No Need to Debate

I feel sorry for those who think they need to bring people to God through fear tactics, and judgment calls. In my experience, that doesn't work and often scares others far away from the church, sometimes for life. It may get someone to say the right thing, or be at church at a certain time, and even scare someone into changing a habit or a way for short "shallow" stint- but it won't be humanly sustainable for them on their own, long term. You don’t “will” your way into being a Christian by following rules and pointing at people to do certain things-- to get to Him.

In my experience, it is almost always, the gift of grace and love from Him--- and the magnitude and awesome realization of that depth of love, that starts the authentic journey of truly knowing Him. We can all walk a walk for a time, but being moved at a level so deep we can’t explain it, so "awed and amazed at His undeserving, unconceivable depth of love and grace in our own life” that changes us. It transforms our  view of  life, forever. That change, is what prepares us and makes us ready to truly know Him. It knocks out everything we were ever taught about the human view of the human condition, and it takes us to our knees and humbles us into a new being, literally. That kind of love and grace is something we humans can’t comprehend until it happens to us. It also becomes the birth, of that "fire in our bellies" to want to share Him- and His kind of grace and love, with others. But, we have to be able to put our human righteous thoughts, our self reliant will and our selfish, insecure judgments down, long enough to truly listen and start to know Him. If we want to be in a relationship with Him, we have to make room for Him inside us, to reform us, and teach us in our heart and souls, what it means to love others, His way. That means we need to get out of the way.

Someone once told me… “Take the cotton out of your ears, and put it in your mouth for awhile." It made me mad, but it was the best advice ever. I stopped talking--and started listening. I asked Him for a "real time" relationship with Him. I stopped pointing  at everyone else, and trying so hard to win His acceptance - and guess what happened? He took a sinning undeserving me, and He graced me and forgave me, and showed me, just exactly who He is. I will never be the same, ever.

I know... that once you know Him. You know Him. (And it's sad, but it becomes so VERY evident who in this world "claim to know Him," but they do not know Him. That is not a judgment-- but a simple fact, because those that know Him, know His kind of love.)

Once you know Him. There is no need to debate the rules, or judge who is good or bad, or which sin is the biggest and baddest. Because you have experienced free access to Him and to the life changing power of His undeserved grace that He offers everyday--to each of us. Once you know Him, you will know nothing else... but His unbelievable depth of love. And you will not see the world, or the people in it, with the same eyes of your past. You will see it from a new view, with a view from His eyes.

In my own life, I have decided there is no need for heated debate with righteous "religious judgers" who claim to know, who is in and who is out, rating sins, or pointing out how someone else should live or who is going to heaven or hell. When I run into someone like that, I go home immediately and I pray for them- I get on my knees with my head to the ground as low as I can go... and I pray hard to Him, my Father, whom I know. I know, that no matter how mad that person makes me from a human standpoint,  that He loves them--He knows they do not know what they are doing (harming His message) and that despite how much I want to not like that self righteous person... He loves them... same as He loves me. And He wants to have that deep authentic relationship with them too, and bring them home. So I pray He bring them home- to truly know Him.

"Help them put down their weapons, their fears, their rules and regulations, and listen for your graceful voice Lord, so they can truly know YOU, and there will be no more need for debate, once they see YOU and know YOU. There will be no more debate about who you are and how you love with unbelievable depths of grace and love. There will be absolutely... no reason for debate. They will know YOU."




Posted by Pamela Martin

Adam and Eve

It was loud. Very loud. So I come upstairs to find two children in the hallway looking VERY guilty. Every upstairs door was closed and locked. (This is a favorite of my children if given the opportunity, and something I have asked them not to do in the past...by the way.) There is a roll of robot themed wrapping paper on the floor between them. I look up on top of the doorframe where the key normally sits. And the key is not there. I look at them with (that mom look.)

Lincoln says... "Lia made my arm do it."

Lia pauses for a moment. Then looks down at the roll of robot wrap. (She is 3 years old!)

"Well, actually, the robot stick did it, mom."

Adam and Eve baby. And we don't really ever change do we?



Posted by Pamela Martin

Fashion for the Soul

Two of my favorite things: 1-Fashionable Clothes, and 2—Reality TV shows. The show “Project Runway” brings these two loves of mine together for 60 minutes of pure entertainment… I love it. If you have never seen the show; it is a reality show documenting a competition amongst future-fashion-designer hopefuls. Every week they have a new challenging assignment to create something “Chic” with little time and little budget, and sometimes little supplies. At the end each episode the creations are modeled down a runway in a fashion show of sorts and are judged by famous fashionable celebrity judges… and the worst outfit’s designer goes home.

Last night the challenge was to design a look for Nina Garcia, the fashion editor of Marie Claire magazine and Project Runway’s “Simon Cowell” of judges, to wear to an upcoming photo shoot. The guest judge was Marie Claire’s editor and chief (and Nina’s boss,) Joanna Coles. After watching the fashions sashay down the runway the judges got together to discuss their favorites and their most hated. Joanna Coles’ remarks were the best; she said,“Clothes are emotional. When you put them on, they make you feel something and they make other people feel something when they see you in them.” About the look she disliked she said, “Are you depressed?” and when she discussed her favorite outfit she said, “That shirt would make you feel like a million bucks, you would have a wonderful day when you wore that top and exciting things would happen to you!”

I giggled a little when I thought about the idea of having a magical type of day just by choosing to wear a beautiful, flattering, fabulous blouse. But as I thought a bit more about it I thought, it was kind of true-- good clothes make you feel good, when you feel good, you have a good day.

So, if the way we are clothing our bodies can effect how we feel, how much more important then is the way we are clothing our spirits? In Ephesians 6, the Bible tells us to “Put on the full armor of God.”

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [e]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16[f]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Could you imagine how amazing your day could be if you woke in the morning and clothed your spirit with characteristics like truth, righteousness, and peace? You would definitely be living the “fabulous” life! Looking good, and feeling good go hand in hand, so treat yourself well, body and spirit.




Posted by Devyn Lundy

Critics Are Everywhere

Written by Zig Ziglar

 posted by Kori Carew

There’s an old saying – and I believe it’s true – “Nobody has ever erected a statue to a critic.”  Davy Crockett had a simple motto which said, “Make sure you’re right – then go ahead.”  The reality is, all of us have faced our own moments (sometimes much longer than that) of criticism.  No matter what your career or occupation, the more successful you become, the more criticism you are likely to receive.  Some of that criticism is based on jealousy; some will come from those who don’t understand your objectives, and some from those who make a habit of finding fault like there was a reward for it.  Actually, only those who don’t attempt anything will remain above criticism.

Frederick the Great said, “I go through my appointed daily rounds, and I care not for the curs who bark at me along the road.”  Being criticized is not a problem if you develop a positive way to deal with it.  Winston Churchill framed on the wall of his office the following words of Abe Lincoln: “I do the very best I can; I mean to keep going.  If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me won’t matter.  If I’m wrong, ten angels swearing I was right won’t make a difference.”

That was good strategy and good advice for Churchill to follow because he received much criticism in his lifetime.  Abe Lincoln was roundly criticized in his day, just as many of our public figures are today.  It takes a person of great courage to forge ahead and do what he honestly believes to be right when critics are howling against him.  The person with conviction, the one as Davy Crockett said “who knows he’s right,” will simply go ahead.

I encourage you to follow that advice.  Go ahead with the projects you believe in if they are morally and ethically sound and you believe in them enough to pursue them with determination. Take that approach and I really will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Goodnight toes.

Last night I tucked my three year old in bed, sang her a song, and kissed her forehead, and I did a silly little bedtime thing I used to do with my six year old, when he was about her age. I said goodnight to each of her little parts, starting with her head. I said goodnight to her eyes, her eyelashes, her nose, her ears, and her toes. I said it sweetly with her name and I called out the special part of her, “goodnight Lia’s hair,” “goodnight Lia’s eyebrow,” “goodnight Lia’s other eyebrow,” and so on. Each time I said goodnight to a part of my beautiful little girl, I gently brushed my finger across it. “Goodnight Lia’s mouth,” “goodnight Lia’s teeth” (that one always brings a giggle, as she clamps her mouth shut with laughter.) “goodnight Lia’s nose.” She loved it. Both of my kids love it. As soon as my son heard us doing this last night, he called out from the next room. “Do it to me too… Mom!”

I love it too. A moment between my child and I, to show them how much I love them, and just thank God for every part of these wonderful little blessings in my life. What easier way to show my children that every single part of them is wonderfully made, and special? It’s so fun. 

(It’s particularly fun to get to those little toes.) 

“Goodnight Lia’s toes.”

“Kiss my toes mommy! I dare you,” she giggled.

(Yikes… we skipped baths tonight, but okay.. here it goes… goodnight cute little stinky toes…)

kiss. kiss.

After climbing in my own bed last night, I thought about that little routine and just marveled at how much my children love it. I thought about how much love is passed from parent to child and child to parent, in that little exchange. And how I should remember to pause- and do that each night.

Then I thought about God. I thought about how much he loves me, and how I am His little child. And I imagined Him right there in my room, tucking me in, saying goodnight to me, and blessing each of my little parts, one at a time.

I closed my eyes, and let Him bless each part of me.

I started the same way I do with my kids… on my forehead. I could feel the warmth of His presence in my heart, as I let Him bless my head, my hair, my brain, my eye, my other eye…

And, since I am a bit bigger than my children (and perhaps full of a few more self imposed complexities,) I turned this little bedtime routine into a back and forth exchange with Him. As He blessed me, I offered Him a prayer, and asked for guidance as he touched each little part of me… “goodnight Pam’s eyes” (Lord, help me to see you more clearly) “goodnight Pam’s mouth” (guide my words, and help me to speak in honor of You, Lord.) ‘goodnight Pam’s heart” (Lord cleanse my soul, give me a pure heart, and let my heart reach other peoples’ hearts in your name.) etc…

And in a few areas, I asked for His healing. (Heal that part Lord. It hurts. Help me.)

Or I thanked Him… (Thank you Lord for my health, for that moment, for that part.)

Or forgiveness... (I am sorry Lord.)

I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to feel His tender love, touching and knowing every single part of me.

Lord, help me remember that you are my Daddy and that you love me and that you tuck me in each night, and that you are with me, everyday, all the time... for every piece and part of me. You made me just the way I am, and I am wonderfully made, just the way I should be.

Let Him tuck you in tonight.

Psalm 139: 14

NIV

(14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Matthew 10: 29-31

NIV

(29) Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. (30) And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.


Posted by Pamela Martin

Love beyond the heart's desire

I had a rough childhood.  I lived in a small dark house. Black-out shades prevented the sunshine's warmth to enter and lighten the dark brown paneling.  My mother was extremely depressed and sometimes suicidal, my brother was scary and violent and addicted to meth. My dad, although not in the home, verbally abused me and did not want me.
  As a young girl, I had tremendous weight on my shoulders, and pain in my heart, I also had an unwillingness to accept that this life I was living would define me.   I was a good kid.  I was teacher's pet all through school, I earned the best grades.  And at the age of  14, God reached out to me, and let me know that HE absolutely loved me, that I was beautiful, and that despite my circumstances I could rest assured that He was taking care of me.
  My teen years were easier for me as I clung to God and his love for me, but my situation at home was still dark.  My brother was dealing drugs from his basement bedroom, and random sketchy men would enter and exit my house through all hours of the night.  My mom was often working and not home, and although she must have been just and unhappy with the circumstances as I was she chose to ignore it and hope it would get better on its own.  One day, when I was about 15, absolute chaos erupted, and I witnessed  my brother in an violent meth-hazed rage throw my mom down all thirteen steep, wooden stairs that lead to our concrete basement floor. Terrified. I ran to the safest place in the house, the downstairs bathroom, it had a strong door and a good lock. I locked myself in, and pushed the large towel armoire against the door for extra security.  As I hid in that room, I could hear my mom screaming in pain for help.  I felt ashamed that I was too scared to run to her rescue, as I sit hugging my knees in the corner of the bathroom, waiting for my brother to leave.
  As I write this, I do not want your pity.  In the past, I have minimized  the dark parts of where I came from, I didn't want to hurt the feelings of the people involved because I love them, and I didn't want to play the part of a victim.  And although in some aspects, I was absolutely victimized I was not a victim, I was a survivor.  God made me to be a survivor, and God made me to have a hope for a future, because He had a plan for my future.
  When I first started loving God, one bible verse, one PROMISE, I always found comfort in was Psalm 37:3-5  :
³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:

The desires of my heart were to be loved, to feel safe, to be a part of a functioning, loving, family, to have a home filled with light.   Today I absolutely have those things.  I have a husband that cherishes me, and two amazing, beautiful children who, although they fight like cats and dogs sometimes, love eachother and a house that is mine with the sun shining through its windows.  God absolutely gave me the desires of my heart, I always trusted that He would.

If you are going through a dark time in your life, know that GOD LOVES YOU!  Rest in His love and His promises, "Take delight in Him and he will give you the desires of your heart."   You can make it to the other side!

posted by Devyn Lundy

It's Like Riding a Bike!

I was getting a sandwich and a glass of water for myself, while my husband and kids were playing outside, it was 7pm and I was going to enjoy a quiet house and some mommy-veg time.  As I went to turn on the tv, I glanced out the window at my family and see my almost-8-year-old daughter zooming down the cul-de-sac on her training wheel free bike with the biggest smile stretched across her face. It was her first time riding on two wheels!

Sandwich in hand, I ran out my front door, yelling, "Go Shaylee!!! Go Shaylee!" My husband and I have been trying to teach her how to ride for the past 2 years. Shaylee would freak her self out before she would even pedal for a whole rotation and exclaim she "couldn't do it" and would give up. But now..  She had finally learned how to ride!!!  I asked Geoff, " What did you teach her to finally make her get it?"  He said, "Nothing, its like she finally decided that she  wanted to do it, and she just got on it, wobbled a little and then took off!"  We were so proud of her.

After Shaylee called all her grandmas to tell them her big accomplishment, and the kids were at last in bed,  Geoff and I  were still talking about Shaylee's triumph. I said, "Its amazing to me, that she just decided she wanted to do it, and then did it! I get so frustrated with her sometimes, because I KNOW she could do so many things that she thinks she can't do if she just did it. She is so more able than she knows."   The second those words came out of my mouth, I heard God whisper to my soul, " THAT IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU!"  Wow! And surprise, surprise, He is right.

My daughter has been afraid of falling off her bike, and that fear prevented her from even trying.  I never realized it, but I do the same thing in so many different ways in my own life.  I get ideas of things I could do, make, or write and then I over rationalize them in my head, and always lead  myself to the conclusion, that it would be a waste of time to even start or try.   How frustrated God must be when He knows that He made me special, and gave me talents and gifts that I don't use because of my own fears of failure and rejection.  Just like Shaylee, I tell myself, "I can't" before I even pedal a complete rotation.   He's frustrated not because I am failing Him, but because I am not experiencing the freedom and exhilaration  of zooming down the street on two wheels  that He wants me to enjoy so badly.. (the same feelings I had with my own daughter!)

I truly believe that God doesn't give us gifts for His pleasure but for ours. When we give our own child  gifts.. aren't we giving the gift to make  him or her happy?  When we don't use the gifts God gives us, we are missing out on the joy God wants for our lives.  I don't know about you, but I certainly want to tap into all the joy God has to give me. I don't want my fears and over rationalizations to hold me back anymore.  I am ready to start taking off my training wheels, are you?


Posted by Devyn Lundy

New opportunity to serve our world at Mercy Church.. Bridge 68

 Mercy Church presents Bridge 68
For Justice. With Mercy. In Faithfulness.
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)
Mission:
Bridge 68 is a ministry of Mercy Church KC.  We are a gathering of Christians whose love for God and His people call us to stand in the gap for those who are the victims of oppression and injustice, to act justly on behalf of those wounded, to show mercy for those in need, to walk humbly and in submission before God, and to provide this outreach under the direction and teaching of God.

Our map:
The focus of this ministry will be to take a Biblical approach to injustice and oppression.  What exactly is injustice?  You can imagine that there are many definitions for injustice.  “Injustice occurs when power is misused to take from others what God has given them, namely, their life, dignity, liberty or the fruits of their love and labor.”  Good News about Injustice, Gary Haugen.  Through this ministry we will grow our faith and understanding of God’s word regarding justice and mercy, and as we grow we will engage in outreach works focused on justice.  Injustice in our world takes the form of abusive child labor, abusive police or military, child pornography, child prostitution, corrupt seizure or extortion of land, forced migration, genocide, organized political intimidation, organized racial violence, state sponsored torture, state sponsored religious persecution, and so much more.  In the United States, we face injustice issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, the effects of poverty and discrimination in the school systems, refugees in our community who have escaped terror or genocide, discrimination against various groups in the workplace and in the community, etc.

Below are some statistics on a few categories of injustice to get you thinking:
Human trafficking is a growing problem in the United States and in Kansas City.  Kansas City is a growing hub for human trafficking.  Targeted groups are those who are most vulnerable - immigrants, runaway teens and young women are forced into slave-labor conditions or the sex trade.  The United States is a source and destination for thousands of human trafficking victims who are sexually exploited, and to a lesser extent, exploited for labor. The average age of entry in the U.S. into sex exploitation industry is 13.
One in four women in this country (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime. Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day.
Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.

In 6 seconds a child will die from starvation.  In 1 minute, ten children will die.  600 children will die in an hour and 14,200 will die in a day.  5, 256,000 will die in a year.
There are over 27 million people living in modern day slavery today.  That is more than the slaves tortured and dehumanized during the transatlantic slave trade.  This would be equivalent to the population of the State of Texas. 161 countries out of 192 (according to the United Nations) are involved with human trafficking. Children comprise half or fifty percent (50%) of human trafficking target. Human trafficking, as an organized crime, is approximated to generate 32 billion revenue each year.  The industrialized countries are the main source of slaves or labor servants approximated at 15.5 million victims.  Traffickers sell women and children online everyday.
2 million babies are killed before birth or at birth simply because they are girls.

The genocide in Darfur has claimed 400,000 lives and displaced over 2,500,000 people. More than one hundred people continue to die each day; five thousand die every month. Since February 2003, the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the government-sponsored Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement, organized starvation, threats against aid workers and mass murder.
Nearly 15 million children in the United States – 21% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $22,050 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Using this standard, 42% of children in the United States live in low-income families. Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Poverty also can contribute to poor health and mental health.


Posted by: Kori Carew