Friday 15 October 2010

Preach love in the face of hate


This blog from Rebecca Voelkel which I found over at CNN.com is a must-read. She speaks against LGBT (Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender) hate in the wake of recent brutal attacks on the community in the U.S. While there were parts that I disagree with, it is her message of love that I'm for.

An excerpt:

"As a pastor who claims the life and ministry of Jesus as her model, I need to say that this is simply unacceptable. Preaching hate from our pulpits, in our politics, or to our pupils is never acceptable. It literally endangers lives. And the life and ministry of Jesus alway stands against that which hates, hurts or destroy."

If nothing else, we need to remember to show the love of Jesus in what Voelkel refers to as very "real ways." It is this "persistent love" that we need to work on, the sort of love that casts out all hate and gives life.

Where do you draw strength from?

The recent "Beautiful Exchange" album from Hillsong church moves me in so many ways. Some of my favourite tracks are "Believe," "Beautiful Exchange" and "Forever Reign."

Call me a sap but it's always the slow ones that get me. In "Believe," it says...

VERSE 1:
You are my life
You are my strength
You are my rock
On who I stand

I lift my voice
I raise my hands
I lift my soul
With all I am

In Christ forever I stand
I will believe

CHORUS:
You are strong enough
In my weakness
God be lifted up
And I will sing
Lift your praises high

Lord be magnified
You make all things news
I will believe

So hear this song
Receive our praise
You are my strength
For all our days
We lift you up
Our voices high
In every storm
Let God arise

Bridge:
Oh, your love
Your love will never fail
Your love, it knows no end
Your love will never fail

Oh, your love
Stronger than my strength
Greater than my pain
Your love will never fail

I will believe

I love how, unfailingly, each album/song speaks to every single person so specifically in their particular season of life. In praying for my dream career to come to fruition (I swear, if pregnancy feels anything like that, it's pretty mad), I find myself having to sing these words as a reminder of his goodness and faithfulness.

As I sing these words "You are my life... you are my strength... you are my rock... on you I stand," which are so hugely life-affirming, I'm reminding myself of what and who really has held it all together for me through my twenty-something life.

"You are my strength... For all our days... We lift your up... Our voices high... In every storm let God arise." In times of struggles, these words prove so full of resolve. When I think there is no way, He is my rock, my strong foundation. In Him, I draw my strength from. (Sorry Oprah and Dr Phil.)

Knowing that he comes through in every storm, I find a kind of power and renewed strength that I want more of. Each day, I pray for strength to just keep going and trust that He, who holds all the powers in the world, will make it happen. I look back and know that He who has met me in every single storm is true to what He says. If you're believing for something or a dream to happen, grab hold of it and keep pushing. Push like your mama never push before! More importantly I'm praying that I'll never forget what we call the "kingdom mentality" - that my dream isn't about feeding an ego but a purposeful one that does good, and helps to reach and win people by showing Jesus' crazy love for all.

Wednesday 13 October 2010

No, I'm not religious

Last weekend I was over at Hillsong Conference in London. There were many high points but one particular one that stuck with me was Joel Houston's message. He spoke of how he met a guy in a cafe... (stay with me on this one.)

"Do you know who you're talking to?" the owner of the cafe asks the guy. "Who?" "He's Joel from Hillsong Church!" "What do you do?" Joel asks the man. "I'm a criminal," he replies. "How's life as a musician?" he continues. "Good... how's life as a criminal?" asks Joel. Over the next few hours, they talked about religion. He told Joel how he hated religion and how it just wasn't for him. He couldn't stand it.

So very often, Christianity is presented as "don'ts" and "nots". People know us for the "Go to hell" signs and "God hates fags" banners. They know us for what we stand against, not what we stand for. If you had any idea the truth of Jesus' heart, you have no business brandishing that message of hate around "in the name of God."

I know my God loves. He cares. He heals. He restores. He multiplies. He provides. Jesus was the son of a carpenter - a man's man. He was the people. He had a heart for the people. He was for the underdogs. Of all professions, he picked fishermen and tax collectors as his disciples. He wasn't for a popularity contest. He was for the people. He loved the prostitute and took her as she was in all her brokenness while the religious spewed judgement and condescension. Jesus hated religion the same way the criminal in the cafe hated it.

Which is why I so love this response from president Barack Obama to the question of "Why are you Christian?" His answer was simple and he spoke with far more clarity than I would've ever dreamt of explaining to anyone myself. It presented the love of Christ as it is - that we are all sinful and flawed and can only be perfect in His grace. There was no judgement, no holier than thou attitude, no spit and spat or foaming from the mouth(!) If we can only present His love in the same manner and attitude - to love regardless (tough call, I know) - then we can say we're truly getting the heartbeat of what the church should be about.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

What's the meaning?



I first heard the phrase "Beauty for Ashes" from a friend about a year ago. She told me the term applies to my situation. That out of sadness and hurt will come strength and victory. She promised that in time, I can say "Beauty for ashes" - just like she has - and mean it. But of course she can say it. She's (happily) married, has a cute kid and can eat all the Chinese she wants. Me, I looked like crap, was snotty and crying ugly and this just sounded all so unbelievable, girly, even romantic. Even the Joan of Arc in me was defeated. (Shout out by the way to this warrior!)

They say time heals. That is part true. Many have hurt but many remain bitter. For me, there is something else bigger than ourselves that empowers us to heal, to let go. That is the love of the God I've come to know. His love makes our grudges petty. This is all very intense sounding but along with these gems, will be funny moments that I hope you will come to see what I mean. Whether funny or intense, this blog will be unapologetic in the fact that I'm now on the "other side" because of the very simple fact that my God is the one who makes all things new and restores even the most broken of us beautifully.

True story.