Christian in a Gay World

Heather Hogan wrote a great article about her experience as a Christian moving from the church into gay culture.  I recommend reading it all.  You can find it in After Ellen HERE.  Here’s how she ends:

So what’s a Good Christian Girl to do in a Big Gay World?

I don’t really know. I don’t even know if I’d call myself a “Christian Girl” anymore. I’ve experienced some metaphysical things I’ll never be able to shake. But I’ve wept over the atrocities committed for centuries in the name of God, too. I do know that the screaming and violent language and lack of authentic discourse on both sides are only making things worse. To quote my mom every time she had to pull my sister and I off one another — fists flailing, hair flying — “I don’t care who started it! You’re going to kill one another!”

My faith isn’t the same as it was when I left church all those years ago. I didn’t leave because I am a lesbian. I didn’t leave because I stopped believing in God. I left because I wanted the freedom to reallyseek the truth. I continued to study the Bible. And I continued to study other religious texts. I continued to study history and politics and sociology and science. After all this time and all that soul-searching and all the hollering from both sides, the one thing I still cling to is what Jesus said when he decided to lay out his game plan for the first time in the synagogue. He quoted from the prophet Isaiah, and it went like this: “God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace.”

Healing. Freeing. Pardoning. Grace. I like that. It sounds like an extra value meal worth purchasing.

I think it will take me a lifetime to reconcile my logic and my faith and my political persuasions and my sexuality. But sometimes when I’m walking my dog on summer nights, the jasmine and magnolia will cling to the sultry summer air. And I’m back in that wooden pew, as gay then as I am now, knowing now as I knew then that it is well, it is well, with my soul.

Jovi’s “Bringing Fire to the Earth” video

Luke 12:49-56

Text

Jovi’s “Bringing Fire to the Earth” text

Luke 12:49-56

“You know how to interpret the appearance of Earth and Sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

Interpret the present time?! I’d rather gather that this moment is a present being presented to me, for me presenting the underlined definition of what it means to be undefined. Because time, to me, is undefinable in a way that makes trying seem forced. Makes the course behind the action a fragmented fraction of what I think He’s trying to say – and what I’m trying to say is that I don’t want to interpret today – I just want to have faith. The kind of faith that finds me excited to be divided to prove its strength.

“From now on 5 in one household will be divided…”

Decided by our own shortsighted human eyes. Our mortal minds will either set us free or leave us behind – blind to the brave wisdom of this baptism – this universal attempt to hit reset – on us all. Making it our choice to have a voice in faith or an absent face, a mask trapped strong in our own sinner’s skin, destined to forsake all that’s been sacrificed for our eternal life, without the chance to ask to be absolved.

“When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘it is going to rain.’”

Playing out before me is a storm setting free a picture of reality; I can see the grey clouds rising up to meet the rain while these shortsighted eyes are trying to warn me of the forthcoming pouring drops from the Heavened skies, but I look up – hold palms cupped like inverted umbrellas, open to catch whatever is being given, whatever is being produced to induce the knowledge that my faith is stronger than a forecast, all I have to do is ask and his shelter will keep me safe – will keep the cold away – at bay with my forced interpretation of this present day.

Because this present day is mine to throw away – to waste – or to find a way to place my faith in the grace of my Savior. To remember and embrace that he came here to bring fire to this earth – to give eternal birth to any soul willing to listen to the vision behind the need of any division – promising not peace but a release from our human prison.

And so, this much I know, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west but I’m at my best when I let the heart inside my rising chest set to the warming comfort of his fire – and if he needs it kindled, I’ll have a lighter.

10 Favorite Things about Church

After 30 years of focusing on eastern religion, Norris J. Chumley returned to the Episcopal church. In a recent Huffington Post article he tells a bit of his journey and lists his 10 favorite things about church.

Now, 10 years later, I’ve returned to Christianity and go to church as often as possible. Here are my top ten reasons why I think church is cool. Please keep in mind each one of these points is enough to write a book about, or many volumes, as they have been in play for thousands of years:

1. The Eucharist, or Holy Communion. The bread and wine as the body and blood of Jesus Christ, God in human form, is a physical uniting with God inside. After all the prayers, chants and setting aside the self, I feel a tangible connection, a bond made between Heaven and Earth, when partaking of the Eucharist.
2. The Holy Trinity. All I can say is that the three-in-one, separate-yet-whole-at-the-same-time reality explains my continual human feeling of being separate from God, yet connected. I had learned in yoga that “All-Is-One,” and that extends to Christianity in the Trinity.
3. God is human in Jesus Christ. This is also the Holy Trinity, incarnated, which means “in the flesh.” The Holy Spirit, from God, becomes human in Christ. With the Eucharist or Communion, my humanness unites with God, too. Church gives me that. The experience is indescribably wonderful.
4. Love. Christ’s teachings center in love for God and humanity. Despite years of problems, even wars, the central teaching of Jesus Christ is about love. I feel that love in the community of the church. I see the love of God and humanity in the service programs my church provides: homeless shelters, food and assistance for those who are in need, counseling, education, and other projects.
5. God is present in Creation. I see His infinite excellence everywhere the more I pray and attend church. Using the Jesus Prayer helps me connect to God in everything and everyone.
6. Community. After years of solitary meditation on emptiness, I love the fellowship of church. It’s so cool and fun to get together with others who also love God. I’ve made a lot of lasting friendships at church, people who truly care, and we help each other, and we have many great times.
7. Singing hymns and chanting. Music feels like God in the form of sound waves.
8. Religious symbols. The church icons, books, candles, incense, the Cross — all are tangible reminders to look to God, and to connect with His presence. Others in church are like living icons reminding me of God in Christ.
9. Prayers. To me, prayer is a portable connection to God. In prayer, I feel the presence of God. The Jesus Prayer particularly, used by monks and nuns, and in some churches, is especially powerful.

Church suppers. I love to cook, and I love to eat — community church meals are especially fantastic. There’s nothing quite like a church potluck or picnic.

Listen: Jovi on Mary and Martha – text

Jovi Radtke’s reflection on the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

Video here.

Luke 10:38-42

The plague of any Human Life comes in a series of questions.

Questions that mask the progression of faith.

Detract from the resurrection of self.

Create an impenetrable delay from the introduction of soul to body.

That crazy inner voice I let stop me from knowing the best way of showing true faith is to sit – stop asking – and listen.

Every word we let make the journey of being heard is a moment captured.

Forever seized in the captioned rapture of RIGHT NOW.

So stop asking. Stop tasking.

Stop intentionally distracting the ease of acting on your love – and sit down.

Open up your ears to the beauty behind the music when you listen.

When you take that moment – rather – let that moment take you, it may create for you a vision that paints you as a Mary.

Paints you as that sinner able to carry your own sin.

Able to steady your own heavy reality just enough to give in – just enough to be forgiven – just enough to sit proudly and listen.

When you let the music in. When you let the rhythm of his words rain dance across the driest part of your chest, the best of what is left to grow will be a rainforest of a heart. And when the rainfall starts to nourish the parts you never thought could grow, just know that all you have to do is let go. Sit and listen.

So listen: Martha, Martha, Martha, if you build it, he will come. But when he’s in, stop building and just listen.

Listen: Jovi on Mary and Martha – video

A second thought on Sunday’s Gospel

^{Luke 10:2}He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.

I’ve been wondering about what it is that is supposed to be harvested.  I’ve been thinking the disciples are the laborers and they have to go out and gather the harvest.  Before I asked myself this question, I thought what was to be harvested were citizens of the Kingdom.  In Thursday’s bible study a couple of other possibilities were mentioned:  people’s brokenness – to free them from the bondage of sin, or people’s gifts to build up the kingdom.

But today I started seeing it in a different way.  What if what is to be harvested is God’s love, grace, abundance?  That is truly a plentiful harvest.  The laborers are few because we are all distracted with other things.  The laborers are people who benefit in gathering in the harvest of God’s loving care.  The disciples are to go out and get laborers, people who harvest what God has to offer.  As we harvest the divine presence, and we experience the peace and abundance offered by God, our fear and anxiety decreases and the Kingdom of God draws near.

Thoughts on July 4 Gospel reading

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. ²He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest?

What are the pairs of disciples supposed harvest?  People’s brokenness, fears, anxieties, sin – so the people are free to experience God’s kingdom.  People’s gifts – so they can come alive in service.  Citizens of the Kingdom of God?

³Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.

Discipleship apparently involves vulnerability and a great deal of trust.

⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.

More trust required.  Don’t take stuff planning for contingencies.  Travel light trusting that what you need will be provided.  Have a singularity of purpose – don’t get distracted by people on the way.

⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ ⁶And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.

I think this is a powerful notion.  Share God’s peace.  Not the absence of violence, but the deep, abiding peace that provides stability regardless of what’s happening on the outside.  If they don’t accept this peace, don’t let it mess w/ your peace.

⁷Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.

Be satisfied with where you are.  Don’t keep looking to trade up.  It reminds me of the monastic discipline of stability.  The desert ascetics would say, “your cell will teach you everything.”  Where you are is where you will be taught.  Don’t say, “If only I was in that house . . .”

⁸Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you;

This is a radical notion for a Jew.  What if they are serving pork?  But this isn’t about us and our needs.  It’s about the hospitality of receiving hospitality.  I was taught by a mentor, “If you refuse the gift, you refuse the giver.”  I have a HUGE PUFFY Green Bay Packers coat that I have difficulty seeing myself wearing.  It was given to me by a homeless friend as a gift given in gratitude.  I guess if I’m to EAT what is put before me, and not just move it around on the plate w/ my fork, I need to WEAR that darned coat.

⁹cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

So the disciples are to share God’s peace, participate in table fellowship and hospitality, exercise compassion and let people know that God’s kingdom is here.  HERE.  NOW.

¹⁰But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’

And when you are rejected, don’t carry that rejection with you.  Wipe it off and move on.  Don’t carry the anger or hurt.  Don’t condemn them to hell.  Let it go.

¹⁶“Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

¹⁷The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” ¹⁸He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. ²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Do not celebrate the defeat of the enemy.  Celebrate the fact that God loves you.  Canon Lynell Walker said something to that effect in our weekly Bible study.   It is so tempting to celebrate the defeat of the enemy.  Because, in our own hearts, even after years of Christian practice, the harvest is plentiful.  We are green shoots just beginning our spiritual journeys.

The Episcopal Church in its Right Mind

Here’s a great sermon by The Rev. William Blake Rider connecting last Sunday’s gospel reading of the hearing of the demoniac with the current drama in the Anglican communion.  He connects the emerging sanity of the demoniac to the Episcopal Church and the troubled villagers with the Archbishop of Canterbury and others in the Anglican Communion.  You can read it here:  http://rci.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/dojustice/j575.html

Jovi Radtke’s “It’s Not the Sin that Makes Us Weak”

Jovi wrote a poem for Trinity Cathedral’s service on 6/12/10 reflecting on Luke 7:36-8:3.  You can find the biblical story she was responding to HERE.

The written text of Jovi’s poem is HERE.

Brian Baker’s sermon on this text and Jovi’s poem is Here.