I saw [and shared] a quote that caught my eye this morning . . . it said. . . .
"SHOW ME A CHURCH'S SONGS AND I WILL SHOW YOU THEIR THEOLOGY" - Gordon Fee.
Now honestly, I have never heard of Gordon Fee [and I am pretty sure he has never heard of me], that being said just because I am quoting a quote of his doesn't mean I endorse him nor that he endorses me.... it was just a really profound quote that summed up something I have pondered and felt for a while but struggled to put into words.
You see music is incredibly powerful. It has the power to stir the emotions and shape the mind or identity. Often when we look at a generation and the identity of that generation [the hippie 60's, the free loving 70's ...the rebellious rockers etc.] There is a strong link between popular music and the identity that generation or group of people hold.
So what music is prominent in your church? Do you realize how much that music shaping your beliefs and your identity? I grew up in a youth group where a lot of the songs sung were about being the chosen generation, going to the nations, being a warrior for Christ. And that is what the majority became and did. Majority of that youth group went to nations on missions and pursued full time ministry. It was not just preached from the pulpit but it was deeply ingrained and reinforced through the song choice. You began to live, eat, sleep, breath it. Hum it subconsciously. It helped form our group identity.
Take a moment and listen in on a Sunday or two. What are the songs about? How many of them are about God? and about loving and honouring God? How many are about stirring us up to a specific theology? calling? religious mindset that is trending at the moment? ourselves?
That is why this quote really struck home. . . because its true. . . its almost like the songs a church sings are the mirror to the heartbeat of the church.
Just some food for thought.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Monday, June 25, 2018
judgy judgy judgy
My boss and I have a really good working relationships, and have worked together for almost 3 years now. As such there are many phrases and in-office jokes and comments that fly around between us.
From my side, one of my most repeated phrases I use is, * giggle * * chuckle * *snort * "Can I say something inappropriate...?" * More giggling *
and then I come up with some inappropriate pun or joke.
My boss's most commonly repeated phrase, usually aimed at me, is "judgy, judgy, judgy"
You see, we get our fair share of people who cross our paths who fit certain stereo types, me [being the inappropriate humour girl] cant help but point out the stereo types and their stereotypical behavior. My boss, good naturedly, usually responds with "Judgy judgy judgy".
It's funny how stereo types exist because, well, there are so many people that fit them.
But its a little less funny how judgy, or judgmental, we can be as humans. Not just against others but also against ourselves.
With the continuous crap that has happened, and increased in intensity, over the years I have often found myself judging myself. Questioning whether there is hidden sin in my heart, is that the cause of all this going on? Did i forget to tithe? Am I reaping for something that I sowed that I can't remember? Have I broken every generational curse? Do I not have enough faith? Am I out of the will of God?
These questions plague me, and I am sure you have probably wrestled with them yourself. I am also sure, like many who cross my path and hear my woes that you [like me] have also thought these questions of others. But why, why do we judge? Why do we fault find? Is it because we struggle so much to embrace pain and suffering as part of life? Is it because we have put God in a box and built our faith around the box instead of around God, and bad things don't fit that box? Or is it because we struggle to accept that God is sovereign and still think that little me has the power to cause such epic repercussions good or bad in my life or world? Or do we secretly struggle to forgive ourselves and therefore deep down inside we are convinced that we are the problem?
We need to learn to cut ourselves some slack. We also need to learn to cut each other slack. It's easy to look at a lot going wrong in someone's life, so much so it doesn't make sense and [inadvertently] judge them as we seek to answer the illusive "Why?".
If bad things happening are a sign that you aren't in the will of God, then explain Jesus on the cross? Explain Lazarus getting sick and then dying? explain John the Baptist being beheaded? This list could be endless.
Just remember that if you judge others, there are 3 fingers pointing right back at you. No one is perfect, NOT ONE! No one is Good...except God! We can be assured, as Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. Stop trying to fault find or explain away the trouble. [even if you are explaining it away with "positive" explanations like calling it persecution or an attack from the devil]. I knew a lady who often said, "scabala happens"...I don't think we need a translation of that phrase. . .that is just what it is...."scabala happens".
So don't be the person who has the boss walking behind you daily chanting "judgy, judgy, judgy" . . .rather beloving and gracious towards yourself and others. Allow God the room to be God, to be the problem finder and fixer. [its not our roles]. Learn to lean on Him, not your own understanding.
Roman's 2:1 [The Voice]
So you can see there are no excuses for any of us. If your eyes shift their focus from yourselves to others—to judge how they are doing—you have already condemned yourselves! You don’t realize that you are pointing your fingers at others for the exact things you do as well.
From my side, one of my most repeated phrases I use is, * giggle * * chuckle * *snort * "Can I say something inappropriate...?" * More giggling *
and then I come up with some inappropriate pun or joke.
My boss's most commonly repeated phrase, usually aimed at me, is "judgy, judgy, judgy"
You see, we get our fair share of people who cross our paths who fit certain stereo types, me [being the inappropriate humour girl] cant help but point out the stereo types and their stereotypical behavior. My boss, good naturedly, usually responds with "Judgy judgy judgy".
It's funny how stereo types exist because, well, there are so many people that fit them.
But its a little less funny how judgy, or judgmental, we can be as humans. Not just against others but also against ourselves.
With the continuous crap that has happened, and increased in intensity, over the years I have often found myself judging myself. Questioning whether there is hidden sin in my heart, is that the cause of all this going on? Did i forget to tithe? Am I reaping for something that I sowed that I can't remember? Have I broken every generational curse? Do I not have enough faith? Am I out of the will of God?
These questions plague me, and I am sure you have probably wrestled with them yourself. I am also sure, like many who cross my path and hear my woes that you [like me] have also thought these questions of others. But why, why do we judge? Why do we fault find? Is it because we struggle so much to embrace pain and suffering as part of life? Is it because we have put God in a box and built our faith around the box instead of around God, and bad things don't fit that box? Or is it because we struggle to accept that God is sovereign and still think that little me has the power to cause such epic repercussions good or bad in my life or world? Or do we secretly struggle to forgive ourselves and therefore deep down inside we are convinced that we are the problem?
We need to learn to cut ourselves some slack. We also need to learn to cut each other slack. It's easy to look at a lot going wrong in someone's life, so much so it doesn't make sense and [inadvertently] judge them as we seek to answer the illusive "Why?".
If bad things happening are a sign that you aren't in the will of God, then explain Jesus on the cross? Explain Lazarus getting sick and then dying? explain John the Baptist being beheaded? This list could be endless.
Just remember that if you judge others, there are 3 fingers pointing right back at you. No one is perfect, NOT ONE! No one is Good...except God! We can be assured, as Jesus said, in this world you will have trouble. Stop trying to fault find or explain away the trouble. [even if you are explaining it away with "positive" explanations like calling it persecution or an attack from the devil]. I knew a lady who often said, "scabala happens"...I don't think we need a translation of that phrase. . .that is just what it is...."scabala happens".
So don't be the person who has the boss walking behind you daily chanting "judgy, judgy, judgy" . . .rather beloving and gracious towards yourself and others. Allow God the room to be God, to be the problem finder and fixer. [its not our roles]. Learn to lean on Him, not your own understanding.
Roman's 2:1 [The Voice]
So you can see there are no excuses for any of us. If your eyes shift their focus from yourselves to others—to judge how they are doing—you have already condemned yourselves! You don’t realize that you are pointing your fingers at others for the exact things you do as well.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
No Time Like The Present. . .
I have decided that there is no time like the present to start to getting back into blogging.
I have been holding off and holding back for too long. . . but now is the time.
I have had a REALLY bad week. And when I say BAD . . . I mean REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD!!!
It has been a calamity of bad situations and Murphy's law running amok. And just when you think its over and it cant possibly get worse or more chaotic. You wake up on Saturday morning, to drag yourself to work to catch up on admin after a really chaotic work week, and on the way to work your car starts pouring steam/smoke in through the air vents. [thankfully I was only 5 minutes from the office] So I slowly limped my poor car into the parking lot, frustrated, tired and [being a girl, who's period decided this was a good day to start] tearful. It was the breaking point after a long week and possibly the worst timing EVER.
It is a week before pay day. So money for Uber or to give people for petrol etc or to pay for car repairs is not really flush. It is a week where 2 of my handful of friends are out of town and cant help with lifts. It is a week where another friend cant help with lifts as she has a broken arm. It is a week where I have a training course to attend that is 45 minutes outside of Durban. It is a Saturday, so most mechanics are closed. It is a Saturday where I need to be catching up on work, not expending my energy and emotions in trying to find someone to take my car too. I did find someone, but even though I could drop my car off, they aren't even going to look at it till Monday. Bad timing all around. [There is so much more to the story but considering I have already told you that I got my period ... I think that might be enough overshare for one blog]
So as I said Murphy has been running amok. It's like he is on steroids at the moment. But it made me realise. You can not wait for the right timing. It wont happen. It WILL NOT happen. In fact, the opposite will happen.
I have held back on blogging and writing for so long. Life has been crap and I keep waiting for it to get better so I can find something funny or positive to write about. It is not happening. I keep waiting for it to get better so I can be in a better frame of mind to write or to find inspiration or motivation ... it is not going to happen. I keep waiting for life to get better so that I am not so exhausted and have the energy to write.... it is not going to happen.
So I have decided that whether they are positive or not. Whether it is convenient for me or not. Whether it is humorous or not. I cant keep waiting to get back into writing or it will never happen. . . so there is no time like the present. . . .I am back. My blogs are back . . . they are possibly going to be more raw, more honest and potentially offensive. . . but will still hopefully be littered with some humour as well.
Till the next edition . . . may Murphy leave you alone and life treat you graciously.
I have been holding off and holding back for too long. . . but now is the time.
I have had a REALLY bad week. And when I say BAD . . . I mean REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD!!!
It has been a calamity of bad situations and Murphy's law running amok. And just when you think its over and it cant possibly get worse or more chaotic. You wake up on Saturday morning, to drag yourself to work to catch up on admin after a really chaotic work week, and on the way to work your car starts pouring steam/smoke in through the air vents. [thankfully I was only 5 minutes from the office] So I slowly limped my poor car into the parking lot, frustrated, tired and [being a girl, who's period decided this was a good day to start] tearful. It was the breaking point after a long week and possibly the worst timing EVER.
It is a week before pay day. So money for Uber or to give people for petrol etc or to pay for car repairs is not really flush. It is a week where 2 of my handful of friends are out of town and cant help with lifts. It is a week where another friend cant help with lifts as she has a broken arm. It is a week where I have a training course to attend that is 45 minutes outside of Durban. It is a Saturday, so most mechanics are closed. It is a Saturday where I need to be catching up on work, not expending my energy and emotions in trying to find someone to take my car too. I did find someone, but even though I could drop my car off, they aren't even going to look at it till Monday. Bad timing all around. [There is so much more to the story but considering I have already told you that I got my period ... I think that might be enough overshare for one blog]
So as I said Murphy has been running amok. It's like he is on steroids at the moment. But it made me realise. You can not wait for the right timing. It wont happen. It WILL NOT happen. In fact, the opposite will happen.
I have held back on blogging and writing for so long. Life has been crap and I keep waiting for it to get better so I can find something funny or positive to write about. It is not happening. I keep waiting for it to get better so I can be in a better frame of mind to write or to find inspiration or motivation ... it is not going to happen. I keep waiting for life to get better so that I am not so exhausted and have the energy to write.... it is not going to happen.
So I have decided that whether they are positive or not. Whether it is convenient for me or not. Whether it is humorous or not. I cant keep waiting to get back into writing or it will never happen. . . so there is no time like the present. . . .I am back. My blogs are back . . . they are possibly going to be more raw, more honest and potentially offensive. . . but will still hopefully be littered with some humour as well.
Till the next edition . . . may Murphy leave you alone and life treat you graciously.
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