent human pursuits.
Housing Allowance Held Unconstitutional
The court has ordered the IRS to no longer allow the housing allowance, but this order is only effective at the expiration of all appeals. The case will surely be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Authority as an excuse for complacency
No one can force you to stand up, speak up and make a difference. But if you back off and play along, please understand that whatever happens happened, at least in part, because you acquiesced.
Gay-Friendly Churches And Houses Of Worship Growing, According To National Congregations Study
Nearly half of houses of worship in the United States now allow gay and lesbian members who are in long-term relationships to be members, while close to one in three now let gay and lesbian members hold voluntary leadership posts, according to a new study of more than a thousand American congregations.