I was sitting at my desk working on a PowerPoint for work. On the web stream, I was listening to Ablazin' Grace Gospel. Nice.
Then it happened: ***Sha-zam!!!***
I was a little girl with braids and knee high white sheer socks and patent leather maryjanes. Just the first line of the song from the computer speakers took me back to Macedonia Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas in the early 1970's. Sunday morning, eleven o'clock service... the church is packed.I could almost hear the music slowly fade into the fabulous sound of the filled to over-flowing choir loft singing:
We've come this far-ar-ar by faith,
Leaning on....the Lo-ord!!!
Trustin' in His Holy Word....
He's never fail-ail-ailed me ye-et!!!
Oh,oh-oh-ohhh,oh-oh-ohhh!
Can't turn arou-ou-ound.... We've come this far-ar-ar by fai-aith!!!!
I can hear my Momma singing along... I can feel the fans waving. I can hear a sister near the back shouting to the Lord.
And then **** Sha-zam!!!****... I'm back to my desk....
A warm feeling lingers. I know that I've come this far by faith. I think about the faith of my Momma, and I know... I can't turn arou-ou-ound....
And in heaven, I'll be around saints singing praises and hear Momma singing and sisters and brothers shouting to the Lord.
...we've come this fa-a-ar by faith!!!!
Showing posts with label Christian LIfe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian LIfe. Show all posts
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, July 9, 2007
American Christianity's Carnival Trick Mirror
American Christianity’s Carnival Trick Mirror
I spend quite a bit of time online these days. In fact, I have spent many hours online for the last five or six years. I check my email daily and read the local, state, national and world news. I also visit my standard forums and peruse blogs utilizing a search engine on Google ®.
I have noticed a few disturbing trends in North America, specifically among those of us in the United States that are the Church. There are prevailing mindsets and attitudes that cause alarm. Strangely, American Christians seems to think that our Christian experience is the ultimate and most holy in God’s eyes. Think about it.
First I’ll start with the move towards ultra conservatism. As an aside, I will admit that I am a moderate conservative. (A term that is synonymous with “liberal” in many closed minded camps) There seems to be an idea that one can never be too conservative. And the more conservative one can be is directly proportionate to personal holiness.
Secondly, I am alarmed at the herd mentality and group think when it comes to dating, marriage and gender roles. I believe that marriage and family is the unit that God created to be the building blocks of society. However, I also believe that the Lord made man and woman differently. That said, different does not mean second-rate.
Young Christian women in America are being brained washed to “dummy down”. They are being encouraged to not seek higher education. I understand that it is a choice whether or not to work outside of the home. I have no problem with either choice. I do, however have problems with a woman being left with no marketable skill sets should a spouse pass away or if a marriage fails. Many young women are being taught that they should not contaminate their hearts and minds with worldly knowledge.
I concur that we are not to be of the world. However we are called to be in it. And we need to know how to survive regardless of our gender as a Christian in a godless world. We must have tools in our arsenal. We must be prepared to meet them on an equal academic footing whether we are keepers of the home, or work outside the home as well as maintain the home. God is faithful and will protect and provide. However, I do not think the brains that women are given are for optional usage. They do not need to be switched off to please our fathers, boyfriends, fiancés or husbands. As long as our minds are transformed with the help of the Holy Spirit… everything is well.
There is much more to discuss, but I am out of time. I’ll address improperly defined submission, authority and respect in the next entry. Misogyny and the inferiority/superiority conundrum in American Christian males need exploration. Also, the hidden racism riding the coattails of American Conservative Christianity is in my cross hairs.
Until next time…
I spend quite a bit of time online these days. In fact, I have spent many hours online for the last five or six years. I check my email daily and read the local, state, national and world news. I also visit my standard forums and peruse blogs utilizing a search engine on Google ®.
I have noticed a few disturbing trends in North America, specifically among those of us in the United States that are the Church. There are prevailing mindsets and attitudes that cause alarm. Strangely, American Christians seems to think that our Christian experience is the ultimate and most holy in God’s eyes. Think about it.
First I’ll start with the move towards ultra conservatism. As an aside, I will admit that I am a moderate conservative. (A term that is synonymous with “liberal” in many closed minded camps) There seems to be an idea that one can never be too conservative. And the more conservative one can be is directly proportionate to personal holiness.
Secondly, I am alarmed at the herd mentality and group think when it comes to dating, marriage and gender roles. I believe that marriage and family is the unit that God created to be the building blocks of society. However, I also believe that the Lord made man and woman differently. That said, different does not mean second-rate.
Young Christian women in America are being brained washed to “dummy down”. They are being encouraged to not seek higher education. I understand that it is a choice whether or not to work outside of the home. I have no problem with either choice. I do, however have problems with a woman being left with no marketable skill sets should a spouse pass away or if a marriage fails. Many young women are being taught that they should not contaminate their hearts and minds with worldly knowledge.
I concur that we are not to be of the world. However we are called to be in it. And we need to know how to survive regardless of our gender as a Christian in a godless world. We must have tools in our arsenal. We must be prepared to meet them on an equal academic footing whether we are keepers of the home, or work outside the home as well as maintain the home. God is faithful and will protect and provide. However, I do not think the brains that women are given are for optional usage. They do not need to be switched off to please our fathers, boyfriends, fiancés or husbands. As long as our minds are transformed with the help of the Holy Spirit… everything is well.
There is much more to discuss, but I am out of time. I’ll address improperly defined submission, authority and respect in the next entry. Misogyny and the inferiority/superiority conundrum in American Christian males need exploration. Also, the hidden racism riding the coattails of American Conservative Christianity is in my cross hairs.
Until next time…
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Wrapped Up In My Today
Luke 1: 46-55
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Wrapped Up In My Today
Like many, I tend to view my life and situations from a “self” viewpoint. I lose my focus (Jesus) and begin to look with the attitude of how situations and people affect me.
I give too much power to the actions of those present in my today. I allow myself the luxury of centering everything upon myself.
I am well glad to realize it.
The big picture just escapes me sometimes. I guess that is one of the character issues that the Holy Spirit is working on.
In the first chapter of Luke, Mary’s clarity is inspiring. I mean, come on!!!
She wasn’t thinking of what the neighbors might say (or worse do to her). She wasn’t thinking of how all of her plans were irrevocably changed. She didn’t whine about any of it. Instead, she rejoiced in the Lord.
Mary magnified the Lord’s power and mercy and love. She chose to look at the mighty God we serve in awe. She chose to trust. She put her today in perspective. Compared to her testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness, her today was a walk in the park. She knew that God “had her back.”
Her confidence was in God.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your mercy. And Lord, I thank You for Your patience with me as You mold me. I pray that my eyes remain focused on You. Because You are my yesterday, today and tomorrow. You are my eternity.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Wrapped Up In My Today
Like many, I tend to view my life and situations from a “self” viewpoint. I lose my focus (Jesus) and begin to look with the attitude of how situations and people affect me.
I give too much power to the actions of those present in my today. I allow myself the luxury of centering everything upon myself.
I am well glad to realize it.
The big picture just escapes me sometimes. I guess that is one of the character issues that the Holy Spirit is working on.
In the first chapter of Luke, Mary’s clarity is inspiring. I mean, come on!!!
She wasn’t thinking of what the neighbors might say (or worse do to her). She wasn’t thinking of how all of her plans were irrevocably changed. She didn’t whine about any of it. Instead, she rejoiced in the Lord.
Mary magnified the Lord’s power and mercy and love. She chose to look at the mighty God we serve in awe. She chose to trust. She put her today in perspective. Compared to her testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness, her today was a walk in the park. She knew that God “had her back.”
Her confidence was in God.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your mercy. And Lord, I thank You for Your patience with me as You mold me. I pray that my eyes remain focused on You. Because You are my yesterday, today and tomorrow. You are my eternity.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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