(4805,1,'2012-01-31 06:32:11','2012-01-31 14:32:11','Writing this blog post is the hardest writing assignment I\'ve ever given myself. Harder than writing a novel. Harder than writing about my battle with anorexia. Harder than writing my query letter or even my hated novel synopsis. It\'s hard because I\'m afraid of what the reaction will be.\r\n\r\n<strong>Here it is: I\'m bipolar.</strong>\r\n\r\nIn my off-line life, I\'ve shared this with friends. Most have been supportive, though sometimes baffled. (<em>You? Bipolar? I thought you were just depressed!</em>) A handful have dropped me. Some have dismissed it. A cherished few have bent over backwards to help me, pray for me, and encourage me on hard days.\r\n\r\nMy pregnancies were particularly hard. I was afraid of what might happen after I gave birth. (Postpartum depression? Psychosis? Would I end up like Vincent Van Gogh and Virginia Woolf?) Fear gave me insomnia, insomnia gave me time to think at 3 a.m., and 3 a.m. thoughts tend to be wild and creative. So I took the worst case scenario and placed it in the lives of fictional people. Hence the birth of my first (and still unpublished) novel, <em>The Cruelest Month</em>.\r\n\r\nI\'ve wanted to share this online. But I\'ve hesitated because I don\'t know the repercussions of this revelation for my publishing endeavors. Until now, I\'ve kept silent. Silence is safer. Familiar. Stifling.\r\n\r\n<strong>It shouldn\'t be a big deal to write this online. </strong>It should be acceptable for someone to say<em> I have a mental illness</em>. It should be acceptable to hear <em>I\'m going to counseling</em>. It shouldn\'t hurt my chances at getting a book contract any more than any other chronic illness would. In a perfect world, prejudice and stigmas against others wouldn\'t exist. Then again, in a perfect world, mental illness wouldn\'t exist, either.\r\n\r\nBut realistically, it does exist. Theoretically, it might make publication harder. That stinks.\r\n\r\n<strong>Here\'s the reason I wrote this novel and <em>I\'m not supposed to talk about it?</em></strong>\r\n\r\nI query someone. They google me and read <em>I\'m bipolar</em>. What\'s their reaction?\r\n\r\nAs soon as I say I\'m bipolar, many (not all) people have a stereotype pop into their minds. Their ideas may be formed from any number of sources: a celebrity who has landed in the psych ward; the accused killer who pleads not guilty by reason of insanity; an acquaintance they\'ve known and avoided because of their strange behavior. Maybe they\'ve been hurt by someone with a serious mental illness.\r\n\r\nWould you sign a business contract with a previously unknown person if you thought her behavior might be erratic? Would you be concerned that she might not be able to complete her work because her mood swings became uncontrollable? If you don\'t know me, then you have no idea how I will handle the stress of publication. No matter how caring and open-minded, any sensible person might hesitate. I understand this. But here\'s what <em>you</em> need to understand.\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m more than my illness.</strong>\r\n\r\n296.89. That\'s the identification number for my illness. I write it on insurance forms and read it on the receipts from the psychiatrist\'s office. But I\'m not that number any more than Jean Valjean is only 24601 or a concentration camp survivor is the number branded on his arm or any U.S. citizen is her social security number.\r\n\r\nMy identity isn\'t only as a bipolar person. I\'m a Christian. Writer. Wife. Mama. Former ESL teacher. The woman who chose to write a master\'s thesis on <em>Moby-Dick</em> and has Van Gogh prints in virtually every room of her house. The woman who gets lost in her hometown, doesn\'t like coffee, and gets even more lost on Twitter.\r\n\r\n<strong>And I\'m more than the sum of these parts</strong>, just as our bodies are more than a bunch of organs and nerve endings and veins, and our lives are more than a series of events. Each of us has an area where our lives are broken: divorce, cancer, debt, loneliness. These things are a part of our lives, but they are not <em>us</em>.\r\n\r\nIf the statistics are right, then there are many people, possibly some reading this now, who have a mental illness. That\'s a lot of people who need to know they aren\'t alone. They need to know they are more than a number on a page. Many need hope.\r\n\r\n<strong>Hope is hard to find in our world.</strong> It\'s easy to succumb to despair. Many people have successfully fought despair and triumphed; others have been defeated.\r\n\r\nFor every man who comes through a bout of depression, there\'s a Van Gogh standing in the field, watching crows circle.\r\n\r\nFor every woman helped by her medications, there is a Virginia Woolf, loading her coat pockets with rocks, wading into a rushing river.\r\n\r\nAnd for every celebrity crashing in hospital, there are dozens, hundreds, who suffer silently as the rest of us walk around oblivious to their pain.\r\n\r\n<strong>It\'s for those hurting people—whatever the source of the hurt—that I write.</strong>\r\n\r\nIf my work is to bring hope to anyone, then I must first acknowledge my own struggle to find hope in the midst of mental anguish. Telling the truth about my problems is painful. But I can\'t stay silent any longer.\r\n\r\n_________\r\n\r\nSince I originally posted this on my personal blog in February 2011, I\'ve discovered that I was right: there are many people who are suffering from mental illnesses. I\'ve gotten to meet some of them through my blog and even more after I published an essay in Civitas Press\' <em>Not Alone: Stories of Living with Depression</em>. Thank you for sharing your stories. I am privileged to hear them.','Why I\'m afraid to admit I\'m bipolar','','inherit','open','open','','4792-revision-2','','','2012-01-31 06:32:11','2012-01-31 14:32:11','',4792,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4792-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4806,1,'2012-01-31 08:15:28','2012-01-31 16:15:28','Writing this blog post is the hardest writing assignment I\'ve ever given myself. Harder than writing a novel. Harder than writing about my battle with anorexia. Harder than writing my query letter or even my hated novel synopsis. It\'s hard because I\'m afraid of what the reaction will be.\r\n\r\n<strong>Here it is: I\'m bipolar.</strong>\r\n\r\nIn my off-line life, I\'ve shared this with friends. Most have been supportive, though sometimes baffled. (<em>You? Bipolar? I thought you were just depressed!</em>) A handful have dropped me. Some have dismissed it. A cherished few have bent over backwards to help me, pray for me, and encourage me on hard days.\r\n\r\nMy pregnancies were particularly hard. I was afraid of what might happen after I gave birth. (Postpartum depression? Psychosis? Would I end up like Vincent Van Gogh and Virginia Woolf?) Fear gave me insomnia, insomnia gave me time to think at 3 a.m., and 3 a.m. thoughts tend to be wild and creative. So I took the worst case scenario and placed it in the lives of fictional people. Hence the birth of my first (and still unpublished) novel, <em>The Cruelest Month</em>.\r\n\r\nI\'ve wanted to share this online. But I\'ve hesitated because I don\'t know the repercussions of this revelation for my publishing endeavors. Until now, I\'ve kept silent. Silence is safer. Familiar. Stifling.\r\n\r\n<strong>It shouldn\'t be a big deal to write this online. </strong>It should be acceptable for someone to say<em> I have a mental illness</em>. It should be acceptable to hear <em>I\'m going to counseling</em>. It shouldn\'t hurt my chances at getting a book contract any more than any other chronic illness would. In a perfect world, prejudice and stigmas against others wouldn\'t exist. Then again, in a perfect world, mental illness wouldn\'t exist, either.\r\n\r\nBut realistically, it does exist. Theoretically, it might make publication harder. That stinks.\r\n\r\n<strong>Here\'s the reason I wrote this novel and <em>I\'m not supposed to talk about it?</em></strong>\r\n\r\nI query someone. They google me and read <em>I\'m bipolar</em>. What\'s their reaction?\r\n\r\nAs soon as I say I\'m bipolar, many (not all) people have a stereotype pop into their minds. Their ideas may be formed from any number of sources: a celebrity who has landed in the psych ward; the accused killer who pleads not guilty by reason of insanity; an acquaintance they\'ve known and avoided because of their strange behavior. Maybe they\'ve been hurt by someone with a serious mental illness.\r\n\r\nWould you sign a business contract with a previously unknown person if you thought her behavior might be erratic? Would you be concerned that she might not be able to complete her work because her mood swings became uncontrollable? If you don\'t know me, then you have no idea how I will handle the stress of publication. No matter how caring and open-minded, any sensible person might hesitate. I understand this. But here\'s what <em>you</em> need to understand.\r\n\r\n<strong>I\'m more than my illness.</strong>\r\n\r\n296.89. That\'s the identification number for my illness. I write it on insurance forms and read it on the receipts from the psychiatrist\'s office. But I\'m not that number any more than Jean Valjean is only 24601 or a concentration camp survivor is the number branded on his arm or any U.S. citizen is her social security number.\r\n\r\nMy identity isn\'t only as a bipolar person. I\'m a Christian. Writer. Wife. Mama. Former ESL teacher. The woman who chose to write a master\'s thesis on <em>Moby-Dick</em> and has Van Gogh prints in virtually every room of her house. The woman who gets lost in her hometown, doesn\'t like coffee, and gets even more lost on Twitter.\r\n\r\n<strong>And I\'m more than the sum of these parts</strong>, just as our bodies are more than a bunch of organs and nerve endings and veins, and our lives are more than a series of events. Each of us has an area where our lives are broken: divorce, cancer, debt, loneliness. These things are a part of our lives, but they are not <em>us</em>.\r\n\r\nIf the statistics are right, then there are many people, possibly some reading this now, who have a mental illness. That\'s a lot of people who need to know they aren\'t alone. They need to know they are more than a number on a page. Many need hope.\r\n\r\n<strong>Hope is hard to find in our world.</strong> It\'s easy to succumb to despair. Many people have successfully fought despair and triumphed; others have been defeated.\r\n\r\nFor every man who comes through a bout of depression, there\'s a Van Gogh standing in the field, watching crows circle.\r\n\r\nFor every woman helped by her medications, there is a Virginia Woolf, loading her coat pockets with rocks, wading into a rushing river.\r\n\r\nAnd for every celebrity crashing in hospital, there are dozens, hundreds, who suffer silently as the rest of us walk around oblivious to their pain.\r\n\r\n<strong>It\'s for those hurting people—whatever the source of the hurt—that I write.</strong>\r\n\r\nIf my work is to bring hope to anyone, then I must first acknowledge my own struggle to find hope in the midst of mental anguish. Telling the truth about my problems is painful. But I can\'t stay silent any longer.\r\n\r\n_________\r\n\r\nSince I originally posted this on my personal blog in February 2011, I\'ve discovered that I was right: there are many people who are suffering from mental illnesses. I\'ve gotten to meet some of them through my blog and even more after I published an essay in Civitas Press\' <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Not-Alone-Stories-Living-Depression/dp/0615532675\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Not Alone: Stories of Living with Depression</em></a>. Thank you for sharing your stories. I am privileged to hear them.\r\n\r\n<em>Photo Credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicjeep/2327546948/lightbox/\" target=\"_blank\">AtomicJeep</a></em>','Why I\'m Afraid to Admit I\'m Bipolar','','inherit','open','open','','4792-revision-3','','','2012-01-31 08:15:28','2012-01-31 16:15:28','',4792,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4792-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4807,1,'2011-10-18 13:59:58','2011-10-18 20:59:58','Below is a list of blogs we think you make find valuable.  If you would like us to add your link, please link to Provoketive.com and then send us an <a href=\"#email\">email</a> of your blog.\r\n\r\nKathy Escobar - <a href=\"http://kathyescobar.com\" target=\"_blank\">Carnival In My Head</a>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://joyleewilson.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Joy Wilson</a>\r\n\r\nAlise Wright - <a href=\"http://www.alise-write.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Alise Writes</a>\r\n\r\nRay Carroll - <a href=\"http://fallenpastor.wordpress.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Fallen Pastor</a>\r\n\r\nDeanna Ogle - <a href=\"http://soullikeaspider.com\" target=\"_blank\">Soul Like A Spider</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a name=\"email\"></a> [contact-form] [contact-field label=\"Name\" type=\"name\" required=\"true\" /] [contact-field label=\"Email\" type=\"email\" required=\"true\" /] [contact-field label=\"Website\" type=\"url\" required=\"true\" /] [contact-field label=\"Comment\" type=\"textarea\" /] [/contact-form]','Blog List','','inherit','open','open','','683-revision-2','','','2011-10-18 13:59:58','2011-10-18 20:59:58','',683,'http://provoketive.com/2011/10/18/683-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4809,35,'2012-02-07 10:45:37','2012-02-07 18:45:37','<span style=\"font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;\">I</span> was friends with a young man who went by the name “Big Mike”.  He died about a year ago, due to multiple physical problems related to severe obesity.  After attending my church for several months, he said, “This is the first place I’ve ever been a part of where I don’t feel different.  I’m not judged by my size.”  Heartsong Church was where Mike met Jesus.\r\n\r\nShortly after Mike’s funeral, our pastor had a plaque made with Mike’s picture on it, and put it in our Hearthroom where people gather for coffee and talk before and after services.  The plaque says, “What if he was the one?  What if the only reason for the existence for Heartsong Church was so Mike could meet Jesus?”\r\n\r\nWhat if Heartsong Church didn’t exist and welcome “whosoever will may come”?  Would Mike have had an encounter with the living Christ who changed his life?  I don’t know.  But I do know this:  I met Mike at Heartsong and was one of the people who didn’t see him as a fat man, but someone like me who wanted to be loved and accepted just as he was.  I was one who made a difference in his life.  That life-changing experience was all about Mike, and it was all about me.  Someone had done that for me before, and I paid it forward to another seeking soul.\r\n\r\nIn Acts 8, two other people had a similar experience.  One day an angel of the Lord told Philip to go to a road out in the desert.  Did the angel say why?  No – not until Philip followed the instruction.  On the road, Philip saw a man riding in a chariot.  The Holy Spirit nudged Philip to go talk with him.  Did Philip know why?  No – not until they got into a conversation.\r\n\r\nThis person was the treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia.  He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and was reading the Book of Isaiah while on the way home.  Philip learned that he didn’t understand what he was reading.  Once Philip explained that this Scripture was prophecy about the coming Messiah and told him about Jesus, the man came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  One person helped another person, and it changed both of their lives.\r\n\r\nIt’s obvious how Philip helped this man.  But how did the experience help Philip?  I think he saw how important it is for us to act when our hearts are stirred with compassion, rather than just sit on the sidelines and think about it.  Each of us has a unique place in God’s universe.  We are made in His/Her image to fulfill a special part for the redemption of us all.  God loved us into being, and when we pass that love along to someone else, we are literally the hands, feet and heart of Jesus and have the transformational power to change someone’s life for the better.  Just like God did for us.  Just like someone in our lifetime did for us.\r\n\r\nSome of our assignments are on-going, such as treating people like we want to be treated.  Other times we might feel led to say or do something in a specific situation, perhaps without knowing why.  God’s nudges are never pointless, but always personal, and every time we allow God to bless through us, we are blessed, too.','The One For The One','','publish','open','open','','the-one-for-the-one-2','','','2012-02-07 10:45:37','2012-02-07 18:45:37','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4809',0,'post','',4),(4812,35,'2012-01-31 09:12:50','2012-01-31 17:12:50','<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">I</span> was friends with a young man who went by the name “Big Mike”.  He died about a year ago, due to multiple physical problems related to severe obesity.  After attending my church for several months, he said, “This is the first place I’ve ever been a part of where I don’t feel different.  I’m not judged by my size.”  Heartsong Church was where Mike met Jesus.\n\nShortly after Mike’s funeral, our pastor had a plaque made with Mike’s picture on it, and put it in our Hearthroom where people gather for coffee and talk before and after services.  The plaque says, “What if he was the one?  What if the only reason for the existence for Heartsong Church was so Mike could meet Jesus?”\n\nWhat if Heartsong Church didn’t exist and welcome “whosoever will may come”?  Would Mike have had an encounter with the living Christ who changed his life?  I don’t know.  But I do know this:  I met Mike at Heartsong and was one of the people who didn’t see him as a fat man, but someone like me who wanted to be loved and accepted just as he was.  I was one who made a difference in his life.  That life-changing experience was all about Mike, and it was all about me.  Someone had done that for me before, and I paid it forward to another seeking soul.\n\nIn Acts 8, two other people had a similar experience.  One day an angel of the Lord told Philip to go to a road out in the desert.  Did the angel say why?  No – not until Philip followed the instruction.  On the road, Philip saw a man riding in a chariot.  The Holy Spirit nudged Philip to go talk with him.  Did Philip know why?  No – not until they got into a conversation.\n\nThis person was the treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia.  He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and was reading the Book of Isaiah while on the way home.  Philip learned that he didn’t understand what he was reading.  Once Philip explained that this Scripture was prophecy about the coming Messiah and told him about Jesus, the man came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  One person helped another person, and it changed both of their lives.\n\nIt’s obvious how Philip helped this man.  But how did the experience help Philip?  I think he saw how important it is for us to act when our hearts are stirred with compassion, rather than just sit on the sidelines and think about it.  Each of us has a unique place in God’s universe.  We are made in His/Her image to fulfill a special part for the redemption of us all.  God loved us into being, and when we pass that love along to someone else, we are literally the hands, feet and heart of Jesus and have the transformational power to change someone’s life for the better.  Just like God did for us.  Just like someone in our lifetime did for us.\n\nSome of our assignments are on-going, such as treating people like we want to be treated.  Other times we might feel led to say or do something in a specific situation, perhaps without knowing why.  God’s nudges are never pointless, but always personal, and every time we allow God to bless through us, we are blessed, too.','The One For The One','','inherit','open','open','','4809-revision-2','','','2012-01-31 09:12:50','2012-01-31 17:12:50','',4809,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4809-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4810,35,'2012-01-31 09:11:21','2012-01-31 17:11:21','','Hands Reaching Out','','inherit','open','open','','hands-reaching-out-2','','','2012-01-31 09:11:21','2012-01-31 17:11:21','',4809,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hands-Reaching-Out.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(4811,35,'2012-01-31 09:09:49','2012-01-31 17:09:49','<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">I was friends with a young man who went by the name “Big Mike”.  He died about a year ago, due to multiple physical problems related to severe obesity.  After attending my church for several months, he said, “This is the first place I’ve ever been a part of where I don’t feel different.  I’m not judged by my size.”  Heartsong Church was where Mike met Jesus.</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">Shortly after Mike’s funeral, our pastor had a plaque made with Mike’s picture on it, and put it in our Hearthroom where people gather for coffee and talk before and after services.  The plaque says, “What if he was the one?  What if the only reason for the existence for Heartsong Church was so Mike could meet Jesus?”</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">What if Heartsong Church didn’t exist and welcome “whosoever will may come”?  Would Mike have had an encounter with the living Christ who changed his life?  I don’t know.  But I do know this:  I met Mike at Heartsong and was one of the people who didn’t see him as a fat man, but someone like me who wanted to be loved and accepted just as he was.  I was one who made a difference in his life.  That life-changing experience was all about Mike, and it was all about me.  Someone had done that for me before, and I paid it forward to another seeking soul.</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">In Acts 8, two other people had a similar experience.  One day an angel of the Lord told Philip to go to a road out in the desert.  Did the angel say why?  No – not until Philip followed the instruction.  On the road, Philip saw a man riding in a chariot.  The Holy Spirit nudged Philip to go talk with him.  Did Philip know why?  No – not until they got into a conversation.</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">This person was the treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia.  He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and was reading the Book of Isaiah while on the way home.  Philip learned that he didn’t understand what he was reading.  Once Philip explained that this Scripture was prophecy about the coming Messiah and told him about Jesus, the man came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  One person helped another person, and it changed both of their lives.</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">It’s obvious how Philip helped this man.  But how did the experience help Philip?  I think he saw how important it is for us to act when our hearts are stirred with compassion, rather than just sit on the sidelines and think about it.  Each of us has a unique place in God’s universe.  We are made in His/Her image to fulfill a special part for the redemption of us all.  God loved us into being, and when we pass that love along to someone else, we are literally the hands, feet and heart of Jesus and have the transformational power to change someone’s life for the better.  Just like God did for us.  Just like someone in our lifetime did for us.</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;font-size: small\">Some of our assignments are on-going, such as treating people like we want to be treated.  Other times we might feel led to say or do something in a specific situation, perhaps without knowing why.  God’s nudges are never pointless, but always personal, and every time we allow God to bless through us, we are blessed, too.</span>','The One For The One','','inherit','open','open','','4809-revision','','','2012-01-31 09:09:49','2012-01-31 17:09:49','',4809,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4809-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5369,167,'2012-03-01 20:17:47','2012-03-02 04:17:47','<div>\n\nDo you ever feel tense when talking about religion? Do you feel like there are some things about religion that you have not come to understand? Do you have questions about faith that you are afraid to ask in a formal setting? Have you ever expressed your beliefs with someone only to find yourself in a heated debate about religion and faith issues?\n\nWell, there probably is no simple answer as to why so much religion tension exists; could it be, however, that the starting point to deconstructing the complicated tension surrounding religion lies in an examination of our very own commitment to religion? In other words, why do you believe what you believe? Have you ever taken the time to ask yourself this question? If you are anything like me, my guess is that you have spent more time examining, generalizing, and possibly dismissing the beliefs of others and less time examining the validity of your own beliefs. And yet, if we did take just a little time to ask ourselves <strong>why </strong>we believe what<strong> </strong>believe we might be surprised to discover that our commitment to our beliefs is more a product of upbringing and social/cultural influences(or pressure) and less a product of whether something is inherently true or untrue. To say it plainly, <strong>we believe what we are told to believe </strong>or at least for a time we do. This simple statement likely defines the genesis of all of our beliefs systems which gives all people, regardless of their particular belief system, something in common.\n\nIt is uncommon however to find people who, despite massive religious and social pressure, take the time to question the validity of their beliefs. It is even more rare to find people who engage in serious conversation about faith and questions while remaining civil to oppositional views. Thankfully, there is an emerging group of people from all sorts of religious and cultural backgrounds who are doing just that. There is a very promising new documentary film project that\'s just getting off the ground, which highlights this emerging group of people while telling the story of how faith and questions are leading them into civil discussion. This film is called  <strong><em>Anything Less Would Be Uncivilized</em></strong> and is directed by myself, Timothy Kennedy, and Alex Bowens. Watch this preview:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr-atwyoQA0&amp;fe[/youtube]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe have a <a href=\"http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1353636484/anything-less-would-be-uncivilized\">kickstarter campaign</a> going  in order to raise funding to do post production, marketing, etc. As of this writing we have received 7%(about $2,500) of the $35,000 needed to make this film a reality.\n\nIf you have longed for a place to ask questions about faith and religion and you desire to see religious intolerance, bigotry, and hostility transformed into civility please become a backer---for $25 you’ll get a digital download of the film when it’s completed or for $50 you’ll get a copy of it on DVD. At very least, become a fan of the film on <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anything-Less-Would-be-Uncivilized/293478734037492\">facebook</a>, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/ALWBU_DOC\">twitter</a>, and tell others about it(who might then become backers). You can also visit <a href=\"http://www.creativeinvironment.com/\">www.creativeinvironment.com</a> for more details.\n\nThe achievement of civility could go a long way toward calming some of the religious tension in our world and the stories in the film could help make that happen. We hope you will join those who have already pledged to support this project!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>The all-or-nothing Kickstarter fundraising campaign ends Sunday, March 18. </strong><a href=\"http://ht.ly/9fwF9\"><strong>Become a backer!</strong></a>\n\n</div>','RELIGION:The not so great debate.','','inherit','open','open','','5342-revision-20','','','2012-03-01 20:17:47','2012-03-02 04:17:47','',5342,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/01/5342-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(7404,1,'2012-07-29 06:47:16','2012-07-29 13:47:16','In this hot political season, with voices raised about guns, jobs, freedom, the American Way, I find myself pausing to ask: which Way am I called to follow? Whose priorities should I to pursue?\r\n\r\nBefore Christians were called Christians, they were called Followers of the Way. The Way was Jesus: simultaneously the path itself, guide and example, companion on the journey. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”\r\n\r\nBut he also said “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The way to relationship with God, to the full life Jesus promised, is through Jesus himself, but also through following the path he shows us, walking with him the road of sacrifice and self-denial.\r\n\r\nFollowing the Way of Christ starts with a willingness to set our native loyalties aside. Jesus said again and again: leave your nets, your fields, your money, your life, and come, follow me. The early believers understood that the first step of the Christian journey was a step away from all prior allegiance, including allegiance to self, to comfort, safety, the right to be right, the mistaken idea that somehow we, on our own, are good people, better than those others.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The Apostle Paul understood this completely:</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">\"If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.\" (Philippians 3)</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Too many contemporary Christians assume that today the first step is somehow different, somehow less demanding, that we can keep our old loyalties and still fit Christ in. But to follow Jesus, even now, requires a willingness to step away from tradition, denominational assumptions, national pride, comfort, safety, confidence in our own intellect or education, the mistaken idea that somehow we, on our own, are good people, better than those others.</p>\r\nI start here: I am a fallen, broken person, jealously loyal to my own ideas, selfishly committed to my own ways of seeing, in need of a hand of grace to help me stand free of the misguided assumptions that hold me hostage, that whisper I’m somehow of more value than those others not like me.\r\n\r\nI need help to start on the Way, and I need help to continue. If Jesus is the Way, then we’re called to live like him, visible agents of healing, compassion, reconciliation, forgiveness. Before creeds, before denominations, before tee-shirt slogans or bumper stickers, the early Christians were known by the visible difference in their daily lives. They embraced lepers, prostitutes, Roman soldiers. They fed widows and orphans. They refused to retaliate when faced with persecution. They offered healing to enemies, welcome to wanderers unlike themselves.\r\n\r\nThose early Christians were so convinced of the lasting love of Christ they turned and offered that love to those who maligned them, scorned them, punished them. Unevenly, imperfectly, they walked day by day in the Way they had been shown.\r\n\r\nAthanasius of Alexandria (ca. 296-298 – 373) described the visible influence of the Way of Christ on the surrounding culture:\r\n<blockquote>\"Christ is not only preached through His own disciples, but also wrought so persuasively on men’s understanding that, laying aside their savage habits and forsaking the worship of their ancestral gods, they learnt to know Him and through Him to worship the Father. While they were yet idolaters, the Greeks and Barbarians were always at war with each other, and were even cruel to their own kith and kin. Nobody could travel by land or sea at all unless he was armed with swords, because of their irreconcilable quarrels with each other. Indeed, the whole course of their life was carried on with weapons. But since they came over to the school of Christ, as men moved with real compunction they have laid aside their murderous cruelty and are war-minded no more. On the contrary, all is peace among them and nothing remains save desire for friendship.\" (On the Incarnation)</blockquote>\r\nI admit, as followers of the Way in the 21st century, we face a challenge not known to those new Christians of an earlier world. We carry the heritage not only of those whose lives mirrored the example of Christ, but also of those who in the name of Christ went on with their war-minded ways, killing and conquering, justifying slavery and sexism, suppressing scientific study, shouting down opponents, carrying signs saying “God hates.”\r\n\r\nNo one said the Way of Christ would be easy. The call of love is always costly.\r\n\r\nSo we start with that other first step of the Way: confession. Not only confession of our own sin, failure, falling short, but confession of the falling short of those who have gone before, those who even now misrepresent God’s goodness and make the word “Christian” a sign of judgment rather than of hope.\r\n\r\nVinoth Ramachandra, Sri Lankan theologian who has surely seen more than his share of colonial misconduct in the name of Christ, notes “it is with a flawed and faithless people that the Christ has stooped to pitch his tent and link his name. Any sharing of the gospel within a pluralistic world, after two millennia of ‘Christianity,’ has to begin with humble acknowledgement of betrayals of the gospel by the church itself.” (Faiths in Conflict? 1999 p. 168)\r\n\r\nTurning from our tribal loyalties, confessing our misrepresentation of the gospel and complicity in a culture skewed to its own good rather than the good of all, we start on a Way that leads us ever deeper into humility, deeper into the longing for wisdom, the repentant awareness of our own lack of love, our own inadequacy in the face of complex, overwhelming need.\r\n\r\nAnd along that Way, as we read the words of Jesus, as we pray to hear and know his voice, as we ask to see with his eyes, to love what he loves, we find our hearts changing, and find ourselves claiming, with Jesus, a purpose and passion like his own, priority enough in this conflicted season:\r\n<blockquote>“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,\r\nbecause he has anointed me\r\nto proclaim good news to the poor.\r\nHe has sent me to proclaim freedom\r\nfor the prisoners\r\nand recovery of sight\r\nfor the blind,\r\nto set the oppressed free,\r\nto proclaim the year\r\nof the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4)</blockquote>','Which Way Am I Called to Follow?','','inherit','open','open','','7294-revision-4','','','2012-07-29 06:47:16','2012-07-29 13:47:16','',7294,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/29/7294-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4814,35,'2012-02-05 08:00:26','2012-02-05 16:00:26','I’m glad God understands us, because I sure don’t understand Him.  I don’t need the Bible to confirm that, but it does anyway:\r\n<blockquote>“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.\r\n\r\n“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.\r\n\r\nFor just as the heavens are higher than the earth,\r\n\r\nso my ways are higher than your ways\r\n\r\nand my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)</blockquote>\r\nBecause there is at least one sin that trips us up on a regular basis, we tend to think God is disappointed in us.  I know at times when I’ve been giving into a particular sin on a regular basis, I’ve thought of starting the day by praying, “God, I might as well say ‘I’m sorry’ now, because chances are I’m going to do it again today.”\r\n\r\n“What a loser,” we think.  “What a winner,” says God, for from His or Her perspective, every time we pray shows faith, no matter what we think of ourselves.  We wouldn’t bother to pray at all if we didn’t believe it just might make a difference, that God might be listening and care.\r\n\r\nThat doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m glad it makes sense to God.\r\n\r\n<strong>Wholly Committed To Me</strong>\r\n\r\nIf I don’t stop this,\r\n\r\nit’s going to kill God.<em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>So we’ll go together,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>because it’s certainly killing you.</em>\r\n\r\nI’m addicted to sin, stubborn self-will,\r\n\r\nreticent refusal to quit my misery.\r\n\r\nMy pet sin is like a pet rock,\r\n\r\nunable to slither away on its own,\r\n\r\nand when I throw it out, the thing boomerangs\r\n\r\nand I’m back to square one.\r\n\r\n<em>Can I put in my perspective?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>You are already wholly committed me.</em>\r\n\r\nWhat?<em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>Few of my children</em>\r\n\r\n<em>name their sins with absolute integrity.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>You seek me, talk with me constantly</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and wrestle with your helplessness.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I long to hear from everyone,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>no matter what they say,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I honor your persistence,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>which I reckon to you as faith,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>like Abraham and David – </em>\r\n\r\n<em>big time sinners, just like you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>But they came back to me over and over,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I called them friends, as I honor you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Did you hear that?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>As I love you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Do you get that?</em><em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>You please me every time</em>\r\n\r\n<em>you come and have it out with me.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I’m pleased when you seek my help.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Everyone is precious in my sight,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>but I am precious to you</em>\r\n\r\n<em>in spite of all your faults and failure.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I know your love is true</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and we’ll work on your fickle heart.</em><em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>You are not alone;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>all the great saints (as you call them)</em>\r\n\r\n<em>aren’t any better than you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>You think they don’t battle with sin?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Reconsider – </em>\r\n\r\n<em>all of you are broken;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>you ALL need redemption, help and hope.</em><em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>Actually, I planned it that way.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I know the conceit of everyone I made</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and that doesn’t make me unwilling</em>\r\n\r\n<em>to mend your life.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I’d rather have you whopper-jawed</em>\r\n\r\n<em>than robots who would do what I want</em>\r\n\r\n<em>because I push a button and they obey.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>That isn’t love, but performance,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I want your love more than anything else.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>In that, you’re just like me – </em>\r\n\r\n<em>made in my image with a heart for home</em>\r\n\r\n<em>where you will be perfect again.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And for now, you’re wholly committed.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>However long you can do it is victory.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>When you fail, repent.</em>\r\n\r\nI’ll need your help with that.<em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>I</em><em>’ll meet you half-way;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>just don’t give up.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Groveling isn’t a virtue.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>But you ARE wholly committed, so try again.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>A hundred times a day is OK,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I’ll hold your hand</em>\r\n\r\n<em>while you practice this plan.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Get it?  Got it?  Let’s go.</em>\r\n\r\nThank you with all my heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Fallible Committment Is Perfect With God','','publish','open','open','','fallible-committment-is-perfect-with-god','','','2012-02-05 08:00:26','2012-02-05 16:00:26','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4814',0,'post','',6),(4817,35,'2012-01-31 10:43:53','2012-01-31 18:43:53','','holy-prayer','','inherit','open','open','','holy-prayer','','','2012-01-31 10:43:53','2012-01-31 18:43:53','',4814,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/holy-prayer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4815,35,'2012-01-31 10:32:42','2012-01-31 18:32:42','I’m glad God understands us, because I sure don’t understand Him.  I don’t need the Bible to confirm that, but it does anyway:\n<blockquote>“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.\n\n“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.\n\nFor just as the heavens are higher than the earth,\n\nso my ways are higher than your ways\n\nand my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)</blockquote>\nBecause there is at least one sin that trips us up on a regular basis, we tend to think God is disappointed in us.  I know at times when I’ve been giving into a particular sin on a regular basis, I’ve thought of starting the day by praying, “God, I might as well say ‘I’m sorry’ now, because chances are I’m going to do it again today.”\n\n“What a loser,” we think.  “What a winner,” says God, for from His or Her perspective, every time we pray shows faith, no matter what we think of ourselves.  We wouldn’t bother to pray at all if we didn’t believe it just might make a difference, that God might be listening and care.\n\nThat doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m glad it makes sense to God.\n\nWholly Committed To Me\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIf I don’t stop this,\n\nit’s going to kill God.\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>So we’ll go together,</em>\n\n<em>because it’s certainly killing you.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI’m addicted to sin, stubborn self-will,\n\nreticent refusal to quit my misery.\n\nMy pet sin is like a pet rock,\n\nunable to slither away on its own,\n\nand when I throw it out, the thing boomerangs\n\nand I’m back to square one.\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>Can I put in my perspective?</em>\n\n<em>You are already wholly committed me.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat?\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>Few of my children</em>\n\n<em>name their sins with absolute integrity.</em>\n\n<em>You seek me, talk with me constantly</em>\n\n<em>and wrestle with your helplessness.</em>\n\n<em>I long to hear from everyone,</em>\n\n<em>no matter what they say,</em>\n\n<em>and I honor your persistence,</em>\n\n<em>which I reckon to you as faith,</em>\n\n<em>like Abraham and David – </em>\n\n<em>big time sinners, just like you.</em>\n\n<em>But they came back to me over and over,</em>\n\n<em>and I called them friends, as I honor you.</em>\n\n<em>Did you hear that?</em>\n\n<em>As I love you.</em>\n\n<em>Do you get that?</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>You please me every time</em>\n\n<em>you come and have it out with me.</em>\n\n<em>I’m pleased when you seek my help.</em>\n\n<em>Everyone is precious in my sight,</em>\n\n<em>but I am precious to you</em>\n\n<em>in spite of all your faults and failure.</em>\n\n<em>I know your love is true</em>\n\n<em>and we’ll work on your fickle heart.</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>You are not alone;</em>\n\n<em>all the great saints (as you call them)</em>\n\n<em>aren’t any better than you.</em>\n\n<em>You think they don’t battle with sin?</em>\n\n<em>Reconsider – </em>\n\n<em>all of you are broken;</em>\n\n<em>you ALL need redemption, help and hope.</em>\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>Actually, I planned it that way.</em>\n\n<em>I know the conceit of everyone I made</em>\n\n<em>and that doesn’t make me unwilling</em>\n\n<em>to mend your life.</em>\n\n<em>I’d rather have you whopper-jawed</em>\n\n<em>than robots who would do what I want</em>\n\n<em>because I push a button and they obey.</em>\n\n<em>That isn’t love, but performance,</em>\n\n<em>and I want your love more than anything else.</em>\n\n<em>In that, you’re just like me – </em>\n\n<em>made in my image with a heart for home</em>\n\n<em>where you will be perfect again.</em>\n\n<em>And for now, you’re wholly committed.</em>\n\n<em>However long you can do it is victory.</em>\n\n<em>When you fail, repent.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI’ll need your help with that.\n\n<em></em>\n\n<em>I</em><em>’ll meet you half-way;</em>\n\n<em>just don’t give up.</em>\n\n<em>Groveling isn’t a virtue.</em>\n\n<em>But you ARE wholly committed, so try again.</em>\n\n<em>A hundred times a day is OK,</em>\n\n<em>and I’ll hold your hand</em>\n\n<em>while you practice this plan.</em>\n\n<em>Get it?  Got it?  Let’s go.</em>\n\nThank you with all my heart.\n\n&nbsp;','Fallible Committment Is Perfect With God','','inherit','open','open','','4814-revision','','','2012-01-31 10:32:42','2012-01-31 18:32:42','',4814,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4814-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4816,35,'2011-12-05 09:12:19','2011-12-05 17:12:19','Prepare to hear a blasphemous, un-American confession:  I don’t care about Christmas anymore.  God knows I used to, and I have the ornaments, lights, and Christmas cookie recipes to prove it.\r\n\r\nSo what happened to me?  Did someone I love die, and I’m still in grief?  Yeah, something died, alright.  The celebration in Christmas.  All the rah-rah, happy-happy, be of good cheer.  I’m not jaded because of  commercialism these days, though I hate it.  I am seriously pissed that stores are putting up Christmas things two weeks before Halloween.  What’s next?  Santa on the shelf before Labor Day?\r\n\r\nOver the last few years, I’ve tried to be a “good” Christian, and focus on the “Christ” in Christmas.  See the baby Jesus in the manger as significant.  I mean, really – I wouldn’t be a Christian today if Jesus hadn’t come to earth, right?  So what the hell is wrong with me?  What is wrong for me?\r\n\r\nDo I have to have a reason except that Christmas depresses me now?   I’m not going to lie to you and make one up.  Didn’t it always piss you off when you were a child and you asked your parents why you had to do such-and-such and they said, “Because I said so”?\r\n\r\nWhy don’t I care about Christmas anymore?  Because I don’t.  I’m not trying to be a kill-joy, but Christmas is a kill-Joy.  It kills me to pretend that everything is lovely, while Christmas only depresses me.  I know so many people who tell me they just LOVE Christmas and it’s their favorite time of year.  Do you know when that was true for me?  When I was a kid and when my kids were little.  If I had really looked closely when my children were pre-schoolers and in elementary school, I might have noticed that I cared about Christmas for them, not because it was important for me.\r\n\r\nSo what do I do at this time of year?  Pretend.  Tell people what they expect to hear.  But here’s what is real, what does matter:  that my adult children get what they want, and I’m NOT talking about their list for Santa.  I can’t afford that any more.  So what do they want from me?  What do I really want for Christmas?  Read on\r\n<h4>Giving What I Need</h4>\r\n<em>I don’t care about Christmas anymore.\r\nIt seems so sad and empty,\r\nsomething to do and be done with.\r\nI refuse to just “buy something” for the people I love.\r\nThere is a special satisfaction in finding a gift\r\nperfect for a precious someone,\r\nand I would be lynched if I didn’t fill\r\nmy tall kids’ stockings with silly dollar store toys and kiddy candy\r\nappropriate only for six-year-olds.\r\nI really like that part,\r\nbut the carols, trees and seasonal scenes\r\nhave lost me, left me out to lunch.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>To all the people glowing with delight,\r\nasking if my shopping is complete\r\nthen interrupting with their answer\r\nbefore hearing mine,\r\nI just smile and give the expected response:\r\n“Yes.  Merry Christmas.”\r\nWhat else is there to say that’s socially acceptable?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I just buried my dog with stomach cancer,\r\nwhich doesn’t help, but that’s not what’s wrong.\r\nThe lights at night are pretty but pointless,\r\npoinsettias, packages,\r\npain my hurting heart can’t celebrate,\r\nand I don’t even miss it,\r\nbut I don’t have to explain this to you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>When you rode into Jerusalem\r\nand the crowds welcomed you with joy,\r\nI doubt that happiness filled your heart.\r\nGrief and dread were primary\r\nbecause you knew what was coming,\r\nbut I bet you smiled and waved anyway\r\nbecause you loved them.\r\nIt was more important\r\nto give them what they wanted\r\ninstead of what you did.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Is that the perfect gift I can give this year\r\nto the people I care about?\r\nWhat they want from me isn’t my depression.\r\nHelp me give the gift you gave,\r\npocketing your needs to feed the hearts of others,\r\ncelebrating their joy.\r\nSo my candle isn’t lit;\r\nI can still light up their faces\r\nwith traditions that matter to them.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>But I’m sick of faking it;\r\ncontinuing will only make things worse.\r\nI can’t do this by myself.\r\nGrant me the gumption\r\nto feel for real what they need\r\nand act on it with faith\r\nthat you will meet my needs, too.</em>','Giving What I Need','','inherit','open','open','','2804-revision-5','','','2011-12-05 09:12:19','2011-12-05 17:12:19','',2804,'http://provoketive.com/2011/12/05/2804-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4818,35,'2012-01-31 10:38:29','2012-01-31 18:38:29','I’m glad God understands us, because I sure don’t understand Him.  I don’t need the Bible to confirm that, but it does anyway:\n<blockquote>“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.\n\n“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.\n\nFor just as the heavens are higher than the earth,\n\nso my ways are higher than your ways\n\nand my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)</blockquote>\nBecause there is at least one sin that trips us up on a regular basis, we tend to think God is disappointed in us.  I know at times when I’ve been giving into a particular sin on a regular basis, I’ve thought of starting the day by praying, “God, I might as well say ‘I’m sorry’ now, because chances are I’m going to do it again today.”\n\n“What a loser,” we think.  “What a winner,” says God, for from His or Her perspective, every time we pray shows faith, no matter what we think of ourselves.  We wouldn’t bother to pray at all if we didn’t believe it just might make a difference, that God might be listening and care.\n\nThat doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m glad it makes sense to God.\n\n<strong>Wholly Committed To Me</strong>\n\nIf I don’t stop this,\n\nit’s going to kill God.\n<em>So we’ll go together,</em>\n\n<em>because it’s certainly killing you.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI’m addicted to sin, stubborn self-will,\n\nreticent refusal to quit my misery.\n\nMy pet sin is like a pet rock,\n\nunable to slither away on its own,\n\nand when I throw it out, the thing boomerangs\n\nand I’m back to square one.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>Can I put in my perspective?</em>\n\n<em>You are already wholly committed me.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat?\n<em>Few of my children</em>\n\n<em>name their sins with absolute integrity.</em>\n\n<em>You seek me, talk with me constantly</em>\n\n<em>and wrestle with your helplessness.</em>\n\n<em>I long to hear from everyone,</em>\n\n<em>no matter what they say,</em>\n\n<em>and I honor your persistence,</em>\n\n<em>which I reckon to you as faith,</em>\n\n<em>like Abraham and David – </em>\n\n<em>big time sinners, just like you.</em>\n\n<em>But they came back to me over and over,</em>\n\n<em>and I called them friends, as I honor you.</em>\n\n<em>Did you hear that?</em>\n\n<em>As I love you.</em>\n\n<em>Do you get that?</em>\n<em>You please me every time</em>\n\n<em>you come and have it out with me.</em>\n\n<em>I’m pleased when you seek my help.</em>\n\n<em>Everyone is precious in my sight,</em>\n\n<em>but I am precious to you</em>\n\n<em>in spite of all your faults and failure.</em>\n\n<em>I know your love is true</em>\n\n<em>and we’ll work on your fickle heart.</em>\n<em>You are not alone;</em>\n\n<em>all the great saints (as you call them)</em>\n\n<em>aren’t any better than you.</em>\n\n<em>You think they don’t battle with sin?</em>\n\n<em>Reconsider – </em>\n\n<em>all of you are broken;</em>\n\n<em>you ALL need redemption, help and hope.</em>\n<em>Actually, I planned it that way.</em>\n\n<em>I know the conceit of everyone I made</em>\n\n<em>and that doesn’t make me unwilling</em>\n\n<em>to mend your life.</em>\n\n<em>I’d rather have you whopper-jawed</em>\n\n<em>than robots who would do what I want</em>\n\n<em>because I push a button and they obey.</em>\n\n<em>That isn’t love, but performance,</em>\n\n<em>and I want your love more than anything else.</em>\n\n<em>In that, you’re just like me – </em>\n\n<em>made in my image with a heart for home</em>\n\n<em>where you will be perfect again.</em>\n\n<em>And for now, you’re wholly committed.</em>\n\n<em>However long you can do it is victory.</em>\n\n<em>When you fail, repent.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI’ll need your help with that.\n<em>I</em><em>’ll meet you half-way;</em>\n\n<em>just don’t give up.</em>\n\n<em>Groveling isn’t a virtue.</em>\n\n<em>But you ARE wholly committed, so try again.</em>\n\n<em>A hundred times a day is OK,</em>\n\n<em>and I’ll hold your hand</em>\n\n<em>while you practice this plan.</em>\n\n<em>Get it?  Got it?  Let’s go.</em>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThank you with all my heart.\n\n&nbsp;','Fallible Committment Is Perfect With God','','inherit','open','open','','4814-revision-2','','','2012-01-31 10:38:29','2012-01-31 18:38:29','',4814,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4814-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4823,160,'2012-02-08 08:00:24','2012-02-08 16:00:24','<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\r\n\r\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\r\n\r\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\r\n\r\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.\r\n\r\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\r\n\r\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornadoes are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\r\n\r\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\r\n\r\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\r\n\r\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\r\n\r\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.gu\r\n\r\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\r\n\r\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\r\n\r\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\r\n\r\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets, <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\r\n\r\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape.\r\n\r\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','publish','open','open','','how-to-become-a-modern-day-prophet','','','2012-02-17 07:51:03','2012-02-17 15:51:03','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4823',0,'post','',3),(4825,160,'2012-01-31 15:29:58','2012-01-31 23:29:58','','Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','modern-day-prophet','','','2012-01-31 15:29:58','2012-01-31 23:29:58','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Modern-Day-Prophet.docx',0,'attachment','application/msword',0),(4826,160,'2012-01-31 15:37:16','2012-01-31 23:37:16','<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\n\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much simpler way to become a modern day prophet.\n\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\n\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.2.\n\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\n\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornados are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\n\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one 5.  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, neo-conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\n\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\n\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you on you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\n\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.\n\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain automatic weapons, since there’s no good reason why a person needs to fire 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\n\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\n\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\n\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets.  <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\n\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.   However, I might keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape.\n\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>.  If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?   For more information, feel free to visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Feel free to follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a>.','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-revision','','','2012-01-31 15:37:16','2012-01-31 23:37:16','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4827,160,'2012-01-31 16:29:57','2012-02-01 00:29:57','','endisnear-homer','','inherit','open','open','','endisnear-homer','','','2012-01-31 16:29:57','2012-02-01 00:29:57','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4828,160,'2012-01-31 16:32:18','2012-02-01 00:32:18','','Jeff Fulmer 1','','inherit','open','open','','jeff-fulmer-1','','','2012-01-31 16:32:18','2012-02-01 00:32:18','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4829,160,'2012-01-31 16:34:20','2012-02-01 00:34:20','','Jeff Fulmer 1','','inherit','open','open','','jeff-fulmer-1-2','','','2012-01-31 16:34:20','2012-02-01 00:34:20','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4831,160,'2012-01-31 16:51:09','2012-02-01 00:51:09','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4827\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>\n\n<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\n\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\n\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\n\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.\n\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\n\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornados are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\n\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\n\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\n\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you on you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\n\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.gu\n\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\n\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\n\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\n\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets.  <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\n\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape\n\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11.jpg\"><img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-revision-3','','','2012-01-31 16:51:09','2012-02-01 00:51:09','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4830,160,'2012-01-31 16:45:18','2012-02-01 00:45:18','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4827\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>\n\n<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\n\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\n\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\n\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.2.\n\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\n\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornados are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\n\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\n\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\n\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you on you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\n\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.\n\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\n\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\n\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\n\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets.  <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\n\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape\n\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, feel free to visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Feel free to follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11.jpg\"><img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-revision-2','','','2012-01-31 16:45:18','2012-02-01 00:45:18','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4832,160,'2012-01-31 16:52:40','2012-02-01 00:52:40','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4827\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>\n\n<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\n\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\n\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\n\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.\n\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\n\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornados are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\n\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\n\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\n\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you on you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\n\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.gu\n\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\n\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\n\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\n\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets.  <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\n\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape\n\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11.jpg\"><img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-revision-4','','','2012-01-31 16:52:40','2012-02-01 00:52:40','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4999,1,'2012-02-07 10:57:40','2012-02-07 18:57:40','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4847\" title=\"c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"203\" /></a>I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\n\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\n\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\n\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\n\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-autosave','','','2012-02-07 10:57:40','2012-02-07 18:57:40','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4842-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4833,160,'2012-01-31 16:53:08','2012-02-01 00:53:08','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4827\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\r\n\r\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\r\n\r\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\r\n\r\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.\r\n\r\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\r\n\r\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornados are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\r\n\r\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\r\n\r\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\r\n\r\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you on you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\r\n\r\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.gu\r\n\r\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\r\n\r\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\r\n\r\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\r\n\r\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets.  <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\r\n\r\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape\r\n\r\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11.jpg\"><img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-revision-5','','','2012-01-31 16:53:08','2012-02-01 00:53:08','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4834,160,'2012-02-17 07:51:09','2012-02-17 15:51:09','<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\r\n\r\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\r\n\r\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\r\n\r\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.\r\n\r\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\r\n\r\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornadoes are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\r\n\r\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\r\n\r\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\r\n\r\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\r\n\r\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.gu\r\n\r\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\r\n\r\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\r\n\r\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\r\n\r\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets, <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\r\n\r\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape.\r\n\r\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-autosave','','','2012-02-17 07:51:09','2012-02-17 15:51:09','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4998,1,'2012-01-31 16:53:59','2012-02-01 00:53:59','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4827\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/endisnear-homer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"194\" /></a>\r\n\r\n<em>Help Wanted: Modern Day Prophet to guide people through volatile, uncertain times.   No previous experience required.  Must be willing to take instruction and be detail-oriented.  Commanding voice and facial hair a plus.    Depending on job performance, commission based compensation can vary from love offerings to a king’s ransom. </em>\r\n\r\nSounds like a pretty good gig, doesn’t it?  The problem is, even if you get the job, you have to wait around for God to feed you your lines, and there’s no telling if or when that will happen.  There’s actually a much easier way to become a modern day prophet.\r\n\r\nGeorge Santayana said, “To know your future, you must know your past,” and therein lies the key to ‘prophecy.’   People don’t learn lessons very easily and, while that’s a problem for the human race, it’s a golden opportunity for a clever person to cash in.  The following easy-to-use guide can put you on the fast track to becoming a self-proclaimed prophet:\r\n\r\n1.  Predict an economic crisis.  Investing in the stock market these days is like riding the Cyclone at Coney Island.   If there’s one constant in the financial markets, it is inconsistency.   With on-going mortgage defaults, the European Debt crisis, and the never-ending budget debate in the US, there are sure to be more hair-raising free falls just around the corner.\r\n\r\n2.  As long as the rich get richer and everyone else feels poor and powerless, protest movements will continue to grow.  In the US, the top 1% controls 40% of the wealth; the top 10% possesses 90%.  That kind of wealth gap is unsustainable and leaves a big chunk of the population without much to lose.  If people don’t even have hope, an escalation of unrest is easy to foresee.\r\n\r\n3.  Natural and/or environmental disasters are the prophet’s best friend.  Hurricanes and tornados are ripping around the country at a record pace, not to mention there are always fires, earthquakes, flooding, and winter storms.   Tying your ‘prediction’ to an energy-related company (off-shore drilling, nuclear reactors, coal mining, etc.) is a nice extra touch with minimum downside risk.\r\n\r\n4.  Count on a crazy person to commit a horrific hate crime.  We expose the paranoid and delusional to a media that constantly vilifies one  segment of society; Muslims, gays, immigrants, liberals, conservatives.  After painting a target on someone’s back, we then give almost anyone access to automatic firearms.   “Predicting” a horrible outcome is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.\r\n\r\n5.  Celebrities fall off their pedestals and into the gutter with regularity, so picking one or two crashes is a safe bet.   You can pick up bonus points if you specify a politician – and you might as well make them males embroiled in a sex scandal.\r\n\r\nYou can come up with your own “predictions,” but these will get you on you started.  These ‘unexpected events’ happen with such regularity they have almost become routine – and yet we always seem surprised, even shocked, when they inevitably occur.\r\n\r\nOf course, it is possible that things could change… Instead of being mired down in ideology, Washington could work together to solve our financial woes.  They could ask the wealthiest to do a little more for the little guy who’s barely scraping by, or limit campaign contributions from lobbyists, or a host of other common sense, ethical solutions.gu\r\n\r\nIt’s conceivable we could also address global warming rather than pretend it isn’t happening or make up excuses why it’s not our fault.  We could make it tougher to obtain a weapon that fires 500 rounds a minute.   And we could stop abdicating our brains to pompous pundits who spew hate.\r\n\r\nAll these things could happen… but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.\r\n\r\nOne final warning: If you do take the job, there is an outside chance God might actually decide to speak through you.  If so, The Almighty might tell you He’s already given people the power to change the world for the better and command us to make a more just and equitable society.  Of course, those things require sacrifice and taking responsibility for our actions.\r\n\r\nPeople will not want to hear that stuff, which is when the job can get sticky.  That’s why Jesus warned would-be prophets.  <em>“Therefore, I am sending prophets and wise men and teachers.  Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue them from town to town.” (Matthew 23:34)</em>\r\n\r\nI don’t mean to discourage anyone from going into this highly “prophetable” line of work.   It’s a long shot that you’ll ever hear from the Big Man.  However, you might want to keep a bag packed, just in case you need to make a fast escape\r\n\r\nJeff Fulmer lives in Nashville Tennessee and is the author of the book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Prophet-Jeff-Fulmer/dp/1463632312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1312940193&amp;sr=8-1\">Hometown Prophet</a>. <em> If God spoke through a prophet today, would we really want to hear what he has to say?</em>   For more information, visit the <a href=\"http://www.hometownprophetbook.com/\">Hometown Prophet website</a>.   Follow on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hometownprophet\">Twitter</a> or  like on <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/HometownProphet\">Facebook</a> .\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11.jpg\"><img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Jeff-Fulmer-11-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','How to Become a Modern Day Prophet','','inherit','open','open','','4823-revision-6','','','2012-01-31 16:53:59','2012-02-01 00:53:59','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4823-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(7406,136,'2012-08-01 17:08:31','2012-08-02 00:08:31','In practical and academic theological circles it\'s popular to ponder, write, consider, and act upon the meaning of following Jesus, especially following Jesus to the cross. You read scripture and start to realize going to the cross of Calvary means resisting death-dealing secular and religious bureaucratic and \"other\" assorted authorities, rejecting anything but love and justice as the measuring line, disallowing all that\'s other than righteousness as the plumbline; after a few years of living out our baptism, we start discovering Resurrection Sunday morning is every bit as demanding as Good Friday afternoon. It\'s easy to take pride in demonstrating visibly for ecclesiastically popular causes, maybe getting onto the evening news, feeling good about ourselves for sometimes getting too involved with concerns not popular with our local judicatories. Soundbite on the late night news, anyone? Spending a season with Mother Teresa\'s peeps or serving Thanksgiving dinner at Father Joe\'s place. Those bigger, more obvious, more stars-in-our-crowns activities. And for the most part, they\'re all good. Often very good and life-transformative.\r\n\r\nBut in the ambient heat and humidity of mid-summer 2012, I like to remember Jesus partying with friends and with strangers. A spontaneous feast because they\'d hauled in a big catch, had freshly baked bread, and the grapes were ripe and juicy. Or a quick roundup of \"whatever\" resources because so many hungry people had surrounded them. I love stories of Jesus making sure everyone got enough to eat, commanding and demanding his disciples feed others, too. I love how we keep celebrating holy communion, the sacrament of the welcome table, the holy eucharist, with each other. More than simply \"liking\" the way potluck dinners, annual picnics, and strawberry ice cream socials have becoming close to definitive for the church. Ever attended a new to you church that didn\'t have an after worship (or between services) social hour? It\'s all about gathering, talking, relating, feeding, eating, and being fed. And we\'re not likely to keep on performing an action unless it has meaning, unless it says something to us and about us, unless it meets a basic need.\r\n\r\nA religious ritual? There are plenty of those. If we are to remember Jesus, do we need bread and wine? Do we need potlucks and picnics? Throughout the records of Jesus\' life we find accounts of Jesus feeding other people and feasting with his friends; Jesus repeatedly talks about those who will banquet in the Kingdom... and about giving his body for the life of the world. But is that gift of a body broken unto death for the life of the world the whole, entire thing?\r\n\r\nIn feeding friends and strangers, in celebrating bounty of the sea, gifts from the ground, and fruit of the vine, Jesus reveals a worldview that\'s at a 180-degree angle to most common ideas of religion and religiousness. We find loving justice, mercy, and embrace graciously at work wherever Jesus goes, and wherever we follow him into the world so hunger, greed, need, judgment, and exclusion are wiped out.\r\n\r\nLike Jesus, will we actively search for the lonely, the different, the outcast, and the stranger, welcoming them not only to our more formally scheduled eucharistic liturgies (well, turning them out of the narthex, back into the street <em>would</em> be awkward), but also afterwards at social hour (no snarkiness allowed), week night potlucks or annual picnics (I brought enough for everyone and would love to try your special dish), ice cream socials (we\'ve never done it that way, but we\'d love to try your way)? Will we be making our worlds, our neighborhoods and our churches into sanctuaries, holy places, into a foretaste of the reign of God on earth? Will we follow Jesus by including everyone, excluding no one? Will the world recognize us as the body of Christ when we pour out our everyday lives with compassion just as we pour out the eucharistic wine?','following Jesus everywhere','','inherit','open','open','','7367-revision-9','','','2012-08-01 17:08:31','2012-08-02 00:08:31','',7367,'http://provoketive.com/2012/08/01/7367-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4842,67,'2012-02-07 11:00:55','2012-02-07 19:00:55','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4847\" title=\"c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"203\" /></a>In his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','publish','open','open','','leonard-cohen-old-ideas-acceptance-and-redemption','','','2012-02-07 11:02:16','2012-02-07 19:02:16','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4842',0,'post','',1),(4844,67,'2012-02-02 11:17:06','2012-02-02 19:17:06','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\n\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\n\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\n\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\n\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision','','','2012-02-02 11:17:06','2012-02-02 19:17:06','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4846,67,'2012-02-02 11:20:44','2012-02-02 19:20:44','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-2','','','2012-02-02 11:20:44','2012-02-02 19:20:44','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4847,67,'2012-02-02 11:23:28','2012-02-02 19:23:28','','c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130','','inherit','open','open','','c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130','','','2012-02-02 11:23:28','2012-02-02 19:23:28','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4848,67,'2012-02-02 11:22:24','2012-02-02 19:22:24','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-3','','','2012-02-02 11:22:24','2012-02-02 19:22:24','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4850,67,'2012-02-02 11:23:55','2012-02-02 19:23:55','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4847\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-4','','','2012-02-02 11:23:55','2012-02-02 19:23:55','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4854,67,'2012-02-02 11:27:28','2012-02-02 19:27:28','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-8','','','2012-02-02 11:27:28','2012-02-02 19:27:28','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4851,67,'2012-02-02 11:26:05','2012-02-02 19:26:05','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4847\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Leonard_Cohen_2127.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4849\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Leonard_Cohen_2127-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-5','','','2012-02-02 11:26:05','2012-02-02 19:26:05','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(4852,67,'2012-02-02 11:26:41','2012-02-02 19:26:41','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4847\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Leonard_Cohen_2127.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4849\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Leonard_Cohen_2127-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-6','','','2012-02-02 11:26:41','2012-02-02 19:26:41','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4853,67,'2012-02-02 11:26:55','2012-02-02 19:26:55','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4847\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/c2e6ad0c93032588d328fdf50bf441addf082130-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Leonard_Cohen_2127.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4849\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Leonard_Cohen_2127-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-7','','','2012-02-02 11:26:55','2012-02-02 19:26:55','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4855,67,'2012-02-02 11:29:09','2012-02-02 19:29:09','I have to admit it; I am not a big fan of “Christian” music.  I find more personal satisfaction in secular music and actually find that more of the “spiritual” is revealed to me in the honesty of my favorite artists.  In a church culture of shallow and transparent worship music, it is refreshing to be able to access depth in the secular, which actually seems to contain more true spirituality than the latter.  Leonard Cohen in particular, has the ability to delve into the deep places of faith that few of us do, all the while being unsure of where his beliefs truly lay.  His music can catapult one into a realm of communion with God that not many modern worship leaders have the ability to do.  His brutal honesty and nakedness of spirit comforts during times of struggle, confirms in times of confidence and speaks peace into the dark places that we all find ourselves in from time to time.\r\n\r\nIn his new album, <em>Old Ideas</em>, Cohen reveals more than ever that he is not so much a singer, as he is a lyricist.  He speaks his vocal creations in a low baritone voice that cracks and drags like tar and gravel.  His quiet and reserved vocals trail off into a whisper that almost seems to almost disappear into an unfamiliar vocal range.  In nostalgic story, he drifts from Sinatra type crooning to lyrical musing reminiscent of an aging Dylan or Tom Waits.  One minute you find yourself on a French street corner, just outside an old coffee shop, and the next you see yourself on an Irish country side, reflecting on the life that has passed you by, as the sun sets on your meditations.\r\n\r\nCohen paints a picture of a human being that is still seeking the truth behind faith and the mysteries of God.  Although he is 78 years old, he sings with the honesty of a young man on a journey through life and longing to find the “answer”.  In many ways, he in fact has found the “answer”, but as always, he seems to reveal through his music that he is just as clueless as before.  He also reveals in himself a man facing an epiphany of deep realization about himself, and the temporal reality of life on this earth.  Sadly enough, in songs such a “Show me the Place”, you get the sense that he is saying “Goodbye”, which causes some lament on this troubadour and poet’s long career.\r\n\r\nDoes he sense that he is “Going Home”, as he reveals in the first song?  Does Cohen know something that is concealed from us?  Has he reached a point in life where the realizations of our finite time in this world become clear, and even welcomed.  <em>“</em><em>Going home without my sorrow. Going home sometime tomorrow.  Going home to where it\'s better than before.”  </em>These thoughts are echoed in the words of “Come Healing”.    With “<em>the splinters”</em> that we carry through life and <em>the crosses</em> that we eventually leave behind, does healing come to our bodies and mind?  He seems to ask this of himself and proverbial offers it to God, as his life possibly comes to its twilight.\r\n\r\nThere is also a comforting aspect of acceptance in <em>Old Ideas</em> that leaves you with an overwhelming sense of hope.  Cohen takes the concept of hope and assures you that despite the deep darkness that comes from life, hope is always dangling before each of us.  Regardless of mistakes, failures and yes, even sin, we each can arrive at a destination in our journey that is better than where we came.  In “Lullaby<em>”</em>, he whispers to the soul, <em>“Sleep, baby, sleep, there’s a morning to come”.  </em>Problems may not all be solved, answers may not always be realized, salvation may not always be assured  and forgiveness may not always be received, but redemption can be obtained by us all, even when we feel unworthy to be redeemed.[gallery]','Leonard Cohen:  “Old Ideas”, Acceptance and Redemption ','','inherit','open','open','','4842-revision-9','','','2012-02-02 11:29:09','2012-02-02 19:29:09','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(4862,46,'2012-02-08 09:00:57','2012-02-08 17:00:57','<span style=\"font-style: italic\">(UPDATE: As a way to clear up any controversy over using either \"Him,\" \"Her,\" or \"It\" for God, I\'m just using the word God.)</span>\r\n\r\nIf you spend as much time on the Christian blogosphere as I do, chances are you probably got wind of John Piper’s recent comments about a more <a href=\"http://www.christianpost.com/news/john-piper-god-gave-christianity-a-masculine-feel-68385/\">“masculine Christianity.”</a> According to Piper:\r\n<blockquote><span style=\"font-style: italic\">“God revealed Himself in the Bible pervasively as king not queen; father not mother,\" Piper said. \"The second person of the Trinity is revealed as the eternal Son not daughter; the Father and the Son create man and woman in His image and give them the name man, the name of the male...God appoints all the priests in the Old Testament to be men; the Son of God came into the world to be a man; He chose 12 men to be His apostles; the apostles appointed that the overseers of the Church be men; and when it came to marriage they taught that the husband should be the head.\"</span>\r\n\r\n<em>“Now, from all of that I conclude that God has given Christianity a masculine feel,” Piper continued. “And being God, a God of love, He has done that for our maximum flourishing both male and female... He does not intend for women to languish or be frustrated or in any way suffer or fall short of full and lasting joy in this masculine Christianity. From which I infer that the fullest flourishing of women and men takes place in churches and families that have this masculine feel.”</em></blockquote>\r\nTrue, most of the nouns attributed to God in the Bible are distinctly masculine: King, Lord, and Father. However, after doing some research I personally think these words are meant to be metaphors for how God relates to God\'s people, rather than definitive statements about God\'s gender.\r\n\r\nToday I want to focus on the image of God as father. As someone who grew up without a father, the father image immediately resonated with me. <span style=\"font-style: italic\"> The King of the Universe is also my . . . dad? </span> The father image shows us just how intimate God’s relationship with God\'s people really is. But does this mean God is exclusively a father, and does not have any mother qualities at all?\r\n\r\nNope! Turns out God has qualities of a mother as well as a father.\r\n\r\nProbably the most well-known Bible verse that uses the mother image is Isaiah 66:13--\"<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you</span>; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” [Emphasis mine] In our culture, comforting children is usually thought of as a mom thing. Mom nurtures the kids, while dad disciplines them, right? But in this case God the Father doesn\'t just discipline God\'s children:  God <span style=\"font-style: italic\">comforts</span> them.\r\n\r\nAnother key scripture is Matthew 23:37--“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I [Jesus] have longed to gather your children together, <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings</span>, and you were not willing.\" [Emphasis mine] Notice how Jesus doesn\'t say \"as a rooster;\" He says \"as a hen.\" Once again, this verse tells us that God the Father has those nurturing qualities usually reserved for mothers.\r\n\r\nIt\'s also interesting to point out that although the father image is used more throughout scripture to describe God, the word \"father,\" according to scholar John Dominic Crossan, actually refers to <span style=\"font-style: italic\">both</span> father and mother. Here\'s an excerpt from his book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Prayer-Rediscovering-Revolutionary-Message/dp/0061875686/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1328227106&amp;sr=8-1\">The Greatest Prayer</a>:\r\n<blockquote><span style=\"font-style: italic\">\"From all those various biblical examples---from Exodus and Deuteronomy to Proverbs and Sirach---I draw two very important conclusions. One is that despite its male-oriented prejudice, the biblical term \'father\' is simply a shorthand term for \'father and mother.\' In fact, unless context demands exclusive male emphasis, it is usually wiser to presume an inclusive intention.</span>\r\n\r\n<em>Another is that \'father and mother\' does not just intend \'parent\' in charge of children, but rather \'householder\' in charge of a home or extended family. The biblical concept of householder does not envisage the single-occupant or even nuclear-family household. It imagines the extended multigenerational household as in those Sabbath day commands. It contains brothers and sisters, unmarried sisters and married brothers, clients and dependents, male and female slaves, animals, lands and tools.\"</em></blockquote>\r\nI don\'t know if God is exclusively male, or even if God has a gender at all. But I don\'t really understand why so many Christians believe Christianity only has a masculine feel, when God shows characteristics of both a father <span style=\"font-style: italic\">and</span> a mother.','God the Father . . . and Mother?','','publish','open','open','','god-the-father-and-mother','','','2012-02-08 09:40:38','2012-02-08 17:40:38','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4862',0,'post','',7),(4863,46,'2012-02-03 06:33:13','2012-02-03 14:33:13','<span style=\"font-style: italic\">(DISCLAIMER: Throughout this blog post I will use the pronoun “he” to describe God, which might contradict everything I say in this post. But it saves time instead of saying “he/she/it” all the time.)</span>\n\nIf you spend as much time on the Christian blogosphere as I do, chances are you probably got wind of John Piper’s recent comments about a more <a href=\"http://www.christianpost.com/news/john-piper-god-gave-christianity-a-masculine-feel-68385/\">“masculine Christianity.”</a> According to Piper:\n<blockquote><span style=\"font-style: italic\">\n“God revealed Himself in the Bible pervasively as king not queen; father not mother,\" Piper said. \"The second person of the Trinity is revealed as the eternal Son not daughter; the Father and the Son create man and woman in His image and give them the name man, the name of the male...God appoints all the priests in the Old Testament to be men; the Son of God came into the world to be a man; He chose 12 men to be His apostles; the apostles appointed that the overseers of the Church be men; and when it came to marriage they taught that the husband should be the head.\"</span>\n\n<em>“Now, from all of that I conclude that God has given Christianity a masculine feel,” Piper continued. “And being God, a God of love, He has done that for our maximum flourishing both male and female... He does not intend for women to languish or be frustrated or in any way suffer or fall short of full and lasting joy in this masculine Christianity. From which I infer that the fullest flourishing of women and men takes place in churches and families that have this masculine feel.”</em></blockquote>\nTrue, most of the nouns attributed to God in the Bible are distinctly masculine: King, Lord, and Father. However, after doing some research I personally think these words are meant to be metaphors for how God relates to His people, rather than definitive statements about His gender.\n\nToday I want to focus on the image of God as father. As someone who grew up without a father, the father image immediately resonated with me. <span style=\"font-style: italic\"> The King of the Universe is also my . . . dad? </span> The father image shows us just how intimate God’s relationship with His people really is. But does this mean God is exclusively a father, and does not have any mother qualities at all?\n\nNope! Turns out God has qualities of a mother as well as a father.\n\nProbably the most well-known Bible verse that uses the mother image is Isaiah 66:13--\"<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you</span>; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” [Emphasis mine] In our culture, comforting children is usually thought of as a mom thing. Mom nurtures the kids, while dad disciplines them, right? But in this case God the Father doesn\'t just discipline His children: He <span style=\"font-style: italic\">comforts</span> them.\n\nAnother key scripture is Matthew 23:37--“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I [Jesus] have longed to gather your children together, <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings</span>, and you were not willing.\" [Emphasis mine] Notice how Jesus doesn\'t say \"as a rooster;\" He says \"as a hen.\" Once again, this verse tells us that God the Father has those nurturing qualities usually reserved for mothers.\n\nIt\'s also interesting to point out that although the father image is used more throughout scripture to describe God, the word \"father,\" according to scholar John Dominic Crossan, actually refers to <span style=\"font-style: italic\">both</span> father and mother. Here\'s an excerpt from his book <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Prayer-Rediscovering-Revolutionary-Message/dp/0061875686/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1328227106&amp;sr=8-1\">The Greatest Prayer</a>:\n<blockquote><span style=\"font-style: italic\">\"From all those various biblical examples---from Exodus and Deuteronomy to Proverbs and Sirach---I draw two very important conclusions. One is that despite its male-oriented prejudice, the biblical term \'father\' is simply a shorthand term for \'father and mother.\' In fact, unless context demands exclusive male emphasis, it is usually wiser to presume an inclusive intention.</span>\n\n<em>Another is that \'father and mother\' does not just intend \'parent\' in charge of children, but rather \'householder\' in charge of a home or extended family. The biblical concept of householder does not envisage the single-occupant or even nuclear-family household. It imagines the extended multigenerational household as in those Sabbath day commands. It contains brothers and sisters, unmarried sisters and married brothers, clients and dependents, male and female slaves, animals, lands and tools.\"</em></blockquote>\nI don\'t know if God is exclusively male, or even if He has a gender at all. But I don\'t really understand why so many Christians believe Christianity only has a masculine feel, when God shows characteristics of both a father <span style=\"font-style: italic\">and</span> a mother.','God the Father . . . and Mother?','','inherit','open','open','','4862-revision','','','2012-02-03 06:33:13','2012-02-03 14:33:13','',4862,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/03/4862-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4866,20,'2012-02-24 08:00:45','2012-02-24 16:00:45','Many of us maybe have maybe heard in church that we\'re supposed to \"put\" God at the center of everything, consider God<em> first</em>, or something along those lines.  This probably works well when it comes to the evangelical notion of \"spending time with God,\" but I think it might betray something unworkable about how we often think of God\'s relationship to the world. What I\'ve noticed is that there seems to be, very generally speaking, at least two kinds of faith that are being practiced in the Christian context that reveal this.  My suggestion is that the second kind is far more livable than the first.\r\n\r\nFirst, there\'s the faith that takes this teaching quite literally and attempts to see God in everything with the best of intentions.  The consequence here though sometimes amounts to interventionist supernaturalism, in which God is understood to be playing a coercive orchestration game in all areas of life, and is thought of as related to us only <em>externally</em>.  In other words, God becomes the direct cause of everything good that happens to us, from <em>outside</em> and<em> above, </em>while the bad things are just seen as mysterious and sort of swept under the rug.\r\n\r\nThe other kind of faith - one that I\'m trying to explore and practice more in my own life - might go something like what Henri Nouwen says here:\r\n<blockquote>\"While personal concern is sustained by a continuously growing faith in the value and meaning of life, the deepest motivation [going into] the future is hope.  For hope makes it possible to look <em>beyond the fulfillment of urgent wishes</em> <em>and pressing desires</em> and offers a vision beyond human suffering and even death. <strong>[The Christian life] therefore is not called \"Christian\" because it is permeated with optimism against all the odds of life</strong>, <strong>but because it is grounded in the historic Christ-event which is understood as a definitive breach in the deterministic chain of human trial and error</strong>, and as a dramatic affirmation that there is light on the other side of darkness.\" - from <em>The Wounded Healer</em></blockquote>\r\nI do not see this as the easy solution or as the only clear alternative necessarily, but I think the juxtaposition of these two approaches can be helpful - especially with respect to reducing anxiety and simplifying, at least conceptually<em>,</em> the path of discipleship that is already difficult enough to lead.  Why?  Because on the one hand, God is still being trusted and credited as the one who empowers and persuades - enables - where human striving has been exhausted, but on the other hand is not trusted or credited in such a way that distracts us with personalistic ideas of God\'s will - a way of faith that sounds synonymous with Western cultural tendency of individualist exceptionalism.  We want so bad for our lives to matter and for there to be meaning or calling in our vocations.  And I believe that there is.  The problems comes when we cross the fine line that separates this genuine human desire from egoism and idolatry that waits on the other side.\r\n\r\nI hope that this distinction makes sense, and I\'m curious as to whether it resonates with others.\r\n\r\nIn case we think, however, that this is an excuse to wait around and hope for God in mere contemplative inaction, Nouwen elsewhere declares the following:\r\n<blockquote>“You are Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in, so long as you emphasize the need of conversion both for yourself and for the world, so long as you in no way let yourself become established in the situation of the world, so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. You are Christian only when you believe you have a role to play in the realization of the new kingdom, and when you urge everyone you meet with holy unrest to make haste so that the promise might soon be fulfilled. So long as you live as a Christian you keep looking for a new order, a new structure, a new life.”</blockquote>\r\nThis presents a challenge to those in the ministry for instance who make it their first priority to preserve and grow specific institutions or to please their constituencies.  It is likewise a charge against those who\'d like to serve their own ends while giving only occasional credence to \"what really matters.\"  I\'ve definitely been guilty of this one.  So rather, we must somehow strive to order our lives in such a way as to be at once full of hope for the coming of God and yet faithful to the everyday mission of reconciliation, with God as our enabler.','From Interventional to Enabling ','','publish','open','open','','from-interventional-to-enabling','','','2012-02-23 20:55:34','2012-02-24 04:55:34','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4866',0,'post','',1),(4867,20,'2012-02-03 11:06:21','2012-02-03 19:06:21','This week I was able to attend the Emergent Village Theological Conversation, which was intended to be engagement with some of the foremost thinkers of process theology.  As a student at Claremont, the ideas were not knew to me, and I do not consider myself a process person.  Nonetheless, as I continue to struggle with questions about providence and God\'s sovereignty over the suicidal direction our planet and global economy seems to be taking, something from the conference did indeed take on new meaning for me that I\'d like to share.  One of the main reasons I feel this way I think is because these new depths are not exclusive to process thinking but have already been implicit in the Christian tradition since Jesus\'s time.  It\'s clear that other people have recognized some of the same things.\n\nPrior to this week in two different readings I came across the following:\n\n\"While personal concern is sustained by a continuously growing faith in the value and meaning of life, the deepest motivation [going into] the future is hope.  For hope makes it possible to look beyond the fulfillment of urgent wishes and pressing desires and offers a vision beyond human suffering and even death.  A Christian is a [person] of hope whose strength in the final analysis is based neither on self-confidence derived for [her] personality, or on specific expectations for the future, but on a promise given to [her] . . . This hope stretches far beyond the limitations of one\'s own psychological strength, for it is anchored not just in the soul of the individual but in God\'s self-disclosure in history. [The Christian life] therefore is not called Christian because it is permeated with optimism against all the odds of life, but because it is grounded in the historic Christ-event which is understood as a definitive breach in the deterministic chain of human trial and error, and as a dramatic affirmation that there is light on the other side of darkness.  Every attempt to attach this hope of visible symptoms in our surroundings becomes a temptation when it prevents us from the realization that promises, not concrete successes, are the basis of Christian[ living].\" - From <em>The Wounded Healer</em> by Henri J. M. Nouwen\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Two Kinds of Faith: Learning something about God from Process Thought','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision','','','2012-02-03 11:06:21','2012-02-03 19:06:21','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/03/4866-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5139,20,'2012-02-16 18:56:17','2012-02-17 02:56:17','Many of us maybe have heard in church that we\'re supposed to \"put\" God at the center of everything, consider God<em> first</em>, or something along those lines.  I think this might betray something unworkable about how we think of God. What I\'ve noticed is that there seems to be, very generally speaking, at least two kinds of faith that are being practiced in the Christian context that reveal this.  My suggestion is that the second kind is far more livable than the first.\n\nFirst, there\'s the faith that takes this teaching quite literally and attempts to see God in everything with the best of intentions.  The consequence here though sometimes amounts to supernaturalism, in which God is understood to be playing a coercive orchestration game in all areas of life, and is thought of as related to us only <em>externally</em>.  In other words, God becomes the direct cause of everything good that happens to us, from <em>outside</em> and<em> above, </em>while the bad things are just seen as mysterious and sort of swept under the rug.\n\nThe other kind of faith - one that I\'m trying to explore and practice more in my own life - might go something like this:\n\n\"While personal concern is sustained by a continuously growing faith in the value and meaning of life, the deepest motivation [going into] the future is hope.  For hope makes it possible to look <em>beyond the fulfillment of urgent wishes</em> <em>and pressing desires</em> and offers a vision beyond human suffering and even death. <strong>[The Christian life] therefore is not called \"Christian\" because it is permeated with optimism against all the odds of life</strong>, <strong>but because it is grounded in the historic Christ-event which is understood as a definitive breach in the deterministic chain of human trial and error</strong>, and as a dramatic affirmation that there is light on the other side of darkness.\" - from <em>The Wounded Healer</em> by Henri Nouwen\n\nI do not see this as the easy solution or as the only clear alternative necessarily, but I think the juxtaposition of these two approaches can be helpful - especially with respect to reducing anxiety and simplifying, at least <em>conceptually,</em> the path of discipleship that is otherwise very difficult to lead.  Why?  Because on the one hand, God is still being <em>trusted</em> as the one who empowers and persuades where human striving has been exhausted, but on the other hand is not trusted in such a way that distracts us with personalistic ideas of God\'s will - a way of faith that sounds synonymous with Western cultural tendency of individualist exceptionalism.  We want so bad for our lives to matter and for there to be meaning or calling in our vocations.  And I believe that there is.  The problems comes when we cross the fine line that separates this genuine human desire from egoism and idolatry that waits on the other side.\n\nIn case we think, however, that this is an excuse to wait around for God in mere contemplative inaction, Nouwen elsewhere declares the following:\n\n“You are Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in, so long as you emphasize the need of conversion both for yourself and for the world, so long as you in no way let yourself become established in the situation of the world, so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. You are Christian only when you believe you have a role to play in the realization of the new kingdom, and when you urge everyone you meet with holy unrest to make haste so that the promise might soon be fulfilled. So long as you live as a Christian you keep looking for a new order, a new structure, a new life.”\n\nThis presents a challenge to those in the ministry for instance who make it their first priority to preserve and grow specific institutions or to please their constituencies.  It is likewise a charge against those who\'d like to serve their own ends   while giving only occasional credence to \"what really matters.\"  Rather we must somehow learn to order our lives in such a way as to be at once full of hope for the coming of God and yet faithful to the everyday mission of reconciliation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Two Kinds of Faith: From ','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-6','','','2012-02-16 18:56:17','2012-02-17 02:56:17','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/16/4866-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5128,0,'2012-02-15 09:22:11','2012-02-15 17:22:11','I would like to extend an invitation to expand the conversation of gender defined roles in church.  In particular, I see that both men and women have had patriarchy define what it means to be a man and a women in God\'s eyes.  \r\n\r\nIn particular, I would like people to a conversation with the women of Jim Henderson\'s book, Resignation of Eve. Thanks, Elaine\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Elaine Hansen\nAUTHOR EMAIL: elaine@jimhendersonpresents.com\nAUTHOR URL: http://resignationofeve.com\nSUBJECT: Provoketive Magazine Writing For Provoketive\nIP: 174.101.177.205\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Elaine Hansen\n    [Email] =&gt; elaine@jimhendersonpresents.com\n    [Existing Blog or Website] =&gt; http://resignationofeve.com\n    [List the topic you are interested writing about] =&gt; I would like to extend an invitation to expand the conversation of gender defined roles in church.  In particular, I see that both men and women have had patriarchy define what it means to be a man and a women in God\'s eyes.  \r\n\r\nIn particular, I would like people to a conversation with the women of Jim Henderson\'s book, Resignation of Eve. Thanks, Elaine\n    [Current or New WordPress Login Name (We\'ll send you a password.)] =&gt; ElaineH\n)\n','Elaine Hansen - 2012-02-15 09:22:11','','publish','open','open','','cf57c480d8415a5eab2a0e76dde73efb','','','2012-02-15 09:22:11','2012-02-15 17:22:11','',358,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=5128',0,'feedback','',0),(4868,20,'2012-02-03 11:34:31','2012-02-03 19:34:31','This week I was able to attend the Emergent Village Theological Conversation, which was intended to be engagement with some of the foremost thinkers of process theology.  As a student at Claremont, the ideas were not knew to me, and I do not consider myself a process person.  Nonetheless, as I continue to struggle with questions about providence and God\'s sovereignty over the suicidal direction our planet and global economy seems to be taking, something from the conference did indeed take on new meaning for me that I\'d like to share.  One of the main reasons I feel this way I think is because these new depths are not exclusive to process thinking but have already been implicit in the Christian tradition since Jesus\'s time.  It\'s clear that other people have recognized some of the same things.\n\nPrior to this week in two different readings I came across the following:\n\n\"While personal concern is sustained by a continuously growing faith in the value and meaning of life, the deepest motivation [going into] the future is hope.  For hope makes it possible to look beyond the fulfillment of urgent wishes and pressing desires and offers a vision beyond human suffering and even death.  A Christian is a [person] of hope whose strength in the final analysis is based neither on self-confidence derived for [her] personality, or on specific expectations for the future, but on a promise given to [her] . . . This hope stretches far beyond the limitations of one\'s own psychological strength, for it is anchored not just in the soul of the individual but in God\'s self-disclosure in history. [The Christian life] therefore is not called Christian because it is permeated with optimism against all the odds of life, but because it is grounded in the historic Christ-event which is understood as a definitive breach in the deterministic chain of human trial and error, and as a dramatic affirmation that there is light on the other side of darkness.  Every attempt to attach this hope of visible symptoms in our surroundings becomes a temptation when it prevents us from the realization that promises, not concrete successes, are the basis of Christian[ living].\" - From <em>The Wounded Healer</em> by Henri J. M. Nouwen\n\nAnd at the more sophisticated philosophical level, G.F.W. Hegel says this, which I will relate to the quote above:\n\nWithout philosophical insight, the relationship of religion to the rest of consciousness is such that the two are conceived in isolation from each other.  They constitute two kinds of occupation, two regions of consciousness, between which we pass back and forth only alternately.  For our actual worldly doings, we have a number of workdays, during which we are concerned with our particular interests and our worldly goals - our needs, pleasures, and satisfaction in general.  Then there is Sunday, when all these things are set aside, when we collect ourselves, live for ourselves, i.e., for our true essence and for the essential higher nature that is within us, released from our absorption in necessary business and labor or every kind.  Free from labor and in contemplative mood, we raise ourselves above everyday life.  So pious [consciousness on the other hand] refers all purposes and objects to God as their infinite and ultimate source.\n\nAs Hegel then later puts, the task of philosophy of religion is to reconcile these two ends of life from their respective isolation from each other.  As brilliant and comprehensive of an attempt as Hegel made to do this, however, there is wide consensus today that he did not succeed.  The God\'s eye view as it were cannot be achieved, and the tension between these two poles of our existence remains.\n\nWhat John Cobb reminded us this week was that at the end of the day, while he may not believe in God as having coercive power, it is the faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ rather than our own  that saves the world - which is the promise in which we have hope (Nouwen above) - but our job in the meantime is, while not putting trust in futile personal gain or even the success of national political projects, to strive vigorously in ways that allow for God\'s incredibly persuasive power to indeed work through us as we participate in the salvation of the world - literally - which is to say, in bringing about the divine commonwealth, or kingdom of God.\n\nIt\'s true that “we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness” (Galatians 5:5).  It\'s also true that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Two Kinds of Faith: Learning something about God from Process Thought','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-2','','','2012-02-03 11:34:31','2012-02-03 19:34:31','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/03/4866-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5127,20,'2012-02-15 09:02:29','2012-02-15 17:02:29','Many of us maybe have heard that we\'re supposed to \"put\" God at the center of everything, consider God<em> first</em>, or something along those lines.  I think this might betray something about how we tend to conceive of God. What I\'ve noticed  is that there seems to be - very generally speaking - at least two kinds of faith that are being practiced in the Christian context:\n\nfirst, there\'s the faith that takes this teaching quite literally and attempts to see God in everything with the best of intentions.  The consequence here though sometimes amounts to a kind of <em>supernatural-ism</em>, in which God is understood to be playing an orchestration game in all areas of life, and is thought of as related to us only <em>externally</em>.  In other words, God becomes the cause of everything good that happens to us (and actually I would say there\'s still a sense in which I want to affirm this), but from <em>outside</em> and<em> above</em>.  And obviously there are those who take this a step further and grant that God is the cause of the bad things as well - even if only in an indirect way.  But this is not the view I\'m concerned about at the moment either.\n\nThe other kind of faith - one that I\'m trying to embody more in my own life - might go something like this:\n\n\"While personal concern is sustained by a continuously growing faith in the value and meaning of life, the deepest motivation [going into] the future is hope.  For hope makes it possible to look beyond the fulfillment of urgent wishes and pressing desires and offers a vision beyond human suffering and even death. <strong>[The Christian life] therefore is not called \"Christian\" because it is permeated with optimism against all the odds of life</strong>, <strong>but because it is grounded in the historic Christ-event which is understood as a definitive breach in the deterministic chain of human trial and error</strong>, and as a dramatic affirmation that there is light on the other side of darkness.\" - from <em>The Wounded Healer</em> by Henri Nouwen\n\nI do not see this as the easy solution or as the only clear alternative necessarily, but I think the juxtaposition of these two approaches can be helpful - especially with respect to reducing anxiety and simplifying, at least <em>conceptually,</em> the path of discipleship that is otherwise very difficult to lead.  Why?  Because on the one hand, God is still being <em>trusted</em> as the one who empowers and persuades where human striving has been exhausted, but on the other hand is not trusted in such a way that distracts us with personalistic ideas of God\'s will - a way of faith that sounds synonymous with Western exceptionalism.  We want so bad for our lives to matter and for there to be meaning or calling in our vocations.  And I believe that there is.  The problems comes when we cross the fine line that separates this genuine human desire from egoism and idolatry that waits on the other with naive and individualist Western exceptionalism.\n\nIn case we think, however, that this is an excuse to wait around for God in mere contemplative inaction, Nouwen elsewhere declares the following:\n\n“You are Christian only so long as you constantly pose critical questions to the society you live in, so long as you emphasize the need of conversion both for yourself and for the world, so long as you in no way let yourself become established in the situation of the world, so long as you stay unsatisfied with the status quo and keep saying that a new world is yet to come. You are Christian only when you believe you have a role to play in the realization of the new kingdom, and when you urge everyone you meet with holy unrest to make haste so that the promise might soon be fulfilled. So long as you live as a Christian you keep looking for a new order, a new structure, a new life.”\n\nThis presents a challenge to those in the ministry for instance who make it their first priority to preserve and grow specific institutions or to please their constituencies.  It is likewise a charge against those who\'d like to serve their own ends   while giving only occasional credence to \"what really matters.\"  Rather we must somehow learn to order our lives in such a way as to be at once full of hope for the coming of God and yet faithful to the everyday mission of reconciliation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Two Kinds of Faith: Learning something about God from Process Thought','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-4','','','2012-02-15 09:02:29','2012-02-15 17:02:29','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/15/4866-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5041,125,'2012-02-17 08:00:11','2012-02-17 16:00:11','Sometimes, my writing can lean towards territory that is a bit too serious, or perhaps in the other direction towards a bit too silly. But sometimes when I write, I tread the purposeful path between those two extremes and talk on a topic that may seem silly, but in actuality is pretty serious. I hope to do that with this little mini-series.\r\n\r\nMy reason for writing this is a personal one. For years, I have struggled with a question rarely discussed in even the deepest of theology texts. It is the question of whether God has a sense of humor.\r\n\r\nThink about it, for a moment. In your years of going to church, have you ever once heard a sermon on God\'s humor? But my biggest struggle with this is that we were made with the unique capability to find things funny. There is only one creature on Earth that finds it hilarious when monkeys throw their poop, and it\'s not the monkey (not even the one doing the throwing). There is only one creature on Earth that can\'t stop giggling when someone sits on a whoopie cushion.\r\n\r\nI know that both of those jokes were in the same general area of humor...but hey, I write from what I know.\r\n\r\nThe main point is this: our ability to laugh and find things funny is not something that came because of the Fall...it came before it. And, rare as they are, there are parts of the Bible that are flat-out hilarious. Take this little gem about storks from Job for example...\r\n\r\n\"The ostrich flaps her wings grandly, but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.She lays her eggs on top of the earth, letting them be warmed in the dust.She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them or a wild animal might destroy them.She is harsh toward her young, as if they were not her own. She doesn’t care if they die.For God has deprived her of wisdom. He has given her no understanding.But whenever she jumps up to run, she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.\" - Job 39:13-18\r\n\r\nIt\'s kind of funny stuff.\r\n\r\nSo in the first part of this, I want to explore the parts of Scriptures that convey God\'s sense of humor, infrequent as they seem to be. But, on your own, look into God\'s joy. Because humor, in its purest form, is a direct expression of the joy we feel inside.\r\n\r\n\"A happy heart makes the face cheerful...\" - Proverbs 15:13a\r\n\r\nOne thing to note first is that, when looking at God\'s sense of humor, we see an untainted and pure laughter that does not deride or mock. It is not sarcastic or cynical. Just as sin has caused our idea of what love actually is to be warped, I think sin has caused our sense of humor to include things that do not glorify God. There are times, we will see, where satire is useful to provoke thoughtful consideration and investigation of ourselves and our systems, but God never laughs at others\' expense.\r\n\r\nPart of where we see God\'s sense of humor in Scripture is in His pointing out of people\'s sin. Just as He bluntly tells us in Hebrews how we should not be slothful:\r\n\r\n\"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.\" - Hebrews 6:12\r\n\r\nGod also uses some pretty funny imagery in Proverbs to convey the point too:\r\n\r\n\"The sluggard says, \"There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!\" - Proverbs 22:13\r\n\r\nA lazy person will do just about anything to get out of work. Another example found in Proverbs could quite possibly be the funniest command God has given, and one that people who are not morning-lovers can fully appreciate:\r\n\r\n\"Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.\" - Proverbs 27:14\r\n\r\nThere are plenty of other examples; and some of the ones specifically related to Jesus we will explore further. But I think that there is a reason why the Bible is not chock full of jokes and God\'s humor exclusively. God understands that people need a leader they can trust. And part of trusting is knowing that you can take someone seriously. People didn\'t fall in behind Winston Churchill because he told great jokes. They fell in behind him because, when the tides were high and the chips were down, he could lead people. We don\'t become believers because of God\'s humor. We become believers because of His love...because of His sacrifice. Our joy is made complete in His redemption of our bodies.\r\n\r\nBut how much better can our sense of humor be if we revel in the joy that only comes from God?\r\n\r\nIn the next writing, I will tackle some of the obstacles Christianity has faced in its journey of humor throughout the ages (I\'m looking at you, 1990s Christian comedians). But for now...the next time you talk to God, be sure and thank him for giving you the ability to laugh.','Does God Laugh?','','publish','open','open','','does-god-laugh','','','2012-02-13 21:27:16','2012-02-14 05:27:16','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5041',0,'post','',4),(4877,0,'2012-02-04 17:31:58','2012-02-05 01:31:58','Life: Humorous\r\nFaith: Spirituality\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Stephen Haggerty\nAUTHOR EMAIL: stephenhaggerty@gmail.com\nAUTHOR URL: http://thebeardedidealist.com\nSUBJECT: Provoketive Magazine Writing For Provoketive\nIP: 74.60.29.216\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Stephen Haggerty\n    [Email] =&gt; stephenhaggerty@gmail.com\n    [Existing Blog or Website] =&gt; thebeardedidealist.com\n    [List the topic you are interested writing about] =&gt; Life: Humorous\r\nFaith: Spirituality\n    [Current or New WordPress Login Name (We\'ll send you a password.)] =&gt; stephenhaggerty\n)\n','Stephen Haggerty - 2012-02-04 17:31:58','','publish','open','open','','a6874031199fab1fdd84706c95720340','','','2012-02-04 17:31:58','2012-02-05 01:31:58','',358,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=4877',0,'feedback','',0),(4879,12,'2012-02-14 08:00:24','2012-02-14 16:00:24','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCSA7kKNu2Y&amp;ob=av3n\r\n\r\nThank you, sir. For making a song about what we all were thinking about our social media lives.\r\n\r\nWhy isn\'t Weird Al an ambassador to some country yet? Or a Nobel Prize winner? Just sayin\'.','\"Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me\"','','publish','open','open','','stop-forwarding-that-crap-to-me','','','2012-02-13 20:36:44','2012-02-14 04:36:44','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4879',0,'post','',0),(4880,12,'2012-02-04 20:34:44','2012-02-05 04:34:44','','\"Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me\"','','inherit','open','open','','4879-revision','','','2012-02-04 20:34:44','2012-02-05 04:34:44','',4879,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/04/4879-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4881,12,'2012-02-04 20:35:15','2012-02-05 04:35:15','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCSA7kKNu2Y&amp;ob=av3n\r\n\r\nWhy isn\'t Weird Al an ambassador to some country yet? Or a Nobel Prize winner? Just sayin\'.','\"Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me\"','','inherit','open','open','','4879-revision-2','','','2012-02-04 20:35:15','2012-02-05 04:35:15','',4879,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/04/4879-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4882,1,'2012-02-13 20:34:24','2012-02-14 04:34:24','http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCSA7kKNu2Y&amp;ob=av3n\r\n\r\nThank you, sir. For making a song about what we all were thinking about our social media lives.\r\n\r\nWhy isn\'t Weird Al an ambassador to some country yet? Or a Nobel Prize winner? Just sayin\'.','\"Stop Forwarding That Crap To Me\"','','inherit','open','open','','4879-autosave','','','2012-02-13 20:34:24','2012-02-14 04:34:24','',4879,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/04/4879-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4883,0,'2012-02-04 23:05:20','2012-02-05 07:05:20','Hi Provoketive Magazine i,\r\n\r\nWe were impressed with your site and wanted to know if you would be interested in having coupons.org write a guest post for your site, provoketive.com, on the topic of your choice.\r\n\r\nThe articles are generally 600-800 words long, unless you specify otherwise, and would be on an agreed upon topic that is relevant to provoketive.com. Let me know if this is of interest or if you have any questions.\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing from you!\r\n\r\nBest Regards,\r\nHelen Pratt\r\nhelen@coupons.org\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Helen Pratt\nAUTHOR EMAIL: helen@coupons.org\nAUTHOR URL: \nSUBJECT: [Provoketive Magazine] Contact Us\nIP: 39.54.32.18\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Helen Pratt\n    [Email] =&gt; helen@coupons.org\n    [Comment] =&gt; Hi Provoketive Magazine i,\r\n\r\nWe were impressed with your site and wanted to know if you would be interested in having coupons.org write a guest post for your site, provoketive.com, on the topic of your choice.\r\n\r\nThe articles are generally 600-800 words long, unless you specify otherwise, and would be on an agreed upon topic that is relevant to provoketive.com. Let me know if this is of interest or if you have any questions.\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing from you!\r\n\r\nBest Regards,\r\nHelen Pratt\r\nhelen@coupons.org\r\n\n)\n','Helen Pratt - 2012-02-04 23:05:20','','publish','open','open','','cbf66e3e32b2c07fa6562005a4ee872d','','','2012-02-04 23:05:20','2012-02-05 07:05:20','',16,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=4883',0,'feedback','',0),(4884,1,'2012-02-05 08:01:45','2012-02-05 16:01:45','I’m glad God understands us, because I sure don’t understand Him.  I don’t need the Bible to confirm that, but it does anyway:\n<blockquote>“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.\n\n“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.\n\nFor just as the heavens are higher than the earth,\n\nso my ways are higher than your ways\n\nand my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)</blockquote>\nBecause there is at least one sin that trips us up on a regular basis, we tend to think God is disappointed in us.  I know at times when I’ve been giving into a particular sin on a regular basis, I’ve thought of starting the day by praying, “God, I might as well say ‘I’m sorry’ now, because chances are I’m going to do it again today.”\n\n“What a loser,” we think.  “What a winner,” says God, for from His or Her perspective, every time we pray shows faith, no matter what we think of ourselves.  We wouldn’t bother to pray at all if we didn’t believe it just might make a difference, that God might be listening and care.\n\nThat doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m glad it makes sense to God.\n\n<strong>Wholly Committed To Me</strong>\n\nIf I don’t stop this,\n\nit’s going to kill God.<em></em>\n\n<em>So we’ll go together,</em>\n\n<em>because it’s certainly killing you.</em>\n\nI’m addicted to sin, stubborn self-will,\n\nreticent refusal to quit my misery.\n\nMy pet sin is like a pet rock,\n\nunable to slither away on its own,\n\nand when I throw it out, the thing boomerangs\n\nand I’m back to square one.\n\n<em>Can I put in my perspective?</em>\n\n<em>You are already wholly committed me.</em>\n\nWhat?<em></em>\n\n<em>Few of my children</em>\n\n<em>name their sins with absolute integrity.</em>\n\n<em>You seek me, talk with me constantly</em>\n\n<em>and wrestle with your helplessness.</em>\n\n<em>I long to hear from everyone,</em>\n\n<em>no matter what they say,</em>\n\n<em>and I honor your persistence,</em>\n\n<em>which I reckon to you as faith,</em>\n\n<em>like Abraham and David – </em>\n\n<em>big time sinners, just like you.</em>\n\n<em>But they came back to me over and over,</em>\n\n<em>and I called them friends, as I honor you.</em>\n\n<em>Did you hear that?</em>\n\n<em>As I love you.</em>\n\n<em>Do you get that?</em><em></em>\n\n<em>You please me every time</em>\n\n<em>you come and have it out with me.</em>\n\n<em>I’m pleased when you seek my help.</em>\n\n<em>Everyone is precious in my sight,</em>\n\n<em>but I am precious to you</em>\n\n<em>in spite of all your faults and failure.</em>\n\n<em>I know your love is true</em>\n\n<em>and we’ll work on your fickle heart.</em><em></em>\n\n<em>You are not alone;</em>\n\n<em>all the great saints (as you call them)</em>\n\n<em>aren’t any better than you.</em>\n\n<em>You think they don’t battle with sin?</em>\n\n<em>Reconsider – </em>\n\n<em>all of you are broken;</em>\n\n<em>you ALL need redemption, help and hope.</em><em></em>\n\n<em>Actually, I planned it that way.</em>\n\n<em>I know the conceit of everyone I made</em>\n\n<em>and that doesn’t make me unwilling</em>\n\n<em>to mend your life.</em>\n\n<em>I’d rather have you whopper-jawed</em>\n\n<em>than robots who would do what I want</em>\n\n<em>because I push a button and they obey.</em>\n\n<em>That isn’t love, but performance,</em>\n\n<em>and I want your love more than anything else.</em>\n\n<em>In that, you’re just like me – </em>\n\n<em>made in my image with a heart for home</em>\n\n<em>where you will be perfect again.</em>\n\n<em>And for now, you’re wholly committed.</em>\n\n<em>However long you can do it is victory.</em>\n\n<em>When you fail, repent.</em>\n\nI’ll need your help with that.<em></em>\n\n<em>I</em><em>’ll meet you half-way;</em>\n\n<em>just don’t give up.</em>\n\n<em>Groveling isn’t a virtue.</em>\n\n<em>But you ARE wholly committed, so try again.</em>\n\n<em>A hundred times a day is OK,</em>\n\n<em>and I’ll hold your hand</em>\n\n<em>while you practice this plan.</em>\n\n<em>Get it?  Got it?  Let’s go.</em>\n\nThank you with all my heart.\n\n&nbsp;','Fallible Committment Is Perfect With God','','inherit','open','open','','4814-autosave','','','2012-02-05 08:01:45','2012-02-05 16:01:45','',4814,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4814-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4885,1,'2012-02-05 07:59:46','2012-02-05 15:59:46','','woman praising god','','inherit','open','open','','woman-praising-god','','','2012-02-05 07:59:46','2012-02-05 15:59:46','',4814,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/woman-praising-god.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4886,1,'2012-01-31 10:44:26','2012-01-31 18:44:26','I’m glad God understands us, because I sure don’t understand Him.  I don’t need the Bible to confirm that, but it does anyway:\r\n<blockquote>“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.\r\n\r\n“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.\r\n\r\nFor just as the heavens are higher than the earth,\r\n\r\nso my ways are higher than your ways\r\n\r\nand my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)</blockquote>\r\nBecause there is at least one sin that trips us up on a regular basis, we tend to think God is disappointed in us.  I know at times when I’ve been giving into a particular sin on a regular basis, I’ve thought of starting the day by praying, “God, I might as well say ‘I’m sorry’ now, because chances are I’m going to do it again today.”\r\n\r\n“What a loser,” we think.  “What a winner,” says God, for from His or Her perspective, every time we pray shows faith, no matter what we think of ourselves.  We wouldn’t bother to pray at all if we didn’t believe it just might make a difference, that God might be listening and care.\r\n\r\nThat doesn’t make any sense to me, but I’m glad it makes sense to God.\r\n\r\n<strong>Wholly Committed To Me</strong>\r\n\r\nIf I don’t stop this,\r\n\r\nit’s going to kill God.\r\n<em>So we’ll go together,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>because it’s certainly killing you.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI’m addicted to sin, stubborn self-will,\r\n\r\nreticent refusal to quit my misery.\r\n\r\nMy pet sin is like a pet rock,\r\n\r\nunable to slither away on its own,\r\n\r\nand when I throw it out, the thing boomerangs\r\n\r\nand I’m back to square one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>Can I put in my perspective?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>You are already wholly committed me.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat?\r\n<em>Few of my children</em>\r\n\r\n<em>name their sins with absolute integrity.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>You seek me, talk with me constantly</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and wrestle with your helplessness.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I long to hear from everyone,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>no matter what they say,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I honor your persistence,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>which I reckon to you as faith,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>like Abraham and David – </em>\r\n\r\n<em>big time sinners, just like you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>But they came back to me over and over,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I called them friends, as I honor you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Did you hear that?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>As I love you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Do you get that?</em>\r\n<em>You please me every time</em>\r\n\r\n<em>you come and have it out with me.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I’m pleased when you seek my help.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Everyone is precious in my sight,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>but I am precious to you</em>\r\n\r\n<em>in spite of all your faults and failure.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I know your love is true</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and we’ll work on your fickle heart.</em>\r\n<em>You are not alone;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>all the great saints (as you call them)</em>\r\n\r\n<em>aren’t any better than you.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>You think they don’t battle with sin?</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Reconsider – </em>\r\n\r\n<em>all of you are broken;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>you ALL need redemption, help and hope.</em>\r\n<em>Actually, I planned it that way.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I know the conceit of everyone I made</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and that doesn’t make me unwilling</em>\r\n\r\n<em>to mend your life.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>I’d rather have you whopper-jawed</em>\r\n\r\n<em>than robots who would do what I want</em>\r\n\r\n<em>because I push a button and they obey.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>That isn’t love, but performance,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I want your love more than anything else.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>In that, you’re just like me – </em>\r\n\r\n<em>made in my image with a heart for home</em>\r\n\r\n<em>where you will be perfect again.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>And for now, you’re wholly committed.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>However long you can do it is victory.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>When you fail, repent.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI’ll need your help with that.\r\n<em>I</em><em>’ll meet you half-way;</em>\r\n\r\n<em>just don’t give up.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Groveling isn’t a virtue.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>But you ARE wholly committed, so try again.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>A hundred times a day is OK,</em>\r\n\r\n<em>and I’ll hold your hand</em>\r\n\r\n<em>while you practice this plan.</em>\r\n\r\n<em>Get it?  Got it?  Let’s go.</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you with all my heart.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Fallible Committment Is Perfect With God','','inherit','open','open','','4814-revision-3','','','2012-01-31 10:44:26','2012-01-31 18:44:26','',4814,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4814-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5063,1,'2012-02-12 12:11:17','2012-02-12 20:11:17','','whitney houston','','inherit','open','open','','whitney-houston','','','2012-02-12 12:11:17','2012-02-12 20:11:17','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/whitney-houston.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4889,48,'2012-02-16 08:37:07','2012-02-16 16:37:07','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of if I <em>could</em> be a minister; for, what reason was there that I could not? From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years it did not occur to me that anyone would even hesitate about whether women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling to preach the word or pastor a church, only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outside resistance, only my own internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I had no desire whatsoever to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis inner conflict was because I felt called to serve God, but I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to that, I tend to shy away from leadership positions, preferring supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not want the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not want the authority, power, or attention that seemed to come with it. Of course, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power that we have truly belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or positions, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or credentials. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track; it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of deliverance and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\r\n\r\nYes, there have been times when a pastor or ordained minister has brought healing or a much needed word of encouragement or exhortation, but on a day to day basis it is usually through the less obvious agents of redemption. It is likely this is mainly due to all believers being called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if this is in some part because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or really, to lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do and passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, we hinder the entire Body of Christ as well.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the Body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it certainly gives an illusion of beauty and allure. But in reality, underneath the shoe and the bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot.\r\n\r\nThe foot, having been forced into a supposedly more feminine form, is now not only decidedly <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural and unable to fully function in the way that God intended. This trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, weakened and unbalanced. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God created them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you would like to read more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>Blogs</em></strong>\r\n\r\n<em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a></em><em> </em><em>- Ed has an entire series called</em><em> </em><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em>\r\n\r\n<em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a></em><em> </em><em>- Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is</em><em> </em><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\". </em>\r\n\r\n<strong><em> </em></strong><strong><em>Books</em></strong>\r\n\r\n<em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em>\r\n\r\n<em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','publish','open','open','','unbinding-the-feet-women-in-ministry','','','2012-02-13 21:11:17','2012-02-14 05:11:17','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4889',0,'post','',6),(4891,48,'2012-02-05 12:46:47','2012-02-05 20:46:47','When I was a young woman trying to map out the path my life would take me, I often struggled with whether or not I should be go into ministry. There was never a question about whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my first steps as new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard enough theological debates for both perspectives regarding women in leadership and ministryPerhaps because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, I had no idea that anyone had a question about women being ministers. It was only in recent years that I was chagrined to find out what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was lucky-- unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church but feel stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead\", my struggle was whether I was obligated to be in ministry, even if I didnt\' want to be a pastor or a missionary.\n\nI don\'t want to go into a theological debate regarding what the Bible says regarding women in ministry, because it seems like it has been debated eloquently and scripturally (on both sides of the argument). If you want more information on the argument for women in ministry, please check out: Rachel Held Evans link, Women in Ministry Link, or read : (book suggestions).  If you have any other recommendations, please leave a link or author and book name in the comments. I think that this issue is being tackled in the Christian blogosphere and in ministry circles someetimes with great grace, but for the most part it seems like a lot of yelling, with very little listening. So, for me, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, if God has called me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. GGiven my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a woman\'s gift. If I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-2','','','2012-02-05 12:46:47','2012-02-05 20:46:47','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4890,48,'2012-02-05 12:39:50','2012-02-05 20:39:50','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should be \"in ministry\". The struggle was never about whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there seemed no reason I could not be a minister in the church. My understanding of the scriptures has only reinforced this, starting from that of a new believer reading for the first time to now, as someone who has read in-depth translations and studies on Paul\'s writings regarding women in the Church, as well as commentaries and theological debates on both perspectives of women in leadership and ministry.\n\nPerhaps because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, I had no idea that anyone had a question about women being ministers. It was only in recent years that I was chagrined to find out what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was lucky-- unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church but feel stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead\", my struggle was whether I was obligated to be in ministry, even if I didnt\' want to be a pastor or a missionary.\n\nI don\'t want to go into a theological debate regarding what the Bible says regarding women in ministry, because it seems like it has been debated eloquently and scripturally (on both sides of the argument). If you want more information on the argument for women in ministry, please check out: Rachel Held Evans link, Women in Ministry Link, or read : (book suggestions).  If you have any other recommendations, please leave a link or author and book name in the comments. I think that this issue is being tackled in the Christian blogosphere and in ministry circles someetimes with great grace, but for the most part it seems like a lot of yelling, with very little listening. So, for me, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, if God has called me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. GGiven my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a woman\'s gift. If I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision','','','2012-02-05 12:39:50','2012-02-05 20:39:50','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4892,48,'2012-02-05 12:49:11','2012-02-05 20:49:11','When I was a young woman trying to map out the path my life would take me, I often struggled with whether or not I should be go into ministry. There was never a question about whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my first steps as new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard enough theological debates for both perspectives regarding women in leadership and ministry,the scriptures have only reinforced this to me.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, I did not even occur to me that anyone would actually questionsanyone had a question about  being ministers. It was only in recent years that I was chagrined to find out what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was lucky-- unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church but feel stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead\", my struggle was whether I was obligated to be in ministry, even if I didnt\' want to be a pastor or a missionary.\n\nI don\'t want to go into a theological debate regarding what the Bible says regarding women in ministry, because it seems like it has been debated eloquently and scripturally (on both sides of the argument). If you want more information on the argument for women in ministry, please check out: Rachel Held Evans link, Women in Ministry Link, or read : (book suggestions).  If you have any other recommendations, please leave a link or author and book name in the comments. I think that this issue is being tackled in the Christian blogosphere and in ministry circles someetimes with great grace, but for the most part it seems like a lot of yelling, with very little listening. So, for me, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, if God has called me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. GGiven my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a woman\'s gift. If I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-3','','','2012-02-05 12:49:11','2012-02-05 20:49:11','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4893,48,'2012-02-05 13:06:20','2012-02-05 21:06:20','When I was a young woman trying to map out the path my life would take me, I often struggled with whether or not I should be go into ministry. There was never a question about whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my first steps as new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard enough theological debates for both perspectives regarding women in leadership and ministry,the scriptures have only reinforced this to me.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, I did not even occur to me that anyone would actually question whether women could be ministers. It was only in recent years that I was chagrined to find out what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was lucky-- unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church but feel stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead\", my struggle was whether I was obligated to be in ministry, even if I didnt\' want to be a pastor or a missionary\n\nAnd really, the question isn\'t about women ministering, is it? For we are all called to minister, aren\'t we? My struggle as a young women was because I felt that to serve God, I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title to minister. I can do it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Really, those thatt have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God haven\'t held ministry titles. It has been the friend who has known me for years who lets me make mountains out of mole hills and talk me down when I imagine the worst out of a very silly situation, other Christians who bare themselves online, showing what real grave, love and mercy aree, and even secular musicians whose music somehow speaks to a place of redemption that can only lead you back to Christ.\n\nIt seems such a sillly thing to be arguing about titles and power. But that\'s what it is-- the argument is about whether or not women can minister. It\'s about whether they can have authority and lead.\n\nI don\'t want to go into a theological debate regarding what the Bible says regarding women leading in the Church, because it seems like it has been debated eloquently and scripturally (on both sides of the argument). If you want more information on the argument for women in ministry, please check out: Rachel Held Evans link, Women in Ministry Link, or read : (book suggestions).  If you have any other recommendations, please leave a link or author and book name in the comments. I think that this issue is being tackled in the Christian blogosphere and in ministry circles someetimes with great grace, but for the most part it seems like a lot of yelling, with very little listening. So, for me, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, if God has called me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. GGiven my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a woman\'s gift. If I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-4','','','2012-02-05 13:06:20','2012-02-05 21:06:20','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(4894,48,'2012-02-05 13:31:53','2012-02-05 21:31:53','When I was a young woman trying to map out the path my life would take me, I often struggled with whether or not I should be go into ministry. There was never a question about whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my first steps as new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard enough theological debates on whether or not women should be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would actually question that women could be ministers. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" my struggle was only internal: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nMy struggle as a young women was because I felt that to serve God, I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title to minister. I can do it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Really, those thatt have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God haven\'t held ministry titles. It has been the friend who has known me for years who lets me make mountains out of mole hills and talk me down when I imagine the worst out of a very silly situation, other Christians who bare themselves online, showing what real grave, love and mercy aree, and even secular musicians whose music somehow speaks to a place of redemption that can only lead you back to Christ.\n\nIt seems such a sillly thing to be arguing about titles and power. But that\'s what it is-- the argument is about whether or not women can minister. It\'s about whether they can have authority and lead.  And it may seem odd that, as a woman who absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity, I have strong passion to see women able to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from fully using their gifts and callings can only mean that we are missing out on their gifts and callings.\n\nI am not going to list all theological arguments expounding on what the Bible supposedly says or doesn\'t say regarding women leading in the Church, because it has been debated eloquently and scripturally (on both sides of the argument) many times over, as well as debated by fits of yelling and name calling perhaps just as many times. Instead, if you want more information on the argument for women in ministry, please check out: Rachel Held Evans link, Women in Ministry Link, or read : (book suggestions).  If any of you readerss have other recommendations, please leave a link or author and book name in the comments.\n\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, it doesn\'t really matter whether or not they think women can lead; if I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. Given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a mi If I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-5','','','2012-02-05 13:31:53','2012-02-05 21:31:53','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5066,38,'2012-02-18 08:00:06','2012-02-18 16:00:06','When I was growing up, I thought romance was about the chick-flick worthy moments in a relationship. I thought the guy who could produce the most moments like these would be marriage worthy. I remember <a href=\"http://annabananastudebaker.tumblr.com/post/17369907361\" target=\"_blank\">the lists of date ideas</a> for my future husband that I wrote in my diary:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Drink coffee with me on the roof while watching a sunrise (Does this actually happen to people other than insomniacs and people in Levi Jean commercials?)</li>\r\n	<li>Driving to nowhere with me</li>\r\n	<li>Get out crayons and color in coloring books</li>\r\n	<li>Drive around town pretending to be tourists taking pictures</li>\r\n	<li>Recite poetry to each other</li>\r\n	<li>Draw hearts around the city with sidewalk chalk</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThere are men that love putting on those kinds of productions and there are some women that love them. But the love of my life is not that kind of man and I am not that kind of woman.\r\n\r\nRomance with my husband has manifested as connection and conversation and not so much in fairy tale anecdotes. One time at lunch before we were engaged, my husband imitated the zombie characters from the video game “Time Splitters”. It had me in stitches. Was this romantic in the tradition roses-and-chocolate sense? No, but it was hilarious, endearing, and it gave me a funny feeling inside my chest that meant I was becoming more and more attached to this guy.\r\n\r\nIt’s not the adorable sayings (“The spaces in between your fingers were meant for mine”) or the bouquets of flowers that keep beckoning me closer to the man I married; it’s the evenings when we rant back and forth about how “Inception” was snubbed at the Oscars. It’s the night I’m too tired to cook, so we make a Taco Bell run and he laughs at me between bites at the stupid things I did during the day. It’s when he buys a new CD he’s crazy about and gives me a track-by-track commentary.\r\n\r\nWhile these moments are cute in their own right, they aren’t grand, traditionally romantic gestures. Grand gestures can be great, but what I learned is that despite what some married women whine about and what I learned as a teenager, love is not sustained on who remembers to buy you flowers the most. I have a friend who complained when her boyfriend didn’t hand-write her any letters even though she gave him a self-addressed stamped envelope. I didn\'t understand at first because I know that my husband will probably never write me a letter. He just isn’t that kind of guy and that is perfectly okay with me. (Not to mention, me pushing him to become that kind of guy doesn’t add any value to our relationship.) But to my friend, the hand-written letters are a priority in her in the relationship and that’s okay too.\r\n\r\nRomance is all about your expectations and what you find attractive in other people. Some people connect over debating the accuracy of the casting choices in Lord of the Rings ( ... I may or may not know anyone like this), and some people prefer long walks on the beach at sunrise. A great example of this is in the TV show \"30 Rock\" when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:\r\n<blockquote><strong>Carol</strong>: I’m not sorry you saw me cry. I’m an emotional guy. That’s actually not part of my personality. That’s just something that happens to people who change altitude more than four times a day.\r\n\r\n<strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\r\n\r\n<strong>Carol</strong>: No. That was because why does Geico have three different spokespeople. They have the caveman, the gecko and then the stack of money with eyeballs.\r\n\r\n<strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\r\n\r\n<strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</blockquote>\r\nThis is a very romantic moment for Liz because both her and Carol (played by Matt Damon) care about the same things.  <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2158899/\">In a later episode</a> Liz is seen with her boyfriend, Criss, at the hotdog cart he runs, shoving a coney smothered in mustard into her mouth. Does this sound like something straight out of “27 Dresses”? Of course not, but because Criss is running a hotdog business and Liz\'s loves food, they have an instant connection that draws them to each other. Jack sees the two of them laughing and sees that despite Criss’ lack of pedigree and corporate attitude, he makes a good partner for Liz.\r\n\r\nIf you can’t fall in love with a guy because he won’t wake you up before dawn, drag you out of bed onto a chilly roof while balancing a thermos of coffee, that is your prerogative, but I need an every day uncomplicated steadiness. I want a no-gift, Pizza Hut pasta, Netflix movie kind of Valentine’s Day. I want a guy who refuses to use an alarm clock on vacations. I want to talk about what made the newest Star Wars movies bad. That’s exactly what I have, and that is why I find my husband so irresistible and so, so romantic.\r\n\r\nAny guy can buy you chocolate and flowers. But when you both hate it when people order cereal at a restaurant and both want to see “Piranha 3D” on a Friday night despite how cheesy it is, you know it’s romance.\r\n\r\n<em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em>','When You Know It\'s Romance','','publish','open','open','','when-you-know-its-romance','','','2012-02-19 16:47:15','2012-02-20 00:47:15','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5066',0,'post','',4),(4898,48,'2012-02-05 14:13:08','2012-02-05 22:13:08','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). I can minister it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really whether or not women can minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church. The Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is much like Chinese foot binding:*I personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, it doesn\'t really matter whether or not they think women can lead; if I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. Given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a ministry gift, man or woman. If  I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evans\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-7','','','2012-02-05 14:13:08','2012-02-05 22:13:08','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4897,48,'2012-02-05 14:08:55','2012-02-05 22:08:55','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). I can minister it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really whether or not women can minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church. The Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is much like Chinese foot binding:*\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evans\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments,\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\non what the Bible supposedly says or doesn\'t say regarding women leading in the Church, because it has already been debated many times over, more eloquently and thoroughly than I could in a brief article. Instead, if you want more information on the argument for women in ministry, I recommend you please check out: Rachel Held Evans link, Women in Ministry Link, or read : (book suggestions).  If any of you readerss have other recommendations, please leave a link or author and book name in the comments.\n\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, it doesn\'t really matter whether or not they think women can lead; if I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. Given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a ministry gift, man or woman. If  I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-6','','','2012-02-05 14:08:55','2012-02-05 22:08:55','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(4899,48,'2012-02-05 14:13:18','2012-02-05 22:13:18','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). I can minister it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\r\n\r\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really whether or not women can minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church. The Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is much like Chinese foot binding:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, it doesn\'t really matter whether or not they think women can lead; if I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. Given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a ministry gift, man or woman. If  I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\r\n\r\nRachel Held Evans\r\n\r\nEd Cz\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-8','','','2012-02-05 14:13:18','2012-02-05 22:13:18','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(4900,48,'2012-02-05 14:14:23','2012-02-05 22:14:23','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). I can minister it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\r\n\r\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really whether or not women can minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church. The Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is much like Chinese foot binding:\r\n\r\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, I don\'t really care to argue about it. Because, it doesn\'t really matter whether or not they think women can lead; if I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. Given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a ministry gift, man or woman. If  I am not welcome in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\r\n\r\nRachel Held Evans\r\n\r\nEd Cz\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-9','','','2012-02-05 14:14:23','2012-02-05 22:14:23','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5196,144,'2012-02-19 14:43:38','2012-02-19 22:43:38','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/whitney-houston3.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5174\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/whitney-houston3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"244\" /></a>I was mesmerized by Whitney Houston’s televised memorial service.</strong> Maybe, I do miss church gatherings a little bit after all. They certainly “had church”!\r\n\r\n<strong>Whitney was blessed with an amazing gift,</strong> a voice that she honed into something extraordinary. She was, apparently, a very sweet, relational soul with an abiding faith in Jesus Christ; a beautiful woman with poise and grace. She sang. She acted. She modeled. She had it all. I kept hearing about this Whitney.\r\n\r\n<strong>I did not hear about the Whitney who was a drug user, who had a troubled marriage,</strong> and a daughter who seems be following in her mother’s tragic footsteps. That’s not appropriate material for a memorial service. Yet, I have heard little mention of these painfully obvious realities in all of the days since her death.\r\n\r\n<strong>People of influence are missing a teachable moment for our nation.</strong> Whitney’s death should be the beginning of a national discussion about drug abuse, resulting in something that helps people who are struggling with its stranglehold on their lives.\r\n\r\n<strong>Yet, there is deeper aspect to Whitney’s life.</strong> There was something that drove her to a drug addiction that has threatened her career for years and finally took her life. What was it? She had everything that most people long for.\r\n\r\n<strong>Out of a list of speakers that filled four hours of tributes in today’s service, Kevin Costner,</strong> her Bodyguard costar was the only one that I heard who dared broached the topic.\r\n\r\n<strong>He told the story of her casting call for “The Bodyguard”.</strong> He visited her after the studio make-up artists had applied their craft, at which time she asked for twenty minutes to herself. He assumed that she, being a person of faith, was using those final moments to pray and focus. Finally, she walked onto the stage and recited only a very few lines and Costner abruptly stopped the screen test. As they walked together back to her trailer and sat down, she asked what happened. He said, I think you should look in the mirror. To her shock, her make-up had literally melted under the bright lights and was actually running down her face. During those twenty minutes alone, she had washed off the original make-up and redid it herself. Only, she used the kind of make-up that she used in music videos which was much heavier and could not hold up under the brighter lighting of the casting call.\r\n\r\n<strong>As she and Costner worked together, they become good friends,</strong> but he soon discovered that Whitney possessed a deep inner insecurity, always wondering, “Am I good enough?” I know it seems crazy for someone with truckloads of looks and talent to be haunted by an unreasonable insecurity that would lead to self-destruction, but it is not an uncommon tale.\r\n\r\n<strong>Whitney’s insecurity is not just a curse of celebrity,</strong> nor is it an anomaly. It is part of the human condition. Everyone is gifted in unique ways, but a lot of us don’t do much with our gifts because we wonder, am I good enough? We have done some pretty cool stuff, but we won’t acknowledge it, because we wonder if it was good enough. We toy with various types of potentially self-destructive thoughts and behavior to assuage our fears and ease our pain, because we fear I was not good enough; I will never be good enough; I am not good enough.\r\n\r\n<strong>Personally, I am full of insecurity.</strong> Prolonged unemployment, personal betrayal, and failed attempts to reboot my career have amplified the volume of those dark voices. Oh, I know the reality, but often I don’t feel it at all. Those things that I do feel are so painful; I would gladly do something stupid to make the pain go away. That’s me under the microscope… insecure.\r\n\r\n<strong>If I pan out to look at the human condition,</strong> I find varying manifestations of the same insecurity. If I pan out even further to the cosmos and beyond the realm of the purely physical. There, I find the only one who has any right to pass judgment on humanity. I find a God who is not content in being known in a far off sort of way, but one who wanted to get up close and personal, down and dirty with humanity so we would get his message.\r\n\r\n<strong>His message?</strong> If I understand anything at all about God, if there is anything that the Bible makes clear, if there is anything that Jesus taught and lived, it is this: I love you. You don’t need to try to be good enough.\r\n\r\n<strong>Wonder if you can do it?</strong> You’re good enough! Should you launch out? You’re good enough! Keep looking over your shoulder and wondering? You’re good enough! Ready to bail? Hold on! You’re good enough! Ready to do anything to make the pain go away? Don’t, because you’re good enough! Checkered past? You’re good enough! Self-destructive tendencies? You’re good enough! Unacceptable? Here’s breaking news! You’re good enough! Full of doubt and worry? You’re good enough!\r\n\r\n<strong>You’re good enough! </strong>','Am I Good Enough?','','inherit','open','open','','5168-revision-7','','','2012-02-19 14:43:38','2012-02-19 22:43:38','',5168,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/19/5168-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(4906,48,'2012-02-05 17:02:58','2012-02-06 01:02:58','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evan\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-14','','','2012-02-05 17:02:58','2012-02-06 01:02:58','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(4902,48,'2012-02-05 16:21:35','2012-02-06 00:21:35','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). I can minister it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really whether or not women can minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church.\n\nThe Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is like the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding: in order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Instead, it is forced into a grotesquely misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk normally. Outwardly, while covered with an ornately woen shoe, it looks dainty and feminine. But in reality, when you remove the covering and the binding, you find a that . This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now unable to function without an unsteady, cautious gait. Similarly, the whole Church is rendered weaker and disabled when certain members are bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, less talk and more action seems to be called for. In the end, does it really matter whether or not they think women can lead? If I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I would, and He would make a way. I am not saying it would be easy, but given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will do not allocate minstry titles merely by gender. With all  welcomed in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evans\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Shake the Dust of Your Sandals','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-10','','','2012-02-05 16:21:35','2012-02-06 00:21:35','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(4903,48,'2012-02-05 16:28:37','2012-02-06 00:28:37','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really whether or not women can minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church.\n\nThe Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is like the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding: in order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Instead, it is forced into a grotesquely misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk normally. Outwardly, while covered with an ornately woen shoe, it looks dainty and feminine. But in reality, when you remove the covering and the binding, you find a that . This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now unable to function without an unsteady, cautious gait. Similarly, the whole Church is rendered weaker and disabled when certain members are bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, less talk and more action seems to be called for. In the end, does it really matter whether or not they think women can lead? If I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I would, and He would make a way. I am not saying it would be easy, but given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will do not allocate minstry titles merely by gender. I don\'t know about you, but someetimes I wonder if at this point it just makes sense to  welcomed in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evans\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-11','','','2012-02-05 16:28:37','2012-02-06 00:28:37','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(4904,48,'2012-02-05 16:33:14','2012-02-06 00:33:14','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these fiare missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church.\n\nThe Church\'s restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is like the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding: in order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Instead, it is forced into a grotesquely misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk normally. Outwardly, while covered with an ornately woen shoe, it looks dainty and feminine. But in reality, when you remove the covering and the binding, you find a that . This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now unable to function without an unsteady, cautious gait. Similarly, the whole Church is rendered weaker and disabled when certain members are bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, less talk and more action seems to be called for. In the end, does it really matter whether or not they think women can lead? If I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I would, and He would make a way. I am not saying it would be easy, but given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will do not allocate minstry titles merely by gender. I don\'t know about you, but someetimes I wonder if at this point it just makes sense to  welcomed in one place, I will simply \"shake the dust off my sandals\" and leave.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evans\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-12','','','2012-02-05 16:33:14','2012-02-06 00:33:14','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(4905,48,'2012-02-05 16:46:02','2012-02-06 00:46:02','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nRachel Held Evans\n\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\nOutwardly, while covered with an ornately woen shoe, it looks dainty and feminine. But in reality, when you remove the covering and the binding, you find a that .','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-13','','','2012-02-05 16:46:02','2012-02-06 00:46:02','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4907,48,'2012-02-05 17:03:04','2012-02-06 01:03:04','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\r\n\r\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\r\n\r\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\r\n\r\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evan</a>\r\n\r\nEd Cz\r\n\r\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-15','','','2012-02-05 17:03:04','2012-02-06 01:03:04','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(4908,48,'2012-02-05 17:07:04','2012-02-06 01:07:04','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-16','','','2012-02-05 17:07:04','2012-02-06 01:07:04','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(4909,48,'2012-02-05 17:13:14','2012-02-06 01:13:14','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nEd Cyzewski - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\nEd Cz\n\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-17','','','2012-02-05 17:13:14','2012-02-06 01:13:14','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(4910,48,'2012-02-05 17:24:27','2012-02-06 01:24:27','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nOther Provoketive Magazine Articles\n\nBlogs\n\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Books</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-18','','','2012-02-05 17:24:27','2012-02-06 01:24:27','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(4911,48,'2012-02-05 17:33:46','2012-02-06 01:33:46','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nBlogs\n\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Books</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scot McKnight - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a></p>\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-19','','','2012-02-05 17:33:46','2012-02-06 01:33:46','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(4912,48,'2012-02-05 17:36:30','2012-02-06 01:36:30','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nBlogs\n\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Books</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scot McKnight - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">John T. Bristow - What Paul Really Said About Women</p>\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-20','','','2012-02-05 17:36:30','2012-02-06 01:36:30','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(4913,48,'2012-02-05 17:36:35','2012-02-06 01:36:35','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer having read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and having heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as anyonee. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\r\n\r\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\r\n\r\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\r\n\r\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\r\n\r\nBlogs\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Books</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scot McKnight - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">John T. Bristow - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a></p>\r\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-21','','','2012-02-05 17:36:35','2012-02-06 01:36:35','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/05/4889-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(4916,100,'2012-02-09 10:40:36','2012-02-09 18:40:36','[caption id=\"attachment_4918\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Luke Harms\"]<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lukeharms.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-4918\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lukeharms-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis week we continue our talk with US Army veteran Luke Harms.\r\n\r\nHarms served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the US Army and then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor.\r\n\r\nHarms shares his unique perspective on the war and the military meta-narrative and the struggle he faced adjusting from living in a combat zone to civilian life.\r\n\r\nBe sure and listen to <a href=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/luke-harms-5-2/\" target=\"_blank\">part 1</a> of Harms\' story if you haven’t already.\r\n\r\n<strong>Things to consider as you listen ::</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat does it mean to be a maker of peace?\r\nDo you agree that by viewing one group as sub-human, it enables us to view anyone as sub-human?\r\nHow has guilt played a part in your journey?\r\nHow can we better process guilt and tragedy in our lives and the lives of those around us?\r\nHow has nationalism and/or American exceptionalism shaped your view of the current war on terror?\r\n\r\n[audio=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/012012.mp3\"]','Something Beautiful - Luke Harms (part 2)','','publish','open','open','','something-beautiful-luke-harms-part-2','','','2012-02-09 10:39:51','2012-02-09 18:39:51','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4916',0,'post','',0),(4917,100,'2012-02-06 05:57:19','2012-02-06 13:57:19','This week we continue our talk with US Army veteran Luke Harms.\n\nHarms served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the US Army and then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor.\n\nHarms shares his unique perspective on the war and the military meta-narrative and the struggle he faced adjusting from living in a combat zone to civilian life.\n\nBe sure and listen to <a href=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/luke-harms-5-2/\" target=\"_blank\">part 1</a> of Harms\' story if you haven’t already.\n\n<strong>Things to consider as you listen ::</strong>\n\nWhat does it mean to be a maker of peace?\nDo you agree that by viewing one group as sub-human, it enables us to view anyone as sub-human?\nHow has guilt played a part in your journey?\nHow can we better process guilt and tragedy in our lives and the lives of those around us?\nhow has nationalism and/or american exceptionalism shaped your view of the current war on terror?','Something Beautiful - Luke Harms (part 2)','','inherit','open','open','','4916-revision','','','2012-02-06 05:57:19','2012-02-06 13:57:19','',4916,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4916-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4918,100,'2012-02-06 05:59:05','2012-02-06 13:59:05','','luke harms','Luke Harms','inherit','open','open','','lukeharms-2','','','2012-02-06 05:59:05','2012-02-06 13:59:05','',4916,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lukeharms.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4919,100,'2012-02-06 05:58:19','2012-02-06 13:58:19','This week we continue our talk with US Army veteran Luke Harms.\n\nHarms served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the US Army and then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor.\n\nHarms shares his unique perspective on the war and the military meta-narrative and the struggle he faced adjusting from living in a combat zone to civilian life.\n\nBe sure and listen to <a href=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/luke-harms-5-2/\" target=\"_blank\">part 1</a> of Harms\' story if you haven’t already.\n\n<strong>Things to consider as you listen ::</strong>\n\nWhat does it mean to be a maker of peace?\nDo you agree that by viewing one group as sub-human, it enables us to view anyone as sub-human?\nHow has guilt played a part in your journey?\nHow can we better process guilt and tragedy in our lives and the lives of those around us?\nHow has nationalism and/or american exceptionalism shaped your view of the current war on terror?\n\n[audio=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/012012.mp3\"]','Something Beautiful - Luke Harms (part 2)','','inherit','open','open','','4916-revision-2','','','2012-02-06 05:58:19','2012-02-06 13:58:19','',4916,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4916-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4920,100,'2012-02-06 06:02:14','2012-02-06 14:02:14','[caption id=\"attachment_4918\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Luke Harms\"]<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lukeharms.jpg\"><img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/lukeharms-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4918\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis week we continue our talk with US Army veteran Luke Harms.\r\n\r\nHarms served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the US Army and then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor.\r\n\r\nHarms shares his unique perspective on the war and the military meta-narrative and the struggle he faced adjusting from living in a combat zone to civilian life.\r\n\r\nBe sure and listen to <a href=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/luke-harms-5-2/\" target=\"_blank\">part 1</a> of Harms\' story if you haven’t already.\r\n\r\n<strong>Things to consider as you listen ::</strong>\r\n\r\nWhat does it mean to be a maker of peace?\r\nDo you agree that by viewing one group as sub-human, it enables us to view anyone as sub-human?\r\nHow has guilt played a part in your journey?\r\nHow can we better process guilt and tragedy in our lives and the lives of those around us?\r\nHow has nationalism and/or American exceptionalism shaped your view of the current war on terror?\r\n\r\n[audio=\"http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/012012.mp3\"]','Something Beautiful - Luke Harms (part 2)','','inherit','open','open','','4916-revision-3','','','2012-02-06 06:02:14','2012-02-06 14:02:14','',4916,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4916-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5105,1,'2012-02-12 22:43:42','2012-02-13 06:43:42','Chris Brown, the twenty-two year old rapper and singer, performed tonight at the 2012 Grammy Awards just three short years after beating his girlfriend so badly she had to go to the hospital.\r\n\r\nSasha Pasulka of <a href=\"http://hellogiggles.com/im-not-okay-with-chris-brown-performing-at-the-grammys-and-im-not-sure-why-you-are\" target=\"_blank\">HelloGiggles.com</a>, speaks of the disparity between amount of outcry over the Komen/Planned Parenthood situation compared to the Chris Brown performance:\r\n<blockquote>We were so mad when the Komen Foundation pulled its funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood. “This is not fair,” we shouted. “This is not fair to women, and this is not fair to the women who don’t have a voice, and we will not allow it.” We shouted it so loudly that Komen reversed its decision in three days. [...] <strong>Does domestic violence have a less sophisticated PR machine than Chris Brown does?</strong></blockquote>\r\nI believe in giving people second chances, but Ken Ehrlich, producer of the Grammy award, released <a href=\"http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/02/grammy-exec-producer-says-its-time-chris-brown-returned/\" target=\"_blank\">this statement</a>, showing that management doesn\'t have a clue:\r\n<blockquote>We’re glad to have him back. I think people deserve a second chance, you know. If you’ll note, he has not been on the Grammys for the past few years and it may have taken us a while to kind of get over the fact that <strong>we were the victim of what happened.</strong></blockquote>\r\nSasha Pasulka makes a good point later in her post when she says that she thinks Rihanna wants the whole situation to be done and over with, seeing as she may not want to be the new face of domestic violence or have anyone take pity on her.\r\n\r\nWil Wheaton posted <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/wilw/status/168914212628856833\" target=\"_blank\">a poignant tweet</a> about the situation:\r\n<blockquote>We don\'t care if you beat a woman so severely you put her in the hospital! We\'re the #GRAMMYs!</blockquote>\r\nThere have been <a href=\"http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/horrible-reactions-to-chris-brown-at-the-grammys\" target=\"_blank\">horrifying reactions</a> to the performance, including some women saying things like \"Chris Brown, you can beat me all you want.\"\r\n\r\nWhat do you think? Is it appropriate for Chris Brown to be performing so soon after his girlfriend had to go to the hospital because he beat her so badly? Are the Grammys setting a bad example or are they not responsible? Do you think that it is time to give Chris Brown a second chance?\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiWAvcYk4Kg[/youtube]</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeltelling/71505848/in/photostream/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/joetelling</a></em></p>','\"We Don\'t Care if You Beat Your Girlfriend! We\'re the Grammys!\"','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision-13','','','2012-02-12 22:43:42','2012-02-13 06:43:42','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(4925,48,'2012-02-06 08:54:44','2012-02-06 16:54:44','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nBlogs\n\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Books</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scot McKnight - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">John T. Bristow - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a></p>\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-22','','','2012-02-06 08:54:44','2012-02-06 16:54:44','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(4926,48,'2012-02-06 08:57:00','2012-02-06 16:57:00','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conersations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:\n\nBlogs\n\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Books</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scot McKnight - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">John T. Bristow - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a></p>\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-23','','','2012-02-06 08:57:00','2012-02-06 16:57:00','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(4927,48,'2012-02-06 09:36:09','2012-02-06 17:36:09','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<strong>Blogs</strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> that is comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is <a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a>\"</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Books</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Scot McKnight - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">John T. Bristow - <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a></p>\nPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!\n\n&nbsp;','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-24','','','2012-02-06 09:36:09','2012-02-06 17:36:09','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(4928,48,'2012-02-06 09:41:04','2012-02-06 17:41:04','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the voice of gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings also means were are hindering the Church. For, are not these ministry gifts given to edify and build up the Church?\n\nThis restriction of women in leadership, teaching, and ministry positions is analogous to the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to a standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size.  It is then covered with a delicate shoe, so that outwardly it appears to be dainty, feminine and beautiful. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form, making it impossible to walk or move normally. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<strong>Blogs</strong>\n<ul>\n	<li><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Books</strong></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li> <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</li>\n</ul>\nIf you have otgherPlease feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-25','','','2012-02-06 09:41:04','2012-02-06 17:41:04','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(4936,48,'2012-02-06 10:36:45','2012-02-06 18:36:45','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption. I have occasionally wondered if part of the reason I am ministered to most by those who hold no titles or official ministry positions is because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-33','','','2012-02-06 10:36:45','2012-02-06 18:36:45','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(4929,48,'2012-02-06 10:08:49','2012-02-06 18:08:49','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister, as we are all part of the royal priesthood of believers. (I Peter 2:9). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given, regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that. This passion in me is also  born out of a desire to see the Church be all that is should be. In hindering some women from the fulness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is rendered weaker and suffers when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words are merely just white noise. At what point can we, when our gifts are not received in the church, simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-26','','','2012-02-06 10:08:49','2012-02-06 18:08:49','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(4931,48,'2012-02-06 10:15:57','2012-02-06 18:15:57','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister, as we are all part of the royal priesthood of believers (I Peter 2:9). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given, regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that. This passion in me is also  born out of a desire to see the Church be all that is should be. In hindering some women from the fulness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words just seem like white noise. Unfortunately, since this is an issue within the church, I do not think we can simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on, however tempting that may be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-28','','','2012-02-06 10:15:57','2012-02-06 18:15:57','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(4930,48,'2012-02-06 10:13:32','2012-02-06 18:13:32','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. But, as I eventually realized, I don\'t have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For, He calls all of us to minister, as we are all part of the royal priesthood of believers. (I Peter 2:9). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given, regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that. This passion in me is also  born out of a desire to see the Church be all that is should be. In hindering some women from the fulness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words just seem like white noise. Unfortunately, since this is an issue within the church, I do not think we can simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on, however tempting that may be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> comprised of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Binding the Feet of the Church','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-27','','','2012-02-06 10:13:32','2012-02-06 18:13:32','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(4932,48,'2012-02-06 10:21:51','2012-02-06 18:21:51','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. For, He calls all of us to minister, as we are all part of the royal priesthood of believers (I Peter 2:9). Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given, regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption.\n\nSo, then, the question isn\'t really about who can or who can\'t minister. No, it\'s about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that. This passion in me is also  born out of a desire to see the Church be all that is should be. In hindering some women from the fulness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words just seem like white noise. Unfortunately, since this is an issue within the church, I do not think we can simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on, however tempting that may be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-29','','','2012-02-06 10:21:51','2012-02-06 18:21:51','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(4933,48,'2012-02-06 10:31:46','2012-02-06 18:31:46','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption. I have wondered Perhaps part of the reason I am ministered most by those who hold no titles or official ministry positions is because many anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But I do. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that. This passion in me is also  born out of a desire to see the Church be all that is should be. In hindering some women from the fulness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words just seem like white noise. Unfortunately, since this is an issue within the church, I do not think we can simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on, however tempting that may be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-30','','','2012-02-06 10:31:46','2012-02-06 18:31:46','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(4935,48,'2012-02-06 10:35:37','2012-02-06 18:35:37','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption. I have occasionally wondered if part of the reason I am ministered to most by those who hold no titles or official ministry positions is because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-32','','','2012-02-06 10:35:37','2012-02-06 18:35:37','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(4934,48,'2012-02-06 10:33:43','2012-02-06 18:33:43','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I can minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it was even bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and drew me to Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. There have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the other less obvious agents of redemption. I have occasionally wondered if part of the reason I am ministered to most by those who hold no titles or official ministry positions is because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that. This passion in me is also  born out of a desire to see the Church be all that is should be. In hindering some women from the fulness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to an illusion of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath it has taken a painfully misshapen and painful form. This doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now forced to walk with an unbalanced and cautious gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\nI don\'t know about you, but I have grown weary and saddened by the debates and conversations that seem to lead to merely more debates. At some point, more words just seem like white noise. Unfortunately, since this is an issue within the church, I do not think we can simply \"shake the dust off our sandals\" and move on, however tempting that may be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-31','','','2012-02-06 10:33:43','2012-02-06 18:33:43','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(4942,48,'2012-02-06 10:58:44','2012-02-06 18:58:44','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\n\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','z','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-39','','','2012-02-06 10:58:44','2012-02-06 18:58:44','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-39/',0,'revision','',0),(4938,48,'2012-02-06 10:47:17','2012-02-06 18:47:17','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that . In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to illusions of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath the slipper and the bandages there a painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only not feminine, but also completely unnatural. Furthermore, this doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now walks with an unbalanced and ineffective gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-35','','','2012-02-06 10:47:17','2012-02-06 18:47:17','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-35/',0,'revision','',0),(4937,48,'2012-02-06 10:45:21','2012-02-06 18:45:21','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each otI have occasionally wondered if  am ministered to most by those who hold no titles or official ministry positions is because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers are called to seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to illusions of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath the slipper and the bandages there a painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only not feminine, but also completely unnatural. Furthermore, this doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now walks with an unbalanced and ineffective gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-34','','','2012-02-06 10:45:21','2012-02-06 18:45:21','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0),(4941,48,'2012-02-06 10:53:49','2012-02-06 18:53:49','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\r\n\r\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-38','','','2012-02-06 10:53:49','2012-02-06 18:53:49','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-38/',0,'revision','',0),(4939,48,'2012-02-06 10:47:28','2012-02-06 18:47:28','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to illusions of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath the slipper and the bandages there a painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only not feminine, but also completely unnatural. Furthermore, this doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now walks with an unbalanced and ineffective gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-36','','','2012-02-06 10:47:28','2012-02-06 18:47:28','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-36/',0,'revision','',0),(4940,48,'2012-02-06 10:47:42','2012-02-06 18:47:42','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, part of the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Then to hide its deformity it is covered with an ornately decorated slipper, outwardly conforming to illusions of daintiness and fragility. But in reality, underneath the slipper and the bandages there a painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only not feminine, but also completely unnatural. Furthermore, this doesn\'t just affect the foot, it affects the whole body, which is now walks with an unbalanced and ineffective gait. The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-37','','','2012-02-06 10:47:42','2012-02-06 18:47:42','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-37/',0,'revision','',0),(4943,48,'2012-02-06 11:04:10','2012-02-06 19:04:10','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\n\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God intended them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-40','','','2012-02-06 11:04:10','2012-02-06 19:04:10','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-40/',0,'revision','',0),(4949,48,'2012-02-06 11:09:52','2012-02-06 19:09:52','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nYes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\n\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God called them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-46','','','2012-02-06 11:09:52','2012-02-06 19:09:52','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-46/',0,'revision','',0),(4944,48,'2012-02-06 11:04:34','2012-02-06 19:04:34','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\r\n\r\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into all that God intended them to be. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into the fullness of their callings.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-41','','','2012-02-06 11:04:34','2012-02-06 19:04:34','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-41/',0,'revision','',0),(4945,48,'2012-02-06 11:05:14','2012-02-06 19:05:14','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\r\n\r\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God called them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-42','','','2012-02-06 11:05:14','2012-02-06 19:05:14','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-42/',0,'revision','',0),(4946,48,'2012-02-06 11:05:54','2012-02-06 19:05:54','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\r\n\r\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God called them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-43','','','2012-02-06 11:05:54','2012-02-06 19:05:54','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-43/',0,'revision','',0),(4947,48,'2012-02-06 11:06:34','2012-02-06 19:06:34','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\r\n\r\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God called them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-44','','','2012-02-06 11:06:34','2012-02-06 19:06:34','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-44/',0,'revision','',0),(4948,48,'2012-02-06 11:06:53','2012-02-06 19:06:53','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\r\n\r\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\r\n\r\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\r\n\r\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha. Yes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\r\n\r\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\r\n\r\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\r\n\r\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God called them to be.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\r\n\r\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\r\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-45','','','2012-02-06 11:06:53','2012-02-06 19:06:53','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-45/',0,'revision','',0),(4950,48,'2012-02-06 11:41:47','2012-02-06 19:41:47','','bare feet','','inherit','open','open','','bare-feet','','','2012-02-06 11:41:47','2012-02-06 19:41:47','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/bare-feet.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4951,48,'2012-02-06 11:11:08','2012-02-06 19:11:08','When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of my life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the very first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and heard numerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.\n\nPerhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could, just as much as any man. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formative years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, \"You do not have the right equipment to lead,\" I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn\'t want to be a pastor or a missionary?\n\nThis internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that to do so meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or otherwise ordained minister. To add to this, I have often shied away from leadership positions, as I tend to prefer supporting roles over the spotlight. Not only did I not desire the title of pastor or minister, but I also did not desire the authority or power. But, as I eventually realized, ministering before God does not require a title or a position. And any authority or power is not ours, but rather it belongs to God. Sure, I could minister as a pastor, but I can also minister as a violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. Whatever gifts I have been given-- or others have been given-- regardless of titles or position, can be used to minister to others.\n\nReally, when I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles or positions. Instead, it was the friend who gladly was my sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation, as well as the gentle voice of correction in love when I was off track;  it was other Christian bloggers who bared themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has been musicians whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and wholeness in Christ. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was simply someone ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.\n\nYes, there have been times when a pastor or minister has deeply ministered to me as well, but on a day to day basis, it is the less obvious agents of redemption. Part of this is no doubt because we are all called to minister to each other in some capacity. However, I have occasionally wondered if  this phenomenon is partly because many who would have been anointed and effective ministers have been thwarted from using their God-given gifts.\n\nIt may seem odd that, I, as a woman who much prefers to keep to the background and has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any \"titled\" capacity at all, have such a strong passion to see opportunities for other women to do so. But there it is: I do. Passionately so. To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, it is not just the women who suffer, but the whole Church.\n\nWhen I think of women who have been forcibly restricted from using their gifts, the imagery that comes to mind is the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding. In order to conform to an absurd standard of femininity, half the body of Christ has been broken and tightly bound, unable to grow to its fully intended size. Covered with a dainty and ornate shoe, it appears beautiful and alluring. But in reality, underneath the shoe and bandages hides a grotesquely and painfully misshapen foot. In an effort to force the foot into a \"feminine\" form, it is now not only <em>not</em> feminine, but also completely unnatural.\n\nThis trauma doesn\'t just affect the foot; it affects the whole body, which now must limp through life, unbalanced and cautiously.  The whole Body of Christ is effectively crippled when certain members are unnaturally bound and unable to function or grow into the fullness of their callings. It\'s time to start unbinding the feet and allowing the Body\'s members to grow into all that God called them to be.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<em>*I did not expound on the specific theological and doctrinal arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subjec</em><em>t, I recommend the following:</em>\n\n<em><strong>Blogs</strong></em>\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/\">Ed Cyzewski</a> - Ed has an entire series called <a href=\"http://inamirrordimly.com/the-women-in-ministry-series-home-page/\">Women in Ministry</a> composed of guest posts dedicated to encouraging women to pursue their God-given callings.</em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/\">Rachel Held Evans</a><span style=\"text-align: left\"> - Rachel frequently writes about issues related to women in the church and women in ministry. My favorite post of hers so far on this topic is </span><a href=\"http://rachelheldevans.com/daughters-will-prophesy\">\"...Your Daughters Will Prophesy</a><span style=\"text-align: left\">\". </span></em></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Books</strong></em></p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Junia-Is-Not-Alone-ebook/dp/B006H4PFZ8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323117985&amp;sr=8-6\">Junia Is Not Alone</a> by Scot McKnight </em></li>\n	<li><em><a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/What-Paul-Really-About-Women/dp/0060610638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top\">What Paul Really Said About Women</a> by John T. Bristow</em></li>\n</ul>\n<em> If you have other blogs or books to recommend, please leave a link in the comments!</em>','Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-47','','','2012-02-06 11:11:08','2012-02-06 19:11:08','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-47/',0,'revision','',0),