"Love Sleeping Comfortably with Convictions"

I stumbled upon this old blog by the same title. It's by Steve Brown, a self-professing "old white guy" with tons of interesting insight on faith and freedom. I've thought about these words in the context of the recent attention the owner of Chic Fil a has gotten for expressing his views on same-sex marriage and have wondered how I might learn to express my convictions while demonstrating the type of love we are called to as Christians. I hope it speaks to you as it continues to speak to me.

"We just don't agree on much anymore. The fragmentation of America (and the world)-where we once shared a common understanding of politics, religion and culture-has become the norm. Frankly, I hate it. It's really bad!

No, actually, it's really good. Do you know why? It gives us an opportunity to shine with a powerful witness of convictions and love. There is nothing more unusual and powerful in our time than that. And with all the humility I can muster, despite all the hassle and difficulty, that was the witness Shane and I...made at Malone University.

There are some specifics about love sleeping comfortably with convictions…

First, love and convictions can't go together without repentance [emphasis mine]. What the prophetess said to the king in 2 Kings 22:18-19 is a major theme in Scripture: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord…I have heard you." The Psalmist said that God was close to those with a broken heart of repentance (Psalm 34). Jesus said that the kingdom of God was present when he came and that the appropriate response was repentance (Matthew 3:2). Jesus also said that he had come to call sinners (that would be us) to repentance, not the righteous (Mathew 9:13). It's everywhere in Scripture.

Jack Miller said that the only people in the Body of Christ who have anything to say are those who are repentant and the most repentant people in the church should be its leaders. Repentance is an attitude more than an act-an attitude of recognition that God is God, he is always right in his judgments, and we are subject to that judgment throughout our lives. It's hard to have that attitude, know who you are and who he is, and pull a trigger on someone who is different than you. It's an attitude that one can be wrong as well as sinful.

Second, one can't put love and convictions together in the face of differences unless one recognizes that Jesus has made some weird choices in those he has chosen to love…and we are among the weirder. Paul said to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:15): "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." Our message is not a political or a cultural one. Our message is always that of a sinful, needy and forgiven sinner telling other sinful and needy people that Jesus saves, loves and forgives sinners of whom we are the foremost. That's the main thing and everything thing else is secondary.

Finally, love and convictions rest comfortably together when one is free to speak one's truth. That freedom comes with repentance before God and love from God. Our fear keeps us from speaking our truth because we want to be acceptable, valued and affirmed. If you seek that from people, you'll be a weenie, agree with everything people in power say, and cave in the face of differences. We dare not get that from anybody but Jesus. Jesus accepts me and whether or not you accept me is of very little importance. When he bought me with his blood, Jesus placed a very high value on me and that value is all that counts whether or not you value me. Jesus likes me big and affirms me whether or not you affirm me.

When I remember that-and I do sometimes - I'm dangerous. When I forget it - and I do sometimes - my convictions don't get spoken, I become an "echo" of the tastes and convictions of others, and Jesus blushes."

Is My Faith Foolishness?

I love it when folks keep it real. That's why I love Paul's thought in 1 Corinthians 15:19. "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." This man who traveled the world and suffered much to share the gospel (by definition good news) was responding to those who said there's nothing beyond this life and contested that Jesus actually rose from the dead. His response was, if this good news of Christ's death and resurrection is only beneficial for me in this life, I'm a fool and not only that, all who claim faith in Christ are fools.

Somehow I'm comforted by this. At times I've wondered if what I believe is foolish but usually not too long after I'm reminded why I believe. I can't quite describe it but there's a peace in the deepest part of me that confirms that there's truth in what happened 2,000 years ago on a cross in Jerusalem. And in what early Christians claimed happened three days later in the resurrection of Christ. My soul and heart find peace because I'm a beneficiary of his act on the cross. That's why Christians celebrate Easter. Why they reflect and look back - because they are grateful for what Christ, the divine, did for them the unworthy sinner on the cross.

How he loves us: why not taste and see?

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I ask, “Why not taste and see?” I truly believe this IS the greatest love. It might just be what you’re searching for.

I believe in a literal God. A God who created the extravagance we call the universe and the dopeness that is (wo)man. The Bible says God is not beyond man’s reach; in fact, He longs to know us intimately. Our sin is what separates us from Him. The glorious thing is that despite our penchant for living life as if there is no God, He still wants us. He wants us to the point that he sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us – to take the penalty for our sin so we wouldn’t have to.

Christ, the Son of God, gave his life so that we would have constant, intimate relationship and access to God the Father in this life and the next. This is Christ’s love offering to us. But we need to choose to receive it; to ask God for forgiveness and choose a new start with Christ as Lord and Savior. When we make this decision, we choose an intimate and precious relationship with God that starts immediately and lasts for eternity in heaven. If we don’t make a choice or reject Him outright, we choose the alternative - hell. Think that sounds unloving? Not if the choice is ours to make. Think about it this way, "Any injustice in this life is offset by the honor of choosing our destiny in the next." Max Lucado

Before you reject this as nonsense or folklore, why not ask God if He is indeed real to reveal that to you. If you are open to it, I believe He will do just that. The Bible says this is a reality. Why not taste and see? I’m pretty sure you’ll find a love beyond what your heart can dare to hope for. I did.

Peace and Love,

Lensi

P.S. Here's a link to a short video along the same lines... www.skullchurch.com/php/know_god/index.php

I have a tribe…

of beautiful Ugandan babies, if only for a little. Whenever I need a pick me up I leave the office and head outside to watch the kids at play and if possible play along. It’s funny how almost instantaneously my soul is revived. I’ve finally been able to post a few pics on this site so here are a few of the lil ones I’ve been having fun with. I will post a few pics of Lake Victoria next time around.

I have been in Entebbe for 6 weeks. I’ve seen so many parts of the ministry here. I have been blessed to join medical missions, help a development committee with a business plan for a piggery for the poor women in the church community and help with the kid’s program.

When I have a clear head and heart I marvel at the experience and I am so grateful I am able to be here. In less clear times, I amaze myself at how I can totally miss the big picture as I spend so much time focused on self and my needs, my issues etc. when they usually pale in comparison to the needs of the people who surround me. I guess that is the effect sin has on the human heart – makes us focus on us all the time! Most times however I come around in time to appreciate the moment before it passes me by.

As I meet all kinds of people with all kinds of issues I know most often all I can offer is my ear and sympathy but I know God can offer so much more. I know he wants to hear the same things they are telling me - their sorrows, their needs and their dreams. I love the imagery God uses throughout the Bible to describe His desire for us. He longs to hold us just as a mother hen gathers her young ones under her protective and caring wing. Hope you are enjoying His warm embrace. Love, Lensi

8 days in Israel

last catch-up update...

I was blessed to experience Israel for 8 days. I can only say it was one of the most amazing trips I’ve been on. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional but there were times when my tears kept flowing. Now I’ve recently learned my temperament type is melancholy meaning I’m naturally very sensitive but this was ridiculous. The beauty of it all from the countryside of Galilee to the stunning white washed stone city of Jerusalem really toke me aback. But what was most arresting was walking where my Savior walked. The temple mount in Jerusalem, the temple in Capernaum which was the town that served as the base of his ministry for 2 years, the Sea of Galilee area. These made me weep like a baby. These are places that I’ve read about tons of time but now I was experiencing it myself. It really made my Bible come to life. It was beautiful.

Kaldi's Goats Are Owed Much

some catching up to do, part 1 of 2...

A very long time ago, Kaldi an Ethiopian goat herder was out grazing his goats. The goats stumbled upon a berry that gave them a sudden jolt of energy and made them dance funny i.e. it made them high. Kaldi suddenly curious also tried it. Apparently, Kaldi the goat herder also moonlighted as a monk. He introduced the other monks to this substance that kept his goats chipper. The monks used it to stay awake during their all night prayer vigils. Eastern traders on expeditions to Africa got wind of the new stimulant and a world-wide phenomenon was born – the coffee bean. Kaldi may be a thing of legend but Ethiopia claims and is given credit for the birthplace of coffee.

To this day coffee has special place in Ethiopian culture. There is a café serving up delicious Ethiopian style macchiato on likely every other street in Addis Ababa. What is amazing to me is that those coffee shops are ALWAYS packed with people of all ages sipping and socializing NO matter what time of day it is. It’s a way of life. Even more so is the traditional coffee ceremony. Some folks do it once a day others twice. The coffee is brewed in a clay pot over charcoal and typically takes about an hour to brew. A young woman usually brews but all partake. While the coffee is brewing, the family is connecting and neighbors are invited over to truly be neighborly. I am an owner of such a clay pot and have now learned how to brew it the original way so if I ever settle down near one of you, you will be invited over for some coffee Ethiopian style.

The thing I enjoyed most about my time in Ethiopia was the simplicity of life. Despite poverty levels beyond what most Western folk can imagine, people take the time to enjoy each other. They have ceremonies and traditions like the ones mentioned above that ensure conversation and time are enjoyed organically. This I like much!

I want to see a miracle

I want to see one. Lately, I’ve come across quite a few things related to miracles whether it’s in my daily reading or someone I meet who happens to be talking about the topic. It happened again today… twice.

The first time, I was reading Acts 3. The story in brief - a man who was lame since birth was instantaneously healed. How? By faith. Jesus was not physically present but the healing was done in his name by people who believed that Jesus was God and that meant he had the power to heal. This type of stuff just doesn’t happen every day. Most people can’t say they’ve experienced a miracle and when they do we doubt them. I think this is why I want to see one. Because it defies logic and proves to me once again (most honest folks need a reminder every now and again) that there is a God and if he really is who he says he is he WILL on the regular defy human logic.

The second time, I was waiting for a meeting to start and opened up a devotional book to today's date. The entry just seemed so relevant that I wanted to share.

"It Defies Logic
Those who saw Jesus – really saw him – knew there was something different. At his touch blind beggars saw. At his command crippled legs walked. At his embrace empty lives filled with vision.

He fed thousands with one basket. He stilled storms with one command. He changed lives with one request. He rerouted the history of the world with one life, lived in one country, was born in one manger, and died on one hill….

God did what we wouldn’t dare dream. He did what we couldn’t imagine. He became a man so we could trust him. He became a sacrifice so we could know him. And he defeated death so we could follow him.

It defies logic. It is a divine insanity. A holy incredibility.

Only a Creator beyond the fence of logic could offer such a gift of love.“
From Grace for the Moment Volume 2 by Max Lucado