Just a Little Bit Odd

HOT Links

Ah! The nice thing about blogging is that when you run out of things to say, you can always link to someone else. Today I have a lot of good links for you. So take some time the next few days and check them out while I'm waiting for inspiration to strike. They’re all must reads, in my opinion . . . hey; would I lie to you?

First, the Bad News
. . . Sarah Holland, our A Month in My Life blogger has bid us “au revoir” now that January has run out. I'm disappointed to see such a perky and intelligent girl go, but I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from her in the future. Congrats on your new job, Sarah, and best wishes for the future from all of us here at the Just a Little Bit Odd studio!

Then the Good News
. . . your new blogger is a very interesting guy who has lots of interesting viewpoints, and I'm very excited that he will be blogging for us this month -- especially since I initially suggested him to our revered 90&9 editor. So stay tuned to that blog for his first post.

Witnessing Pros
As a result of my recent blog entries on witnessing, I’ve decided to start linking to articles of people and churches making a Christ-like impact on their worlds in unique ways. So for starters I suggest . . .

. . . an article about Mosaic, a rapidly growing church in Los Angeles that is attracting many twenty and thirtysomethings – the age group least likely to attend church.

. . . a news brief about one church in Seattle, WA that is taking the holistic approach to a new level, meeting more than just its community’s “Sundays Only” needs.

. . . What does the fast food restaurant Subway have to do with the church? Thanks to the reader who sent me this article, you can now find out!

. . . an excellent article written by Brian McLaren, who is considered the father of the “emergent conversation” which you can find out more about on his website, www.anewkindofchristian.com. I don’t agree with everything Mr. McLaren believes, but I wholeheartedly agree with his take on the role that the church should play in today’s society. So go find out “why efforts to renew the church are often misguided.”

Interesting Reading
You may have heard about the new Bible being advertised in Rolling Stone magazine, but you may not know that that Bible won’t be available in Lifeway Christian stores.

Pink Piggie Slippers
The only research I conducted before embarking on this project was reading the comics. So if the pigs bear an uncanny resemblance to Pig in Pearls Before Swine, it ain’t a coincidence!

Quote of the Day
“They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.”
--(My aunt sent this to me. I don’t know who said it.)

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 11:03 PM   

My Comments on Your Comments

Looking back over your comments from two days ago, I am amazed that so many of you are really struggling with how effective you are as a witness to this world. For every person who wrote in, I wonder how many people there are who didn’t write me but feel the same way? It's eye-opening that so many of you are to be grappling with an issue that doesn't seem to be formally recognized, addressed and/or emphasized by A/P churches as a whole. What do you think; are churches doing enough? Or is it up to Christians to motivate themselves whether their church does or not?

I believe the conclusion we came to is that you have to care about people first before they will listen to you when you share your faith. One reader wrote me and asked, "Maybe we're trying too hard to convert strangers instead of friends?" Mmmmm . . . that might mean door-knocking, handing out tracts, etc. should be left in the past. Maybe that means that relationships, rather than the mass dissemination of Biblical doctrine, will be the key to kingdom growth in the future.

Pastors/Church Leaders/Etc., Listen Up!
The rest of my blog entry is for you. I could be wrong thinking that this blog and the people who wrote me are representative of the whole state of the A/P movement, but just looking at my own experiences, I have a sneaking suspicion that it is. The people who sit in your churches day in and day out are floundering. We are desperately longing to work to expand the kingdom of God, but we need direction. We need bold visionaries who will step out and lead us. We are an army, but no army was ever allowed on the battlefield without very specific education and training, and we want more than we’re getting. The time is ripe for you to put this world in your targets and lead us on the offensive. We want to see God move and produce specific results on behalf of our prayers and efforts. In this world where the victories seem few, we want to see the devil lose. But we need you. We just can’t do it without you. Step out, and I believe you be surprise at how many of us will eagerly follow you.

That is my prayer.

(P.S. I am not narcissistic enough to think that a great number of church leaders read this blog. However, if you feel as strongly as I do about the above paragraph, I encourage you to encourage your church leaders to act along those lines. I am, as always, interested in hearing about the things you are doing in your church to reach others, so please pass along any good news!)

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 1:07 AM   

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Blog . . .

Today I had intended to blog my comments on your comments in the last entry, but a suprise telephone call from a good friend and the long but much-needed conversation that ensued left me a little depleted on time. So, we'll get around to yesterday's very important topic, but in the meantime, check out this link sent to me by one of my readers -- one Christian woman's evaluation on the Oscars, which she calls "Sinning Against the Holy Spirit." It is gritty, tell-it-like-it-is writing at its best. Gotta love that!

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 9:29 AM   

Some Empathy and Some Answers

Whew! I got many responses to Friday’s post about my inner struggle over reaching out to others to share the gospel (a.k.a. witnessing in Pentecostal-speak). Many of you wrote telling me you’re grappling with the same questions yourself, and others wrote with some concrete advice. I thought most of it was worth posting, so here it is.

Before you begin reading today’s post, let me warn you that it’s a little long. Don’t read any further unless you have a good bit of time on your hands. However, please do take the time the read this soon since you’re not going to want to miss out on these responses, which I found to be pretty amazing in their depth of soul-searching and wisdom. Okay, here goes; first, a second e-mail from the man whose question started all this:

The Initial Response
“I am sorry if I sounded like I was condemning you with my question. My purpose was not to condemn but to provoke thought.”

[Editor’s Note: We here at the Just a Little Bit Odd studios believe that he succeeded in that; wouldn’t you agree?]

“Anyone that has been a Christian longer than a day and a half (myself included) has missed and even ignored opportunities to witness to the lost. In this world that teaches tolerance there is an increasing amount of intolerance toward the believer and this can make even the bravest Christian to cower at times.

“My answer to the question that you presented in your blog is this. I noticed on line near the end [of your blog entry] that said "Yet, when it all boils down, my failure to reach the world with the love of Christ is no one's fault but my own." You mentioned the love of Christ. The last thing that this world needs is more religion, ceremonies, and condemnation. But there is one thing that everyone, without exception, needs is the love of Christ. We as Christians and Apostolics need to show the love of Christ everywhere we go. Whether it is helping that single mother as she struggles with a crying child, diaper bag, and stroller by holding an open door or even offering to carry something for them. You even ended your email with a witness. You signed it simply "God Bless You." There is a cashier somewhere that has not had one kind word spoken to them all day and it is amazing what a sincere 'God Bless You' will do for them.

I think the best way to sum it up is 1 John 4:8 - 'He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.' Simply put, show love in your everyday life and in truth you are showing people God. That mixed with prayer that God will bless your efforts and there is a surprising number of opportunities to witness to others.”

Response #2
“What thought-provoking questions - and ones for which I have no answer. I am afraid I weasel out of witnessing even to those with whom I work . . . so you have quite effectively voiced my concerns about my own non-evangelical efforts. Thanks for that - now, tell me when a reader gives you the answer for us lazy Christians!”

[Editor’s Note: The lady who wrote the above response is one who is very involved in various ministries at her church. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who knows her who cannot say that she has touched their lives in a special way. I told her once that soul maintenance is just as important as soul saving, but I don’t think I convinced her. What are your thoughts about that?]

Response #3
“Here is a response:

http://rj3blog.blogspot.com/2005/01/response-to-just-little-bit-odd.html

I am likely going to focus on this type of post for the next couple to my blog as well . . .”

[Editor’s Note: Go check out his blog and then add it to your favorites. It will be well worth your time.]

Response #4
"Hello old friend . . . it’s just me, reading your article and giving some input . . .

"People don’t care what you know ‘til they know that you care (wouldn’t that imply that your life is the greatest witness??).”

"--A fan (who thinks your honesty is an asset, and more Christians ought to follow your lead)."

[Editor’s Note: We just had to include that last comment in there. Wendy thought it was really sweet and getting compliments just makes her day.]

Response #5
“Your thought-provoking question and inner struggle struck another familiar chord within me . . . This inner struggle is an inner struggle with me too. Recently, God has been introducing people into my life. . . Sometimes I'm like, God, why are you placing these people in my life? How do I reach out to them? There has to be a more effective way than whipping out Acts 2:38 and laying it on thick. And then I think, but isn't there a more effective way than living that quiet principled life and hoping that it'll somehow catch on? I'm telling you, that entry was so . . . timely. Unfortunately, I don't have a magic answer. But I know it's something I need to be reflecting on too.”

Response #5
“I am writing in response to a specific blog from January 21, ‘A Thought-Provoking Question and An Inner Struggle.’

“All of the issues you presented and the struggles about fulfilling the Great Commission are the same that I deal with. While there are times that I have a compelling desire to bluntly tell others about my Savior and how He can bring them joy unspeakable even in the bleakest of circumstances, I have always preferred to let my life be my testimony. And up until this point that has been the extent of my witnessing. But not a day goes by that I do not wonder how much of my discreetness is just an excuse to avoid confrontation or awkward situations.

“I can generally be heard to quote that we are to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves," therefore it would be unwise to "cast my pearls before the swine." But how much of that is just another excuse to prevent me from leaving my comfort zone? It's easy to sit quietly in my cubicle at work and tell myself that my conduct is all the witness I need, or to sit in classes each day and ignore the signs exhibited by a professor who is lost in fear of the world she lives in and not offer her the hope and security that God has so graciously bestowed upon me.

“I pray every day that God would use me to bring people to Him, but do I honestly think that my coworkers will crowd my cubicle, begging me to tell them about the plan of salvation? I have heard many sermons that confront the listener with the idea that if this truly is the best thing that ever happened to you then why don't you share it with everyone you know? Each time I squirm in my seat as I think of the lost souls that I come in contact with daily, and I feel a pang of conviction that my boldness for Christ is not as it should be.”

[Editor’s Note: We here at the Just a Little Bit Odd studios have often wondered how many of the preachers of such sermons put into practice their own advice.]

“I determine to do better at sharing my faith with others, but at the same time I reason to myself that I am more than willing to tell anyone that asks what I believe and to stand up for it. But does true boldness wait to be coaxed from its corner of comfort?

“There is a lost and dying world out there. We are the army that has been commissioned to claim what rightfully belongs to the King. But I am afraid that too many of us are content with staying within the confines of the camp, watching the tragedy from afar. We expect one of the wounded to venture in, desperate to be released from the clutch of the enemy. And perhaps someday someone will, and I pray that we will at least handle that situation with the urgency it requires.”

Response #6
“One of the best examples of outreach that I have ever personally witnessed happens under a bridge in Waco every Sunday morning . . . I got to [I-HOP early] and was surprised to see these two pickup trucks with flatbed trailers drive up and start to disgorge amplifiers and sound equipment under the overpass in the median. Soon a crowd began to gather and after a while about 60-70 people made up an audience for the gospel witness. From what I could tell, the ministry group was probably evangelical but they were anointed, and I could feel the presence of the Lord among them.

“After the service, they would take the people to the church fellowship hall in a couple of buses. I was told that here they are fed a hot meal and provided with clothing and some toiletry items.

“To me, that is evangelism stripped down to the basics. Paraphrasing Bro. Sam Latta, they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Response #7
“I have always lived in small communities except during my college days; thus, the fields are somewhat limited to me in the area of witnessing. I know your frustration about witnessing, for I feel it regularly. I will take a bit of your time, however, to share a thought or two particularly since you expressed concern and asked for such.

“I received the Holy Ghost on the date of April 15 of my senior year in high school. Having been a good Baptist in central Louisiana, it caused quite a stir. I was constantly being asked questions by fellow students, to the extent that the principal, being a good (Baptist) friend of mine, actually turned the teachers’ faculty room over to me for the rest of the year so it would be convenient for those wishing to question me about what happened, etc. . . . . I did much witnessing in that faculty room; however, none of those fellow-students, as far as I know, did, or have yet come to a knowledge of the truth.

“I graduated with honors from high school (salutatorian) and should have done much better, grade wise, during my undergraduate years at college. (I did manage to graduate on the honor roll.) My grades suffered because I was so enthused about witnessing to everyone that I possibly could. Victims ranged from the president of the college (now Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, Louisiana), the Dean of Men, several college professors (to whose homes I was invited as a guest to participate in their home Bible studies), and dozens and dozens of college students. At that age, as you know, their minds are searching, and it is very easy to strike up a religious conversation.

“My confession to you, Wendy, is that, during those years, I won many (dozens and dozens) of arguments, but failed to win a single soul to the Lord. That’s a bit frightening.

“The lesson I learned from those early years can be easily summarized, with a few exceptions of course, thusly. In most cases, the people that I have won to the Lord, I first had to win to myself. I had to gain their respect, their love, and their confidence. Then, and only then (in most cases), would they listen to me in such a manner, and with such openness, that they would be convinced that what I was telling them was true.

“What did Jesus say? Let your light (not your lips) so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify my Father which is in heaven.

“Once in a rare occasion one may be able to win strangers to truth, but is rare indeed, particularly in American where the spirit of competition (schools, colleges, religious organizations, etc.) is so strong. It, most likely, would happen only if God and his angels were to have already done much to prepare their hearts . . .

“I gradually came to understand that developing a caring, understanding, and empathetic personality and outlook on life that people could relate to was opening more doors for witnessing, and producing more results, than just walking up to strangers and start witnessing, would ever produce.

“Once saints in one’s local church recognizes those traits, one will find that said saints will begin coming to such a one and asking them to witness to their friends. Many, perhaps most, of the people that I have won to the Lord in the last twenty years, were called to my attention in that manner. More could be said, but that’s enough for now. Sorry Wendy, but you see that you are not the only one with the gift of gab!

“Keep up the good work. Your light is shining to those around you at work and at school, and to those who read your delightful blogs. Your godly life, dress, lifestyle, and upright conversation is a witness. The Lord will open doors for you to witness, and eventually (if you haven’t already) you will have the joyous experience of having witnessed to someone and then seeing them repent, be baptized in the lovely name of Jesus for the remission of his/her sins, and then receive the wonderful baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

[Later, another e-mail arrived . . .]

“After sending the e-mail to you that you received a little while ago about witnessing, I got up and walked into the kitchen. There, a sweet presence of the Lord came to me. I then walked into the living room, lifted my hands, and worshipped the Lord. Within less then two minutes, a very real inspiration came to me to go back to my computer and burn a CD of the various religious topics that I have developed for power point slide presentations, and take them to Darren Duvall.

[Editor’s Note: We hope Darren will not be too alarmed to find his name in this blog. We are nice here, Darren, despite any previous blog entries which may lead you to believe the contrary! Hopefully people will take this mention of your name as an opportunity to pray for you, your safety and your success. I know I certainly will.]

“Who is Darren Duvall? He is a young man from our church who graduated a couple of years ago and joined the National Guard. He was sent to Afghanistan several months ago. Darren came home a couple of weeks ago and is due to leave tomorrow (Wednesday), returning to Afghanistan.

“The impression that came to me in the living room was to burn the CDs for Darren and let him take them back with him and use in witnessing to his buddies. (He has a laptop with Microsoft PowerPoint on it.) If it works out as planned, we will burn as many CDs as he wishes and send to him for him to give to his buddies as a testimony. (I spent dozens of hours preparing the files on various Bible topics, including some on the plan of salvation.)

"Darren’s life has been a witness already over there. His buddies have seen him under fire and have seen how the hand of God protected him to the extent that one of them told Darren that he wanted to stay as close to him as possible during times of combat.

"Pray that the CDs will be an effective witness, not only to Darren’s buddies, but also to their families when they return to the states with the CDs. Just another thought of how the Lord uses different people to witness which I thought you would find interesting.”

There’s a Lump in My Throat Right Now
You people are the best. I mean that. It is such a pleasure to blog for you all. Tomorrow I will be adding in some of my own comments, but in the meantime I’m going to say a prayer of thanks that I am Apostolic and am so blessed to be among such great people.

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 11:24 PM   

My Thoughts About Feet*

The guys at work -- Bill the Cat and his sidekick Bob the Builder -- have very eccentric music tastes. They're always talking about songs from the sixties and seventies that I've never heard of sung by bands like The Who (what's the World Health Organization got to do with music anyway?) and Molly Hatchet (and as best as I can figure, she isn't a girl). During these conversations (which are many), I usually keep a pretty confused expression: "Huh? Who's that? I've never heard of them." This pronouncement is usually followed by a very vehement, very exasperated "Look it up on the Internet!" (As if it's my fault I'm 24 and don't know any music produced pre-80s.) However, sometimes I take them up on their advice.

Which is precisely the reason I'm sitting here listening to a song called "Muskrat Love." According to this song, even muskrats have better love lives than I do. How embarassing. However, I'm all for a song that talks about foot rubs. Ask anyone who knows me well -- I'm crazy about feet. Particularly my own cute little tootsies. Which brings me (in a very roundabout way, I know) to my thought of the day: Feet! In a blogger-like ode to my very favorite body part (this is probably the only Christian blog in the blogiverse that pays tribute to body parts), I have a few quotes for you. It seems I am not the only one out there who adores the ten-toed kingdom either!

(I know, I know. This a stupid thing to write about. But I was looking through my blog entries this weekend, and it occured to me that I am way overdue for some comic relief. I got quite a few e-mails about my last blog, which I will return to tomorrow. In the meantime, it's my blog; let me enjoy myself okay?)

And the prettiest foot! Oh, if a man could but fasten his eyes to her feet, as they steal in and out, and play at bo-peep under her petticoats!
--William Congreve

Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?
--Lily Tomlin

Though I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, it hasn't changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I'm just wearing better shoes.
--Oprah Winfrey

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.
--Khalil Gibran

I won’t date anyone who doesn’t adore my feet.
--Wendy Scoggins

posted by Wendy @ 10:21 PM   

A Thought-Provoking Question and an Inner Struggle

I have a question. Did my last entry smack of an attitude that said, "Gosh, I sure wish someone else would do something about this" rather than one of personal responsibility? The reason why I'm asking is because I just received an e-mail from someone who simply asked:

"How many did you personally tell about Jesus?"

Answer #1
My first response was the "but, buts", quite in the same way that the lady in this post wrote about: "But, but, I live two hours away from there! But, but, I wasn't there for very long! But, but, the opportunity never came up!"

Yet the hard, honest answer to his question is:

"None. I completely and utterly failed to tell any of those people about Jesus."

Answer #2
My second response is to counter his question with another in my defense:

"When you are out in the marketplace somewhere, how many people do you waltz up to and strike up a conversation with the sole intent to tell them about Jesus?"

Yet asking that question would really serve no purpose other than 1) To make me feel gratified if his answer were also "none"; or 2) To make me feel even more ashamed if his answer were "I set a quota for myself of at least twenty people per day and fulfill it without fail except when I'm sick with the flu." So really, asking such a question is fruitless and does nothing to advance the cause of Christ.

Answer #3
So then, my third and most reasonable response would be, "Well, if I lived in that area and cultivated a friendship for those people, then I would certainly tell them about the hope I have in Christ at my earliest opportunity."

Yet even that answer is a weasely one because it's really nothing but a disguised attempt to justify my failure yesterday. What's that old saying about good intentions? That the road to hell is paved with them?

Answer #4
So then, there's really no good answer than to admit that I failed this one time and will try harder next time. That's hard for me to do though, because I can never leave it at that. If I tell someone I'm going to try harder next time, I really mean it. So I'm left with thoughts like, "What should I do next time? What would be the best way to reach those people -- by striking up a conversation while they look at me like I've just morphed into an alien? By shoving a tract in their palm while avoiding their eyes and then quickly moving on to the next empty palm? Is there a better way that I'm not seeing? Would it be too cowardly just to stay at home and pray for them from afar? Short of quitting my job, moving here and dwelling among these people, is there a happy medium that would be more effective?"

That last question then opens up a whole 'nother can of worms: "Does God want us to witness in ways that don't seem very effective, just as long as we're getting The Word out? Exactly how much physical exertion does God deem mediocre? Acceptable? Excellent?" Maybe these are the wrong questions; maybe there's something I'm missing. To be very honest, however, I do live with this nagging sense that the life I live for God is very mediocre indeed. That there's so much more I could be doing for Him but I allow opportunities pass me up every day because I don't see them. Yet what frustrates me about myself is that I'm not self-motivated in this area. Although I have this little radar going off saying something isn't as it should be, and yet I ignore it and fill my days with school and work and sleep and church and food instead

It's Not My Fault!
If I were the type to point fingers and place blame, I certainly could. After all, I'm just a victim of the era of the self-satisfying, consumer-oriented Christian, and I'm not really all that different from anyone else. I attend a church that doesn't challenge its members to leave their comfort zones to go to the highway and byways, nor does it organize any church-sponsored outreach activities. I'm a single mom, working full time and attending school full time; I just don't have the time! Yet, when it all boils down, my failure to reach the world with the love of Christ is no one's fault but my own.

You Tell Me
I need some advice. I know most of you out there are also very busy people just like me. How do you fruitfully fulfill the Great Commission in your life while trying to balance your other priorities? What are the most effective ways you connect with perfect strangers to tell them about Jesus? If you try really hard and yet still bear no fruit, how do you explain that? Is quietly living a life demonstrating Christian principles really the best witness, or is it just an excuse to weasel out of going on the offensive? I honestly want to know because this is something I struggle with but can't find a really good answer. Despite all the knowledge I have and all the articles I read that endlessly toss around this question and eventually come to the conclusion that it's different for everyone, I'm still not comforted. Your normally savvy and opinionated blogger really doesn't have it all together on this very important issue. So I want to know, what do you think?

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 5:09 PM   

Where I Was Yesterday

In downtown Houston, off the 610 Loop at the lower end of Westheimer, down past Donald J. Pliner and Tootsies (where the Bush twins shop) Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Banana Republic, past Victoria’s Secret, Z Gallerie and the brick wall where St. John’s School's name is engraved, the posh neighborhood quickly disintegrates into potted asphalt, cheap dives and fantastic graffiti. Here funky antique shops and dirt cheap thrift stores with names like The Buffalo Exchange and The Leopard Lounge beckon the twentysomething crowds. They are drawn to this place by the lure of bargains like $30 Wilson’s Leather jackets and off-the-wall clothing that can’t be found anywhere else. On weekends these rubble-strewn sidewalks are jammed with young people chatting outside the food joints and sitting on street corners watching the passersby.

A Paradise of Lost Souls
Despite my long skirt and glaring lack of a nose ring, I feel comfortable among these people whose wild hair and even weirder looks places them easily into the realm of society’s fringe-dwellers. Most of these people seem gentle and accepting, others wary and distant, but they all come together in a place like this because they share one thing – and one thing only – in common. They are freaks, weirdos, outcasts, and losers, the people whom society has discarded and forgotten. I don't visit this paradise of lost souls very often, and yet I could easily live here because I identify so closely with these sort of people. They are exactly the kind of people that Jesus came to save. If Jesus walked the earth today, He would search for His disciples among these uneducated dreamers.

Not a Beautiful Letdown In Sight
Wistfully and in vain I search for a little storefront church somewhere, some sign that these people are loved and being reached. I see nothing but the imposing stone structure of a Methodist church several miles up the road, a million miles from the world of these people. The bars and nightclubs are only a street over, I know; it is those places that feed the needs of these people with food of no substance or nutritive value. Ever searching but never finding, these people don't bow to institutional conformity, much less the demands of religion. The bars reach them where they live but I don't know if the children of God ever will, so these people will always be losers, weirdos and freaks. Hope for them is scarce; society doesn’t care whether they live or die. Perhaps many of them don’t care either. I don’t know why that thought breaks my heart like it does. Maybe because, deep down, the only difference between me and these outcasts is that I have found a home whereas these people will probably wander forever lost and lonely but always with the knowledge that something good remains just beyond their grasp. How sad.

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 10:34 PM   

My Boss Responds

Bill the Cat, my boss and the only person in southeast Texas who claims to be a Druid (very tongue-in-cheekily), sent me this yesterday:

"My wife connects with a Christian chat group/prayer forum. When it was first starting up, the prayers were simple (i.e. "Give me strength to . . ." "Forgive me because . . ."). This past weekend though, my wife read to me some of the things posted. I don't know what started this, but someone kept posting a prayer request that "all the people of the heathen city of Seattle be struck dead and sent straight to Hell." Not only that, but many others chimed in with "Amen!" There were even a couple of requests to drag the state of Washington (or is it Oregon?) into the Pacific when the Almighty separates California from the land of the free. After an hour of this diatribe, he then started on everyone else in the world he didn't like. Speaking from a personal point of view, if I didn't know that this kind of loudmouth was a minority in the Christian world, I would be less tempted than ever to join a church. (Miss Odd, we have had a discussion or two about my feelings toward organized religion). Unfortunately, all Christians get tainted when people like this are allowed to spew their hatred under the guise of religion. This is also true no matter what the race, creed, belief, socio-economic status, nationality, gender, shoe size, etc. of the speaker, if the speaker is using hatred and a loud speaker to voice their beliefs, no matter how erroneous; everyone else in that group is also labelled as a 'hater.'

"By the way, I tried to access the web-site link you offered and our corporate net-nanny would not allow me to access it because it fell into the category of "hatred and racism."

Spoken like a true non-church goer. The lesson here shouldn't be lost on us.

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 11:51 PM   

An Exception to Every Rule?

In response to my ten protests against Hollywood this morning, one of my readers wrote in with a rebuttal. I had to laugh when I read his e-mail; I love it when my readers can prove me wrong! Following is what he had to say.

"For your ten protests, I offer:

10. Shallow Hal
9. A Walk to Remember
8. Blues Brothers
7. Minority Report
6. Lion King
5. Passion of the Christ
4. Super Size Me
3. Schindler's List
2. Shawshank Redemption
1. [Got me there, Wendy]

Of course, I agree with you 100% and more. My wife and I try to be selective as possible, and hence the rebut. We also have TVG which blips out the cuss words (take that you foul-mouthed actors!). But they definitely have us hooked, and I'd be anything less than glib to say that Hollywood doesn't dictate Western culture."

I obviously don't watch many movies; perhaps next time I'll evaluate my ignorance on a subject before I launch an attack on it. Thank you, reader!

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 10:08 AM   

10 Things I Hate About Hollywood

With all the free world reliving the highlights of last night's Golden Globes and looking forward to the Oscars, I thought I'd post this timely little blog of protest.

10) They never, ever make a movie where the main character is an overweight guy or chubby girl.
9) The biggest sinners are portrayed as the biggest heroes but nine times out of ten, Christians are portrayed as the villians.
8) Apostolics are a completely ignored demographic. (Although that may be a good thing, because if they ever tried to make a movie about us, it probably wouldn't be very flattering or sympathetic.)
7) Their Golden Rule is "Do unto others before they do unto you" or "Do unto others because they did unto you."
6) They can't even keep the children's movies smut-free.
5) They love toilet humor but hate the cross.
4) They run the most cutthroat industry in the world and then have the gall to call their opponents mean-spirited bigots.
3) They reduce life to its lowest common denominators and call it art.
2) One word: Kinsey

and the number one thing I hate the most about Hollywood is

1) They've got us convinced we can't live without them!

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 7:52 PM   

My Latest Internet Endeavor

Since I complain all the time about the stress of school, just for jollies I decided to let all you wonderful readers of mine view some of exactly what it is that I keep griping about. My homework in my Macromedia Flash class is currently posted on my personal website located at (where else?) www.justalittlebitodd.com

My first assigment in the class was creating an assignment log to be used throughout the rest of the semester to access further assignments. My second assignment is the only other one that is viewable right now, but new assignments will be added weekly, so you'll have to check back throughout the rest of the term to view them.

For the second assignment, we were given a script to use and instructed to make an animated Nike banner out of it. So if you think, like I do, that the script is a little cheesy, keep in mind that I didn't make it up. If it had been up to me, I would've used this script: "She jumps! She shoots! She misses. She tries again. She gets it. Nike. So do we." I know that's cheesy too, but at least it's original.

And keep in mind that I'm still a rank amateur. That's my excuse for everything you might think is poorly designed!

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 3:18 PM   

More Readers Respond

I am still getting a lot of e-mail concerning my post about the Christians who were arrested. I am humbled and awed that you find the meager musings of a twentysomething worth taking the time to share with me your thoughts on certain issues. In addition to one reader's heartfelt cry in ninetyandnine's Letters section which you should definitely read, here are two more thought-provoking comments I received:

". . . Assuming that the Christians had pure the intentions of expanding the Lord's Kingdom, their actions were poorly designed. They invited a shallow and hate-driven response by acting in a shallow and hate-driven manner. The attention they garnered in that Philadelphia park now threatens to have a substantially similar impact on a national level. The magnitude depends on how the degree by which the story spreads and by whose account. It is difficult to imagine that somewhere in the back hills of The Hamptons there smugly stands a post-modern secularist about to fall to his knees in repentance because of a sense that these Christians are being unfairly treated."

"I agree that what these Christians have done isn't terribly effective, but I think that is irrelevant for them. What a lot of us modern Christians forget is the long tradition of a prophetic voice. John the Baptist was beheaded because he was too involved in politics and didn't mince words about Herod. Jesus also defied those in authority. The church as a responsibility to act priestly, but to whom there is a calling--a prophetic one. The fact is that these Christians were arrested for their beliefs and religious persecution."

Elsewhere . . .
Quite by coincidence (wait a minute, I thought I didn't believe in coincidences), I heard about this website last week. Hoo buddy! Sometimes I just don't want to be known as a Christian, if others are going to associate me together with people who also fall under that label. I almost feel sinful bringing exposure to such ignorant, hateful rhetoric, but maybe it would do us all some good to see how not to approach such a controversial issue like homosexuality. Besides, I feel such a strong urge to distance myself from "Christians" like this. See if you don't feel the same way after checking it out for yourself.

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 1:16 AM   

Stress: Kill It Before It Multiplies!

This Goes For Everything Else Too!

One of my readers wrote in with a few comments on how the concept of demonstrative love can be applied to many different situations. I thought it worth posting:

“Your thoughts echo mine on the subject of abortion . . . My plain-spoken, truck driver brother was sitting in a truck stop with several "born again" Christians one day while they were talking about picketing abortion clinics along with some of our UPC churches. [Their conversation took place] after there had been some bombings and injury to clinic personnel. [My brother] just asked the question, ‘How many adopted children do you have?’ He laughingly reported that there was a moment of silence and the ‘but, but’ started.

Too often, I believe that we have taken the Saul of Tarsus approach rather than that of the Apostle Paul . . . a great many women in UPC do not support this bully pulpit, judgmental approach. A great many of us have been confronted or ignored by this same type of attitude. A great many of us are, I whisper very softly here, Democrats – not Republicans. We do not believe that might makes right. We believe that a closet of prayer is far more effective than a public display. We have sons, daughters, and friends who are gay or lesbian. We love them even if their life choices are abhorrent to us. We also love that woman who has made the mistake as well as the life that she is choosing to destroy.

There are no degrees in sin. If we do not love our brother and our sister despite their faults, how can we say that the love of God is in us? The blood shed at Calvary covered every stain, not just the ones that we want to apply it to.”

Amen, sister! In summary, I like to remember the legendary words of Paul and DC Talk:

Paul: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become like sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” (1Corinthians 13:1-3, NKJV)

DC Talk: “Love is a verb!”

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 1:19 AM   

A great big pat on the back goes out to . . .

. . . ninetyandnine.com for breaking a new record in its number of readers last week! The flood of traffic to the site surged (pardon the pun) due to the tsunami articles, Tsunami! Prayer Still Protects! and Tsunami News: Devastation and Miracles. Hopefully there are now a lot more people out there praying for the people in that disaster than there were before. Remember, when you refer anyone to the site, everyone wins (and the people you refer will love you for it).

. . . me! According to everyone who wrote in concerning my previous post, I really hit the nail on the head. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in the way I feel. A great big virtual hug to you girls and a nice hearty handshake for you guys for taking the time to write. By the way, if you’re interested in speaking the truth in love to the Department of Justice Attorney General concerning the arrests of the Christians, you may e-mail him (her?) here.

Can I toot my horn just a minute longer? Thanks, because I just recently came across this article, which supports my recent entry on the need for an increased Apostolic presence on the ‘Net. Validation is so much fun!

Okay, I’m done. That’s all I have to say today, but allow me to direct your attention to this website, which asks a very provocative question:

posted by Wendy @ 10:32 PM   

Christ Wasn't a Street Corner Preacher

I’m approaching today’s blog very carefully, praying I have the skill to effectively convey my exact feelings on this subject. First, the facts:

You may already have heard about the Christians who were arrested at a homosexual event called “Outfest” in Philadelphia this past December. According to this press release, a group calling themselves the Philadelphia 11 was protesting the event when another group of homosexuals tried to shut them up. All the Christians -- and no homosexuals -- were arrested.

According to other news sources, the Christians, with the aid of a megaphone, were reading scriptures on what the Bible has to say about homosexuality while others were holding signs with Biblical messages. A homosexual group called the Pink Angels blew loud whistles to drown out the Christians, while others held up pink angel signs to cover up the Christians’ signs. The Christians were arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation and riot. The heaviest sentence carries up to 47 years of prison time.

Says the press release, “Early last week the Center for Law & Policy (CLP) filed papers in the federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania seeking a temporary restraining order that would prevent the City of Philadelphia from prosecuting the case against the Philadelphia 11. Judge Petrese Tucker heard the case and denied the Philadelphia 11’s request. The CLP immediately appealed Judge Tucker’s decision to the Third Circuit and that Court denied the Philadelphia 11’s request for emergency relief.”

Today the plot thickened when an anonymous source from the U.S. Justice Department revealed that some homosexuals may have been on the conspiring end instead. According to today’s press release, several judges in the Department of Justice attended Outfest and may have advised policemen to arrest the Christians. Because of their involvement and the obvious bias of the DOJ, the Christians may not be able to expect any justice from that quarter.

Now: focus your attention halfway around the world to a man I blogged about several months ago, the Swedish pastor jailed for publishing an article against homosexuality where he specifically called homosexuality, “a cancerous tumor on society.”

Obviously, the persecution of Christians for speaking against homosexuality is nothing new, despite its increasing aggression in the US. I believe that standing against sin is one of a Christian’s God-given duties. It is true and right and part of loving sinners as we are commanded to do. I also believe that although there are many decent homosexuals who are just as shocked and outraged at such travesties of justice as we are, there are also many homosexuals who use unethical, illegal and dirty methods to advance their agendas.

However, today’s blog is not about what the homosexuals are doing wrong; it is about what Christians are doing wrong. When I first wrote about pastor Ake Green, asking you to pray for him, my primary feeling was one of deep regret for the suffering of a good man for a righteous act. As time went on, my feelings changed. Although I feel that the pastor and the Philadelphia 11 were wrongly arrested, and I hope true justice will be served to them and anyone in similar situations, I believe the methods these Christians used should be examined carefully. Please understand that I do not wish to criticize (didn't I make a New Year's resolution about that?), but I do wish to point out that some messages are better delivered with different methods from those employed here.

First of all, what is the point of telling homosexuals what the Bible has to say about their lifestyle when most of them do not profess to be Christians and couldn’t care less about what the Bible says? That such methods would cause someone to repent and turn to God – especially in a carnival-type atmosphere – is highly unlikely. Yelling scriptures at a crowd of people that tell them God hates what they’re doing or calling them names in a newspaper is foolhardy and highly ineffective in any situation, In fact, these things may do more to turn people off in the long run. Does such behavior exhibit the love we’re supposed to show everyone? I wonder if the Christians and the pastor were also telling the homosexuals of God’s infinite capacity to extend grace and hope to them as well? No sermon condemning sin should ever lack the message of the gospel. If we emphasize sin, we must emphasize grace all the more. (Romans 5:20)

Words are cheap: tell me you love me, and I’m skeptical. Show me you love me, and I’m convinced. In order to gain a more sympathetic hearing for the gospel, we must first demonstrate love for the sinner. The key word here is demonstrate. I ask you, who is a homosexual more likely to listen to? A pastor closeted in a study? A small group of people yelling on a sidewalk? Or a volunteer laboring in an AIDs clinic? It’s hard to not like someone who is helping you or serving you in some way. It’s even harder not to listen to what they have to say at that point. Love seems so much more real when the person speaking of it is demonstrating that love at that very moment.

I hope that as we Christians continue to stand up for our rights in the public arena, we will remember that God's interests are best served when we practice what we preach. If we haven’t demonstrated God’s love, I don't believe we have a right to speak of God’s hatred for sin.

Questions, comments, concerns? E-mail me! I reserve the right to quote you unless you ask otherwise.

posted by Wendy @ 10:46 PM   

An Evening at an Apostolic Service

I visited Dimples’ church tonight. I just went to hear his pastor preach. Really, I did! It was quite an experience for a quiet mid-week service.

I Have a Hymnbook Habit
During song service the song-leader enthusiastically announced the page number for every song: “Now we’re gonna sing from page 255!” I reached for the hymnbook – the same one we use in our church; whatta coincidence! – and then promptly shoved it back in the pew when I realized everyone was reading the lyrics from the projection screens up front. We don’t have projection screens in our church, although they seem a staple in every UPC church I’ve ever attended. I have to admit, I’m all for modern technology, but I still like singing from a hymnbook best.

Nothing Like a Little Embarassment in Church
Shortly before the preaching, Dimples came over and sat down next to me. The little old lady I was squashed up against elbowed me. “This yer feller?” she squawked.

Mortified, I burst out, “No!”

Dimples squirmed next to me. “No ma’am,” he corrected.

“Uh, I’m sorry . . . no, ma’am,” I said, doing my best to smile reassuringly at her. “We’re just friends,” I explained.

“Oh. Nothing wrong with that.” Then raising her voice, she proclaimed, “He’s a fine young man!"

Dimples reached over to clasp her hands gratefully, smirking at me the whole time. She beamed and continued. “He's precious, just precious. We just love him to death." Then she lowered her voice and whispered conspiratorially to me. "He’s going to make some young lady a fine husband one day.”

Was that supposed to be a hint?

Old Habits Die Hard
I made the same mistake again by pulling out my Bible for scripture reading. Dimples shoved it back in my purse as quickly as if I'd pulled out a tube of lipstick. “It’s on the screen,” he hissed.

Ironic. No one uses a Bible in church anymore.

Nothing Like a Little Entertainment in Church
The little old lady entertained us twice more during the rest of the service. During the sermon, when Dimples’ pastor asked, “If your son asked for bread, would you give him a stone?” she whispered, “Yes! And I’d take and whack him upside the head with it!”

Later the pastor began poking fun at articles with titles like, “Eight Steps to a Successful Marriage,” or “10 Steps to Revival.” His point was that sometimes people fail to fall in love with Jesus because they get too hung up on the steps. “Yep, and then they fall and break an ankle,” the little old lady remarked.

Okay, it was funny to me. Boy, I sure know how to pick a pew partner, don’t I?

After church, I ran across another little old lady. This one I know from back when I used to have coffee with the sister of the lady’s husband who . . . well, I just know her. Of course she wanted to know why I was there. “I’m friends with a guy who goes here? Dimples?”

“Oh!” She smiled widely. “I’d heard he was going with a girl from your church but I didn’t know it was you!” This was followed by yet another gushing speech on the virtues of Dimples and how she just had to compliment me on my choice.

So . . . he seems to have all the little old ladies fooled. You know he had to do quite a bit of sweet-talking to accomplish that, because those little old ladies are sharp! Well, that’s okay because at my church, all the little old ladies think I’m wonderful too. And the next time he visits there, I’m going to instruct them to bombard him with compliments about me. I can just visualize his 6'2" frame surrounded by a swarm of white beehives as they tell him things like, "She visited me in the hospital and brought me chocolate chip cookies! Boy, I tell ya, did those things send my sugar uuuup! But they was so good I hid 'em from the grandkids and ate 'em all by myself! Hee, hee, hee . . ." I can't wait.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the service, commentary notwithstanding. The songs were the same, the worship was the same, the spirit of God was the same . . . I felt right at home.

posted by Wendy @ 9:06 AM   

Television vs. the Internet

Latest Update in the World of Ninetyandnine
For those of you saddened over the departure of the witty, insightful and highly intelligent Southampton from his blog, cheer up! Starting today, the good folks over at ninetyandnine are offering a new blog which will feature the life of one different Apostolic per month. January’s blogger is Sarah Holland, and I like her already. Go check her out here.

Moving on to Today’s Entry . . .
One of my alert readers sent me this very interesting article about TV and Internet use. According to the article, avid Internet users spend more time clicking the mouse than a remote. These findings couldn’t help but make me think of the ever-raging controversy over TV vs. the Internet in ninetyandnine’s own Letters section.

Back when the UPC faced the critical decision of whether or not to advertise/broadcast on television, I was not against the idea, but skeptical as to how effective it would be. Those disappointed with the decision made can take new heart; perhaps the Internet – rather than television – is where the future of advertising and information distribution lies. The article states that over 75% of the nation has access to the web, while surfers spend 43% of their time browsing for information.

Now that television is not an option for evangelism in the Apostolic church – or at least its largest organization – perhaps we should consider widening the scope of Internet ministry. We can learn a lesson or two from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who is quite effectively utilizing the Internet to build up good PR for its organization and subtly communicating its own values. Catchy 30-second radio and television ads on family values invites viewers and hearers to its website, where they can access more information on building healthy families. In doing so, there are also non-obtrusive links off to the side where interested parties can find out more about the organization and its beliefs.

Please don’t think of this as a plug for the Mormon church – if I agreed with the beliefs of Mormonism, I wouldn’t be blogging for you guys! However, they are one example of what classy Internet advertising looks like. Can the Apostolic church use the Internet in broader and more effective ways to get its message out? Certainly! Is it a substitute for more effective means, such as word of mouth and a genuine move of God in its churches? Certainly not! However, since the Internet is certainly the place to be these days; we should consider showing up in full force as well.

posted by Wendy @ 9:16 AM   

Tsunami Update

For those of you who would like to donate to the tsunami relief effort, the Assist News Service in conjunction with www.crosswalk.com is offering the following tips to make sure your donation is being used responsibly.

• Do your homework: Ask what percentage of your donation goes to administration, request a copy of the organization's annual report and find out how long the agency has been operating.
• If you are supporting a particular charitable project on an ongoing basis, request periodic updates on the project you're contributing to.
• Be aware that charities should be using donations for the purpose for which they were given - and if for any reason a charity ends up unable to use a gift for the project it was given for, the charity should communicate with its donors and offer to refund the gift. Responsible organizations carefully monitor their programs and costs.

If you haven't already, go check out the ninetyandnine.com articles, Tsunami! Prayer Still Protects! and Tsuanmi News: Devastation and Miracles,

featuring a firsthand account of experiencing the tsunami as well as status reports of several missionaries in the area.

posted by Wendy @ 9:39 PM   

2005: An Inauspicious Start

The prevailing attitude among my fellow bloggers and others in regard to the earthquake/tsunami catastrophe seems to be one of guilt. I suppose it's a common feeling you get when faced with someone who has nothing, and I am no different. It horrifies me to imagine what it must be like to work day in and day out so that you can have a fairly decent life, only to have it all wiped away in an instant. I won't say much more than that since I'm sure you're getting better news about it elsewhere, but please continue to keep that area of the world in your prayers.

Happy New Year
In keeping with my odd ways, I was planning to come up with some pretty odd New Year's resolutions like boycotting Disney for not featuring one frizzy-haired heroine in their animated movies. However, given the somber nature of the times, I decided some flippy resolutions would be too irreverant. So, in the form of a prayer (since I'm going to need serious help in the year ahead) here are my resolutions for this year.

Dear God,

• I know what it's like to have my friends treat me as an obligation on a lengthy to-do list and to feel like the lowest priority in somebody's stack, so why do I continue to treat You the same way? Please help me to treat You more like my beautiful daughter does, who seeks my presence simply because she wants to be with me, who lives for my smile of approval, who never passes up an opportunity to bestow on me a gesture of affection.
• It is so easy to criticize, and You know I've been doing that a lot this year. Instead of being critical, help me to take the much harder route of praying for those whom I would criticize or condemn. Instead of sitting back and offering solutions, instead help me to be a part of the solution.
• I know there is at least one lonely, heartbroken soul out there in need of a friend. Please lead me to that person, Lord, and help me to be Your hands and feet to that person. Give me no other motive than that and help me not to expect anything in return.

posted by Wendy @ 1:22 AM