forgive

have you forgiven yourself?

you know, for that thing that keeps haunting you? you know what I'm talking about...

forgive yourself, please.

stop dragging yourself through the mire. stop wallowing in unforgiveness. stop abusing yourself. stop mutilating yourself.

please don't HATE yourself. allow yourself to love yourself.

forgive yourself, please.

I hear a lot of people talk a lot about forgiveness. They talk about how we should forgive others (far easier said than done). They talk about how they have received forgiveness. But these same people neglect a crucial aspect - themselves. They have not forgiven themselves.

Is that you? Even as you read these words - images, memories, regrets bubble up to the surface. My intent is not to evoke pain, it is to evoke forgiveness.

forgive yourself, please.

...now you're thinking "yeah, yeah, ok."

but stop...and forgive yourself truly.

What's done has been done. That cannot be changed. Seek forgiveness in the places you need to and start again - new and fresh. Stop dwelling on the past.

You may think I'm daft. You may think I'm naive. You may think I don't understand what you've been through, what you've done, or what's been done to you. You're probably right. I may not.

But does my lack of understanding have any bearing on your need of forgiveness? Don't use me as your excuse to withhold forgiveness.

Where do you need to seek forgiveness? family? friend? God? yourself?

this bitterness and resentment so many of us carry around in our lives is infecting our minds and our hearts, permeating the very fabric of our existence. get rid of it.

maybe there's someone you need to forgive...release it and live freely.

The Jesus I follow is, among so many things, one of mercy, love, and forgiveness. For those of you who say you also follow this Jesus - maybe now's the time to back up your talk and forgive.

if you're reading this with any glimpse of honesty - forgive yourself, please and let's together live freely and fully.

thoughts on women in ministry?

*this is less of a post and more of a opinion poll.

Honestly, it's easy for me to be a pastor - I'm male.

Now, many people have extremely differing views of what females in leadership look like. Some have inevitably swung (not unlike a pendulum) to balance views that have come before them.

What do you think? What is your view of women in ministry?

I've heard many passionate, educated people argue on many sides of this, believing whole-heartedly that they have the definitively correct stance on the issue.

Please indulge me/ educate me and tell me what you think and why....

social (in)action

There is a pendulum. It swings back and forth. From one generation to the next, attempting to right the 'wrongs' of the past, attempting to bring balance.

The pendulum has swung. It has swung back away from the overly personalized Christian faith. Many have become increasingly aware of the lack of social action complementing Christianity. Simply attending a church has left many wanting - desiring their faith to 'be'.

It has swung back to the question: "what does it look like to be a Christian?" We've swung to the point where social action defines our faith. Many people I know are looking for ways to 'live out' their faith.

I agree, there has been a lack of this component to Christianity. I would even go so far as to say that our following Jesus is dependant on our servanthood. We must be about what is Jesus is about: the poor, the needy, the marginalized, the oppressed. The pendulum needed to be swung. And swung it has.

But...

my question is: has this just become the new lip-service?

"We need to feed the hungry."
"We need to give to the needy."
"We need to care for the orphans."
"We need to bring justice."
...and the list goes on.

We rattle these off without batting an eye and yet, rarely do I see the actions to actually back this up. People will sit across the table from me, eyes glistening with passion and fervor - telling me of the lack of social action within the Church, sharing with me the needs that have gone unmet. Saying "something must be done"...and then walking away feeling proud and doing NOTHING about it.

Don't tell me about these needs if you are not willing to 'do' anything yourself.
Don't point out to me the problem and not attempt at a solution.
Don't sit across from me, look me in the eye and lie to me.
Don't delude yourself.

What's worse than doing nothing?
Knowing something needs to be done, telling people about it and then doing nothing.

What I see is social (in)action.


I know the temptation will be to ask: "well, what are you doing, Tyson?"

Touchè

I'm writing this because I have observed this lack in my life and I'm betting there may be a lack in yours.

If, however, you are perfect at this - then all power to you.

If not...join the club, and let's together no longer accept this new lip-service, shall we?

restoration & reconciliation

good day...it's Friday, it's sunny, it's warm and the week's winding down. I should be kicking back and enjoying...but I've got a bone to pick. it's in response to some comments I received about another post: http://ineloquentanthem.blogspot.com/2009/04/jesus-wife-beaters.html

after some lengthy, challenging and inspiring conversations with friends regarding this post - it was brought to my attention that I did not come across with much grace or understanding. I agree - that may have been how I came across.

here's my heart (which probably was not obvious in the wife-beater post):

- it absolutely decimates my heart to think of the pain that people have received at the hands of the Church. there are countless stories of friends who have been greatly wronged by seemingly well-intentioned people.

I am sorry.

I am sorry that happened to you. I am sorry that people who say they love Jesus wronged you in such a way.

I am truly sorry.

but that is not the bone I pick - it's with those who have handed out the hurt that brings us to this point.

For many people who happen to regularly attend institutions called churches, they believe it is their God-given right to allocate punishment to anyone as they see fit - attempting to pick the proverbial speck out of others' eyes. typically, this has not been done in love (yes, I keep coming back to that).

here's my submission: if our intention when pointing out specks is not done with restoration & reconciliation in mind as the ultimate-goal, then it's best left undone. I'm not even going to play the 'plank-card' on this one - that should be common sense enough.

let me explain.

- if you are not willing to do everything in your power to help your brother or sister be restored and reconciled, then shut up.

- if you are not willing to humbly walk down those awkward, painful roads with your brother or sister in love, then take your well-intentioned (or are they?) motives and shove 'em (in your pocket).

- and mostly, if you are not willing to be honest with yourself, your brother or sister, and with God about your own lacking and need to be reconciled and restored, then...enough said.

...may we be people who humbly extend to all those in need the restoration and reconciliation that is freely offered in Jesus and be willing to walk with them...because, after all - we need this as much or more than they do.

One of the Branches plug

Another beloved friend, Dallas has begun a blog, called One of the Branches.

check it out at: http://oneofthebranches.blogspot.com/

blog plug for the cloverleaf press

My buddy, Ryan started a blog. Thought I'd give him some love by letting you know about it.

Check it out at:
http://cloverleafpress.blogspot.com/

this is...

I'm trying to simplify my life. It's got out of whack.

I'm trying to simplify my thinking. It too has got out of whack.

I have the humbling responsibility to teach hundreds of people regularly. This is a grave duty that has been entrusted to me and I do not take it lightly.

I'm beginning to see more and more of the beautiful complexity in the elegant simplicity.

When trying to communicate so many concepts far beyond my understanding and scope, I'm brought to a humble position of simplicity. How do I communicate Jesus? How do I tell about Jesus? I think it might look like a simple introduction:

this is...Jesus

he loves you.

the rest of God

Don't worry, I'm not going to fill you in on every book I happen to be reading, but I would like to tell you about one of them. It's called, The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanan. Unlike this blog, Buchanan is lavishly eloquent, making him enjoyable to read.

How's your sabbath life?

If your response is one of the following you should read this book:

- what is sabbath?

- I don't have time for sabbath.

- I go to church on Sundays.

- I don't care about sabbath.

- I long to honor the Sabbath.

- I'm not quite sure how sabbath fits into my life now.

and mostly - I'm tired!

may you find rest