(4665,127,'2012-01-29 08:00:18','2012-01-29 16:00:18','When I was a young boy Josué De La Cruz saved my life. My third-floor apartment on the northwest side of Chicago was fully involved in flames. The Latino firefighter crawled up the steps beneath the smoke, through the fire, and carried me to safety. I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for him.\r\n\r\nHe visited me in the hospital the next day. I thanked him for his courage and sacrifice. He told me he was happy to make a difference. We chatted for a while. His Spanish accent reminded me that he was from a completely different culture than mine. It was hard to understand him sometimes, but I was grateful. I fell asleep and he was gone.\r\n\r\nMy family found a new place to live but I included Josué in my prayers every night--for a couple of months at least. Eventually school took all my attention and life returned to normal. I was surprised five years later when Josué turned up at my college dorm one night. I was coming back to the dorm very late--trying not to attract the attention of the Resident Assistant.\r\n\r\n“Man,” he said with that accent. “You know it’s really dangerous to drive home in your condition. You should be more careful.”\r\n\r\nI was embarrassed. “Yeah, I guess so.” I shoved my hand forward to shake his. “Hey man, thanks for pulling me out of that fire back then.”\r\n\r\n“No problem--that’s over. Listen, I brought you some money for textbooks. Take care for yourself.”\r\n\r\nIt was strange, him showing up that night. I really wasn’t thinking straight. When I woke up the next morning it was hard to tell where the night had ended and where my dreams began. But I did have $100 in the pocket of my jeans.\r\n\r\nI was nearly thirty when he turned up again. I’d been married for seven years. My wife and I had one kid and another on the way. I had taken a job working for her father. It wasn’t the life I wanted but with another kid on the way, paying the bills was a big deal. Still, the job sucked and I wasn’t happy.  I came home from work and there was Josué, the firefighter who had saved my life, sitting on my front step, petting the family dog.\r\n\r\n“Dude, what are you doing here?”\r\n\r\n“Amigo, it’s so good to see you again. I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.”\r\n\r\nThat seemed really strange to hear. All I could manage was an awkward “Thanks.”\r\n\r\n“You know,” he said, looking up  from the dog. “You ought to cut your wife a little slack. It isn’t easy raising one kid while she’s baking another.”\r\n\r\n“Well my job ain’t so hot either. Did you want something?” I asked.\r\n\r\nHe ignored the question. “I could help you with that if you want.”\r\n\r\nI laughed. “Thanks. I’m a little old for the Fire Academy, don’t you think?” I  stepped past him an went to the door. “Thanks for stopping by, though.” Later I found a gift card to Applebee’s right where he had been sitting. There was a post-it note where he had scribbled, \'Take your wife out to dinner tonight.\'\r\n\r\nI don’t know: maybe Josué had moved into my neighborhood because he began to pop up at the most random times and places. It began to get a little creepy. One time he was in the booth behind me and my friend at the pancake house.\r\n\r\n“Hey man,” he said with that accent. “Have you been putting on some weight?”\r\n\r\n“Maybe. You still look pretty fit.” It was true, I had to admit it.\r\n\r\n“I’m not trying to bust your hump,” he said. “I just want to see you stay healthy and live well.”\r\n\r\nI didn’t feel scolded. Especially because he waited for my buddy to hit the restroom before he spoke to me. “Yeah. Thanks. I’ll work on that.” When my friend and I left we found that Josué had already paid the tab. It went on like this for the next few years. Josué would turn up, offer his opinion on something or other, and always do something nice for me.\r\n\r\nThen one afternoon he was outside my workplace. I had bolted from working for my father-in-law, but three jobs later I was going nowhere fast. Life sucked. My wife and kids were strangers to me, and I was thinking of getting in the car and just driving.\r\n\r\n“My friend,” Josué said gently. “Don’t do this thing.”\r\n\r\nI was startled. Did he know my thoughts? “What thing?”\r\n\r\n“Times are tough,” he said. “I get it. Let me help you learn how to live.”\r\n\r\nFinally I’d had enough of these strange appearances. “Listen, Josué. It’s been twenty years since you saved me from the fire. What gives you the right to show up and tell me what to do?”\r\n\r\n“What good was saving your life if you don’t know how to live it?” he answered. “I went into your apartment that day to change your life, not just save it.”\r\n\r\n“Really?” I demanded. “Well, I needed someone to save me--not someone to run my life. What gives you the right?”\r\n\r\n“I am Josué De La Cruz.” He stood tall and his voice swelled with strength. And as he said the words he began to change: his face and clothes became white--dazzling beyond any brightness on Earth.\r\n\r\nI shielded my eyes and heard thunder from the cloudless sky. In the thunder I thought I heard a voice. “This is my son. Listen to him!”\r\n\r\nAnd then, in a moment the day returned, and the sunshine seemed less bright. Josué put his arm on my shoulder and said, “Come to me. Get away with me and you\'ll recover your life. I\'ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. That’s why I saved you that day.”','Josué De La Cruz Saved My Life','','publish','open','open','','josue-de-la-cruz-saved-my-life','','','2012-01-28 09:57:39','2012-01-28 17:57:39','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=4665',0,'post','',2),(4666,127,'2012-01-25 10:24:58','2012-01-25 18:24:58','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','4665-revision','','','2012-01-25 10:24:58','2012-01-25 18:24:58','',4665,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/25/4665-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4668,48,'2012-01-25 10:44:19','2012-01-25 18:44:19','“At what point do you say, ‘Wow, I really want to dangle upside down from silk scarves and play the violin for a living\'?” This question was posed by myself and couple friends of mine as we reconnected over a cup of coffee. We were discussing life paths and career choices-- still trying to figure out what we wanted to do “when we grew up”, despite having  graduated from college and started various jobs, families, and all recently having reached the milestone 30th birthday. It was in this context that one of my friends mentioned the aerial violinist, Janice Martin. We collectively wondered: what is the secret to thinking so decidedly out of the box as this performer does?\n\nTo be sure, thinking outside of the box is a rather cliché concept now, the subject of countless self-help books, business seminars, and the like. Regardless, it truly is something people seem to have a hard time executing. We learn early on as children to draw inside the lines, follow all the rules, and act orderly and contained. Creativity, while not completely disregarded, is often more of an afterthought. Most follow the same pattern into our adult life: go to school, build a career, get married, have kids, and those who dare to do those in a different order or on a different timeframe are often questioned or ridiculed.\n\nTo add to this, our brains seem hard-wired to place everything into neat little boxes.  Psychological theory calls these boxes “schemata”:  mental structures to organize information. Every time your brain receives new information, it tries to fit it inside already pre-conceived schemata. It is an efficient and quick way to store, retrieve, and process information, helping us to respond quickly and appropriately to many situations. However, when we encounter new experiences or information that does not fit into an existing schema, a common reaction is to ignore or quickly forget the offending information. Occasionally, new information that differs so completely from a schema but cannot be ignored will cause the existing schema to be altered or to create a separate schema for these “exceptions from the rule”. The question is: do these schemas we have created for ourselves and our roles sometimes needlessly box us in?\n\nLet’s go back to the aerial violinist. According to her <a href=\"http://www.janicemartin.com/\">website</a>, Janice Martin is a classically trained violinist, pianist and vocalist who works with the Cirque du Symphonie, combining her talents with aerial acrobats to be the \"world\'s only aerial violinist,\"¹ and also returned to headline the show <em>Encore!</em> aboard the <a href=\"http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/\">Showboat Branson Belle</a> in Branson, MO for the second season.² Watching the videos of her performances, I am struck by not only her musical prowess (and I am a classically trained violist, so I can tell that the pieces she plays are difficult enough while performing them on solid ground, let alone while dangling by scarves), but she also displays an amazing grace, power, and strength in her aerial performance. Her vocal and piano performances are equally impressive, even if not performed while hanging from the ceiling. Truly, she is a formidable artist, putting the often touted \"triple threats\" to shame.\n\nMs. Martin is a unique artist to say the least, so it should be no surprise that her path there is equally unique. Musically trained at the Indiana University and the Juilliard School of Music, she found her first job in perhaps an unlikely place: the US Army, where she played in the US Army Band in Washington, D.C., as a solo violinist, including performances at the White House, the Capitol, and the State Department for President Bill Clinton and other world leaders.³\n\nAfter her enlistment with the army, Martin was awarded honorary use of the 1708 Burstein/Bagshawe Stradivarius Violin by The Stradivari Society.¹ She then toured domestically and internationally, soloing with the Milwaukee Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Houston Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Portland Symphony, European Union Chamber Orchestra and the New York Symphonic Ensemble, to name just a few.¹ Her career and accomplishments as a musician alone are truly impressive.\n\nHow then did Janice Martin go from an internationally recognized musician to an aerial violinist? Where do the aerobatics come in to this story, exactly? After the death of her friend and sponsor, Joseph Burstein, Martin returned to New York in hope of creating a show of her own that encompassed more than just the realm of classical music.³ The necessary creative inspiration came one evening while Martin was in the audience of a Cirque du Soleil show; the performance that night moved her so much that she determined to become an aerialist and, combined with her violin virtuosity, have a one-woman show like no other.³ No doubt this is where her training in the Army came in handy once again, what with the vigorous physical training, including rope climbing. Janice Martin debuted at Carnegie Hall and then spent over a decade traveling and performing her self-choreographed shows.³ From there, it is all history, as they say.\n\nSo, what can we learn from this fascinating woman? Wearing skin-tight outfits and dangling upside down from scarves and rings from great heights while playing the electric violin is not exactly my dream job, but I certainly enjoy watching Janet Martin live out her dream.  And that\'s what I want to do-- live out my dream; the trouble is, I don\'t just have one, and I haven\'t quite figured out how to combine them all so snugly like Ms. Martin has. Do I-- or you-- have gifts, talents and interests that seem incongruous, but somehow together create one exceptionally unique career, much like this daring aerial violinist? How can Ms. Martin\'s unique path help to inform our own search for a fulfilling and interesting career or life?\n\nFirst of all, Ms. Martin pursued her passions diligently and put in the hard work. Take it from this former music major (who admittedly dropped it only three semesters in to pursue a psychology degree instead), getting into Juilliard doesn\'t happen by doing the bare minimum in your practice sessions. Opportunities to grow, use, and express your talents won\'t open up for you if you aren\'t seeking excellence in whatever it is you do. So, the things you love to do? Learn to do them well. Practice. Practice. And then practice some more.\n\nMs. Martin also did something a lot of us could do more of: get out there and live life. She didn\'t just sit at home, absorbed in her own brainstorming sessions or creating a mission/purpose/vision statement. No, she was out enjoying life, and it was there, while taking time to attend a Cirque du Soleil show that she found the final inspiration. New experiences, new relationships and new adventures will bring fresh ideas and inspiration. You know what the same old thing brings? More of the same old thing.\n\nI don\'t have all the answers on how to think outside of the box, as I\'ve gotten myself into some ruts that lasted for years. But at this point in my life, I\'ve realized that life is too short to try to squeeze myself into a box, be it someone else’s or one of my own creation.  And to you, Ms. Martin, I say, \"Bravo.\" You are truly an inspiration.\n\n<em>Photo courtesy of Silver Dollar City Publicity</em>\n<div>\n\n<hr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\" />\n\n<div>\n\n¹<a href=\"http://www.janicemartin.com/\">www.janicemartin.com</a>\n\n</div>\n<div>\n\n²Silver Dollar City Publicity (2012). Encore! Returns after Stellar First Season [Press Release].\n\n</div>\n<div>\n\n³Silver Dollar City Publicity (2012). From Humble Beginnings to Carnegie Hall [Press Release].\n\n</div>\n</div>\n&nbsp;','Not Your Ordinary Day Job','','inherit','open','open','','4550-revision-91','','','2012-01-25 10:44:19','2012-01-25 18:44:19','',4550,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/25/4550-revision-91/',0,'revision','',0),(4669,134,'2012-01-25 11:12:12','2012-01-25 19:12:12','','Berlin wall on November 16, 1989','','inherit','open','open','','800px-berlin-wall','','','2012-01-25 11:12:12','2012-01-25 19:12:12','',4663,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4670,134,'2012-01-25 11:19:11','2012-01-25 19:19:11','First off, understand that I\'m not an expert in politics or sociology in any way or form. This is me throwing ideas in the air and see what sticks and what falls apart. Having said the latter <em>DISCLAIMER</em>, I can say (type) what I feel.\n<ol>\n	<li>Having two superpowers -- the US and the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">USSR</a> -- kept the world on check as a stalemate game of chess where the queens and kings were nuclear arsenals and trigger-happy men. Aside from the level of animosity between these two unions at the time, which I still don\'t understand, no one wanted to do anything stupid like attacking the other including allies and friends (democracy/capitalism vs communism/socialism). With the Cold War paranoia, many wars could\'ve been prevented as very few countries would\'ve wanted to be on the bad side of one or the other superpower or, worse yet, caught in the middle of both.</li>\n	<li><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4669\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"Berlin wall on November 16, 1989\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" align=\"right\" border=\"0\" /></a>After the fall of the <a title=\"Berlin Wall\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall\" target=\"_blank\">Berlin Wall</a> (picture on the right) and its domino effect on the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">Soviet Union</a>, the various of the former nations Soviet became unstable and uncontrollable by the rest of the world, especially the US. Lots of arsenal (nuclear or not) hasn\'t been accounted for since. This means that these weapons and/or technologies may still be available to some and most likely in the wrong hands. The latter\'s brought weapons of all kinds to many rogue states worldwide, which in return caused increasing risks of terrorism worldwide.</li>\n	<li>As brutal as mankind\'s proven to be numerous times, I don\'t think we\'d have engaged in a nuclear war -- a <em>\"nuclear error\"</em> (as <em>The Clash</em> mentioned in their song <em>London Calling</em>) maybe, but not war. We\'d have undoubtedly been scared beyond belief, but that might\'ve been the better of two evils.</li>\n</ol>\nAlthough I lived through the last two decades of the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a>, I was fairly sheltered from it all. Nonetheless my life was somewhat affected by it and I do have an opinion about the <em>possible benefits</em> of knowing who the enemy was.\n\nBy the way, regardless of the animosity then, I was still attracted by Russian literature (fan of <a title=\"Leo Tolstoy\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy\" target=\"_blank\">Leo Tolstoy</a> especially) and science (<a title=\"Ivan Pavlov\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov\" target=\"_blank\">Ivan Pavlov</a> being an early hero of mine). Well now, I can also enjoy their cinema like <a title=\"Night Watch\" href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/\" target=\"_blank\">Night Watch</a>.\n\nIf you\'re <em>old enough</em> to have lived during the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a> (approx. 1945-1991), let me know what you think.','what if USSR still existed?','','inherit','open','open','','4663-revision','','','2012-01-25 11:19:11','2012-01-25 19:19:11','',4663,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/25/4663-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4671,134,'2012-01-25 11:33:28','2012-01-25 19:33:28','First off, understand that I\'m not an expert in politics or sociology in any way or form. This is me throwing ideas in the air and see what sticks and what falls apart. Having said the latter <em>DISCLAIMER</em>, I can say (type) what I feel.\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Having two superpowers -- the US and the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">USSR</a> -- kept the world on check as a stalemate game of chess where the queens and kings were nuclear arsenals and trigger-happy men. Aside from the level of animosity between these two unions at the time, which I still don\'t understand, no one wanted to do anything stupid like attacking the other including allies and friends (democracy/capitalism vs communism/socialism). With the Cold War paranoia, many wars could\'ve been prevented as very few countries would\'ve wanted to be on the bad side of one or the other superpower or, worse yet, caught in the middle of both.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4669\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"Berlin wall on November 16, 1989\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" align=\"right\" border=\"0\" /></a>After the fall of the <a title=\"Berlin Wall\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall\" target=\"_blank\">Berlin Wall</a> (picture on the right) and its domino effect on the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">Soviet Union</a>, the various of the former nations Soviet became unstable and uncontrollable by the rest of the world, especially the US. Lots of arsenal (nuclear or not) hasn\'t been accounted for since. This means that these weapons and/or technologies may still be available to some and most likely in the wrong hands. The latter\'s brought weapons of all kinds to many rogue states worldwide, which in return caused increasing risks of terrorism worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>As brutal as mankind\'s proven to be numerous times, I don\'t think we\'d have engaged in a nuclear war -- a <em>\"nuclear error\"</em> (as <em>The Clash</em> mentioned in their song <em>London Calling</em>) maybe, but not war. We\'d have undoubtedly been scared beyond belief, but that might\'ve been the better of two evils.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nAlthough I lived through the last two decades of the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a>, I was fairly sheltered from it all. Nonetheless my life was somewhat affected by it and I do have an opinion about the <em>possible benefits</em> of knowing who the enemy was.\r\n\r\nBy the way, regardless of the animosity then, I was still attracted by Russian literature (fan of <a title=\"Leo Tolstoy\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy\" target=\"_blank\">Leo Tolstoy</a> especially) and science (<a title=\"Ivan Pavlov\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov\" target=\"_blank\">Ivan Pavlov</a> being an early hero of mine). Well now, I can also enjoy their cinema like <a title=\"Night Watch\" href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/\" target=\"_blank\">Night Watch</a>.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re <em>old enough</em> to have lived during the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a> (approx. 1945-1991), let me know what you think.','what if USSR still existed?','','inherit','open','open','','4663-revision-2','','','2012-01-25 11:33:28','2012-01-25 19:33:28','',4663,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/25/4663-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(4672,134,'2012-01-25 11:37:10','2012-01-25 19:37:10','First off, understand that I\'m not an expert in politics or sociology in any way or form. This is me throwing ideas in the air and see what sticks and what falls apart. Having said the latter <em>DISCLAIMER</em>, I can say (type) what I feel.\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Having two superpowers -- the US and the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">USSR</a> -- kept the world on check as a stalemate game of chess where the queens and kings were nuclear arsenals and trigger-happy men. Aside from the level of animosity between these two unions at the time, which I still don\'t understand, no one wanted to do anything stupid like attacking the other including allies and friends (democracy/capitalism vs communism/socialism). With the Cold War paranoia, many wars could\'ve been prevented as very few countries would\'ve wanted to be on the bad side of one or the other superpower or, worse yet, caught in the middle of both.</li>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4669\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"Berlin wall on November 16, 1989\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" align=\"right\" border=\"0\" /></a>After the fall of the <a title=\"Berlin Wall\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall\" target=\"_blank\">Berlin Wall</a> (picture on the right) and its domino effect on the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">Soviet Union</a>, the various of the former nations Soviet became unstable and uncontrollable by the rest of the world, especially the US. Lots of arsenal (nuclear or not) hasn\'t been accounted for since. This means that these weapons and/or technologies may still be available to some and most likely in the wrong hands. The latter\'s brought weapons of all kinds to many rogue states worldwide, which in return caused increasing risks of terrorism worldwide.</li>\r\n	<li>As brutal as mankind\'s proven to be numerous times, I don\'t think we\'d have engaged in a nuclear war -- a <em>\"nuclear error\"</em> (as <em>The Clash</em> mentioned in their song <em>London Calling</em>) maybe, but not war. We\'d have undoubtedly been scared beyond belief, but that might\'ve been the better of two evils.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nAlthough I lived through the last two decades of the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a>, I was fairly sheltered from it all. Nonetheless my life was somewhat affected by it and I do have an opinion about the <em>possible benefits</em> of knowing who the enemy was.\r\n\r\nBy the way, regardless of the animosity then, I was still attracted by Russian literature (fan of <a title=\"Leo Tolstoy\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy\" target=\"_blank\">Leo Tolstoy</a> especially) and science (<a title=\"Ivan Pavlov\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov\" target=\"_blank\">Ivan Pavlov</a> being an early hero of mine). Well now, I can also enjoy their cinema like <a title=\"Night Watch\" href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/\" target=\"_blank\">Night Watch</a>.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re <em>old enough</em> to have lived during the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a> (approx. 1945-1991), let me know what you think.','what if USSR still existed?','','inherit','open','open','','4663-revision-3','','','2012-01-25 11:37:10','2012-01-25 19:37:10','',4663,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/25/4663-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4673,1,'2012-01-28 10:01:05','2012-01-28 18:01:05','First off, understand that I\'m not an expert in politics or sociology in any way or form. This is me throwing ideas in the air and see what sticks and what falls apart. Having said the latter <em>DISCLAIMER</em>, I can say (type) what I feel.\r\n\r\nHaving two superpowers -- the US and the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">USSR</a> -- kept the world on check as a stalemate game of chess where the queens and kings were nuclear arsenals and trigger-happy men. Aside from the level of animosity between these two unions at the time, which I still don\'t understand, no one wanted to do anything stupid like attacking the other including allies and friends (democracy/capitalism vs communism/socialism). With the Cold War paranoia, many wars could\'ve been prevented as very few countries would\'ve wanted to be on the bad side of one or the other superpower or, worse yet, caught in the middle of both.\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4669\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/800px-Berlin-wall-300x202.jpg\" alt=\"Berlin wall on November 16, 1989\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" align=\"right\" border=\"0\" /></a>\r\n\r\nAfter the fall of the <a title=\"Berlin Wall\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall\" target=\"_blank\">Berlin Wall</a> (picture on the right) and its domino effect on the <a title=\"Soviet Union\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union\" target=\"_blank\">Soviet Union</a>, the various of the former nations Soviet became unstable and uncontrollable by the rest of the world, especially the US. Lots of arsenal (nuclear or not) hasn\'t been accounted for since. This means that these weapons and/or technologies may still be available to some and most likely in the wrong hands. The latter\'s brought weapons of all kinds to many rogue states worldwide, which in return caused increasing risks of terrorism worldwide.\r\n\r\nAs brutal as mankind\'s proven to be numerous times, I don\'t think we\'d have engaged in a nuclear war -- a <em>\"nuclear error\"</em> (as <em>The Clash</em> mentioned in their song <em>London Calling</em>) maybe, but not war. We\'d have undoubtedly been scared beyond belief, but that might\'ve been the better of two evils.\r\n\r\nAlthough I lived through the last two decades of the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a>, I was fairly sheltered from it all. Nonetheless my life was somewhat affected by it and I do have an opinion about the <em>possible benefits</em> of knowing who the enemy was.\r\n\r\nBy the way, regardless of the animosity then, I was still attracted by Russian literature (fan of <a title=\"Leo Tolstoy\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Tolstoy\" target=\"_blank\">Leo Tolstoy</a> especially) and science (<a title=\"Ivan Pavlov\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Pavlov\" target=\"_blank\">Ivan Pavlov</a> being an early hero of mine). Well now, I can also enjoy their cinema like <a title=\"Night Watch\" href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/\" target=\"_blank\">Night Watch</a>.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re <em>old enough</em> to have lived during the <a title=\"Cold War\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War\" target=\"_blank\">Cold War</a> (approx. 1945-1991), let me know what you think.','What If The USSR Still Existed?','','inherit','open','open','','4663-autosave','','','2012-01-28 10:01:05','2012-01-28 18:01:05','',4663,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/25/4663-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(7408,1,'2012-07-31 10:38:11','2012-07-31 17:38:11','Explain the two words spoken by Jesus—“Follow me”—in 1000 words or less? Hmmm. Maybe I should just stop right there and let you think this through on your own.\r\n\r\nMy understanding of what it means to follow Him has changed over the years. Perhaps our understanding of “following” is <em>supposed</em> to change over time as our maturity in the Lord grows in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the ways we experience Him with others. Because I can’t claim to know <em>everything</em> about following Jesus, the best I can offer is to share <em>some</em> of the things I’ve learned about following Jesus—beginning with what “following Jesus” is <strong><em>not</em><em>.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Following Jesus is not the same thing as: </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Following the teachings of Jesus, or following doctrines, creeds, or denominational statements of faith.</li>\r\n	<li>Following a Bible Reading Plan, memorizing scripture, or claiming a “life verse”.</li>\r\n	<li>Following “religious convictions”, or acting upon those convictions, alone or as a group, purely for the sake of acting upon convictions.</li>\r\n	<li>Attending a weekly worship service, and maybe a midweek prayer meeting or Bible study, or meeting with a small group or accountability partner.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThere isn’t anything wrong with doing these things. In fact, I  follow  Jesus today because others encouraged me to do these things over the course of my spiritual journey.  “Christian practices” are not the same thing as following Jesus. <em></em>I know a lot <em>about</em> <em>Jesus</em> by studying, talking about or meditating on these things—but knowing a lot <em>about Jesus</em> isn’t the same as <em>knowing Jesus</em>. It helps to know Who you’re following.<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>“Follow me.”</em></strong>  Two words caused Simon and Andrew to drop their fishing nets.  James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him.” (Mark 1:20 Amplified). Levi, son of Alphaeus, left his tax booth: “he arose and joined Him and His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.” (Mark 2:14 Amp). Philip ran to find his friend Nathanael and they too followed Him. Twelve men, in all, apparently left their life’s work to follow Jesus.\r\n\r\nI find it interesting that the Amplified Version conveys that the words “follow me” carry the connotation, “side with my party\".  Against the backdrop of  first century Hebrew culture—oppressed by the conquering Romans, looking for Messiah to deliver the Children of Israel and fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament—we read Nathanael’s confession, “Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) and the reason the twelve “followed” begins to come into focus.  Over the course of the next three and a half years, these men—and later Saul of Tarsus, among others—would come to understand that following Jesus isn’t about following teachings, doctrines, scriptures, convictions or attending religious meetings.  Men and women down through centuries found, in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, not <em>something</em> to believe in and follow, but rather <strong><em>Someone</em></strong> to believe in and follow.\r\n\r\nTo follow Jesus is to follow a living <strong><em>Person!</em></strong>\r\n<blockquote><strong><em> </em></strong>“And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”__John 1:14 (Amp)\r\n\r\n“For it has <strong>pleased</strong> [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should <strong>dwell</strong> in Him permanently.”__ Colossians 1:19 (Amp)</blockquote>\r\nFollowing a living Person, who is the Christ, comes with a cost, which He explained Himself to His disciples:\r\n<blockquote>“And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, <sup> </sup>forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” __Luke 9:23 (Amp)</blockquote>\r\nWhat do we have to gain by following this all-wonderful, all-glorious, all-divine Person? What is the outcome we look forward to? For starters, eternal life! Make that eternal, <strong><em>abundant</em> </strong>life, sustained by Christ who <strong><em>is</em></strong> our life! Many more “rewards” are promised to faithful followers who overcome the trials and temptations of this world—check out the letters to the seven churches in John’s last book!\r\n\r\nThere’s another important thing I’ve learned about following Jesus: it’s something we do <strong><em>together</em></strong>.\r\n\r\nFollowing Jesus is following a living <strong><em>Person</em></strong>…<strong><em>together!</em></strong>\r\n<blockquote>“When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. __Colossians 3:4 (Amp)</blockquote>','Two Words','','inherit','open','open','','7337-revision-24','','','2012-07-31 10:38:11','2012-07-31 17:38:11','',7337,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/31/7337-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(4701,12,'2012-01-26 18:34:44','2012-01-27 02:34:44','','king','','inherit','open','open','','king','','','2012-01-26 18:34:44','2012-01-27 02:34:44','',4700,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/king.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4702,12,'2012-01-26 18:35:27','2012-01-27 02:35:27','','king2','','inherit','open','open','','king2','','','2012-01-26 18:35:27','2012-01-27 02:35:27','',4700,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/king2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4703,12,'2012-01-26 18:37:42','2012-01-27 02:37:42','','onwritng','','inherit','open','open','','onwritng','','','2012-01-26 18:37:42','2012-01-27 02:37:42','',4700,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/onwritng.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(4704,12,'2012-01-26 18:36:55','2012-01-27 02:36:55','I\'ve had a fascination with Stephen King since I was in high school. It\'s been an off and on relationship. I used to love reading his short stories. In fact, some of his stories that I read in \"Skeleton Crew\" back in high school creep back up in my imagination while I\'m walking down a dark hallway at night.\n\nThe book that meant the most to me was, \"From a Buick 8,\" published in 2001. I\'ve read it four times and listened to it on audiobook at least three times (which I highly recommend). It marked a moment for me when King became more than a horror writer for me and a \"character developer\" for me.\n\nIt probably wasn\'t about him, it was about me. I learned to love characters. It was about the same time I fell in love with the Coen Brother\'s, <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/\">\"The Big Lewbowski.\"</a> It was when I learned a novel or book didn\'t have to be about a story. It needed to be about the full richness of the characters within. It\'s like life. We can\'t sum up our lives within a story, but during a eulogy, we can tell people about what a character someone was.\n\nNow, here\'s the obligatory spoiler alert. I\'m going to tell you at least what the Amazon.com page tells you. If you don\'t want to know that, stop reading. If you are comfortable with that, feel free to indulge yourself in my review.\n\nOkay?\n\nHere we go.\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/king2.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4702\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/king2-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"251\" /></a>My sister, who is  a library scientist (yeah, there is such a thing) told me that they can\'t keep King\'s book, 11/22/63 on the shelf. It\' s booked up in reserve for three months. There\'s a reason. It\'s worth your time. Don\'t bother reserving it at your library. Go buy it. In hardback. On your ebook. Now.\n\nIf you know your history, 11/22/63 is the date of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. What you may not know is how King uses that day in the writing of his novel. King, like any master of fiction, does a great thing. He takes a common person and puts him into an impossible situation.\n\nThe main character, Jake Epping, an English teacher, is forced to go back in time to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. That\'s the spoiler Amazon.com gives you, and that\'s all I\'m giving you.\n\nWho should read this novel? Three groups of people.\n\nFirst, anyone who grew up in the time of the Kennedy assassination. King is very familiar with the surroundings of the time. It\'s obvious he did a ton of research and he says so in the Afterword. He captures the flair and nuances with the atmosphere, the characters and the racial tensions of the time. I was born in 1973. There were times I was lost with history. I hate history. But I fired up my iPad and got on Wikipedia and darnit, I learned a few things. Those who grew up in that generation will appreciate King\'s savvy in weaving around the time period.\n\nHe deals with Oswald and the conspiracy. He is very cogent of all the facts. But when it comes right down to it, it\'s a work of a master blend of characters and fiction. Characters that will come off the page and make you wish you were sitting right there with them, having an ice cold Coke in 1960.\n\nThe second group of people who should read this is anyone who loves good fiction. I wrote a non-fiction book. But my love will always be for fiction. Good fiction. Characters that jump off the page and live in your heart. People who come alive and make you think that maybe they really existed at some point in time. King always seems to interject himself in some character in his books. His own interests and hobbies come alive and it\'s true in this book as well. His writing makes you turn each page in anticipation of concern and care for each individual character, their own well-being, and their future.\n\nFinally, any author worth their salt should read this book. For that matter, King should be on the reading list of any author who desires to be published. About eight years ago, I read the best book I\'ve ever had the pleasure of ever setting my eyes on. Believe it or not, it wasn\'t a fiction novel. It was <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Writing-10th-Anniversary-Memoir-Craft/dp/1439156816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1327631779&amp;sr=8-1\">King\'s, \"On Writing.\"</a> In it, he tackled the task of answering the questions that many people ask him - \"how do I write good fiction?\"\n\nHe didn\'t try to write a manual. Instead, he was just honest with his life story and gave a \"toolbox\" of sorts that he used. I\'ve read it four times and listened to the self-narrated audiobook the same amount. It is priceless. Even for those writers who write non-fiction.\n\nDirty secret - I used to write songs. But before I wrote lyrics, I\'d listen to my favorite band, U2, for at least 12 hours at a time. Why? Because it made for good inspiration. And it made me feel like I was capable of something.\n\nGuess what? If you want to climb Mount Everest, you should watch someone else do it first. If you\'re a writer, talk to someone who has published first. Or read their work. Stephen King has published an amazing library of works and made <a href=\"http://www.stephenking.com/index.html\">himself open to his readers</a>. Seek out good writing. Don\'t copy it, but absorb it. Wallow in it. Cherish it.\n\nThank you, Mr. King, for another great work. For more great characters. For another amazing, redemptive read.','11/22/63: Book Review','','inherit','open','open','','4700-revision','','','2012-01-26 18:36:55','2012-01-27 02:36:55','',4700,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/26/4700-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(4705,12,'2012-01-26 18:38:55','2012-01-27 02:38:55','I\'ve had a fascination with Stephen King since I was in high school. It\'s been an off and on relationship. I used to love reading his short stories. In fact, some of his stories that I read in \"Skeleton Crew\" back in high school creep back up in my imagination while I\'m walking down a dark hallway at night.\n\nThe book that meant the most to me was, \"From a Buick 8,\" published in 2001. I\'ve read it four times and listened to it on audiobook at least three times (which I highly recommend). It marked a moment for me when King became more than a horror writer for me and a \"character developer\" for me.\n\nIt probably wasn\'t about him, it was about me. I learned to love characters. It was about the same time I fell in love with the Coen Brother\'s, <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/\">\"The Big Lewbowski.\"</a> It was when I learned a novel or book didn\'t have to be about a story. It needed to be about the full richness of the characters within. It\'s like life. We can\'t sum up our lives within a story, but during a eulogy, we can tell people about what a character someone was.\n\nNow, here\'s the obligatory spoiler alert. I\'m going to tell you at least what the Amazon.com page tells you. If you don\'t want to know that, stop reading. If you are comfortable with that, feel free to indulge yourself in my review.\n\nOkay?\n\nHere we go.\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/king2.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4702\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/king2-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"251\" /></a>My sister, who is  a library scientist (yeah, there is such a thing) told me that they can\'t keep King\'s book, 11/22/63 on the shelf. It\' s booked up in reserve for three months. There\'s a reason. It\'s worth your time. Don\'t bother reserving it at your library. Go buy it. In hardback. On your ebook. Now.\n\nIf you know your history, 11/22/63 is the date of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. What you may not know is how King uses that day in the writing of his novel. King, like any master of fiction, does a great thing. He takes a common person and puts him into an impossible situation.\n\nThe main character, Jake Epping, an English teacher, is forced to go back in time to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. That\'s the spoiler Amazon.com gives you, and that\'s all I\'m giving you.\n\nWho should read this novel? Three groups of people.\n\nFirst, anyone who grew up in the time of the Kennedy assassination. King is very familiar with the surroundings of the time. It\'s obvious he did a ton of research and he says so in the Afterword. He captures the flair and nuances with the atmosphere, the characters and the racial tensions of the time. I was born in 1973. There were times I was lost with history. I hate history. But I fired up my iPad and got on Wikipedia and darnit, I learned a few things. Those who grew up in that generation will appreciate King\'s savvy in weaving around the time period.\n\nHe deals with Oswald and the conspiracy. He is very cogent of all the facts. But when it comes right down to it, it\'s a work of a master blend of characters and fiction. Characters that will come off the page and make you wish you were sitting right there with them, having an ice cold Coke in 1960.\n\nThe second group of people who should read this is anyone who loves good fiction. I wrote a non-fiction book. But my love will always be for fiction. Good fiction. Characters that jump off the page and live in your heart. People who come alive and make you think that maybe they really existed at some point in time. King always seems to interject himself in some character in his books. His own interests and hobbies come alive and it\'s true in this book as well. His writing makes you turn each page in anticipation of concern and care for each individual character, their own well-being, and their future.\n\nFinally, any author worth their salt should read this book. For that matter, King should be on the reading list of any author who desires to be published. About eight years ago, I read the best book I\'ve ever had the pleasure of ever setting my eyes on. Believe it or not, it wasn\'t a fiction novel. It was <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Writing-10th-Anniversary-Memoir-Craft/dp/1439156816/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1327631779&amp;sr=8-1\">King\'s, \"On Writing.\"</a> In it, he tackled the task of answering <a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/onwritng.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4703\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/onwritng-184x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"184\" height=\"300\" /></a>the questions that many people ask him - \"how do I write good fiction?\"\n\nHe didn\'t try to write a manual. Instead, he was just honest with his life story and gave a \"toolbox\" of sorts that he used. I\'ve read it four times and listened to the self-narrated audiobook the same amount. It is priceless. Even for those writers who write non-fiction.\n\nDirty secret - I used to write songs. But before I wrote lyrics, I\'d listen to my favorite band, U2, for at least 12 hours at a time. Why? Because it made for good inspiration. And it made me feel like I was capable of something.\n\nGuess what? If you want to climb Mount Everest, you should watch someone else do it first. If you\'re a writer, talk to someone who has published first. Or read their work. Stephen King has published an amazing library of works and made <a href=\"http://www.stephenking.com/index.html\">himself open to his readers</a>. Seek out good writing. Don\'t copy it, but absorb it. Wallow in it. Cherish it.\n\nThank you, Mr. King, for another great work. For more great characters. For another amazing, redemptive read.','Stephen King\'s 11/22/63: Book Review','','inherit','open','open','','4700-revision-2','','','2012-01-26 18:38:55','2012-01-27 02:38:55','',4700,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/26/4700-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0);

INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (4995,35,'2012-05-07 08:47:41','2012-05-07 15:47:41','<strong>Uncensored Prayer: The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling With God Workshop</strong> will be offered online February 27 – March 30, 2012.  This course is about the spiritual practice of discussing everything with God, risking honesty to gain intimacy through loving, trusting conversations.  It’s wrestling through anger, faith, pain, hope about every aspect of our lives.  No topic, language, or feeling is unholy.  It will cover how to know you’re hearing from God and explores a variety of ways to pray. This course is an opportunity to discover for yourself the redemptive freedom that comes from being totally honest with yourself and the One who loves you best.  As you practice stepping out of your comfort zone, you will begin to experience confidence in speaking freely with God in ways that are uniquely yours.\n\nThe <strong>instructor, Joy Wilson</strong>, is the author of Uncensored Prayer: The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling With God (Civitas Press, 2011).  Prior to starting the workshop, participants need to order the book from Amazon.com.  The five-week online class is self-paced so you can participate at any time during the week.  It includes readings in the textbook, prayer practice exercises, and online interactions with other students.\n\nThe cost of the course is $69.  For additional information, go to the following link:  <a href=\"http://beadisciple.com/workshops.html#UncensoredPrayer\">http://beadisciple.com/workshops.html#UncensoredPrayer</a> .  Class size is limited, so register early.\n\n&nbsp;','Uncensored Prayer Online Worshop','','inherit','open','open','','4988-autosave','','','2012-05-07 08:47:41','2012-05-07 15:47:41','',4988,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4988-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(4996,35,'2012-02-07 10:23:13','2012-02-07 18:23:13','<strong>Uncensored Prayer: The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling With God Workshop</strong> will be offered online February 27 – March 30, 2012.  This course is about the spiritual practice of discussing everything with God, risking honesty to gain intimacy through loving, trusting conversations.  It’s wrestling through anger, faith, pain, hope about every aspect of our lives.  No topic, language, or feeling is unholy.  It will cover how to know you’re hearing from God and explores a variety of ways to pray. This course is an opportunity to discover for yourself the redemptive freedom that comes from being totally honest with yourself and the One who loves you best.  As you practice stepping out of your comfort zone, you will begin to experience confidence in speaking freely with God in ways that are uniquely yours.\r\n\r\nThe <strong>instructor, Joy Wilson</strong>, is the author of Uncensored Prayer: The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling With God (Civitas Press, 2011).  Prior to starting the workshop, participants need to order the book from Amazon.com.  The five-week online class is self-paced so you can participate at any time during the week.  It includes readings in the textbook, prayer practice exercises, and online interactions with other students.\r\n\r\nThe cost of the course is $69.  For additional information, go to the following link:  <a href=\"http://beadisciple.com/workshops.html#UncensoredPrayer\">http://beadisciple.com/workshops.html#UncensoredPrayer</a> .  Class size is limited, so register early.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Uncensored Prayer Online Worshop','','inherit','open','open','','4988-revision-3','','','2012-02-07 10:23:13','2012-02-07 18:23:13','',4988,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4988-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(4997,1,'2012-01-31 09:13:30','2012-01-31 17:13:30','<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','','inherit','open','open','','4809-revision-3','','','2012-01-31 09:13:30','2012-01-31 17:13:30','',4809,'http://provoketive.com/2012/01/31/4809-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5000,1,'2012-02-07 11:00:32','2012-02-07 19:00:32','','leonard cohen','','inherit','open','open','','leonard-cohen','','','2012-02-07 11:00:32','2012-02-07 19:00:32','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/leonard-cohen.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5001,1,'2012-02-02 11:29:21','2012-02-02 19:29:21','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-10','','','2012-02-02 11:29:21','2012-02-02 19:29:21','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/02/4842-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5002,1,'2012-02-07 11:00:55','2012-02-07 19:00:55','<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.\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-11','','','2012-02-07 11:00:55','2012-02-07 19:00:55','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4842-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5003,1,'2012-02-07 11:01:46','2012-02-07 19:01:46','<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.\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-12','','','2012-02-07 11:01:46','2012-02-07 19:01:46','',4842,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4842-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5004,46,'2012-02-08 09:39:56','2012-02-08 17:39:56','<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>\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\">“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 God\'s people, rather than definitive statements about God\'s 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 God\'s 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 God\'s children:  God <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-autosave','','','2012-02-08 09:39:56','2012-02-08 17:39:56','',4862,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4862-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5022,46,'2012-02-07 11:06:50','2012-02-07 19:06:50','<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>\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 His people, rather than definitive statements about His 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 His 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 His children: He <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 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-3','','','2012-02-07 11:06:50','2012-02-07 19:06:50','',4862,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4862-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5005,1,'2012-02-07 11:06:09','2012-02-07 19:06:09','','male god','','inherit','open','open','','male-god','','','2012-02-07 11:06:09','2012-02-07 19:06:09','',4862,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/male-god.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5006,1,'2012-02-03 06:33:30','2012-02-03 14:33:30','<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>\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\">\r\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>\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 His people, rather than definitive statements about His 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 His 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 His children: He <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 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-2','','','2012-02-03 06:33:30','2012-02-03 14:33:30','',4862,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/03/4862-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5007,1,'2012-02-07 11:13:31','2012-02-07 19:13:31','It has happened since the beginning. It used to come up less frequently. Maybe at dinner with some family, a friend’s wedding, a random night out. Now, it seems to happen more and more. Thursday afternoon while watching TV or walking the dogs in the morning. It is becoming more and more common for me to come to this realization:\n\nMy wife is a lot cooler than I am.\n\nShe is cooler in many ways. Some of the ways rear their heads more often than others, but in a massive and all-encompassing way, she is by far out of my league.\n\nThis humbling thought process results in a few different things. Sometimes, it makes me truly feel blessed to be around her, to have even the opportunity to be seen eating fast food with her. Sometimes, it makes me wonder what it is about me that she likes…that she loves…to the point that I worry I may screw it up at some point. Sometimes, it makes me become introspective, looking into the moments of my life spent with her, and making sure that I am using them to give her the love that she so truly deserves for sticking it out with a guy like me.\n\nBut one thing that I try never, EVER to do is take her for granted. Any man truly living out a good love story will tell you that forsaking any part of it is the quickest way for it to sour. Coming into a place where this most amazing of relationships is seen as routine or the norm softens the edges of something that should forever remain sharpened and penetrating.\n\nA marriage lived out as the fullest expression of love can only hope to survive in its power if both people involved realize its true potency.\n\nRewind a bit. Replace all the times I wrote the word “wife” with “God”. Replace all the common pronouns with formal ones. Do this because our relationship with any person in this life, even a spouse, can only ever hope to capture a glimmer of the degree to which love is expressed in our relationship with the Father.\n\nSo why are we so quick to forsake our relationship with Him?\n\nIf we spend such huge amounts of time making sure to milk the most of every moment with those we say we love, why is it alright for us to put God onto a shelf save for once a week…when we profess to want nothing more than a relationship with Him?\n\nGod is out of our league. Far, far, far out of our league. His fingers have crafted creation and His heart has bled for humanity. If we are not responding to that with our greatest devotion and worship, then we are melting the power God wants to have into our lives into a mold we have made out of seeing Him as routine.','Cooler Than Me','','inherit','open','open','','4872-autosave','','','2012-02-07 11:13:31','2012-02-07 19:13:31','',4872,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4872-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5008,1,'2012-02-07 11:12:00','2012-02-07 19:12:00','','man and woman','','inherit','open','open','','man-and-woman','','','2012-02-07 11:12:00','2012-02-07 19:12:00','',4872,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/man-and-woman.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5009,1,'2012-02-04 11:19:22','2012-02-04 19:19:22','It has happened since the beginning. It used to come up less frequently. Maybe at dinner with some family, a friend’s wedding, a random night out. Now, it seems to happen more and more. Thursday afternoon while watching TV or walking the dogs in the morning. It is becoming more and more common for me to come to this realization:\r\n\r\nMy wife is a lot cooler than I am.\r\n\r\nShe is cooler in many ways. Some of the ways rear their heads more often than others, but in a massive and all-encompassing way, she is by far out of my league.\r\n\r\nThis humbling thought process results in a few different things. Sometimes, it makes me truly feel blessed to be around her, to have even the opportunity to be seen eating fast food with her. Sometimes, it makes me wonder what it is about me that she likes…that she loves…to the point that I worry I may screw it up at some point. Sometimes, it makes me become introspective, looking into the moments of my life spent with her, and making sure that I am using them to give her the love that she so truly deserves for sticking it out with a guy like me.\r\n\r\nBut one thing that I try never, EVER to do is take her for granted. Any man truly living out a good love story will tell you that forsaking any part of it is the quickest way for it to sour. Coming into a place where this most amazing of relationships is seen as routine or the norm softens the edges of something that should forever remain sharpened and penetrating.\r\n\r\nA marriage lived out as the fullest expression of love can only hope to survive in its power if both people involved realize its true potency.\r\n\r\nRewind a bit. Replace all the times I wrote the word “wife” with “God”. Replace all the common pronouns with formal ones. Do this because our relationship with any person in this life, even a spouse, can only ever hope to capture a glimmer of the degree to which love is expressed in our relationship with the Father.\r\n\r\nSo why are we so quick to forsake our relationship with Him?\r\n\r\nIf we spend such huge amounts of time making sure to milk the most of every moment with those we say we love, why is it alright for us to put God onto a shelf save for once a week…when we profess to want nothing more than a relationship with Him?\r\n\r\nGod is out of our league. Far, far, far out of our league. His fingers have crafted creation and His heart has bled for humanity. If we are not responding to that with our greatest devotion and worship, then we are melting the power God wants to have into our lives into a mold we have made out of seeing Him as routine.','Cooler Than Me','','inherit','open','open','','4872-revision-2','','','2012-02-04 11:19:22','2012-02-04 19:19:22','',4872,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/04/4872-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5010,1,'2012-02-10 08:00:48','2012-02-10 16:00:48','<strong><a href=\"../category/question-everything/\">Question Everything</a></strong> is a series of posts that asks the questions people are really thinking, but are often afraid to ask. You can submit your question <a title=\"Submit A Question\" href=\"../2012/01/30/submit-a-question/\">here</a>.\r\n\r\nToday’s question comes from Kaleb in Salem, Oregon.<a href=\"../author/thesethingsmatterbymelody/\">\r\n</a>\r\n\r\n\"A friend of mine asked me if God is demanding or really interested in worship.  I didn\'t know how to answer him.  His first point was that when God creates the world there is no request for worship, even after the Garden.  It is not until much later, when the pagan culture is deeply established that God reveals any command to worship.  And even while there ample evidence of God commanding the people to worship, it doesn\'t seem to be that much of concern for Jesus.  He never asks for it, but he does allow it.  Jesus seems much more interested in people following his lead than in having them bow down and perform a religious act.  And when we get to Peter, it seems that God is trying to move away from the religiosity of his time and towards freedom.  I also don\'t want to make light of the act of worship in aligning my own heart to God.  It just seemed like a reasonable question and I didn\'t know how to answer..  Help.\"\r\n\r\nHow would you answer the question?','Question #3: Is God\'s Primary Interest Worship','','publish','open','open','','question-3-is-gods-primary-interest-worship','','','2012-02-07 11:52:10','2012-02-07 19:52:10','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5010',0,'post','',5),(5011,1,'2012-02-07 11:49:23','2012-02-07 19:49:23','','man worship','','inherit','open','open','','man-worship','','','2012-02-07 11:49:23','2012-02-07 19:49:23','',5010,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/man-worship.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5012,1,'2012-02-07 11:46:51','2012-02-07 19:46:51','<strong><a href=\"../category/question-everything/\">Question Everything</a></strong> is a series of posts that asks the questions people are really thinking, but are often afraid to ask. You can submit your question <a title=\"Submit A Question\" href=\"../2012/01/30/submit-a-question/\">here</a>.\n\nToday’s question comes from Kaleb in Salem Washington.<a href=\"../author/thesethingsmatterbymelody/\">\n</a>\n\n\"A friend of mine asked me if God is demanding or really interested in worship.  I didn\'t know how to answer him.  His first point was that when God creates the world there is no request for worship, even after the Garden.  And while there ample evidence of God commanding the people to worship, it doesn\'t seem to be that much of concern for Jesus.  He never asks for it, but he does allow it.  Jesus seems much more interested in people following his lead than in having them bow down and perform a religious act.  I also don\'t want to make light of the act of worship in aligning my own heart to God.  It just seemed like a reasonable question and I didn\'t know how to answer..  Help.\"\n\nHow would you answer the question?','Question #3: Is God\'s Primary Interest Worship','','inherit','open','open','','5010-revision','','','2012-02-07 11:46:51','2012-02-07 19:46:51','',5010,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/5010-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5013,1,'2012-02-07 11:49:53','2012-02-07 19:49:53','<strong><a href=\"../category/question-everything/\">Question Everything</a></strong> is a series of posts that asks the questions people are really thinking, but are often afraid to ask. You can submit your question <a title=\"Submit A Question\" href=\"../2012/01/30/submit-a-question/\">here</a>.\r\n\r\nToday’s question comes from Kaleb in Salem Washington.<a href=\"../author/thesethingsmatterbymelody/\">\r\n</a>\r\n\r\n\"A friend of mine asked me if God is demanding or really interested in worship.  I didn\'t know how to answer him.  His first point was that when God creates the world there is no request for worship, even after the Garden.  And while there ample evidence of God commanding the people to worship, it doesn\'t seem to be that much of concern for Jesus.  He never asks for it, but he does allow it.  Jesus seems much more interested in people following his lead than in having them bow down and perform a religious act.  I also don\'t want to make light of the act of worship in aligning my own heart to God.  It just seemed like a reasonable question and I didn\'t know how to answer..  Help.\"\r\n\r\nHow would you answer the question?','Question #3: Is God\'s Primary Interest Worship','','inherit','open','open','','5010-revision-2','','','2012-02-07 11:49:53','2012-02-07 19:49:53','',5010,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/5010-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5014,1,'2012-02-07 11:51:14','2012-02-07 19:51:14','<strong><a href=\"../category/question-everything/\">Question Everything</a></strong> is a series of posts that asks the questions people are really thinking, but are often afraid to ask. You can submit your question <a title=\"Submit A Question\" href=\"../2012/01/30/submit-a-question/\">here</a>.\n\nToday’s question comes from Kaleb in Salem, Oregon.<a href=\"../author/thesethingsmatterbymelody/\">\n</a>\n\n\"A friend of mine asked me if God is demanding or really interested in worship.  I didn\'t know how to answer him.  His first point was that when God creates the world there is no request for worship, even after the Garden.  It is not until much later, when the pagan culture is deeply established that God reveals any And while there ample evidence of God commanding the people to worship, it doesn\'t seem to be that much of concern for Jesus.  He never asks for it, but he does allow it.  Jesus seems much more interested in people following his lead than in having them bow down and perform a religious act.  It seems that with Peter, God is trying to move away from the religiosity of his time and towards freedom.  I also don\'t want to make light of the act of worship in aligning my own heart to God.  It just seemed like a reasonable question and I didn\'t know how to answer..  Help.\"\n\nHow would you answer the question?','Question #3: Is God\'s Primary Interest Worship','','inherit','open','open','','5010-autosave','','','2012-02-07 11:51:14','2012-02-07 19:51:14','',5010,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/5010-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5015,1,'2012-02-07 11:50:11','2012-02-07 19:50:11','<strong><a href=\"../category/question-everything/\">Question Everything</a></strong> is a series of posts that asks the questions people are really thinking, but are often afraid to ask. You can submit your question <a title=\"Submit A Question\" href=\"../2012/01/30/submit-a-question/\">here</a>.\r\n\r\nToday’s question comes from Kaleb in Salem, Oregon.<a href=\"../author/thesethingsmatterbymelody/\">\r\n</a>\r\n\r\n\"A friend of mine asked me if God is demanding or really interested in worship.  I didn\'t know how to answer him.  His first point was that when God creates the world there is no request for worship, even after the Garden.  And while there ample evidence of God commanding the people to worship, it doesn\'t seem to be that much of concern for Jesus.  He never asks for it, but he does allow it.  Jesus seems much more interested in people following his lead than in having them bow down and perform a religious act.  I also don\'t want to make light of the act of worship in aligning my own heart to God.  It just seemed like a reasonable question and I didn\'t know how to answer..  Help.\"\r\n\r\nHow would you answer the question?','Question #3: Is God\'s Primary Interest Worship','','inherit','open','open','','5010-revision-3','','','2012-02-07 11:50:11','2012-02-07 19:50:11','',5010,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/5010-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(7337,189,'2012-08-06 08:00:43','2012-08-06 15:00:43','Explain the two words spoken by Jesus—“Follow me”—in 1000 words or less? Hmmm. Maybe I should just stop right there and let you think this through on your own.\r\n\r\nMy understanding of what it means to follow Him has changed over the years. Perhaps our understanding of “following” is <em>supposed</em> to change over time as our maturity in the Lord grows in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the ways we experience Him with others. Because I can’t claim to know <em>everything</em> about following Jesus, the best I can offer is to share <em>some</em> of the things I’ve learned about following Jesus—beginning with what “following Jesus” is <strong><em>not</em><em>.</em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong>Following Jesus is not the same thing as: </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Following the teachings of Jesus, or following doctrines, creeds, or denominational statements of faith.</li>\r\n	<li>Following a Bible Reading Plan, memorizing scripture, or claiming a “life verse”.</li>\r\n	<li>Following “religious convictions”, or acting upon those convictions, alone or as a group, purely for the sake of acting upon convictions.</li>\r\n	<li>Attending a weekly worship service, and maybe a midweek prayer meeting or Bible study, or meeting with a small group or accountability partner.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThere isn’t anything wrong with doing these things. In fact, I  follow  Jesus today because others encouraged me to do these things over the course of my spiritual journey.  “Christian practices” are not the same thing as following Jesus. <em></em>I know a lot <em>about</em> <em>Jesus</em> by studying, talking about or meditating on these things—but knowing a lot <em>about Jesus</em> isn’t the same as <em>knowing Jesus</em>. It helps to know Who you’re following.<strong><em></em></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><em>“Follow me.”</em></strong>  Two words caused Simon and Andrew to drop their fishing nets.  James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him.” (Mark 1:20 Amplified). Levi, son of Alphaeus, left his tax booth: “he arose and joined Him and His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.” (Mark 2:14 Amp). Philip ran to find his friend Nathanael and they too followed Him. Twelve men, in all, apparently left their life’s work to follow Jesus.\r\n\r\nI find it interesting that the Amplified Version conveys that the words “follow me” carry the connotation, “side with my party\".  Against the backdrop of  first century Hebrew culture—oppressed by the conquering Romans, looking for Messiah to deliver the Children of Israel and fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament—we read Nathanael’s confession, “Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) and the reason the twelve “followed” begins to come into focus.  Over the course of the next three and a half years, these men—and later Saul of Tarsus, among others—would come to understand that following Jesus isn’t about following teachings, doctrines, scriptures, convictions or attending religious meetings.  Men and women down through centuries found, in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, not <em>something</em> to believe in and follow, but rather <strong><em>Someone</em></strong> to believe in and follow.\r\n\r\nTo follow Jesus is to follow a living <strong><em>Person!</em></strong>\r\n<blockquote><strong><em> </em></strong>“And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”__John 1:14 (Amp)\r\n\r\n“For it has <strong>pleased</strong> [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should <strong>dwell</strong> in Him permanently.”__ Colossians 1:19 (Amp)</blockquote>\r\nFollowing a living Person, who is the Christ, comes with a cost, which He explained Himself to His disciples:\r\n<blockquote>“And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, <sup> </sup>forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” __Luke 9:23 (Amp)</blockquote>\r\nWhat do we have to gain by following this all-wonderful, all-glorious, all-divine Person? What is the outcome we look forward to? For starters, eternal life! Make that eternal, <strong><em>abundant</em> </strong>life, sustained by Christ who <strong><em>is</em></strong> our life! Many more “rewards” are promised to faithful followers who overcome the trials and temptations of this world—check out the letters to the seven churches in John’s last book!\r\n\r\nThere’s another important thing I’ve learned about following Jesus: it’s something we do <strong><em>together</em></strong>.\r\n\r\nFollowing Jesus is following a living <strong><em>Person</em></strong>…<strong><em>together!</em></strong>\r\n<blockquote>“When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. __Colossians 3:4 (Amp)</blockquote>','Two Words','','publish','open','open','','two-words-2','','','2012-08-01 17:19:54','2012-08-02 00:19:54','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=7337',0,'post','',15),(7354,189,'2012-07-31 10:31:27','2012-07-31 17:31:27','Explain the two words spoken by Jesus—“Follow me”—in 1000 words or less? Hmmm. Maybe I should just stop right there and let you think this through on your own.\n\nMy understanding of what it means to follow Him has changed over the years. Perhaps our understanding of “following” is <em>supposed</em> to change over time as our maturity in the Lord grows in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the ways we experience Him with others. Because I can’t claim to know <em>everything</em> about following Jesus, the best I can offer is to share <em>some</em> of the things I’ve learned about following Jesus—beginning with what “following Jesus” is <strong><em>not</em><em>.</em></strong>\n\n<strong>Following Jesus is not the same thing as: </strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Following the teachings of Jesus, or following doctrines, creeds, or denominational statements of faith.</li>\n	<li>Following a Bible Reading Plan, memorizing scripture, or claiming a “life verse”.</li>\n	<li>Following “religious convictions”, or acting upon those convictions, alone or as a group, purely for the sake of acting upon convictions.</li>\n	<li>Attending a weekly worship service, and maybe a midweek prayer meeting or Bible study, or meeting with a small group or accountability partner.</li>\n</ul>\nThere isn’t anything wrong with doing these things. In fact, I  follow  Jesus today because others encouraged me to do these things over the course of my spiritual journey.  “Christian practices” are not the same thing as following Jesus. <em></em>I know a lot <em>about</em> <em>Jesus</em> by studying, talking about or meditating on these things—but knowing a lot <em>about Jesus</em> isn’t the same as <em>knowing Jesus</em>. It helps to know Who you’re following.<strong><em></em></strong>\n\n<strong><em>“Follow me.”</em></strong>  Two words caused Simon and Andrew to drop their fishing nets.  James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him.” (Mark 1:20 Amplified). Levi, son of Alphaeus, left his tax booth: “he arose and joined Him and His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.” (Mark 2:14 Amp). Philip ran to find his friend Nathanael and they too followed Him. Twelve men, in all, apparently left their life’s work to follow Jesus.\n\nI find it interesting that the Amplified Version conveys that the words “follow me” carry the connotation, “side with my party\".  Against the backdrop of  first century Hebrew culture—oppressed by the conquering Romans, looking for Messiah to deliver the Children of Israel and fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament—we read Nathanael’s confession, “Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) and the reason the twelve “followed” begins to come into focus.  Over the course of the next three and a half years, these men—and later Saul of Tarsus, among others—would come to understand that following Jesus isn’t about following teachings, doctrines, scriptures, convictions or attending religious meetings.  Men and women down through centuries found, in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, not <em>something</em> to believe in and follow, but rather <strong><em>Someone</em></strong> to believe in and follow.\n\nTo follow Jesus is to follow a living <strong><em>Person!</em></strong>\n<blockquote><strong><em> </em></strong>“And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”__John 1:14 (Amp)\n\n“For it has <strong>pleased</strong> [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should <strong>dwell</strong> in Him permanently.”__ Colossians 1:19 (Amp)</blockquote>\nFollowing a living Person, who is the Christ, comes with a cost, which He explained Himself to His disciples:\n<blockquote>“And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, <sup> </sup>forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” __Luke 9:23 (Amp)</blockquote>\nWhat do we have to gain by following this all-wonderful, all-glorious, all-divine Person? What is the outcome we look forward to? For starters, eternal life! Make that eternal, <strong><em>abundant</em> </strong>life, sustained by Christ who <strong><em>is</em></strong> our life! Many more “rewards” are promised to faithful followers who overcome the trials and temptations of this world—check out the letters to the seven churches in John’s last book!\n\nThere’s another important thing I’ve learned about following Jesus: it’s something we do <strong><em>together</em></strong>.\n\nFollowing Jesus is following a living <strong><em>Person</em></strong>…<strong><em>together!</em></strong>\n<blockquote>“When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. __Colossians 3:4 (Amp)</blockquote>','','','inherit','open','open','','7337-revision-16','','','2012-07-31 10:31:27','2012-07-31 17:31:27','',7337,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/31/7337-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(7347,189,'2012-07-31 10:03:34','2012-07-31 17:03:34','Explain the two words spoken by Jesus—“Follow me”—in 1000 words or less? Hmmm. Maybe I should just stop right there and let you think this through on your own.\n\nMy understanding of what it means to follow Him has changed over the years. Perhaps our understanding of “following” is <em>supposed</em> to change over time as our maturity in the Lord grows in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the ways we experience Him with others. Because I can’t claim to know <em>everything</em> about following Jesus, the best I can offer is to share <em>some</em> of the things I’ve learned about following Jesus—beginning with what “following Jesus” is <strong><em>not</em><em>.</em></strong>\n\n<strong>Following Jesus is not the same thing as: </strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Following the teachings of Jesus, or following doctrines, ,creeds, or denominational statements of faith.</li>\n	<li>Following a Bible Reading Plan, memorizing scripture, or claiming a “life verse”.</li>\n	<li>Following “religious convictions”, or acting upon those convictions, alone or as a group, purely for the sake of acting upon convictions.</li>\n	<li>Attending a weekly worship service, and maybe a midweek prayer meeting or Bible study, or meeting with a small group or accountability partner.</li>\n</ul>\nThere isn’t anything wrong with doing these things. In fact, I  follow  Jesus today because others encouraged me to do these things over the course of my spiritual journey. If I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that “Christian practices” are not the same thing as following Jesus. <em></em>I know a lot <em>about</em> <em>Jesus</em> by studying, talking about or meditating on these things—but knowing a lot <em>about Jesus</em> isn’t the same as <em>knowing Jesus</em>. It helps to know Who you’re following.<strong><em></em></strong>\n\n<strong><em>“Follow me.”</em></strong>  Two words caused Simon and Andrew to drop their fishing nets.  James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him.” (Mark 1:20 Amplified). Levi, son of Alphaeus, left his tax booth: “he arose and joined Him and His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.” (Mark 2:14 Amp). Philip ran to find his friend Nathanael and they too followed Him. Twelve men, in all, apparently left their life’s work to follow Jesus.\n\nI find it interesting that the Amplified Version conveys that the words “follow me” carry the connotation, “side with my party”. Against the backdrop of  Hebrew culture—oppressed by the conquering Romans, looking for Messiah to deliver the Children of Israel and fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament—we read Nathanael’s confession, “Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) and the reason the twelve “followed” begins to come into focus.  Over the course of the next three and a half years, these men—and later Saul of Tarsus, among others—would come to understand that following Jesus isn’t about following teachings, doctrines, scriptures, convictions or attending religious meetings.  Men and women down through centuries found, in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, not <em>something</em> to believe in and follow, but rather <strong><em>Someone</em></strong> to believe in and follow.\n\nTo follow Jesus is to follow a living <strong><em>Person!</em></strong>\n<blockquote><strong><em> </em></strong>“And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.”__John 1:14 (Amp)\n\n“For it has <strong>pleased</strong> [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should <strong>dwell</strong> in Him permanently.”__ Colossians 1:19 (Amp)</blockquote>\nFollowing a living Person, who is the Christ, comes with a cost, which He explained Himself to His disciples:\n<blockquote>“And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, <sup> </sup>forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” (Luke 9:23)</blockquote>\nWhat do we have to gain by following this all-wonderful, all-glorious, all-divine Person? What is the outcome we look forward to? For starters, eternal life! Make that eternal, <strong><em>abundant</em> </strong>life, sustained by Christ who <strong><em>is</em></strong> our life! Many more “rewards” are promised to faithful followers who overcome the trials and temptations of this world—check out the letters to the seven churches in John’s last book!\n\nThere’s another important thing I’ve learned about following Jesus: it’s something we do <strong><em>together</em></strong>.\n\nFollowing Jesus is following a living <strong><em>Person</em></strong>…<strong><em>together!</em></strong>\n<blockquote>“When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. __Colossians 3:4 (Amplified)</blockquote>','','','inherit','open','open','','7337-revision-9','','','2012-07-31 10:03:34','2012-07-31 17:03:34','',7337,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/31/7337-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(7339,189,'2012-07-31 09:29:29','2012-07-31 16:29:29','Explain the two words spoken by Jesus—“Follow me”—in 1000 words or less? Hmmm. Maybe I should just stop right there and let you think this through on your own.\n\nMy understanding of what it means to follow Him has changed over the years. I think our understanding of “following” is <em>supposed</em> to change over time as our maturity in the Lord grows in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the ways we experience Him with others. Because I can’t claim to know <em>everything</em> about following Jesus, the best I can offer is to share <em>some</em> of the things I’ve learned about following Jesus—beginning with what “following Jesus” is <strong><em>not</em><em>.</em></strong>\n\n<strong>Following Jesus is not the same thing as: </strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Following the teachings of Jesus is not the same thing as following Jesus or following doctrines or creeds or denominational statements of faith.</li>\n	<li>Following a Bible Reading Plan, memorizing scripture, or claiming a “life verse”.</li>\n	<li>Following “religious convictions”, or acting upon those convictions, alone or as a group, purely for the sake of acting upon convictions.</li>\n	<li>Attending a weekly worship service, and maybe a midweek prayer meeting or Bible study, or meeting with a small group or accountability partner.</li>\n</ul>\nThere isn’t anything wrong with doing these things. In fact, I  follow  Jesus today because others encouraged me to do these things over the course of my spiritual journey. If, I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that “Christian practices” are not the same thing as following Jesus. <em></em>I know a lot <em>about</em> <em>Jesus</em> by studying, talking about or meditating on these things—but knowing a lot <em>about Jesus</em> isn’t the same as <em>knowing Jesus</em>. It helps to know Who you’re following.<strong><em></em></strong>\n\n<strong><em>“Follow me.”</em></strong>  Two words caused Simon and Andrew to drop their fishing nets.  James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him.” (Mark 1:20 Amplified). Levi, son of Alphaeus, left his tax booth: “he arose and joined Him and His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.” (Mark 2:14 Amplified). Philip ran to find his friend Nathanael and they too followed Him. Twelve men, in all, apparently left their life’s work to follow Jesus.\n\nI find it interesting that the Amplified Version conveys that the words “follow me” carry the connotation, “side with my party”. Against the backdrop of  Hebrew culture—oppressed by the conquering Romans, looking for Messiah to deliver the Children of Israel and fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament—we read Nathanael’s confession, “Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) and the reason the twelve “followed” begins to come into focus.  Over the course of the next three and a half years, these men—and later Saul of Tarsus, among others—would come to understand that following Jesus isn’t about following teachings, doctrines, scriptures, convictions or attending religious meetings.  Men and women down through centuries found, in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, not <em>something</em> to believe in and follow, but rather <strong><em>Someone</em></strong> to believe in and follow.\n\nTo follow Jesus is to follow a living <strong><em>Person!</em></strong>\n\n<strong><em> </em></strong>John proclaimed in his Gospel, “And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.” Paul explained more simply:\n“For it has <strong>pleased</strong> [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should <strong>dwell</strong> in Him permanently.” <strong>Colossians 1:19</strong>\n\nFollowing a living Person, who is the Christ, comes with a cost, which He explained Himself to His disciples: “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, <sup> </sup>forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” (Luke 9:23)\n\nWhat do we have to gain by following this all-wonderful, all-glorious, all-divine Person? What is the outcome we look forward to? For starters, eternal life! Make that eternal, <strong><em>abundant</em> </strong>life, sustained by Christ who <strong><em>is</em></strong> our life! Many more “rewards” are promised to faithful followers who overcome the trials and temptations of this world—check out the letters to the seven churches in John’s last book!\n\nThere’s another important thing I’ve learned about following Jesus: it’s something we do <strong><em>together</em></strong>.\n\n<sup> “</sup>The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,<sup> </sup>and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. <sup> </sup>For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. <sup> </sup>For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. <sup> </sup>For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope <sup> </sup>that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. <sup> </sup>For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. <sup> </sup>And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.__Romans 8:16-23 (ESV)\n\nFollowing Jesus is following a living <strong><em>Person</em></strong>…<strong><em>together!</em></strong>\n\n“When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.<strong> </strong><strong>__Colossians 3:4 (Amplified)</strong>','','','inherit','open','open','','7337-revision-2','','','2012-07-31 09:29:29','2012-07-31 16:29:29','',7337,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/31/7337-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(7338,189,'2012-07-31 09:12:32','2012-07-31 16:12:32','Explain the two words spoken by Jesus—“Follow me”—in 1000 words or less? Hmmm. Maybe I should just stop right there and let you think this through on your own.\n\nMy understanding of what it means to follow Him has changed over the years. I think our understanding of “following” is <em>supposed</em> to change over time as our maturity in the Lord grows in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the ways we experience Him with others. Because I can’t claim to know <em>everything</em> about following Jesus, the best I can offer is to share <em>some</em> of the things I’ve learned about following Jesus—beginning with what “following Jesus” is <strong><em>not</em><em>.</em></strong>\n\n<strong>Following Jesus is not the same thing as: </strong>\n<ul>\n	<li>Following the teachings of Jesus is not the same thing as following Jesus or following doctrines or creeds or denominational statements of faith.</li>\n	<li>Following a Bible Reading Plan, memorizing scripture, or claiming a “life verse”.</li>\n	<li>Following “religious convictions”, or acting upon those convictions, alone or as a group, purely for the sake of acting upon convictions.</li>\n	<li>Attending a weekly worship service, and maybe a midweek prayer meeting or Bible study, or meeting with a small group or accountability partner.</li>\n</ul>\nThere isn’t anything wrong with doing these things. In fact, I might not be following Jesus today if I hadn’t been encouraged to do some or all of these things over the course of my spiritual journey. If, I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that “Christian practices” are not the same thing as following Jesus. A lot can be known <em>about</em> <em>Jesus</em> by studying, talking about or meditating on these things—but knowing a lot <em>about Jesus</em> isn’t the same as <em>knowing Jesus</em>. It helps to know Who you’re following.\n\n<strong><em>“Follow me.”</em></strong>  Two words caused Simon and Andrew to drop their fishing nets.  James and John “left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him.” (Mark 1:20 Amplified). Levi, son of Alphaeus, left his tax booth: “he arose and joined Him and His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.” (Mark 2:14 Amplified). Philip ran to find his friend Nathanael and they too followed Him. Twelve men, in all, apparently left their life’s work to follow Jesus.\n\nI find it interesting that the Amplified Version conveys that the words “follow me” carry the connotation, “side with my party”. Against the backdrop of  Hebrew culture—oppressed by the conquering Romans, looking for Messiah to deliver the Children of Israel and fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament—we read Nathanael’s confession, “Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) and the reason the twelve “followed” begins to come into focus.  Over the course of the next three and a half years, these men—and later Saul of Tarsus, among others—would come to understand that following Jesus isn’t about following teachings, doctrines, scriptures, convictions or attending religious meetings.  Men and women down through centuries found, in the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament, not <em>something</em> to believe in and follow, but rather <strong><em>Someone</em></strong> to believe in and follow.\n\nTo follow Jesus is to follow a living <strong><em>Person!</em></strong>\n\n<strong><em> </em></strong>John proclaimed in his Gospel, “And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.” Paul explained more simply:\n“For it has <strong>pleased</strong> [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should <strong>dwell</strong> in Him permanently.” <strong>Colossians 1:19</strong>\n\nFollowing a living Person, who happens to be the Christ, comes with a cost, which He explained Himself to His disciples: “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, <sup> </sup>forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].” (Luke 9:23)\n\nWhat do we have to gain by following this all-wonderful, all-glorious, all-divine Person? What is the outcome we look forward to? For starters, eternal life! Make that eternal, <strong><em>abundant</em> </strong>life, sustained by Christ who <strong><em>is</em></strong> our life! Many more “rewards” are promised to faithful followers who overcome the trials and temptations of this world—check out the letters to the seven churches in John’s last book!\n\nThere’s another important thing I’ve learned about following Jesus: it’s something we do <strong><em>together</em></strong>.\n\n<sup> “</sup>The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,<sup> </sup>and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. <sup> </sup>For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. <sup> </sup>For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. <sup> </sup>For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope <sup> </sup>that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. <sup> </sup>For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. <sup> </sup>And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.__Romans 8:16-23 (ESV)\n\nFollowing Jesus is following a living <strong><em>Person</em></strong>…<strong><em>together!</em></strong>\n\n“When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.<strong> </strong><strong>__Colossians 3:4 (Amplified)</strong>','','','inherit','open','open','','7337-revision','','','2012-07-31 09:12:32','2012-07-31 16:12:32','',7337,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/31/7337-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(7333,43,'2012-07-30 19:30:32','2012-07-31 02:30:32','When most people think of \"child evangelism,\" what comes to mind is something along the lines of <em><a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Camp\">Jesus Camp</a></em>.  It recalls a very specific image of adults pounding the Gospel into children, who in turn take the message out on the streets and hand out tracts.  We are, naturally, uncomfortable with the idea that children would be manipulated, frightened, or shamed into belief.  I think perhaps I understand where it comes from. Many people have been deeply hurt by the church. As a result, they are on a mission to stop anyone else from being hurt by the church.\r\n\r\nWhatever the reason, a current trend is to demand that parents stop \"evangelizing\" their children.  <a href=\"http://signon.org/sign/freedom-from-religious?source=s.tw&amp;r_by=5228485\">This petition</a>, for example, found on SignOn.org, is a call for cessation of evangelism under the guise of aid.  <a href=\"http://theoatmeal.com/comics/religion\">This post on The Oatmeal</a> likens religious indoctrination within the family to controlling a child\'s color preference.  Pressure from outside the church raises two important questions.\r\n\r\nFirst, is it bad for parents to raise their children in the church?  I don\'t believe it is, for several reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>This anti-evangelism campaign is nearly always directed at the Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam).  I\'m the last person you will ever hear crying \"Persecution!\"  But even I recognize that this is out of proportion.  Should we tell the non-religious to stop telling their children there is no God, just in case their children want to believe in one?  I doubt that\'s what anyone has in mind.</li>\r\n	<li>I believe that all parents have the right to communicate their religious beliefs with their children.  We don\'t need to pretend we don\'t have a set of religious beliefs and traditions.  Provided we are taking care not to shame or scare our children into belief, I see nothing wrong will making it explicit that this is what we believe to be true. I think we can teach them about our religious convictions while simultaneously reassuring them that we will love them whether they agree or not. We don\'t need to say non-committal things to them like, \"Some people believe in God. Some people don\'t. What do you think?\" (Part of the problem with that is that it avoids the question. Young children ask questions about God and faith because they want to know what their parents believe. Using the phrase \"some people\" avoids taking responsibility for our own beliefs.)</li>\r\n	<li>There is a difference between raising children among people with shared religious beliefs and forcing those same children to believe.  I am actually in favor of keeping spiritual dialogue open in the home. Parents should, as their children grow, talk to them about the ways that other people believe—without making statements about the eternal fate of specific people. I personally am not going to flip if my children grow up and decide they don\'t believe in Jesus, or in God at all. I\'m not going to live in fear for their immortal souls or kick them out or make demands on them that they raise their children in the church. I\'m not going to someday insist on bringing my grandchildren to church or religious activities, certainly not against the wishes of their parents.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe second important question is whether it\'s wrong to evangelize children who are not our own.\r\n\r\nI agree that this can be done in a scary, inappropriate way. I\'ve seen it happen. Many years ago, when I was working as a camp counselor, we would deliver a message of God\'s love, grace, and forgiveness to the campers. We would use a skit to illustrate what we were trying to communicate. I remember telling the other counselors that I refused to participate in the skit that explicitly stated that if our friends went to hell, it would be our fault for not telling them about Jesus. That particular skit had left more than one child in tears in the past, and I wanted no part of it.\r\n\r\nPresenting a message to children about salvation can also take a disturbing turn when we use manipulation and fear tactics.  Anyone who has ever <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301235/\">seen the documentary <em>Hell House</em></a> (or been to an actual Hell House—yes, they still exist) can attest to that.  Within some churches, there is extraordinary pressure for children to make a \"faith commitment\" at a very young age, including among those five and under.  And mission work, particularly certain types of relief aid, can take the form of forced evangelism.\r\n\r\nSo, yes. I get it. Teaching kids about religious beliefs can be done in a  pretty frightening manner.  I think about how I would feel if anyone thought they had the right to take my children to a religious institution that wasn\'t Christian and terrify or shame them into belief.  But it doesn\'t have to be that way.  Not all evangelistic endeavors leave children feeling that they need to conform in order to be accepted or loved.\r\n\r\nIn order to avoid the typical pitfalls, we as adults need to be aware of several things.\r\n\r\nFirst, we must be careful not to attach our love for our kids to their faith.  If we put pressure on our children to make early decisions about their beliefs, we risk having children who think we will only love or be proud of them if they agree with us.\r\n\r\nSecond, we must deliver the message in love, without the fear.  Even if we as adults (and not even all adults agree on this) believe that faith in Jesus is necessary for entrance into Heaven, we should be cautious about how we share that information.  The truth is, we cannot know the eternal fate of anyone else.  Teaching children that they deserve Hell for their sins does more harm than good.\r\n\r\nThird, related to the second, is that the message should be developmentally appropriate.  One of the reasons it can be damaging for children to hear that they need to be saved from Hell is that it is confusing for young ones.  Better that the kids begin with a solid foundation of love.  There is no reason to go in-depth on the matter with a six-year-old.\r\n\r\nFinally, parents need to be aware that their children may not find their childhood religion meaningful when they reach adulthood.  We need to be prepared that not every child raised in church or who attended vacation Bible school every summer will end up being a Christian.  We must be ready to give them the space they need to uncover their own spirituality.\r\n\r\nMy children attend church. We read the Bible with them every night. We pray before meals and we pray for people in need. They go to Sunday school, they go to a Christian camp, they attend the children\'s ministry at our mid-week service. Do we hope they will grow into faithful adult Christians? Absolutely. Will we love them any less if they choose something different? Most emphatically, no.\r\n\r\nWhat do you think? Should we avoid religious instruction and evangelism for children?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Faith Like a Child','','inherit','open','open','','7325-revision-6','','','2012-07-30 19:30:32','2012-07-31 02:30:32','',7325,'http://provoketive.com/2012/07/30/7325-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5047,12,'2012-02-11 22:37:41','2012-02-12 06:37:41','','wh','','inherit','open','open','','wh','','','2012-02-11 22:37:41','2012-02-12 06:37:41','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/wh.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5048,12,'2012-02-11 22:38:46','2012-02-12 06:38:46','','diana','','inherit','open','open','','diana','','','2012-02-11 22:38:46','2012-02-12 06:38:46','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5049,12,'2012-02-11 22:40:39','2012-02-12 06:40:39','','biblenot','','inherit','open','open','','biblenot','','','2012-02-11 22:40:39','2012-02-12 06:40:39','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5050,12,'2012-02-11 22:42:34','2012-02-12 06:42:34','Once again, the world watches with great sadness as one of its great entertainers dies at a young age. Whitney Houston was a great talent, a great inspiration to many. Surely, much will be written over the next few days about her. It will range about her fantastic career, her battle with drugs and alcohol, her bad relationships. Those who loved her will ask that she be able to rest in peace. Those who want to make a point will argue that she be held up as an example of what not to be.\n\nI remember waking up on Sunday morning, August 31, 1997 to the horrible news that Princess Diana had died in a car accident. At the time, I was attending a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky, pastored by Kevin Ezell, now the president of the Southern Baptist Convention\'s North American Mission Board. It was tragic news, but on my way to church, I thought, \"<em>He has to say something about this. But what in the world will he say? Because if I was in his place, I wouldn\'t have a clue.</em>\"\n\nThe congregation was buzzing about Princess Diana\'s death and everyone had taken their seats. Bro. Kevin got behind the<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5048\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana-300x276.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"248\" /></a> podium and said something I will never forget. \"<em>It\'s a tragic thing that happened early this morning to Princess Diana. We should be in prayer for her family. But the most important thing right now is this - <strong>what did she do with Jesus Christ</strong>?</em>\"\n\nThat\'s what our earthly journey is about. That\'s why we live, why we blog, why we exist. What will we do with this man from Nazareth? What will we do with this man who came into our midst and preached and lived like none other? This man who was crucified? The one who bore our sins?\n\nI watched the last interview that Whitney Houston had. <a href=\"http://showbizraw.com/sparkle-whitney-houstons-final-film-in-an-interview-she-said-im-older-im-matured/\">She was interviewed by Access Hollywood</a>. You could see that she was tired and exhausted, but she had a spirit about her that wanted to share. She spoke of people who were praying and intercessing for her.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43qPT-ZOkgs\">Her last singing performance was the night of her death</a>. It\'s becoming Internet folklore by now. She stepped on stage for a brief performance with her friend Kelly Price. The song? Jesus Loves Me. It makes you wonder if she knew. If her heart was struggling.\n\nI don\'t pretend to know what Whitney Houston did with Jesus Christ. But I do know something about how fragile all of us are. I do know that we start somewhere simple. We can get placed on a pedestal and fall. We can make terrible, tragic mistakes and even if we do, our God is there to love us when we fall.\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5049\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>One final story. This one is about a guy you\'ve never heard of. In my first year of pastoring, I was asked to do a funeral for a man who died at a young age. He had a troubled life but had seemingly turned it around after years of trouble and drug abuse. Tragically, he died of heart failure. He had spent the last couple years of his life being rejected by many because of his past.\n\nWhen the family approached me to do the funeral, I agreed. He had made a \"profession of faith\" when he was young, but many people in the community had told me, \"<em>there\'s no way he\'s saved. Look at how he lived his life.</em>\"\n\nI asked the family for his Bible. When I began to read through it, I found that he had made many notes in it. When I got to the book of Romans, he had written a lot. One thing he had scribbled down humbled me. It said, \"<em>I\'m not much, but I know that Jesus saved me. He will never let me go.</em>\"\n\nI read that at his funeral. I said, \"I don\'t get to make the call about people\'s salvation. But I know that this man was at peace with God when he died. He knew that Jesus loved him.\"\n\nWhat will we do with Jesus in this life? That is the most important question we can ask and answer.\n\n____________________\n\nRay Carroll is author of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1\">Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World</a> which is available at Amazon.com and is also available for the <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-ebook/dp/B006TKJV0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1326661898&amp;sr=8-2\">Amazon Kindle</a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Whitney Houston and Humanity\'s Most Important Question','','inherit','open','open','','5046-revision','','','2012-02-11 22:42:34','2012-02-12 06:42:34','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5046-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5051,1,'2012-02-12 12:07:27','2012-02-12 20:07:27','Once again, the world watches with great sadness as one of its great entertainers dies at a young age. <a href=\"http://www.billboard.com/#/news/whitney-houston-dies-at-48-1006167152.story\">Whitney Houston</a> was a great talent, a great inspiration to many. Surely, much will be written over the next few days about her. It will range about her fantastic career, her battle with drugs and alcohol, her bad relationships. Those who loved her will ask that she be able to rest in peace. Those who want to make a point will argue that she be held up as an example of what not to be.\n\nI remember waking up on Sunday morning, August 31, 1997 to the horrible news that Princess Diana had died in a car accident. At the time, I was attending a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky, pastored by <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/kevezell\">Kevin Ezell</a>, now the president of the Southern Baptist Convention\'s <a href=\"http://www.namb.net/\">North American Mission Board</a>. It was tragic news, but on my way to church, I thought, \"<em>He has to say something about this. But what in the world will he say? Because if I was in his place, I wouldn\'t have a clue.</em>\"\n\nThe congregation was buzzing about Princess Diana\'s death and everyone had taken their seats. Bro. Kevin got behind the<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5048\" style=\"margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px;\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana-300x276.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"248\" /></a> podium and said something I will never forget. \"<em>It\'s a tragic thing that happened early this morning to Princess Diana. We should be in prayer for her family. But the most important thing right now is this - <strong>what did she do with Jesus Christ</strong>?</em>\"\n\nThat\'s what our earthly journey is about. That\'s why we live, why we blog, why we exist. What will we do with this man from Nazareth? What will we do with this man who came into our midst and preached and lived like none other? This man who was crucified? The one who bore our sins?\n\nI watched the last interview that Whitney Houston had. <a href=\"http://showbizraw.com/sparkle-whitney-houstons-final-film-in-an-interview-she-said-im-older-im-matured/\">She was interviewed by Access Hollywood</a>. You could see that she was tired and exhausted, but she had a spirit about her that wanted to share. She spoke of people who were praying and intercessing for her.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43qPT-ZOkgs\">Her last singing performance was the night of her death</a>. It\'s becoming Internet folklore by now. She stepped on stage for a brief performance with her friend Kelly Price. The song? Jesus Loves Me. It makes you wonder if she knew. If her heart was struggling.\n\nI don\'t pretend to know what Whitney Houston did with Jesus Christ. But I do know something about how fragile all of us are. I do know that we start somewhere simple. We can get placed on a pedestal and fall. We can make terrible, tragic mistakes and even if we do, our God is there to love us when we fall.\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5049\" style=\"margin-left: 6px; margin-right: 6px;\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>One final story. This one is about a guy you\'ve never heard of. In my first year of pastoring, I was asked to do a funeral for a man who died at a young age. He had a troubled life but had seemingly turned it around after years of trouble and drug abuse. Tragically, he died of heart failure. He had spent the last couple years of his life being rejected by many because of his past.\n\nWhen the family approached me to do the funeral, I agreed. He had made a \"profession of faith\" when he was young, but many people in the community had told me, \"<em>there\'s no way he\'s saved. Look at how he lived his life.</em>\"\n\nI asked the family for his Bible. When I began to read through it, I found that he had made many notes in it. When I got to the book of Romans, he had written a lot. One thing he had scribbled down humbled me. It said, \"<em>I\'m not much, but I know that Jesus saved me. He will never let me go.</em>\"\n\nI read that at his funeral. I said, \"I don\'t get to make the call about people\'s salvation. But I know that this man was at peace with God when he died. He knew that Jesus loved him.\"\n\nWhat will we do with Jesus in this life? That is the most important question we can ask and answer.\n\n____________________\n\nRay Carroll is author of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1\">Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World</a> which is available at Amazon.com and is also available for the <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-ebook/dp/B006TKJV0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1326661898&amp;sr=8-2\">Amazon Kindle</a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Whitney Houston and Humanity\'s Most Important Question','','inherit','open','open','','5046-autosave','','','2012-02-12 12:07:27','2012-02-12 20:07:27','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5046-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5052,12,'2012-02-11 22:42:39','2012-02-12 06:42:39','Once again, the world watches with great sadness as one of its great entertainers dies at a young age. Whitney Houston was a great talent, a great inspiration to many. Surely, much will be written over the next few days about her. It will range about her fantastic career, her battle with drugs and alcohol, her bad relationships. Those who loved her will ask that she be able to rest in peace. Those who want to make a point will argue that she be held up as an example of what not to be.\r\n\r\nI remember waking up on Sunday morning, August 31, 1997 to the horrible news that Princess Diana had died in a car accident. At the time, I was attending a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky, pastored by Kevin Ezell, now the president of the Southern Baptist Convention\'s North American Mission Board. It was tragic news, but on my way to church, I thought, \"<em>He has to say something about this. But what in the world will he say? Because if I was in his place, I wouldn\'t have a clue.</em>\"\r\n\r\nThe congregation was buzzing about Princess Diana\'s death and everyone had taken their seats. Bro. Kevin got behind the<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5048\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana-300x276.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"248\" /></a> podium and said something I will never forget. \"<em>It\'s a tragic thing that happened early this morning to Princess Diana. We should be in prayer for her family. But the most important thing right now is this - <strong>what did she do with Jesus Christ</strong>?</em>\"\r\n\r\nThat\'s what our earthly journey is about. That\'s why we live, why we blog, why we exist. What will we do with this man from Nazareth? What will we do with this man who came into our midst and preached and lived like none other? This man who was crucified? The one who bore our sins?\r\n\r\nI watched the last interview that Whitney Houston had. <a href=\"http://showbizraw.com/sparkle-whitney-houstons-final-film-in-an-interview-she-said-im-older-im-matured/\">She was interviewed by Access Hollywood</a>. You could see that she was tired and exhausted, but she had a spirit about her that wanted to share. She spoke of people who were praying and intercessing for her.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43qPT-ZOkgs\">Her last singing performance was the night of her death</a>. It\'s becoming Internet folklore by now. She stepped on stage for a brief performance with her friend Kelly Price. The song? Jesus Loves Me. It makes you wonder if she knew. If her heart was struggling.\r\n\r\nI don\'t pretend to know what Whitney Houston did with Jesus Christ. But I do know something about how fragile all of us are. I do know that we start somewhere simple. We can get placed on a pedestal and fall. We can make terrible, tragic mistakes and even if we do, our God is there to love us when we fall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5049\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>One final story. This one is about a guy you\'ve never heard of. In my first year of pastoring, I was asked to do a funeral for a man who died at a young age. He had a troubled life but had seemingly turned it around after years of trouble and drug abuse. Tragically, he died of heart failure. He had spent the last couple years of his life being rejected by many because of his past.\r\n\r\nWhen the family approached me to do the funeral, I agreed. He had made a \"profession of faith\" when he was young, but many people in the community had told me, \"<em>there\'s no way he\'s saved. Look at how he lived his life.</em>\"\r\n\r\nI asked the family for his Bible. When I began to read through it, I found that he had made many notes in it. When I got to the book of Romans, he had written a lot. One thing he had scribbled down humbled me. It said, \"<em>I\'m not much, but I know that Jesus saved me. He will never let me go.</em>\"\r\n\r\nI read that at his funeral. I said, \"I don\'t get to make the call about people\'s salvation. But I know that this man was at peace with God when he died. He knew that Jesus loved him.\"\r\n\r\nWhat will we do with Jesus in this life? That is the most important question we can ask and answer.\r\n\r\n____________________\r\n\r\nRay Carroll is author of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1\">Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World</a> which is available at Amazon.com and is also available for the <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-ebook/dp/B006TKJV0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1326661898&amp;sr=8-2\">Amazon Kindle</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Whitney Houston and Humanity\'s Most Important Question','','inherit','open','open','','5046-revision-2','','','2012-02-11 22:42:39','2012-02-12 06:42:39','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5046-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5053,12,'2012-02-11 22:44:26','2012-02-12 06:44:26','Once again, the world watches with great sadness as one of its great entertainers dies at a young age. <a href=\"http://www.billboard.com/#/news/whitney-houston-dies-at-48-1006167152.story\">Whitney Houston</a> was a great talent, a great inspiration to many. Surely, much will be written over the next few days about her. It will range about her fantastic career, her battle with drugs and alcohol, her bad relationships. Those who loved her will ask that she be able to rest in peace. Those who want to make a point will argue that she be held up as an example of what not to be.\r\n\r\nI remember waking up on Sunday morning, August 31, 1997 to the horrible news that Princess Diana had died in a car accident. At the time, I was attending a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky, pastored by Kevin Ezell, now the president of the Southern Baptist Convention\'s North American Mission Board. It was tragic news, but on my way to church, I thought, \"<em>He has to say something about this. But what in the world will he say? Because if I was in his place, I wouldn\'t have a clue.</em>\"\r\n\r\nThe congregation was buzzing about Princess Diana\'s death and everyone had taken their seats. Bro. Kevin got behind the<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5048\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana-300x276.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"248\" /></a> podium and said something I will never forget. \"<em>It\'s a tragic thing that happened early this morning to Princess Diana. We should be in prayer for her family. But the most important thing right now is this - <strong>what did she do with Jesus Christ</strong>?</em>\"\r\n\r\nThat\'s what our earthly journey is about. That\'s why we live, why we blog, why we exist. What will we do with this man from Nazareth? What will we do with this man who came into our midst and preached and lived like none other? This man who was crucified? The one who bore our sins?\r\n\r\nI watched the last interview that Whitney Houston had. <a href=\"http://showbizraw.com/sparkle-whitney-houstons-final-film-in-an-interview-she-said-im-older-im-matured/\">She was interviewed by Access Hollywood</a>. You could see that she was tired and exhausted, but she had a spirit about her that wanted to share. She spoke of people who were praying and intercessing for her.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43qPT-ZOkgs\">Her last singing performance was the night of her death</a>. It\'s becoming Internet folklore by now. She stepped on stage for a brief performance with her friend Kelly Price. The song? Jesus Loves Me. It makes you wonder if she knew. If her heart was struggling.\r\n\r\nI don\'t pretend to know what Whitney Houston did with Jesus Christ. But I do know something about how fragile all of us are. I do know that we start somewhere simple. We can get placed on a pedestal and fall. We can make terrible, tragic mistakes and even if we do, our God is there to love us when we fall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5049\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>One final story. This one is about a guy you\'ve never heard of. In my first year of pastoring, I was asked to do a funeral for a man who died at a young age. He had a troubled life but had seemingly turned it around after years of trouble and drug abuse. Tragically, he died of heart failure. He had spent the last couple years of his life being rejected by many because of his past.\r\n\r\nWhen the family approached me to do the funeral, I agreed. He had made a \"profession of faith\" when he was young, but many people in the community had told me, \"<em>there\'s no way he\'s saved. Look at how he lived his life.</em>\"\r\n\r\nI asked the family for his Bible. When I began to read through it, I found that he had made many notes in it. When I got to the book of Romans, he had written a lot. One thing he had scribbled down humbled me. It said, \"<em>I\'m not much, but I know that Jesus saved me. He will never let me go.</em>\"\r\n\r\nI read that at his funeral. I said, \"I don\'t get to make the call about people\'s salvation. But I know that this man was at peace with God when he died. He knew that Jesus loved him.\"\r\n\r\nWhat will we do with Jesus in this life? That is the most important question we can ask and answer.\r\n\r\n____________________\r\n\r\nRay Carroll is author of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1\">Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World</a> which is available at Amazon.com and is also available for the <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-ebook/dp/B006TKJV0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1326661898&amp;sr=8-2\">Amazon Kindle</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Whitney Houston and Humanity\'s Most Important Question','','inherit','open','open','','5046-revision-3','','','2012-02-11 22:44:26','2012-02-12 06:44:26','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5046-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5054,12,'2012-02-24 08:00:33','2012-02-24 16:00:33','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\r\n\r\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\r\n\r\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to \"Red Solo Cup\" by Toby Keith one more time. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\r\n\r\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\r\n\r\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\r\n\r\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0DXLm5pd4[/youtube]\r\n\r\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\r\n\r\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\r\n\r\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\r\n\r\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\r\n\r\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.\r\n\r\nEndnotes: <em>\"We Shall Be Free\" won video of the year at the 1993 Academy of Country Music Awards; It was also played during Obama\'s inaugural celebration.</em>','We Shall Be Free','','publish','open','open','','we-shall-be-free','','','2012-02-23 20:00:15','2012-02-24 04:00:15','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5054',0,'post','',2),(5055,12,'2012-02-12 00:25:40','2012-02-12 08:25:40','','gb','','inherit','open','open','','gb','','','2012-02-12 00:25:40','2012-02-12 08:25:40','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/gb.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5056,12,'2012-02-12 00:25:16','2012-02-12 08:25:16','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\n\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\n\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to country music. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\n\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\n\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\n\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\n\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0DXLm5pd4\n\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\n\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\n\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\n\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\n\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.','\"We Shall Be Free\"','','inherit','open','open','','5054-revision','','','2012-02-12 00:25:16','2012-02-12 08:25:16','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5054-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5057,12,'2012-02-12 00:25:53','2012-02-12 08:25:53','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\r\n\r\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\r\n\r\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to country music. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\r\n\r\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\r\n\r\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\r\n\r\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\r\n\r\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0DXLm5pd4\r\n\r\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\r\n\r\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\r\n\r\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\r\n\r\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\r\n\r\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.','\"We Shall Be Free\"','','inherit','open','open','','5054-revision-2','','','2012-02-12 00:25:53','2012-02-12 08:25:53','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5054-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5058,12,'2012-02-12 00:27:36','2012-02-12 08:27:36','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\r\n\r\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\r\n\r\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to country music. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\r\n\r\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\r\n\r\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\r\n\r\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\r\n\r\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0DXLm5pd4\r\n\r\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\r\n\r\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\r\n\r\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\r\n\r\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\r\n\r\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.','\"We Shall Be Free\"','','inherit','open','open','','5054-revision-3','','','2012-02-12 00:27:36','2012-02-12 08:27:36','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5054-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5059,1,'2012-02-23 19:59:39','2012-02-24 03:59:39','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\n\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\n\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to \"Red Solo Cup\" by Toby Keith one more time. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\n\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\n\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\n\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\n\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\n\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\n\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\n\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.\n\nEndnotes: <em>\"We Shall Be Free\" won video of the year at the 1993 Academy of Country Music Awards; It was also played during Obama\'s inaugural celebration.</em>','We Shall Be Free','','inherit','open','open','','5054-autosave','','','2012-02-23 19:59:39','2012-02-24 03:59:39','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5054-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5060,12,'2012-02-12 00:27:50','2012-02-12 08:27:50','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\r\n\r\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\r\n\r\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to country music. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\r\n\r\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\r\n\r\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\r\n\r\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\r\n\r\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0DXLm5pd4\r\n\r\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\r\n\r\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\r\n\r\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\r\n\r\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\r\n\r\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.','\"We Shall Be Free\"','','inherit','open','open','','5054-revision-4','','','2012-02-12 00:27:50','2012-02-12 08:27:50','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5054-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5061,12,'2012-02-12 00:30:04','2012-02-12 08:30:04','I can\'t state it for a fact, but I may be the most conservative writer on Provoketive. That being said, I love the opinions that are shared here. I don\'t always agree with my fellow writers, but I would die for their rights to share their opinions.\r\n\r\nAll of us have the absolute right to share our opinions. The freedom we have to express our opinions is guaranteed by the Constitution. And the suppression of any of any person\'s rights is the suppression of all of our rights.\r\n\r\nI was surfing the glorious Internet tonight and came across Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free.\" This year is the 2oth anniversary of that song. Let me give a disclaimer. I cannot stand country music. I would rather listen to someone scrape their nails across a blackboard for 24 hours than listen to \"Red Solo Cup\" by Toby Keith one more time. I even live less than an hour from Nashville and can say that.\r\n\r\nThat being said, Garth Brooks\' song, \"We Shall Be Free\" was a very controversial song in 1992. It wasn\'t written by him, but after seeing the L. A. Riots, he took it to heart and recorded it. It became a song that decried against intolerance for many things.\r\n\r\nFor a man like Garth Brooks, it was a huge thing. He was at the pinnacle of his career. He had the attention of the Bible Belt, the South, and much of the country. He had a sellout crowd wherever he went and if he wanted to, all he had to do was sing, \"Friends in Low Places\" and wear his headset and cowboy boots and make a fortune. But that wasn\'t enough.\r\n\r\nSet the stage for Super Bowl XXVII. He was asked to sing the national anthem. He agreed to do it, but he told NBC that he wanted them to air his video for \"We Shall Be Free\" as well. Here it is:\r\n\r\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ0DXLm5pd4\r\n\r\nFor 1992, it was hugely controversial. He was taking to task topics like <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Shall_Be_Free\">homophobia, world hunger, racism, and freedom of religion</a>. NBC balked and told him they wouldn\'t air it. He walked out of the stadium. That\'s a man of principle. Finally, at the last minute, they made a deal to air part of the video later.\r\n\r\nA video like that today would have been aired with no problem. The network executives wouldn\'t have batted an eye. But back in 1992, there was a war going on. Not just on the ground, but of values and sensitivity.\r\n\r\nI don\'t always agree with my fellow writers here, but I stand by their right to say whatever they want. And here, I stand by a man like Garth Brooks who stood firm in his resolve. A man who had millions in his bank account yet knew there was something larger on the horizon. He saw suffering in the world and used his voice to make sure people heard him. He knew people would listen if he spoke.\r\n\r\nThe point? Use your voice. People won\'t always agree, and that\'s fine. Every person in this world has the capacity to make their own mind up. They have the same resources everyone else does. Everyone has a story and a right to speak. The truth will always come to be known in the end. So be bold, be loud and be courageous.\r\n\r\nKnow what is right by digging deep and being sure. And in the end, stand for truth.','\"We Shall Be Free\"','','inherit','open','open','','5054-revision-5','','','2012-02-12 00:30:04','2012-02-12 08:30:04','',5054,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5054-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5064,1,'2012-02-11 22:49:31','2012-02-12 06:49:31','Once again, the world watches with great sadness as one of its great entertainers dies at a young age. <a href=\"http://www.billboard.com/#/news/whitney-houston-dies-at-48-1006167152.story\">Whitney Houston</a> was a great talent, a great inspiration to many. Surely, much will be written over the next few days about her. It will range about her fantastic career, her battle with drugs and alcohol, her bad relationships. Those who loved her will ask that she be able to rest in peace. Those who want to make a point will argue that she be held up as an example of what not to be.\r\n\r\nI remember waking up on Sunday morning, August 31, 1997 to the horrible news that Princess Diana had died in a car accident. At the time, I was attending a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky, pastored by <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/kevezell\">Kevin Ezell</a>, now the president of the Southern Baptist Convention\'s <a href=\"http://www.namb.net/\">North American Mission Board</a>. It was tragic news, but on my way to church, I thought, \"<em>He has to say something about this. But what in the world will he say? Because if I was in his place, I wouldn\'t have a clue.</em>\"\r\n\r\nThe congregation was buzzing about Princess Diana\'s death and everyone had taken their seats. Bro. Kevin got behind the<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright  wp-image-5048\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/diana-300x276.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"248\" /></a> podium and said something I will never forget. \"<em>It\'s a tragic thing that happened early this morning to Princess Diana. We should be in prayer for her family. But the most important thing right now is this - <strong>what did she do with Jesus Christ</strong>?</em>\"\r\n\r\nThat\'s what our earthly journey is about. That\'s why we live, why we blog, why we exist. What will we do with this man from Nazareth? What will we do with this man who came into our midst and preached and lived like none other? This man who was crucified? The one who bore our sins?\r\n\r\nI watched the last interview that Whitney Houston had. <a href=\"http://showbizraw.com/sparkle-whitney-houstons-final-film-in-an-interview-she-said-im-older-im-matured/\">She was interviewed by Access Hollywood</a>. You could see that she was tired and exhausted, but she had a spirit about her that wanted to share. She spoke of people who were praying and intercessing for her.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43qPT-ZOkgs\">Her last singing performance was the night of her death</a>. It\'s becoming Internet folklore by now. She stepped on stage for a brief performance with her friend Kelly Price. The song? Jesus Loves Me. It makes you wonder if she knew. If her heart was struggling.\r\n\r\nI don\'t pretend to know what Whitney Houston did with Jesus Christ. But I do know something about how fragile all of us are. I do know that we start somewhere simple. We can get placed on a pedestal and fall. We can make terrible, tragic mistakes and even if we do, our God is there to love us when we fall.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5049\" style=\"margin-left: 6px;margin-right: 6px\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/biblenot-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>One final story. This one is about a guy you\'ve never heard of. In my first year of pastoring, I was asked to do a funeral for a man who died at a young age. He had a troubled life but had seemingly turned it around after years of trouble and drug abuse. Tragically, he died of heart failure. He had spent the last couple years of his life being rejected by many because of his past.\r\n\r\nWhen the family approached me to do the funeral, I agreed. He had made a \"profession of faith\" when he was young, but many people in the community had told me, \"<em>there\'s no way he\'s saved. Look at how he lived his life.</em>\"\r\n\r\nI asked the family for his Bible. When I began to read through it, I found that he had made many notes in it. When I got to the book of Romans, he had written a lot. One thing he had scribbled down humbled me. It said, \"<em>I\'m not much, but I know that Jesus saved me. He will never let me go.</em>\"\r\n\r\nI read that at his funeral. I said, \"I don\'t get to make the call about people\'s salvation. But I know that this man was at peace with God when he died. He knew that Jesus loved him.\"\r\n\r\nWhat will we do with Jesus in this life? That is the most important question we can ask and answer.\r\n\r\n____________________\r\n\r\nRay Carroll is author of <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-Broken/dp/0615567096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1325370631&amp;sr=8-1\">Fallen Pastor: Finding Restoration in a Broken World</a> which is available at Amazon.com and is also available for the <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Pastor-Finding-Restoration-ebook/dp/B006TKJV0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1326661898&amp;sr=8-2\">Amazon Kindle</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Whitney Houston and Humanity\'s Most Important Question','','inherit','open','open','','5046-revision-4','','','2012-02-11 22:49:31','2012-02-12 06:49:31','',5046,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5046-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5067,38,'2012-02-12 16:11:45','2012-02-13 00:11:45','<div>Growing up, I thought romance was about moments that are fit for a chick-flick in a relationship. This meant the guy who could produce the most moments like these would be marriage worthy. I remember the lists of date idea for my future husband that I would write in my diaries:\n<ul>\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>\n	<li>Driving to nowhere with me</li>\n	<li>Get out crayons and color in coloring books</li>\n	<li>Drive around town pretending to be tourists taking pictures</li>\n	<li>Recite poetry to each other</li>\n	<li>Draw hearts around the city with sidewalk chalk</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div>There 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Romance with my husband has manifested as connection and conversation; not so much in fairy tale anecdotes. I remember one time at lunch before we were engaged my husband imitated the zombie characters from the video game “Splinter Cell”. It had me in stitches. Was this romantic in the tradition roses-and-chocolate sense? No, but it was hilarious, so endearing, and it gave me a funny feeling inside my chest that meant I was becoming more and more attached to this guy.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>It’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 time when I’m too tired to cook, so we run over to Taco Bell and he laughs at me between bites at the stupid things I did during the day. It’s those days when he buys a new CD he’s crazy about and gives me a track-by-track commentary.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>While these moments are cute in their own right, they aren’t grand, complicated 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>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 found this laughable 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 guys doesn’t add any value to our relationship.) But to my friend, hand-written letters matter to her in the relationship, and that’s okay too.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Romance 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, and some people prefer long walks on the beach at sunrise. A great example of this is in 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Carol: 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.\nLiz: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\nCarol: 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.\nLiz: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\nCarol: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</div>\n<div>\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>, she is seen with her boyfriend, Criss, at his hotdog cart, shoving a coney dog 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 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.</div>\n<div>\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. Any guy can buy you chocolate and flowers. But when you both hate it when people order cereal at a restaurant and want to see “Piranha 3D” despite how cheesy it is, you know it’s love.</div>','','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision','','','2012-02-12 16:11:45','2012-02-13 00:11:45','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5068,38,'2012-02-12 16:23:25','2012-02-13 00:23:25','<div>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 the lists of date idea for my future husband that I would write in my diaries:\n<ul>\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>\n	<li>Driving to nowhere with me</li>\n	<li>Get out crayons and color in coloring books</li>\n	<li>Drive around town pretending to be tourists taking pictures</li>\n	<li>Recite poetry to each other</li>\n	<li>Draw hearts around the city with sidewalk chalk</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div>There 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>It’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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>While 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Romance 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Carol: 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.\nLiz: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\nCarol: 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.\nLiz: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\nCarol: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>This 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>If 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Any 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.</div>','','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-2','','','2012-02-12 16:23:25','2012-02-13 00:23:25','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5069,38,'2012-02-12 16:25:59','2012-02-13 00:25:59','','liz-lemon-romance','','inherit','open','open','','liz-lemon-romance','','','2012-02-12 16:25:59','2012-02-13 00:25:59','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/liz-lemon-romance.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5070,38,'2012-02-12 16:25:25','2012-02-13 00:25:25','<div>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 the lists of date idea for my future husband that I would write in my diaries:\n<ul>\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>\n	<li>Driving to nowhere with me</li>\n	<li>Get out crayons and color in coloring books</li>\n	<li>Drive around town pretending to be tourists taking pictures</li>\n	<li>Recite poetry to each other</li>\n	<li>Draw hearts around the city with sidewalk chalk</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div>There 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>It’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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>While 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Romance 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:</div>\n<div></div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><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.\n<strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\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.\n<strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\n<strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</div></blockquote>\n<div></div>\n<div>This 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>If 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.</div>\n<div></div>\n<div>Any 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.</div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-3','','','2012-02-12 16:25:25','2012-02-13 00:25:25','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5077,38,'2012-02-12 16:31:57','2012-02-13 00:31:57','<div>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:\n<ul>\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>\n	<li>Driving to nowhere with me</li>\n	<li>Get out crayons and color in coloring books</li>\n	<li>Drive around town pretending to be tourists taking pictures</li>\n	<li>Recite poetry to each other</li>\n	<li>Draw hearts around the city with sidewalk chalk</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div>There 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.Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.It’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.While 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.\n\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:\n\n</div>\n<div></div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><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.<strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?<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.\n\n<strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\n\n<strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.\n\n</div></blockquote>\n<div></div>\n<div>This 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.If 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.Any 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.<em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em></div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-10','','','2012-02-12 16:31:57','2012-02-13 00:31:57','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5071,38,'2012-02-12 16:27:15','2012-02-13 00:27:15','<div>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 the lists of date idea for my future husband that I would write in my diaries:\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\n</div>\r\n<div>There 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>It’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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>While 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>Romance 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div><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<strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\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<strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\r\n<strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</div></blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>This 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>If 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>Any 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em></div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-4','','','2012-02-12 16:27:15','2012-02-13 00:27:15','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5073,38,'2012-02-12 16:29:01','2012-02-13 00:29:01','<div>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 would write in my diaries:\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\n</div>\r\n<div>There 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.\r\n\r\nI 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div><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.</div></blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>This 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></div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-6','','','2012-02-12 16:29:01','2012-02-13 00:29:01','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5072,38,'2012-02-12 16:27:49','2012-02-13 00:27:49','<div>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 would write in my diaries:\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\n</div>\r\n<div>There 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>It’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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>While 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>Romance 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div><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<strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\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<strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\r\n<strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</div></blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>This 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>If 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>Any 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.</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em></div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-5','','','2012-02-12 16:27:49','2012-02-13 00:27:49','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5074,38,'2012-02-12 16:29:05','2012-02-13 00:29:05','<div>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 would write in my diaries:\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\n</div>\r\n<div>There 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.Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.\r\n\r\nI 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div><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.<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.\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>This 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.If 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>\r\n\r\n</div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-7','','','2012-02-12 16:29:05','2012-02-13 00:29:05','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5075,38,'2012-02-12 16:29:35','2012-02-13 00:29:35','<div>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 would write in my diaries:\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\n</div>\r\n<div>There 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.It’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.\r\n\r\nI 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div><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.<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.\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>This 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.If 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>\r\n\r\n</div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-8','','','2012-02-12 16:29:35','2012-02-13 00:29:35','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5076,38,'2012-02-12 16:30:13','2012-02-13 00:30:13','<div>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\n</div>\r\n<div>There 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.Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.It’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.\r\n\r\nI 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 30 Rock when Liz Lemon <a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1635806/\">finally finds a guy she connects</a> with:\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div><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?<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.\r\n\r\n</div></blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>This 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.If 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.Any 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>\r\n\r\n</div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-9','','','2012-02-12 16:30:13','2012-02-13 00:30:13','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5078,38,'2012-02-12 16:48:37','2012-02-13 00:48:37','<p>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:\n\n<ul>\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>\n	<li>Driving to nowhere with me</li>\n	<li>Get out crayons and color in coloring books</li>\n	<li>Drive around town pretending to be tourists taking pictures</li>\n	<li>Recite poetry to each other</li>\n	<li>Draw hearts around the city with sidewalk chalk</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>There 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.\n\n<p>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.\n\n<p>It’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.\n\n<p>While 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.\n\n<p>Romance 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:\n\n<blockquote>\n\n<p><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.\n\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?\n\n<p><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.\n\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.\n\n<p><strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.\n\n</blockquote>\n\n<p>This 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.If 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.\n\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.<em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em>\n\n</div>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-11','','','2012-02-12 16:48:37','2012-02-13 00:48:37','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5079,38,'2012-02-12 16:49:28','2012-02-13 00:49:28','<p>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:</p>\r\n\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\n\r\n<p>There 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>It’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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>While 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Romance 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:</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n\r\n<p><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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?</p>\r\n\r\n<p><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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</p>\r\n\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\n<p>This 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>If 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Any 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em></p>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-12','','','2012-02-12 16:49:28','2012-02-13 00:49:28','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5124,1,'2012-02-14 09:03:05','2012-02-14 17:03:05','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 “Splinter Cell”. 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','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-15','','','2012-02-14 09:03:05','2012-02-14 17:03:05','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/14/5066-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(5080,38,'2012-02-12 16:49:34','2012-02-13 00:49:34','<p>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:</p>\r\n\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\n\r\n<p>There 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>It’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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>While 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Romance 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:</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n\r\n<p><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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?</p>\r\n\r\n<p><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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</p>\r\n\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\n<p>This 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>If 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Any 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em></p>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-13','','','2012-02-12 16:49:34','2012-02-13 00:49:34','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(5082,90,'2012-02-23 20:47:39','2012-02-24 04:47:39','<em><strong>Kindness</strong>. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world. An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives and impact us for years to come. </em>\r\n\r\nIn honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me. How will you engage kindness today?\r\n\r\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\r\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key. It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.\r\n\r\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.\r\n\r\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see.\r\n\r\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\r\n\r\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.\r\n\r\nHer kindness was the key.\r\n\r\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\r\nA long stemmed rose.\r\nFrom a grinning four-year-old.\r\nOn Mother’s Day.\r\nTo one without children of her own.\r\nTransported through the aisle of the church,\r\nClutched in his little hands,\r\nOffering love to a\r\nMothering presence in his life.\r\n\r\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\r\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many.\r\n\r\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.\r\n\r\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','publish','open','open','','kindness-the-arms-of-love','','','2012-02-23 20:47:39','2012-02-24 04:47:39','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5082',0,'post','',0),(5083,90,'2012-02-12 18:07:24','2012-02-13 02:07:24','<em>Kindness. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world.  Kindness, in a brief moment, can change things and love shows up.  An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives, and impact us for years to come. In honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me.  How will you engage kindness today? </em>\n\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\n\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key.  It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.  \n\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.  \n\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see. \n\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\n\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.  \n\nHer kindness was the key. \n\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\nA long stemmed rose. \nFrom a grinning four-year-old.  \nOn Mother’s Day. \nTo one without children of her own.\nTransported through the aisle of the church, \nClutched in his little hands, \nOffering love to a\nMothering presence in his life.  \n\n\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many. \n\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.  \n\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.  \n','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','inherit','open','open','','5082-revision','','','2012-02-12 18:07:24','2012-02-13 02:07:24','',5082,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5082-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5085,90,'2012-02-12 18:09:03','2012-02-13 02:09:03','<em><strong>Kindness</strong>. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world.  An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives and impact us for years to come. In honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me.  How will you engage kindness today? </em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\r\n\r\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key.  It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.  \r\n\r\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.  \r\n\r\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see. \r\n\r\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\r\n\r\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.  \r\n\r\nHer kindness was the key. \r\n\r\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\r\nA long stemmed rose. \r\nFrom a grinning four-year-old.  \r\nOn Mother’s Day. \r\nTo one without children of her own.\r\nTransported through the aisle of the church, \r\nClutched in his little hands, \r\nOffering love to a\r\nMothering presence in his life.  \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\r\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many. \r\n\r\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.  \r\n\r\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.  \r\n','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','inherit','open','open','','5082-revision-3','','','2012-02-12 18:09:03','2012-02-13 02:09:03','',5082,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5082-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5084,90,'2012-02-12 18:07:38','2012-02-13 02:07:38','<em>Kindness. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world.  Kindness, in a brief moment, can change things and love shows up.  An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives, and impact us for years to come. In honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me.  How will you engage kindness today? </em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\r\n\r\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key.  It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.  \r\n\r\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.  \r\n\r\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see. \r\n\r\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\r\n\r\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.  \r\n\r\nHer kindness was the key. \r\n\r\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\r\nA long stemmed rose. \r\nFrom a grinning four-year-old.  \r\nOn Mother’s Day. \r\nTo one without children of her own.\r\nTransported through the aisle of the church, \r\nClutched in his little hands, \r\nOffering love to a\r\nMothering presence in his life.  \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\r\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many. \r\n\r\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.  \r\n\r\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.  \r\n','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','inherit','open','open','','5082-revision-2','','','2012-02-12 18:07:38','2012-02-13 02:07:38','',5082,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5082-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5086,90,'2012-02-12 18:09:26','2012-02-13 02:09:26','<em><strong>Kindness</strong>. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world.  An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives and impact us for years to come. \r\n\r\nIn honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me.  How will you engage kindness today? </em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\r\n\r\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key.  It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.  \r\n\r\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.  \r\n\r\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see. \r\n\r\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\r\n\r\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.  \r\n\r\nHer kindness was the key. \r\n\r\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\r\nA long stemmed rose. \r\nFrom a grinning four-year-old.  \r\nOn Mother’s Day. \r\nTo one without children of her own.\r\nTransported through the aisle of the church, \r\nClutched in his little hands, \r\nOffering love to a\r\nMothering presence in his life.  \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\r\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many. \r\n\r\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.  \r\n\r\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.  \r\n','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','inherit','open','open','','5082-revision-4','','','2012-02-12 18:09:26','2012-02-13 02:09:26','',5082,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5082-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5087,90,'2012-02-12 18:09:49','2012-02-13 02:09:49','<em><strong>Kindness</strong>. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world.  An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives and impact us for years to come. \r\n\r\nIn honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me.  How will you engage kindness today? </em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\r\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key.  It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.  \r\n\r\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.  \r\n\r\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see. \r\n\r\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\r\n\r\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.  \r\n\r\nHer kindness was the key. \r\n\r\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\r\nA long stemmed rose. \r\nFrom a grinning four-year-old.  \r\nOn Mother’s Day. \r\nTo one without children of her own.\r\nTransported through the aisle of the church, \r\nClutched in his little hands, \r\nOffering love to a\r\nMothering presence in his life.  \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\r\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many. \r\n\r\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.  \r\n\r\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.  \r\n','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','inherit','open','open','','5082-revision-5','','','2012-02-12 18:09:49','2012-02-13 02:09:49','',5082,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5082-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5088,90,'2012-02-12 18:12:33','2012-02-13 02:12:33','<em><strong>Kindness</strong>. Kindness, one could say, is one of the ways love paints itself on the world.  An act of kindness can be imprinted on our lives and impact us for years to come. \r\n\r\nIn honor of this season of love, I remember moments of kindness. And in remembering I notice the impact of kindness in the past still emanating and touching me.  How will you engage kindness today? </em>\r\n\r\n<strong>Wheelchair Key</strong>\r\nThe wheelchair was the golden key. As old and sketchy as it was, fake brown leather on the back and bits of rust on the handles, showing its years of living in the Elks Club basement—it was the golden key.  It was the key that let us through the entrance, around the bock side of the stadium, past the line of people wrapping around the block.  \r\n\r\n“Right this way ‘mam”, the guard said as he unhooked the barrier and waved us through.  \r\n\r\n“To the left and to the front row of the second level”, the usher pointed us to the area where wheelchairs and their pushers could see. \r\n\r\nWhere we could see Candidate Barack Obama speak. The wheel chair was the key. Or was it kindness?\r\n\r\nThe kindness of the friend who offered to take me, a woman who had been severely ill, still struggling to stand up to shower, to the one outing she’d had in months that didn’t involve a hospital or a doctors office. The kindness of a friend who was willing to turn around and go home at any time if I needed to. A friend who put her desire to see our future president aside and did what ever she could to get me there.  \r\n\r\nHer kindness was the key. \r\n\r\n<strong>A Rose</strong>\r\nA long stemmed rose. \r\nFrom a grinning four-year-old.  \r\nOn Mother’s Day. \r\nTo one without children of her own.\r\nTransported through the aisle of the church, \r\nClutched in his little hands, \r\nOffering love to a\r\nMothering presence in his life.  \r\n\r\n\r\n<strong>One Hug</strong>\r\nIt was time to leave the local potluck. I’d been brave. Having lived in a new city for only a week or two, I’d shown up at an event where I didn’t know anyone and proceeded to meet many. \r\n\r\nI reached out my hand to our hosts, Bob and Carol, a lovely older couple with salt-of-the-earth souls.  \r\n\r\n“We hug in this house” said Bob, and embraced me with my first Richmond hug.  \r\n','Kindness: The Arms of Love','','inherit','open','open','','5082-revision-6','','','2012-02-12 18:12:33','2012-02-13 02:12:33','',5082,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5082-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5089,38,'2012-02-13 13:39:07','2012-02-13 21:39:07','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!\"','','publish','open','open','','we-dont-care-if-you-beat-your-girlfriend-were-the-grammys','','','2012-02-13 13:39:07','2012-02-13 21:39:07','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5089',0,'post','',0),(5090,38,'2012-02-12 22:10:30','2012-02-13 06:10:30','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.\n\nSasha Pasulka of HelloGiggles.com, speaks of the desparity between amount of outcry over the Komen/Planned Parenthood situation last week compared to the Chris Brown performance this week:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Should We Be Okay with Chris Brown Performing at the 2012 Grammys?','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision','','','2012-02-12 22:10:30','2012-02-13 06:10:30','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5091,38,'2012-02-12 22:18:18','2012-02-13 06:18:18','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.\n\nSasha Pasulka of HelloGiggles.com, speaks of the desparity between amount of outcry over the Komen/Planned Parenthood situation last week compared to the Chris Brown performance this week:\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>\nI believe in giving people second chances, but Ken Ehrlich, producer of the Grammy award, released this statement that exhibits the fact that the management doesn\'t have a clue:\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>\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.\n\nWill Weaton','Should We Be Okay with Chris Brown Performing at the 2012 Grammys?','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision-2','','','2012-02-12 22:18:18','2012-02-13 06:18:18','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5092,38,'2012-02-12 22:24:25','2012-02-13 06:24:25','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.\n\nSasha Pasulka of HelloGiggles.com, speaks of the desparity between amount of outcry over the Komen/Planned Parenthood situation last week compared to the Chris Brown performance this week:\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>\nI believe in giving people second chances, but Ken Ehrlich, producer of the Grammy award, released this statement that exhibits the fact that the management doesn\'t have a clue:\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>\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.\n\nWill Weaton posted a poignant tweet about the situation:\n\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 not responsible for how anan institution outside of society\'s view of certain individuals? Do you think that it is time to give Chris Brown a second chance?','Should We Be Okay with Chris Brown Performing at the 2012 Grammys?','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision-3','','','2012-02-12 22:24:25','2012-02-13 06:24:25','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5093,38,'2012-02-12 22:38:43','2012-02-13 06:38:43','','chris-brown','','inherit','open','open','','chris-brown','','','2012-02-12 22:38:43','2012-02-13 06:38:43','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/chris-brown.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5094,38,'2012-02-12 22:39:06','2012-02-13 06:39:06','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.\n\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 desparity between amount of outcry over the Komen/Planned Parenthood situation compared to the Chris Brown performance:\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>\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:\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>\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.\n\nWill Weaton posted <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/wilw/status/168914212628856833\" target=\"_blank\">a poignant tweet</a> about the situation:\n<blockquote>We don\'t care if you beat a woman so severely you put her in the hospital! We\'re the #GRAMMYs!</blockquote>\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.\"\n\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?\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiWAvcYk4Kg[/youtube]</p>\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-4','','','2012-02-12 22:39:06','2012-02-13 06:39:06','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5097,38,'2012-02-12 22:40:06','2012-02-13 06:40:06','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.\n\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 desparity between amount of outcry over the Komen/Planned Parenthood situation compared to the Chris Brown performance:\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>\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:\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>\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.\n\nWill Weaton posted <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/wilw/status/168914212628856833\" target=\"_blank\">a poignant tweet</a> about the situation:\n<blockquote>We don\'t care if you beat a woman so severely you put her in the hospital! We\'re the #GRAMMYs!</blockquote>\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.\"\n\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?\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiWAvcYk4Kg[/youtube]</p>\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\'re the Grammys. We Don\'t Care if You Beat Your Girlfriend!','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision-7','','','2012-02-12 22:40:06','2012-02-13 06:40:06','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5095,38,'2012-02-12 22:39:09','2012-02-13 06:39:09','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 desparity 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\nWill Weaton 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-5','','','2012-02-12 22:39:09','2012-02-13 06:39:09','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5096,38,'2012-02-12 22:39:39','2012-02-13 06:39:39','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 desparity 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\nWill Weaton 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-6','','','2012-02-12 22:39:39','2012-02-13 06:39:39','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5099,38,'2012-02-12 22:40:21','2012-02-13 06:40:21','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 desparity 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\nWill Weaton 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!','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision-9','','','2012-02-12 22:40:21','2012-02-13 06:40:21','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5098,38,'2012-02-12 22:40:10','2012-02-13 06:40:10','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 desparity 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\nWill Weaton 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\'re the Grammys, We Don\'t Care if You Beat Your Girlfriend!','','inherit','open','open','','5089-revision-8','','','2012-02-12 22:40:10','2012-02-13 06:40:10','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5100,38,'2012-02-12 22:40:40','2012-02-13 06:40:40','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 desparity 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\nWill Weaton 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-10','','','2012-02-12 22:40:40','2012-02-13 06:40:40','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5101,1,'2012-02-13 13:40:27','2012-02-13 21:40:27','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.\n\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:\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>\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:\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>\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.\n\nWil Wheaton posted <a href=\"https://twitter.com/#!/wilw/status/168914212628856833\" target=\"_blank\">a poignant tweet</a> about the situation:\n<blockquote>We don\'t care if you beat a woman so severely you put her in the hospital! We\'re the #GRAMMYs!</blockquote>\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.\"\n\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?\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiWAvcYk4Kg[/youtube]</p>\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-autosave','','','2012-02-13 13:40:27','2012-02-13 21:40:27','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5102,38,'2012-02-12 22:40:53','2012-02-13 06:40:53','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 desparity 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\nWill Weaton 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-11','','','2012-02-12 22:40:53','2012-02-13 06:40:53','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5103,38,'2012-02-12 22:43:17','2012-02-13 06:43:17','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 desparity 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-12','','','2012-02-12 22:43:17','2012-02-13 06:43:17','',5089,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5089-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5106,1,'2012-02-04 20:37:42','2012-02-05 04:37:42','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-revision-3','','','2012-02-04 20:37:42','2012-02-05 04:37:42','',4879,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/04/4879-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5107,1,'2012-02-13 20:35:59','2012-02-14 04:35:59','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-revision-4','','','2012-02-13 20:35:59','2012-02-14 04:35:59','',4879,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/4879-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5108,1,'2012-02-13 20:36:23','2012-02-14 04:36:23','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-revision-5','','','2012-02-13 20:36:23','2012-02-14 04:36:23','',4879,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/4879-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5109,1,'2012-02-13 20:40:49','2012-02-14 04:40:49','','womens feet','','inherit','open','open','','womens-feet','','','2012-02-13 20:40:49','2012-02-14 04:40:49','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/womens-feet.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5110,1,'2012-02-06 12:36:20','2012-02-06 20:36:20','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','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-56','','','2012-02-06 12:36:20','2012-02-06 20:36:20','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/06/4889-revision-56/',0,'revision','',0),(5111,1,'2012-02-13 20:43:50','2012-02-14 04:43:50','I think this has already made the rounds; perhaps my friends are behind the curve.  It may just be the result of increased political tension in an election year.  Several of my friends have posted this picture:\n\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ecomomics-guy.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4689\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ecomomics-guy-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\naccompanied by the following text (it\'s long, but worth the read; all typos are original to the text):\n<blockquote>An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama\'s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.  The professor then said, \"OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama\'s plan\". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars—something closer to home and more readily understood by all).  After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.  The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. It could not be any simpler than that.  Remember, there IS a test coming up. The 2012 elections.\n\nThese are possibly the 5 best sentences you\'ll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:\n1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.\n2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.\n3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.\n4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!\n5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.</blockquote>\n<div></div>\n<div>What surprises me most about the fable is seeing it posted by Christians.  I think sometimes people forward things without reading them carefully.  There is far to much wrong with this to address it all.  So I\'m going to zero in on \"best sentence\" number four, <strong>\"You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.\"</strong></div>\n<div></div>\n<div>\n\nI was unaware that our chief monetary goal was to <em>multiply</em> our wealth.  I always had the distinct impression, in fact, that we were to do just the opposite.  Time and again, Jesus tells us that part of being good stewards is to share our financial blessings: The rich man and Lazarus; the sheep and the goats; the rich young ruler.  Even the miracles of feeding the crowds invite us into the heart of giving.  Not once does Jesus instruct us to gain earthly wealth and possessions, nor enjoy our own prosperity.  Instead, we are urged to share with those in need.<strong></strong>\n\nThis misguided modern-day parable is math-backwards.  It ought to read, <strong>\"You cannot divide wealth by multiplying it.\"</strong>  Let\'s find out what <em>we</em> can do with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread.<strong>\n</strong>\n\n</div>','An Economic Fairy Tale','','inherit','open','open','','4688-autosave','','','2012-02-13 20:43:50','2012-02-14 04:43:50','',4688,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/4688-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5112,1,'2012-02-13 20:50:07','2012-02-14 04:50:07','','college classroom','','inherit','open','open','','college-classroom','','','2012-02-13 20:50:07','2012-02-14 04:50:07','',4688,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/college-classroom.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5113,1,'2012-02-07 08:51:40','2012-02-07 16:51:40','I think this has already made the rounds; perhaps my friends are behind the curve.  It may just be the result of increased political tension in an election year.  Several of my friends have posted this picture:\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ecomomics-guy.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4689\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ecomomics-guy-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\naccompanied by the following text (it\'s long, but worth the read; all typos are original to the text):\r\n<blockquote>An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama\'s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.  The professor then said, \"OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama\'s plan\". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars—something closer to home and more readily understood by all).  After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.  The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. It could not be any simpler than that.  Remember, there IS a test coming up. The 2012 elections.\r\n\r\nThese are possibly the 5 best sentences you\'ll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:\r\n1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.\r\n2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.\r\n3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.\r\n4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!\r\n5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.</blockquote>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>What surprises me most about the fable is seeing it posted by Christians.  I think sometimes people forward things without reading them carefully.  There is far to much wrong with this to address it all.  So I\'m going to zero in on \"best sentence\" number four, <strong>\"You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.\"</strong></div>\r\n<div></div>\r\n<div>\r\n\r\nI was unaware that our chief monetary goal was to <em>multiply</em> our wealth.  I always had the distinct impression, in fact, that we were to do just the opposite.  Time and again, Jesus tells us that part of being good stewards is to share our financial blessings: The rich man and Lazarus; the sheep and the goats; the rich young ruler.  Even the miracles of feeding the crowds invite us into the heart of giving.  Not once does Jesus instruct us to gain earthly wealth and possessions, nor enjoy our own prosperity.  Instead, we are urged to share with those in need.<strong></strong>\r\n\r\nThis misguided modern-day parable is math-backwards.  It ought to read, <strong>\"You cannot divide wealth by multiplying it.\"</strong>  Let\'s find out what <em>we</em> can do with a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread.<strong>\r\n</strong>\r\n\r\n</div>','An Economic Fairy Tale','','inherit','open','open','','4688-revision-18','','','2012-02-07 08:51:40','2012-02-07 16:51:40','',4688,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4688-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(5114,1,'2012-02-13 21:05:30','2012-02-14 05:05:30','This week, a dad <a title=\"Facebook Parenting: For the Troubled Teen\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=kl1ujzRidmU\" target=\"_blank\">disciplined his daughter</a>. And at the time of me writing this piece, that discipline has been viewed over 14 million times.\n\nPersonally, I understand Hannah\'s father\'s frustration with being disrespected. There is nothing that gets me upset as a parent more than when one of my children disrespects me or their father. It hurts any time that I see one of my children behaving in a way that is contrary to the manner that I\'ve raised them, but there is a much deeper hurt that comes from being disrespected by one of them. If I found a letter like the one that Hannah posted on Facebook, I would be profoundly upset. And if it happened more than once, I would be losing it big time.\n\nAs a result, I get why people are supporting the father. We\'re tired of seeing kids disrespect adults without consequence. We\'re tired of seeing kids sporting entitlement attitudes. We\'re ready to see parents take back parenting and expect more from their children. We\'re ready to see kids learn the value of hard work and respect. These are important lessons and we applaud parents that teach them.\n\nThat said, I have concerns with the way this situation was handled. In the digital age, one of the things that most of try to instill in our kids is the notion that the internet is forever. When our children post words or pictures or videos online, there is no way to get that content back. Even if it\'s something safe, we have no idea how it might be used by someone else. That is a truth that can\'t be emphasized enough when talking with our children. <a href=\"http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/steps/Articles/Pages/MySpace.aspx\">Colleges and employers</a> are more and more likely to check your Facebook page or your Twitter feed or your blog for information about you as a person. Digital footprints are indelible.\n\nBut this dad (who is apparently an IT professional) has used the very public medium of YouTube to shame his daughter. He could have had this conversation with her at home. He could have read her letter to her aloud. He could have told her how to address the woman who works for them with more respect. He could have even shot her laptop in front of her. Instead, he wanted to be able to embarrass her in front of her friends the way that he felt he had been embarrassed in front of them. But this has gone far beyond her friends, and her shame has been made public.\n\nParenting in the midst of social media is new, and we need to be careful about how we do it. We have become accustomed to sharing every thought that we have with our followers and friends, so it\'s natural that when we\'re annoyed with our kids, we want to share that too. We want to blog about our bratty tween or post a quick tweet about our spoiled elementary aged kid or post a video where we teach our 15 year old a lesson.\n\nBut this isn\'t our right as parents. Our kids deserve to be treated with dignity and when we malign our kids in public, we contribute to the culture that says that cyber-bullying is okay. We teach them that our immediate feelings of frustration can make us internet celebrities. We teach them that to be right, you just have to get a lot of likes or retweets or views.\n\nFourteen million YouTube views might FEEL like success, but it\'s just fame. And being famous for humiliating a 15 year old online isn\'t the way that I want my parenting to be remembered. The fact is, the only way Hannah\'s dad is going to know if his discipline worked is further down the line when she displays behavior that is more in line with his values.\n\nI hope that he makes a video for that moment too.','Online Parenting','','inherit','open','open','','5034-autosave','','','2012-02-13 21:05:30','2012-02-14 05:05:30','',5034,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/5034-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5115,1,'2012-02-13 21:09:42','2012-02-14 05:09:42','','facebook parent','','inherit','open','open','','facebook-parent','','','2012-02-13 21:09:42','2012-02-14 05:09:42','',5034,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/facebook-parent.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5116,1,'2012-02-11 13:13:27','2012-02-11 21:13:27','This week, a dad <a title=\"Facebook Parenting: For the Troubled Teen\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=kl1ujzRidmU\" target=\"_blank\">disciplined his daughter</a>. And at the time of me writing this piece, that discipline has been viewed over 14 million times.\r\n\r\nPersonally, I understand Hannah\'s father\'s frustration with being disrespected. There is nothing that gets me upset as a parent more than when one of my children disrespects me or their father. It hurts any time that I see one of my children behaving in a way that is contrary to the manner that I\'ve raised them, but there is a much deeper hurt that comes from being disrespected by one of them. If I found a letter like the one that Hannah posted on Facebook, I would be profoundly upset. And if it happened more than once, I would be losing it big time.\r\n\r\nAs a result, I get why people are supporting the father. We\'re tired of seeing kids disrespect adults without consequence. We\'re tired of seeing kids sporting entitlement attitudes. We\'re ready to see parents take back parenting and expect more from their children. We\'re ready to see kids learn the value of hard work and respect. These are important lessons and we applaud parents that teach them.\r\n\r\nThat said, I have concerns with the way this situation was handled. In the digital age, one of the things that most of try to instill in our kids is the notion that the internet is forever. When our children post words or pictures or videos online, there is no way to get that content back. Even if it\'s something safe, we have no idea how it might be used by someone else. That is a truth that can\'t be emphasized enough when talking with our children. <a href=\"http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/steps/Articles/Pages/MySpace.aspx\">Colleges and employers</a> are more and more likely to check your Facebook page or your Twitter feed or your blog for information about you as a person. Digital footprints are indelible.\r\n\r\nBut this dad (who is apparently an IT professional) has used the very public medium of YouTube to shame his daughter. He could have had this conversation with her at home. He could have read her letter to her aloud. He could have told her how to address the woman who works for them with more respect. He could have even shot her laptop in front of her. Instead, he wanted to be able to embarrass her in front of her friends the way that he felt he had been embarrassed in front of them. But this has gone far beyond her friends, and her shame has been made public.\r\n\r\nParenting in the midst of social media is new, and we need to be careful about how we do it. We have become accustomed to sharing every thought that we have with our followers and friends, so it\'s natural that when we\'re annoyed with our kids, we want to share that too. We want to blog about our bratty tween or post a quick tweet about our spoiled elementary aged kid or post a video where we teach our 15 year old a lesson.\r\n\r\nBut this isn\'t our right as parents. Our kids deserve to be treated with dignity and when we malign our kids in public, we contribute to the culture that says that cyber-bullying is okay. We teach them that our immediate feelings of frustration can make us internet celebrities. We teach them that to be right, you just have to get a lot of likes or retweets or views.\r\n\r\nFourteen million YouTube views might FEEL like success, but it\'s just fame. And being famous for humiliating a 15 year old online isn\'t the way that I want my parenting to be remembered. The fact is, the only way Hannah\'s dad is going to know if his discipline worked is further down the line when she displays behavior that is more in line with his values.\r\n\r\nI hope that he makes a video for that moment too.','Online Parenting','','inherit','open','open','','5034-revision-6','','','2012-02-11 13:13:27','2012-02-11 21:13:27','',5034,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5034-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5117,1,'2012-02-13 21:10:40','2012-02-14 05:10:40','This week, a dad <a title=\"Facebook Parenting: For the Troubled Teen\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=kl1ujzRidmU\" target=\"_blank\">disciplined his daughter</a>. And at the time of me writing this piece, that discipline has been viewed over 14 million times.\r\n\r\nPersonally, I understand Hannah\'s father\'s frustration with being disrespected. There is nothing that gets me upset as a parent more than when one of my children disrespects me or their father. It hurts any time that I see one of my children behaving in a way that is contrary to the manner that I\'ve raised them, but there is a much deeper hurt that comes from being disrespected by one of them. If I found a letter like the one that Hannah posted on Facebook, I would be profoundly upset. And if it happened more than once, I would be losing it big time.\r\n\r\nAs a result, I get why people are supporting the father. We\'re tired of seeing kids disrespect adults without consequence. We\'re tired of seeing kids sporting entitlement attitudes. We\'re ready to see parents take back parenting and expect more from their children. We\'re ready to see kids learn the value of hard work and respect. These are important lessons and we applaud parents that teach them.\r\n\r\nThat said, I have concerns with the way this situation was handled. In the digital age, one of the things that most of try to instill in our kids is the notion that the internet is forever. When our children post words or pictures or videos online, there is no way to get that content back. Even if it\'s something safe, we have no idea how it might be used by someone else. That is a truth that can\'t be emphasized enough when talking with our children. <a href=\"http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/steps/Articles/Pages/MySpace.aspx\">Colleges and employers</a> are more and more likely to check your Facebook page or your Twitter feed or your blog for information about you as a person. Digital footprints are indelible.\r\n\r\nBut this dad (who is apparently an IT professional) has used the very public medium of YouTube to shame his daughter. He could have had this conversation with her at home. He could have read her letter to her aloud. He could have told her how to address the woman who works for them with more respect. He could have even shot her laptop in front of her. Instead, he wanted to be able to embarrass her in front of her friends the way that he felt he had been embarrassed in front of them. But this has gone far beyond her friends, and her shame has been made public.\r\n\r\nParenting in the midst of social media is new, and we need to be careful about how we do it. We have become accustomed to sharing every thought that we have with our followers and friends, so it\'s natural that when we\'re annoyed with our kids, we want to share that too. We want to blog about our bratty tween or post a quick tweet about our spoiled elementary aged kid or post a video where we teach our 15 year old a lesson.\r\n\r\nBut this isn\'t our right as parents. Our kids deserve to be treated with dignity and when we malign our kids in public, we contribute to the culture that says that cyber-bullying is okay. We teach them that our immediate feelings of frustration can make us internet celebrities. We teach them that to be right, you just have to get a lot of likes or retweets or views.\r\n\r\nFourteen million YouTube views might FEEL like success, but it\'s just fame. And being famous for humiliating a 15 year old online isn\'t the way that I want my parenting to be remembered. The fact is, the only way Hannah\'s dad is going to know if his discipline worked is further down the line when she displays behavior that is more in line with his values.\r\n\r\nI hope that he makes a video for that moment too.','Online Parenting','','inherit','open','open','','5034-revision-7','','','2012-02-13 21:10:40','2012-02-14 05:10:40','',5034,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/5034-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5118,1,'2012-02-13 20:41:15','2012-02-14 04:41:15','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','','inherit','open','open','','4889-revision-57','','','2012-02-13 20:41:15','2012-02-14 04:41:15','',4889,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/4889-revision-57/',0,'revision','',0),(5119,1,'2012-02-13 21:30:11','2012-02-14 05:30:11','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.\n\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.\n\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.\n\nI know that both of those jokes were in the same general area of humor...but hey, I write from what I know.\n\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...\n\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\n\nIt\'s kind of funny stuff.\n\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.\n\n\"A happy heart makes the face cheerful...\" - Proverbs 15:13a\n\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.\n\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:\n\n\"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.\" - Hebrews 6:12\n\nGod also uses some pretty funny imagery in Proverbs to convey the point too:\n\n\"The sluggard says, \"There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!\" - Proverbs 22:13\n\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:\n\n\"Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.\" - Proverbs 27:14\n\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.\n\nBut how much better can our sense of humor be if we revel in the joy that only comes from God?\n\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?','','inherit','open','open','','5041-autosave','','','2012-02-13 21:30:11','2012-02-14 05:30:11','',5041,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/13/5041-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5120,1,'2012-02-13 21:25:50','2012-02-14 05:25:50','','laughter','','inherit','open','open','','laughter','','','2012-02-13 21:25:50','2012-02-14 05:25:50','',5041,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/laughter.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5121,1,'2012-02-11 13:37:28','2012-02-11 21:37:28','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.','\"Why So Serious?\" or \"God\'s Sense of Humor\" or \"Would Jesus say, \'Pull My Finger\'?\", Part 1','','inherit','open','open','','5041-revision-2','','','2012-02-11 13:37:28','2012-02-11 21:37:28','',5041,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/11/5041-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5123,1,'2012-02-12 16:49:55','2012-02-13 00:49:55','<p>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:</p>\r\n\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\n\r\n<p>There 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Romance 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 “Splinter Cell”. 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>It’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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>While 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Romance 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:</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n\r\n<p><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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: Is that also why you got so mad watching the Giants game?</p>\r\n\r\n<p><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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Liz</strong>: And the fake Rod Sterling guy.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Carol</strong>: Oh my god, right! Thank you.</p>\r\n\r\n</blockquote>\r\n\r\n<p>This 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>If 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p>Any 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.</p>\r\n\r\n<p><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason_ff/3258771004/\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr/ jtbrennan</a></em></p>','Mascots and Hotdogs: When You Know It\'s Romance','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-14','','','2012-02-12 16:49:55','2012-02-13 00:49:55','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/12/5066-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(5125,1,'2012-02-14 09:03:25','2012-02-14 17:03:25','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 “Splinter Cell”. 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','','inherit','open','open','','5066-revision-16','','','2012-02-14 09:03:25','2012-02-14 17:03:25','',5066,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/14/5066-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(5126,20,'2012-02-03 12:48:02','2012-02-03 20:48:02','This week I was able to attend the Emergent Village Theological Conversation, which was intended to be an engagement with some of the foremost thinkers of process theology.  As a student at Claremont, the ideas were not new 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\n(say more) \"Without 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.\" - from <em>Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion</em>\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-3','','','2012-02-03 12:48:02','2012-02-03 20:48:02','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/03/4866-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5442,119,'2012-03-10 04:44:13','2012-03-10 12:44:13','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\r\n\r\nI didn\'t wince.\r\n\r\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\r\n\r\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\r\n\r\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\r\n\r\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\r\n\r\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\r\n\r\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\r\n\r\nThis time, I did wince.\r\n\r\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\r\n\r\nBut it made me start to think.\r\n\r\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\r\n\r\nI am not immune; I do this too.\r\n\r\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\r\n\r\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\r\n\r\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\r\n\r\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\r\n\r\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\r\n\r\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\r\n\r\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\r\n\r\nBut I need others in my life too.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\r\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\r\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\r\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\r\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\r\n\r\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelhartmann/5515495904/\" target=\"_blank\">Photo credit</a>','Platform for ministry?','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision-6','','','2012-03-10 04:44:13','2012-03-10 12:44:13','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5443,119,'2012-04-02 09:49:33','2012-04-02 16:49:33','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\n\nI didn\'t wince.\n\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\n\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\n\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\n\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\n\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\n\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\n\nThis time, I did wince.\n\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\n\nBut it made me start to think.\n\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\n\nI am not immune; I do this too.\n\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\n\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\n\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\n\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\n\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\n\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\n\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\n\nBut I need others in my life too.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\n\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?\n\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelhartmann/5515495904/\" target=\"_blank\">Photo credit</a>','Platform for Ministry?','','inherit','open','open','','5435-autosave','','','2012-04-02 09:49:33','2012-04-02 16:49:33','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5444,119,'2012-03-10 04:45:03','2012-03-10 12:45:03','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\r\n\r\nI didn\'t wince.\r\n\r\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\r\n\r\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\r\n\r\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\r\n\r\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\r\n\r\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\r\n\r\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\r\n\r\nThis time, I did wince.\r\n\r\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\r\n\r\nBut it made me start to think.\r\n\r\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\r\n\r\nI am not immune; I do this too.\r\n\r\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\r\n\r\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\r\n\r\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\r\n\r\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\r\n\r\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\r\n\r\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\r\n\r\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\r\n\r\nBut I need others in my life too.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\r\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\r\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\r\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\r\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\r\n\r\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelhartmann/5515495904/\" target=\"_blank\">Photo credit</a>','Platform for ministry?','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision-7','','','2012-03-10 04:45:03','2012-03-10 12:45:03','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5445,0,'2012-03-10 10:15:10','2012-03-10 18:15:10','Life and/or Faith\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Joy Cannis\nAUTHOR EMAIL: redeemingjoy@gmail.com\nAUTHOR URL: http://evenagirllikeme.blogspot.com/2012/02/egomaniac-with-inferiority-complex.html\nSUBJECT: Provoketive Magazine Writing For Provoketive\nIP: 99.157.58.218\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Joy Cannis\n    [Email] =&gt; redeemingjoy@gmail.com\n    [Existing Blog or Website] =&gt; http://evenagirllikeme.blogspot.com/2012/02/egomaniac-with-inferiority-complex.html\n    [List the topic you are interested writing about] =&gt; Life and/or Faith\n    [Current or New WordPress Login Name (We\'ll send you a password.)] =&gt; redeemingjoy\n)\n','Joy Cannis - 2012-03-10 10:15:10','','publish','open','open','','752f40e1a7ce25613a952a58625a25d1','','','2012-03-10 10:15:10','2012-03-10 18:15:10','',358,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=5445',0,'feedback','',0),(7398,1,'2012-08-01 16:58:21','2012-08-01 23:58:21','','crowd','','inherit','open','open','','crowd','','','2012-08-01 16:58:21','2012-08-01 23:58:21','',7289,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/crowd.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(6348,127,'2012-05-03 08:00:51','2012-05-03 15:00:51','When I took Systematic Theology in graduate school, Devlin Lucent was the best student in the class by far. Devlin knew all the answers. He never lost his cool. He was ridiculously good-looking. Sometimes he asked the professor questions so clever the professor would start to answer, stop, and then say, “That’s a very interesting question, Devlin. Class, what do you think?”\r\n\r\nOne day I had to know why Devlin even bothered with this class. I caught up with him on the quad.\r\n\r\n“Hey, why do you ask such impossible questions?”\r\n\r\n“Just playing devil’s advocate,” he said. “Dr. Hallow is on the right track, but he hasn’t taken it far enough.”\r\n\r\n“Sounds like maybe you should teach.”\r\n\r\n“I will,” said Devlin. “But the world only respects diplomas and degrees, so here I am.”\r\n\r\nThe whole semester went on like this. Devlin knew the correct answers in every category: sin, Trinity, covenant, you-name-it: this guy was as smart as they came.\r\n\r\nAnd talented, too. When he led worship people raved about the music. He had no trouble finding dates: it seemed like a third of the girls in the school were lined up for him. (I noticed, however, that a few of the girls he went out with ended up dropping out of school.)\r\n\r\nOne night I had a dream:\r\n\r\nDevlin was at a nearby bistro enjoying a glass of wine and the admiration of a table full of other students. He saw me through the music and the haze of those who pretend to smoke cigarettes.\r\n\r\n“Grimsley!” He gestured. “Just the man! Get over here.”\r\n\r\nI had to admit it was something of a thrill to be publicly recognized by the coolest guy in seminary. I pulled over a chair and wedged into the crowd.\r\n\r\n“We were just discussing our take-over of the school,” said Lucent. I laughed, but the rest of them turned their attention back to Devlin. “No, really: those stodgy fools have no business running the place. Even when they’re correct they’re hopelessly lost in applying the answers. They’re driving students away and holding the rest of us back. Are you in?”\r\n\r\n“This seems rather sudden, eh?” I tried to ask.\r\n\r\n“Nothing sudden about that lame seminary. They’ve been screwing people up for decades.” No one interrupted Devlin. They focused on him with devotion usually reserved for rock stars or saints. He loved it. He didn’t need my buy-in: “I can see you’re holding back. No matter--I may still let you attend after I’m in charge.”\r\n\r\nThe next morning it was Devlin who caught up with me on the frosty quad.\r\n\r\n“Good morning, Grims. Sleep well last night?”\r\n\r\n“Well enough,” I said. In the morning light he didn’t look so menacing.\r\n\r\n“I like to give people a little time to adjust to progressive ideas,” he said. “You should think about my offer.”\r\n\r\nMy heart stopped at the same time as my feet. “Your offer?”\r\n\r\n“Surely you didn’t think that because it was a dream I wasn’t serious?”\r\n\r\n“Wait--how did you--was I really talking to you, then? In my dream?”\r\n\r\n“Don’t concern yourself with details, Grimsley. Just because it was a dream doesn’t mean it wasn’t real. What? Confused? You should’ve studied the Old Testament harder. It’s not so strange.”\r\n\r\nWhat was strange was the winterlight behind him. His head was rimmed with light but I looked through the shadow to his face. His good looks vanished. The features were the same but they had distorted into pride and lust and anger. What had been appealing became grotesque. He saw what I had seen, and it somehow amused him.\r\n\r\n“What now? You’re thinking how a good student like me would want to rebel? Grow up, man: my theology is perfect,” and here he leaned toward me until I smelled the breath of death itself. “It’s not enough. I won’t stop until I’m in charge.”\r\n\r\nIn that moment my alarm sounded. I was utterly confused. I had already awakened, or so I thought. Last night’s dream was the dream--or was it a dream within a dream? I was truly afraid, but the student in me still got the point. I fumbled for the notebook next to my Bible. My shaking hand managed to scrawl the awful truth:\r\n\r\nThe devil\'s theology is just fine. The problem is he wants his own way.','The Man With All The Answers','','publish','open','open','','the-man-with-all-the-answers','','','2012-05-02 00:14:54','2012-05-02 07:14:54','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=6348',0,'post','',0),(5955,48,'2012-04-12 13:34:26','2012-04-12 20:34:26','Hardships. Trials. Unless you subscribe to the particular brand of Christianity that purports true faith reveals itself in God-bestowed private jets, manshions, and a life with no disease (assuming you have enough faith), these are words you likely understand all too well.  As Christ said to the disciples, in the world we have tribulation (John 16:33b). It isn\'t a question of if, but of when. Whether it\'s true persecution or just the same difficulties everyone must deal with in a fallen world (rain falls on the just and unjust alike, does it not?), life will bring us trouble and pain.\n\nLately, I keep hearing the same adage coming out of the mouths of fellow Christians, regarding hardships: that we grow the most in our faith and as Christians during times of hardships and trial. Maybe I\'m just primed to notice this phrase, or maybe I\'m hanging out with a lot of down-and-out people- I\'m not really sure. However, it has caused me to pause and consider: is that really true? Do we really grow the most under pressure, pain, and difficulty?\n\nNo, I don\'t think we thrive as Christians in poor conditions. Trials and hardships can be tests of faith, to be sure:  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various <sup>[<a title=\"See footnote c\" href=\"http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&amp;version=NASB#fen-NASB-30269c\">c</a>]</sup>trials, <sup>3</sup> knowing that the testing of your faith produces <sup>[<a title=\"See footnote d\" href=\"http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1&amp;version=NASB#fen-NASB-30270d\">d</a>]</sup>endurance.  (James 1:2-3). They may help us to withstand more hardships in the future, but they don\'t cause growth. Tests function to reveal our current state. They show us just how much we can handle, if we lean on God.\n\nThe Bible uses a lot of imagery of plants and trees when referring to the people of God and the faithful. Any gardener can tell you that plants and trees thrive and have the greatest growth under ideal conditions: just the right amount of sunlight, the right amount of water, and soil with just the right pH level. Sure, they can still grow, flower or bear fruit under less than ideal conditions, but the greatest growth? It is when there is no hardship.\n\nI have heard many a sermon on trials and difficulty invoking analogies of the tap root, a specific kind of root found in certain plants and trees (but not all), that goes straight down, deep into the soil, enabling the plant to withstand wind, drought, and other hard conditions. In some cases, taproots may grow deeper in cases of drought to seek a water source, thus making the plant hardier and more able to withstand future hardships. But, hardiness is not growth. To be sure, it is an excellent trait, perhaps a necessary one in the life of a Christian, but it is a completely different thing than growth.\n\nI think that there has been an idea perpetuated throughout Christian communities that times of ease are wonderful to enjoy, but somehow detrimental to our faith lives. If things are too easy and we don\'t have to go through pain, then there is this prevalent notion that we will become complacent or even lukewarm in our faith. Well, I disagree. Good times are getting a bad rap.\n\nIt is true that some people may walk away from God when life is easy and they don\'t need to lean on him, but I think if you are likely to forget God in the good, you are just as likely to forget God in the difficult. What doesn\'t kill you doesn\'t always make you stronger, people. Sometimes it weakens you until the next wave finally takes you out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHe will be like a tree <em>firmly</em> planted by <sup>[<a title=\"See footnote b\" href=\"http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&amp;version=NASB#fen-NASB-13943b\">b</a>]</sup>streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its <sup>[<a title=\"See footnote c\" href=\"http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&amp;version=NASB#fen-NASB-13943c\">c</a>]</sup>leaf does not wither; And <sup>[<a title=\"See footnote d\" href=\"http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+1&amp;version=NASB#fen-NASB-13943d\">d</a>]</sup>in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 NASB\n\n&nbsp;','Growth and the Christian: Hardship is Overrated ','','inherit','open','open','','5945-revision-5','','','2012-04-12 13:34:26','2012-04-12 20:34:26','',5945,'http://provoketive.com/2012/04/12/5945-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5448,0,'2012-03-12 11:32:00','2012-03-12 18:32:00','I have a new post at http://upfromthemat.com  titled: Watch. Listen. Thank God!\r\n\r\nI would like to submit it to Provoketive....but my username, email, and password are not being recognized for some reason.\r\n\r\nAlso, I have downloaded the writer info document, but am also unable to read it...keep getting a notice that it cannot be converted, though the file is clearly there.\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Chaz Henderson\nAUTHOR EMAIL: chazwhend@aol.com\nAUTHOR URL: \nSUBJECT: Submit A Question\nIP: 99.103.14.76\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Chaz Henderson\n    [Email] =&gt; chazwhend@aol.com\n    [City] =&gt; Cleveland, Ohio\n    [Your question] =&gt; I have a new post at http://upfromthemat.com  titled: Watch. Listen. Thank God!\r\n\r\nI would like to submit it to Provoketive....but my username, email, and password are not being recognized for some reason.\r\n\r\nAlso, I have downloaded the writer info document, but am also unable to read it...keep getting a notice that it cannot be converted, though the file is clearly there.\r\n\r\n\r\n\n)\n','Chaz Henderson - 2012-03-12 11:32:00','','publish','open','open','','2c1510b617a05775ea4108facc03b7df','','','2012-03-12 11:32:00','2012-03-12 18:32:00','',4432,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=5448',0,'feedback','',0),(5451,160,'2012-03-12 19:40:22','2012-03-13 02:40:22','It seems we\'re hearing a lot about \"Christian values\" in this campaign season, so it might make sense to take a look at what seemed to be the values that Jesus actually cared about...This video is my short (3 minute) take on \"Real Christian Values.\"\n\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubdnWLfva8\">Real Christian Values</a>\n\n&nbsp;','Real Christian Values','','inherit','open','open','','5450-revision','','','2012-03-12 19:40:22','2012-03-13 02:40:22','',5450,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/12/5450-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5453,160,'2012-03-12 19:45:23','2012-03-13 02:45:23','It seems we\'re hearing a lot about \"Christian values\" in this campaign season, so it might make sense to take a look at what seemed to be the values that Jesus actually cared about...This video is my short (3 minute) take on \"Real Christian Values.\"\r\n\r\n[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubdnWLfva8[/youtube]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Real Christian Values','','inherit','open','open','','5450-revision-3','','','2012-03-12 19:45:23','2012-03-13 02:45:23','',5450,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/12/5450-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5452,160,'2012-03-12 19:44:22','2012-03-13 02:44:22','It seems we\'re hearing a lot about \"Christian values\" in this campaign season, so it might make sense to take a look at what seemed to be the values that Jesus actually cared about...This video is my short (3 minute) take on \"Real Christian Values.\"\n\n[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubdnWLfva8[/youtube]\n\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubdnWLfva8\">Real Christian Values</a>\n\n&nbsp;','Real Christian Values','','inherit','open','open','','5450-revision-2','','','2012-03-12 19:44:22','2012-03-13 02:44:22','',5450,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/12/5450-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5454,160,'2012-03-12 19:46:52','2012-03-13 02:46:52','It seems we\'re hearing a lot about \"Christian values\" in this campaign season, so it might make sense to take a look at what seemed to be the values that Jesus actually cared about...This video is my short (3 minute) take on \"Real Christian Values.\"\n\n[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubdnWLfva8[/youtube]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Real Christian Values','','inherit','open','open','','5450-autosave','','','2012-03-12 19:46:52','2012-03-13 02:46:52','',5450,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/12/5450-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5456,1,'2012-03-07 04:14:43','2012-03-07 12:14:43','<a href=\"http://joyinthisjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/praying-hands.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1918\" src=\"http://joyinthisjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/praying-hands-460x377.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"460\" height=\"377\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI stood slowly after the closing prayer. The long sit on hard wooden pews had stiffened my muscles. I rubbed my back as I slid sideways into the aisle. My mother-in-law motioned me to stay put.\r\n\r\n“I’ll go get the kids.\"\r\n\r\nAs I gathered up Bibles, papers, and bags, an older lady approached. “Joy, I just love to watch Elli while you and Scott sing. It makes her so happy.”\r\n\r\nI never know what to say in situations like these, so I just smiled at her. Elli\'s face shone and the joy in her soul exploded from her entire body when she heard music she loved.\r\n\r\nShe continued. “I pray every day for Elli to be healed.”\r\n\r\nMy smile froze. Elli was five years old. She had a permanent brain injury from lack of oxygen. Her heart hadn’t formed right. How could she be healed of that? These weren’t ongoing processes that could stop or reverse. It simply <em>was</em>.\r\n\r\n“Oh! Well, thank you,” I managed. I knew her intention was good.\r\n\r\nAs we rolled Elli down the wheelchair ramp and into the sunny parking lot, the second-guessing started. Mother-guilt, my old faithful companion, back again. Had I failed her? Was my faith weak? <em>Should</em> I be asking God to heal her?\r\n\r\nThen the thought (maybe it was from the Holy Spirit?). <em>I need to accept our circumstances as they are today. Praying for healing would feed my discontent, my anger, my resentment, and my clamor for relief from the suffering.</em>\r\n\r\n<strong>I realized that it’s ok to stop praying for something. </strong>I hadn’t stopped praying altogether. I asked God for help to be a good mother to a child who couldn’t talk to me, feed herself, or walk. I asked for wisdom for the doctors treating her. I asked for help not to waste my scant energy on worthless activities like worry.\r\n\r\nThat didn’t mean it was wrong for others to pray for different things, like for Elli to be healed. I could thank this dear lady for her prayers and genuinely appreciate them as a gift of love from her to us. But it was no reflection on me, my effectiveness as a mother, or my faith in God, that I could not join her in that prayer.\r\n<img style=\"border: none !important;margin: 0px !important\" src=\"http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=joyinthijou-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1596381035\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" />\r\nThis past week, I read the following in the book \"<a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596381035/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=joyinthijou-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1596381035\">The Heart of Prayer: What Jesus Teaches Us</a>\" by Jerram Barrs. I had never read or heard anything like it before. It speaks directly to our experience with our daughter.\r\n<blockquote>\"We do not know the precise nature of the thorn in the flesh with which the apostle Paul wrestled--whether it was a physical malady or some other problem. In this particular case, Paul tells us that he prayed three times that his thorn in the flesh would be taken away. And then he stopped praying for the thorn\'s removal, but this was because he sensed God telling him that he would have to endure the thorn (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Paul had to be ready for a different kind of perseverance, and to be willing to persist in different prayers from those for healing. His calling was to pray for grace to endure the thorn, to pray for God\'s strength to sustain him in his ongoing weakness.\"</blockquote>\r\n<em><strong>Have you ever stopped praying for something? Why or why not?</strong></em>','Is It Okay To Stop Praying?','','inherit','open','open','','5405-revision-3','','','2012-03-07 04:14:43','2012-03-07 12:14:43','',5405,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/07/5405-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5440,119,'2012-03-10 04:38:27','2012-03-10 12:38:27','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\r\n\r\nI didn\'t wince.\r\n\r\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\r\n\r\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\r\n\r\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\r\n\r\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\r\n\r\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\r\n\r\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\r\n\r\nThis time, I did wince.\r\n\r\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\r\n\r\nBut it made me start to think.\r\n\r\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\r\n\r\nI am not immune; I do this too.\r\n\r\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\r\n\r\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\r\n\r\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\r\n\r\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\r\n\r\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\r\n\r\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\r\n\r\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\r\n\r\nBut I need others in my life too.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\r\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\r\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\r\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\r\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\r\n\r\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelhartmann/5515495904/\" target=\"_blank\">Photo credit</a>','','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision-4','','','2012-03-10 04:38:27','2012-03-10 12:38:27','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5441,119,'2012-03-10 04:44:05','2012-03-10 12:44:05','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\n\nI didn\'t wince.\n\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\n\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\n\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\n\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\n\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\n\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\n\nThis time, I did wince.\n\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\n\nBut it made me start to think.\n\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\n\nI am not immune; I do this too.\n\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\n\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\n\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\n\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\n\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\n\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\n\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\n\nBut I need others in my life too.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\n\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?\n\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelhartmann/5515495904/\" target=\"_blank\">Photo credit</a>','Platforming ministry?','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision-5','','','2012-03-10 04:44:05','2012-03-10 12:44:05','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5216,160,'2012-02-27 08:00:20','2012-02-27 16:00:20','<a href=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/punisher.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5217 alignleft\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/punisher-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>It’s that time of year, when we’re supposed to give up something for Lent.  Not being Catholic, there’s a lot I don’t know about this sacred spiritual exercise.  Although it sounds a lot like the wooly stuff that accumulates in dryers and belly buttons, I’ve been assured there is absolutely no connection with “lint.”  Never-the-less, whether you are religious or not, “lent,” can be an opportunity to remove the fluffy, extra stuff that accumulates and distracts you from God, nature, family, or even own life.\r\n\r\nIf you’re wondering what to give up, I’ve included a few suggestions to get you started:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li> TV – This is the one I’m choosing this year and, since I’m too weak to go cold turkey, I’m limiting my exposure to one hour a day.  Frankly, I’m worried.  How will I entertain myself with sitcoms and crime dramas <em>and</em> keep up with the Republican Primary?</li>\r\n	<li>Bad Food – Lent is associated with actually fasting, such as giving up a meal a day.  Since most us don’t have the stomach for that, consider cutting out all meat or dessert, or deep fried food.</li>\r\n	<li>Alcohol – I know, drinking is a social thing.   However, not having alcoholic beverages doesn’t mean you can’t go out with your friends.   You’ll just be forced to experience the world without a mind-numbing drug, which might be painfully illuminating.</li>\r\n	<li>Coffee – If caffeine is your drug of choice, cut it out….or switch to tea.   “Waking up” doesn’t have to mean getting jittery.</li>\r\n	<li>Surfing the web – How many hours are spent searching the web for whatever pops into your head?   What’s the lead singer for Nine Inch Nails up to these days?  Answer: not looking “you” up on the internet.   Consider capping the time you google or fritter away on Twitter.</li>\r\n	<li>Texting – Are you “that person” who has to be in constant touch?  Do people really care you’re at the dentist office or in line at the grocery?  Cutting the tiny cryptic messages out and you might have a conversation with the person right in front of you.</li>\r\n	<li>Video games – This one goes out to the youngsters who spend their afternoons killing their friends on Call of Duty or the latest greatest game of death and destruction.</li>\r\n	<li>Money – Put a limit on your expenses and see what’s it’s like to live on minimum wage for a while.    If you don’t already have compassion for the working poor, that ought to do it.</li>\r\n	<li>Gossiping - If you are the neighborhood informant, try making a conscious effort to stop before you start.  I know it’s enticing to pick apart the poor guy who has fallen on hard times.  Just know that, someday, you will be that guy that people are buzzing about.</li>\r\n	<li>Vanity – Is there something you do for your personal appearance that takes up an inordinate amount of time?  If you spend more than 15 minutes on your hair or applying make-up or picking your outfit, you just might be primping.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nRemember, the idea is to choose something that isn’t easy; something that requires a little sacrifice on your part.   It only last 40 days (until Easter) and, according to tradition, you get Sundays off, so you can text or eat or drink or, in my case, go back to regularly scheduled programming.   Who knows?  After 40 days, you may realize your life is better without whatever it was that was so hard to give up.  Even if you pick your habit back up, you’ll know yourself a little better, and that’s worth a lot.\r\n\r\nFeel free to share what you\'re giving up for Lent.','The Lent List ','','publish','open','open','','the-lent-list','','','2012-02-23 21:49:18','2012-02-24 05:49:18','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5216',0,'post','',0),(5137,20,'2012-02-16 12:45:12','2012-02-16 20:45:12','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 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: From ','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-5','','','2012-02-16 12:45:12','2012-02-16 20:45:12','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/16/4866-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5138,0,'2012-02-16 15:18:53','2012-02-16 23:18:53','I hope this email finds you well. I am with Lijit Networks, a Federated Media company, in Boulder, CO. I would like to connect with you about advertising on provoketive.com, specifically the unsold inventory. We are a premium demand source and I’d love to see if we’re a good fit for your site. Thanks!\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Ted Seifert\nAUTHOR EMAIL: tseifert@lijit.com\nAUTHOR URL: \nSUBJECT: [Provoketive Magazine] Contact Us\nIP: 67.50.84.126\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Ted Seifert\n    [Email] =&gt; tseifert@lijit.com\n    [Comment] =&gt; I hope this email finds you well. I am with Lijit Networks, a Federated Media company, in Boulder, CO. I would like to connect with you about advertising on provoketive.com, specifically the unsold inventory. We are a premium demand source and I’d love to see if we’re a good fit for your site. Thanks!\n)\n','Ted Seifert - 2012-02-16 15:18:53','','publish','open','open','','77ce280ded4e42d7e0a01044a7e0319f','','','2012-02-16 15:18:53','2012-02-16 23:18:53','',16,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=5138',0,'feedback','',0),(5140,20,'2012-02-16 22:38:21','2012-02-17 06:38:21','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.\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 interventionistsupernaturalism, 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 what Henri Nouwen says here:\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>\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 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.\n\nI hope that this distinction makes sense, and I\'m curious as to whether it resonates with others.\n\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:\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>\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 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.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','two kinds of faith: from interventional to enabling ','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-7','','','2012-02-16 22:38:21','2012-02-17 06:38:21','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/16/4866-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5141,134,'2012-02-17 05:52:30','2012-02-17 13:52:30','','800px-8.0995_Pattaya','','inherit','open','open','','800px-8-0995_pattaya','','','2012-02-17 05:52:30','2012-02-17 13:52:30','',0,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/800px-8.0995_Pattaya.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(7482,0,'2012-08-07 23:58:56','2012-08-08 06:58:56','Following Jesus (August SynchroBlog)\n<!--more-->\nAUTHOR: Sarita Baker-Brown\nAUTHOR EMAIL: sarita.reikilove@gmail.com\nAUTHOR URL: \nSUBJECT: Provoketive Magazine Writing For Provoketive\nIP: 198.228.216.158\nArray\n(\n    [Name] =&gt; Sarita Baker-Brown\n    [Email] =&gt; sarita.reikilove@gmail.com\n    [Existing Blog or Website] =&gt; \n    [List the topic you are interested writing about] =&gt; Following Jesus (August SynchroBlog)\n    [Current or New WordPress Login Name (We\'ll send you a password.)] =&gt; saritabakerbrown\n)\n','Sarita Baker-Brown - 2012-08-07 23:58:56','','publish','open','open','','db2c99babab77757db5fe798b4161753','','','2012-08-07 23:58:56','2012-08-08 06:58:56','',358,'http://provoketive.com/?post_type=feedback&p=7482',0,'feedback','',0),(7397,1,'2012-08-03 08:23:28','2012-08-03 15:23:28','How can you know if someone is a follower of Jesus?\n\nAnswers to this question have split churches, destroyed friendships, and divided seminaries.\n\nSome believe that to follow Jesus you must only sign a creed or say a prayer. Others insist that following Jesus requires following a set of rules such as the Ten Commandments or a denominational Code of Conduct. Still others argue that following Jesus is best accomplished in a building at a certain time of week when certain activities take place, while others say that following Jesus means leaving our buildings and going to places where Jesus would go, such as to the poor and homeless.\n\nRather than take sides, let me suggest something different.\n\nWhen it comes to the question of who is truly a follower of Jesus, I believe that everyone is following Jesus. Every man, woman, and child on this earth, whether they subscribe to some version of Christianity or not, is following Jesus.\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7292\" src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/crowd-of-people-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"187\" />\n\nNo, I do not believe everyone is \"saved\" (whatever that means to you). I am not  a universalist.\n\nSomeone can be a follower of Jesus, but not have eternal life. Remember that when Jesus walked this earth during His three years of ministry, there were many people who followed Him, but did not believe in Him for eternal life. Even one of His closest disciples, who followed Him for three years, watched His miracles, listened to His teachings, and spent many hours observing and learning from Jesus, ended up being the \"son of perdition\" (John 17:12).\n\nSo what do I mean when I say that everyone is a follower of Jesus? I believe that the redemptive work of Jesus was so powerful that when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead, everything in heaven and on earth was swept up in His wake, was drawn after His lead, and was pulled onward and inward toward Him.\n\nThe entire universe has been dropped into the torrential flow of His grace and redemption and no matter how much we might swim against the current or splash around in our own vain attempts at self-glorification, we cannot resist the direction that Jesus is pulling all creation toward.\n\nThis is why, I am convinced, the world has seen such advances in medicine, science, education, and art in the past 2000 years. Whether we realize it or not, we are being transformed into a creative, redeeming, reconciling, healing, God-glorifying world.\n\nWhen a doctor heals, it is because Jesus has pulled her. When an artist paints, it is because Jesus has pulled him. When parents love, teachers train, and musicians sing, it is because Jesus is pulling them after Him.\n\nMany people will not ever recognize that they have been following in the wake of Jesus, but they are.\n\nYes, there is still much evil, much pain, much hurt and hardship. But such things are not because of what Jesus has done, but are the lingering effects of the poison which was dumped into our river so long ago, and which will eventually be purged from the water once and for all.\n\nMeanwhile, it is the job of us who know we are following Jesus to show others that the beauty they create, the health they promote, the sustainability they encourage, the vibrancy and joy they strive for, is not killed and stifled in following Jesus but is enhanced and magnified when we learn to swim in the currents of God\'s reconciling power as found in Jesus Christ.\n\nThe magnetic pull of Jesus is so powerful that everyone is following Jesus. Those of us who know it can lead the way in showing what it means to redeem and reconcile the world to the fullness of the image of Jesus Christ.','Everyone is Following Jesus','','inherit','open','open','','7289-autosave','','','2012-08-03 08:23:28','2012-08-03 15:23:28','',7289,'http://provoketive.com/2012/08/01/7289-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5490,134,'2012-03-16 05:12:14','2012-03-16 12:12:14','<img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/An6LGApCAAI61t9-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"#ididnotreport\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" align=\"right\" />What can a hashtag like <em><a title=\"#ididnotreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididnotreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididnotreport</a></em> (<em>I did not report</em>) do for a social network like <a title=\"Twitter\" href=\"http://www.twitter.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a>? In the past two or three days, it\'s given many women and a few men from all parts of the world an outlet to express their feelings on their experiences with rape and/or other forms of sexual abuse. Many have posted their reasons why they <em>didn\'t report</em> the attack(s) and/or abuse -- often blaming the system (legal, social, etc). What we\'ve considered a special event (huge all-of-a-sudden phenomenon) for the past several days in a social network (in this case, <a title=\"Twitter\" href=\"http://www.twitter.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a>) hasn\'t been covered by big newscasters leaving bloggers with the duty to report it. This is shamefully pathetic, but this might be the <em>rape culture</em> many have referred to -- what an eye opener!\r\n\r\nOther tags that\'ve come out as a result of <em><a title=\"#ididnotreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididnotreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididnotreport</a></em> are\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li><em><a title=\"#ididreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididreport</a></em> (<em>I did report</em>), which simply means that the survivor did report the attack and/or abuse</li>\r\n	<li>and <em><a title=\"#rapeculture\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#rapeculture\" target=\"_blank\">#rapeculture</a></em> (<em>rape culture</em>), which has been used to describe the vulgarity of social behavior and/or attitude toward rape survivors (<em>always the victim\'s fault</em>).</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMost of these 140-character stories disgust me. It\'s stupid how society and the legal system victimize the survivor for a second time (if not more) right after being raped -- including emergency personnel who don\'t show any empathy to police officers who never show up.\r\n\r\nIn a cyber-world of anonymity, it\'s strange when many women and men open up to tell the world their deepest secrets -- some for the first time ever. Some are faceless and nameless, but others do have faces and names. It\'s disturbing when the person posting her experiences of being raped is still a child or when a person writes about a friend or relative committing suicide as the result of being violated.\r\n\r\nI\'ve heard some of these stories before. Some of my friends (female and male) have gone through rape or another form of sexual abuse, especially when they were children. It\'s like cycle that produces monsters who all do the same horrors again and again.\r\n\r\nBy the way, I stand by my previous <a title=\"life after sex: surviving\" href=\"http://christiannoob.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/life-after-sex-surviving/\" target=\"_blank\">statement</a> that rapists should be beaten and castrated.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>My respects to the woman holding the sign that reads, <em>\"My rapist doesn\'t know he\'s a rapist.\"</em>\r\nPicture used in this post.\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>','#ididnotreport','','inherit','open','open','','5480-revision-6','','','2012-03-16 05:12:14','2012-03-16 12:12:14','',5480,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/16/5480-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5492,30,'2012-03-16 03:40:33','2012-03-16 10:40:33','<em>We\'ve got a generation now who were born with semi-equality. They don\'t know how it was before, so they think, this isn\'t too bad. We\'re working. We have our attaché\' cases and our three piece suits. I get very disgusted with the younger generation of women. We had a torch to pass, and they are just sitting there. They don\'t realize it can be taken away. Things are going to have to get worse before they join in fighting the battle.</em>\r\n<div>\r\n\r\n<strong>~Erma Bombeck</strong>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<strong>\r\n</strong>\r\n\r\nI\'m pretty sure Erma was talking about me in that quote.\r\n\r\nI was born in 1974, right in the midst of second-wave feminism. By the time I started elementary school, things had pretty much died down on the feminism front. We had a female Supreme Court justice. A woman ran for Vice President. Murphy Brown and Designing Women taught me that women were strong, smart, capable people. Feminism had done it\'s job. Equality had been more or less achieved.\r\n\r\nIn my early 20\'s, I was in an email ring with a bunch of women who were a bit older than me. They had actually lived through second-wave feminism and were often telling me that I needed to be more alert. They would tell me that while things were better, they weren\'t perfect. And they would remind me that any freedoms gained could be snatched away at any point.\r\n\r\nI suppose I knew this was a possibility, but it seemed so unlikely that I never gave it more than a cursory thought. Of course women would continue to enjoy the freedoms that they had. Of course men would listen to women about issues that affected women. Of course dignity and civility would be the primary mode of conversations. The need for angry bra-burning and protests was behind us. Certainly <em>I</em> wasn\'t going to be participating in that. I shook my head at those old feminists and refused to listen to their warnings, borne of experience. You invited me to run with you and I sat.\r\n\r\nThen one state after another began considering and passing laws requiring <a href=\"http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/03/transvaginal-ultrasounds-coming-soon-state-near-you\" target=\"_blank\">transvaginal ultrasounds</a> before women could have an abortion. And bills about <a href=\"http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/02/14/memo_to_mario_rubio_and_roy_blunt_your_contraception_bills_are_bad_strategy_.html\" target=\"_blank\">personhood</a> that could stop the sale of oral contraceptives. And bills requiring women to say <a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/arizona-birth-control-bill-contraception-medical-reasons_n_1344557.html?ref=fb&amp;src=sp&amp;comm_ref=false\" target=\"_blank\">why she was taking an oral contraceptive</a>. And fights about extending the <a href=\"http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/15/2695723/senate-democrats-raise-violence.html\" target=\"_blank\">Violence Against Women Act</a>. And celebrities call women that they disagree with sluts.\r\n\r\nSuddenly those old feminists don\'t sound so crazy. That torch that Erma was talking about is starting to look pretty dim.\r\n\r\nI\'m sorry I didn\'t pay attention. I\'m sorry that I rested on what you had done instead of being vigilant. I\'m sorry that I allowed black and white thinking about complicated issues cloud my ability to see how women were being devalued. I\'m sorry that I ignored inequality in the church and in society.\r\n\r\nTo Erma and all of you old feminists? I\'m not sitting here any more. I know I\'ve let things get away, but I\'m running. And when it\'s time to pass the torch on to my daughters, I\'m going to be the old feminist running with them.','The Old Feminists Were Right','','inherit','open','open','','5465-revision-6','','','2012-03-16 03:40:33','2012-03-16 10:40:33','',5465,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/16/5465-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5494,1,'2012-03-16 07:37:39','2012-03-16 14:37:39','','womens-rights','','inherit','open','open','','womens-rights','','','2012-03-16 07:37:39','2012-03-16 14:37:39','',5465,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/womens-rights.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5495,1,'2012-03-16 06:21:22','2012-03-16 13:21:22','<em>We\'ve got a generation now who were born with semi-equality. They don\'t know how it was before, so they think, this isn\'t too bad. We\'re working. We have our attaché\' cases and our three piece suits. I get very disgusted with the younger generation of women. We had a torch to pass, and they are just sitting there. They don\'t realize it can be taken away. Things are going to have to get worse before they join in fighting the battle.</em>\r\n<div>\r\n\r\n<strong>~Erma Bombeck</strong>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<strong>\r\n</strong>\r\n\r\nI\'m pretty sure Erma was talking about me in that quote.\r\n\r\nI was born in 1974, right in the midst of second-wave feminism. By the time I started elementary school, things had pretty much died down on the feminism front. We had a female Supreme Court justice. A woman ran for Vice President. Murphy Brown and Designing Women taught me that women were strong, smart, capable people. Feminism had done it\'s job. Equality had been more or less achieved.\r\n\r\nIn my early 20\'s, I was in an email ring with a bunch of women who were a bit older than me. They had actually lived through second-wave feminism and were often telling me that I needed to be more alert. They would tell me that while things were better, they weren\'t perfect. And they would remind me that any freedoms gained could be snatched away at any point.\r\n\r\nI suppose I knew this was a possibility, but it seemed so unlikely that I never gave it more than a cursory thought. Of course women would continue to enjoy the freedoms that they had. Of course men would listen to women about issues that affected women. Of course dignity and civility would be the primary mode of conversations. The need for angry bra-burning and protests was behind us. Certainly <em>I</em> wasn\'t going to be participating in that. I shook my head at those old feminists and refused to listen to their warnings, borne of experience. You invited me to run with you and I sat.\r\n\r\nThen one state after another began considering and passing laws requiring <a href=\"http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/03/transvaginal-ultrasounds-coming-soon-state-near-you\" target=\"_blank\">transvaginal ultrasounds</a> before women could have an abortion. And bills about <a href=\"http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/02/14/memo_to_mario_rubio_and_roy_blunt_your_contraception_bills_are_bad_strategy_.html\" target=\"_blank\">personhood</a> that could stop the sale of oral contraceptives. And bills requiring women to say <a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/arizona-birth-control-bill-contraception-medical-reasons_n_1344557.html?ref=fb&amp;src=sp&amp;comm_ref=false\" target=\"_blank\">why she was taking an oral contraceptive</a>. And fights about extending the <a href=\"http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/15/2695723/senate-democrats-raise-violence.html\" target=\"_blank\">Violence Against Women Act</a>. And health care for low-income women <a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/texas-loses-entire-womens_n_1349431.html?ref=fb&amp;src=sp&amp;comm_ref=false\" target=\"_blank\">being canceled</a>. And celebrities call women that they disagree with sluts.\r\n\r\nSuddenly those old feminists don\'t sound so crazy. That torch that Erma was talking about is starting to look pretty dim.\r\n\r\nI\'m sorry I didn\'t pay attention. I\'m sorry that I rested on what you had done instead of being vigilant. I\'m sorry that I allowed black and white thinking about complicated issues cloud my ability to see how women were being devalued. I\'m sorry that I ignored inequality in the church and in society.\r\n\r\nTo Erma and all of you old feminists? I\'m not sitting here any more. I know I\'ve let things get away, but I\'m running. And when it\'s time to pass the torch on to my daughters, I\'m going to be the old feminist running with them.','The Old Feminists Were Right','','inherit','open','open','','5465-revision-7','','','2012-03-16 06:21:22','2012-03-16 13:21:22','',5465,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/16/5465-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5486,30,'2012-03-15 07:46:28','2012-03-15 14:46:28','<em>We\'ve got a generation now who were born with semi-equality. They don\'t know how it was before, so they think, this isn\'t too bad. We\'re working. We have our attaché\' cases and our three piece suits. I get very disgusted with the younger generation of women. We had a torch to pass, and they are just sitting there. They don\'t realize it can be taken away. Things are going to have to get worse before they join in fighting the battle.</em>\r\n<div>\r\n\r\n<strong>~Erma Bombeck</strong>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<strong>\r\n</strong>\r\n\r\nI\'m pretty sure Erma was talking about me in that quote.\r\n\r\nI was born in 1974, right in the midst of second-wave feminism. By the time I started elementary school, things had pretty much died down on the feminism front. We had a female Supreme Court justice. A woman ran for Vice President. Murphy Brown and Designing Women taught me that women were strong, smart, capable people. Feminism had done it\'s job. Equality had been more or less achieved.\r\n\r\nIn my early 20\'s, I was in an email ring with a bunch of women who were a bit older than me. They had actually lived through second-wave feminism and were often telling me that I needed to be more alert. They would tell me that while things were better, they weren\'t perfect. And they would remind me that any freedoms gained could be snatched away at any point.\r\n\r\nI suppose I knew this was a possibility, but it seemed so unlikely that I never gave it more than a cursory thought. Of course women would continue to enjoy the freedoms that they had. Of course men would listen to women about issues that affected women. Of course dignity and civility would be the primary mode of conversations. The need for angry bra-burning and protests was behind us. Certainly <em>I</em> wasn\'t going to be participating in that. I shook my head at those old feminists and refused to listen to their warnings, borne of experience. You invited me to run with you and I sat.\r\n\r\nThen one state after another began considering and passing laws requiring <a href=\"http://motherjones.com/mojo/2012/03/transvaginal-ultrasounds-coming-soon-state-near-you\" target=\"_blank\">transvaginal ultrasounds</a> before women could have an abortion. And bills about <a href=\"http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/02/14/memo_to_mario_rubio_and_roy_blunt_your_contraception_bills_are_bad_strategy_.html\" target=\"_blank\">personhood</a> that could stop the sale of oral contraceptives. And bills requiring women to say <a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/arizona-birth-control-bill-contraception-medical-reasons_n_1344557.html?ref=fb&amp;src=sp&amp;comm_ref=false\" target=\"_blank\">why she was taking an oral contraceptive</a>. And celebrities call women that they disagree with sluts.\r\n\r\nSuddenly those old feminists don\'t sound so crazy. That torch that Erma was talking about is starting to look pretty dim.\r\n\r\nI\'m sorry I didn\'t pay attention. I\'m sorry that I rested on what you had done instead of being vigilant. I\'m sorry that I allowed black and white thinking about complicated issues cloud my ability to see how women were being devalued. I\'m sorry that I ignored inequality in the church and in society.\r\n\r\nTo Erma and all of you old feminists? I\'m not sitting here any more. I know I\'ve let things get away, but I\'m running. And when it\'s time to pass the torch on to my daughters, I\'m going to be the old feminist running with them.','The Old Feminists Were Right','','inherit','open','open','','5465-revision-5','','','2012-03-15 07:46:28','2012-03-15 14:46:28','',5465,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/15/5465-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5487,134,'2012-03-16 05:05:27','2012-03-16 12:05:27','Sodoma - The Rape of the Sabine Women - WGA21549.jpg','Sodoma - The Rape of the Sabine Women - WGA21549.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','sodoma_-_the_rape_of_the_sabine_women_-_wga21549','','','2012-03-16 05:05:27','2012-03-16 12:05:27','',5480,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Sodoma_-_The_Rape_of_the_Sabine_Women_-_WGA21549.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5488,134,'2012-03-16 05:11:08','2012-03-16 12:11:08','<img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/An6LGApCAAI61t9-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"#ididnotreport\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" align=\"right\" />What can a hashtag like <em><a title=\"#ididnotreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididnotreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididnotreport</a></em> (<em>I did not report</em>) do for a social network like <a title=\"Twitter\" href=\"http://www.twitter.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a>? In the past two or three days, it\'s given many women and a few men from all parts of the world an outlet to express their feelings on their experiences with rape and/or other forms of sexual abuse. Many have posted their reasons why they <em>didn\'t report</em> the attack(s) and/or abuse -- often blaming the system (legal, social, etc). What we\'ve considered a special event (huge all-of-a-sudden phenomenon) for the past several days in a social network (in this case, <a title=\"Twitter\" href=\"http://www.twitter.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a>) hasn\'t been covered by big newscasters leaving bloggers with the duty to report it. This is shamefully pathetic, but this might be the <em>rape culture</em> many have referred to -- what an eye opener!\n\nOther tags that\'ve come out as a result of <em><a title=\"#ididnotreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididnotreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididnotreport</a></em> are\n<ol>\n	<li><em><a title=\"#ididreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididreport</a></em> (<em>I did report</em>), which simply means that the survivor did report the attack and/or abuse</li>\n	<li>and <em><a title=\"#rapeculture\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#rapeculture\" target=\"_blank\">#rapeculture</a></em> (<em>rape culture</em>), which has been used to describe the vulgarity of social behavior and/or attitude toward rape survivors (<em>always the victim\'s fault</em>).</li>\n</ol>\nMost of these 140-character stories disgust me. It\'s stupid how society and the legal system victimize the survivor for a second time (if not more) right after being raped -- including emergency personnel who don\'t show any empathy to police officers who never show up.\n\nIn a cyber-world of anonymity, it\'s strange when many women and men open up to tell the world their deepest secrets -- some for the first time ever. Some are faceless and nameless, but others do have faces and names. It\'s disturbing when the person posting her experiences of being raped is still a child or when a person writes about a friend or relative committing suicide as the result of being violated.\n\nI\'ve heard some of these stories before. Some of my friends (female and male) have gone through rape or another form of sexual abuse, especially when they were children. It\'s like cycle that produces monsters who all do the same horrors again and again.\n\nBy the way, I stand by my previous <a title=\"life after sex: surviving\" href=\"http://christiannoob.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/life-after-sex-surviving/\" target=\"_blank\">statement</a> that rapists should be beaten and castrated.\n<ul>\n	<li>My respects to the woman holding the sign that reads, <em>\"My rapist doesn\'t know he\'s a rapist.\"</em></li>\n</ul>','#ididnotreport','','inherit','open','open','','5480-revision-4','','','2012-03-16 05:11:08','2012-03-16 12:11:08','',5480,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/16/5480-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5489,134,'2012-03-16 05:12:08','2012-03-16 12:12:08','<img src=\"http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/An6LGApCAAI61t9-227x300.jpg\" alt=\"#ididnotreport\" width=\"227\" height=\"300\" align=\"right\" />What can a hashtag like <em><a title=\"#ididnotreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididnotreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididnotreport</a></em> (<em>I did not report</em>) do for a social network like <a title=\"Twitter\" href=\"http://www.twitter.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a>? In the past two or three days, it\'s given many women and a few men from all parts of the world an outlet to express their feelings on their experiences with rape and/or other forms of sexual abuse. Many have posted their reasons why they <em>didn\'t report</em> the attack(s) and/or abuse -- often blaming the system (legal, social, etc). What we\'ve considered a special event (huge all-of-a-sudden phenomenon) for the past several days in a social network (in this case, <a title=\"Twitter\" href=\"http://www.twitter.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter</a>) hasn\'t been covered by big newscasters leaving bloggers with the duty to report it. This is shamefully pathetic, but this might be the <em>rape culture</em> many have referred to -- what an eye opener!\n\nOther tags that\'ve come out as a result of <em><a title=\"#ididnotreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididnotreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididnotreport</a></em> are\n<ol>\n	<li><em><a title=\"#ididreport\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#ididreport\" target=\"_blank\">#ididreport</a></em> (<em>I did report</em>), which simply means that the survivor did report the attack and/or abuse</li>\n	<li>and <em><a title=\"#rapeculture\" href=\"http://twitter.com/search/#rapeculture\" target=\"_blank\">#rapeculture</a></em> (<em>rape culture</em>), which has been used to describe the vulgarity of social behavior and/or attitude toward rape survivors (<em>always the victim\'s fault</em>).</li>\n</ol>\nMost of these 140-character stories disgust me. It\'s stupid how society and the legal system victimize the survivor for a second time (if not more) right after being raped -- including emergency personnel who don\'t show any empathy to police officers who never show up.\n\nIn a cyber-world of anonymity, it\'s strange when many women and men open up to tell the world their deepest secrets -- some for the first time ever. Some are faceless and nameless, but others do have faces and names. It\'s disturbing when the person posting her experiences of being raped is still a child or when a person writes about a friend or relative committing suicide as the result of being violated.\n\nI\'ve heard some of these stories before. Some of my friends (female and male) have gone through rape or another form of sexual abuse, especially when they were children. It\'s like cycle that produces monsters who all do the same horrors again and again.\n\nBy the way, I stand by my previous <a title=\"life after sex: surviving\" href=\"http://christiannoob.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/life-after-sex-surviving/\" target=\"_blank\">statement</a> that rapists should be beaten and castrated.\n<ul>\n	<li>My respects to the woman holding the sign that reads, <em>\"My rapist doesn\'t know he\'s a rapist.\"</em>\nPicture used in this post.\n</li>\n</ul>','#ididnotreport','','inherit','open','open','','5480-revision-5','','','2012-03-16 05:12:08','2012-03-16 12:12:08','',5480,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/16/5480-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5436,119,'2012-03-10 04:02:03','2012-03-10 12:02:03','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\n\nI didn\'t wince.\n\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says; some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\n\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\n\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\n\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\n\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\n\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\n\nThis time, I did wince.\n\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\n\nBut it made me start to think.\n\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\n\nI am not immune; I do this too.\n\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\n\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\n\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\n\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\n\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\n\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\n\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\n\nBut I need others in my life too.\n\nThe ones who will remind me with just one look that to be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.\n\nThe ones who are not impressed by me but can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.\n\nThe ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry, will perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.\n\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.','','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision','','','2012-03-10 04:02:03','2012-03-10 12:02:03','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5437,119,'2012-03-10 04:12:01','2012-03-10 12:12:01','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\n\nI didn\'t wince.\n\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\n\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\n\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\n\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\n\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\n\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\n\nThis time, I did wince.\n\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\n\nBut it made me start to think.\n\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\n\nI am not immune; I do this too.\n\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\n\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\n\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\n\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\n\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\n\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\n\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\n\nBut I need others in my life too.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\n\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?','','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision-2','','','2012-03-10 04:12:01','2012-03-10 12:12:01','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5438,119,'2012-03-10 04:36:27','2012-03-10 12:36:27','','5515495904_951f69fe16','','inherit','open','open','','5515495904_951f69fe16','','','2012-03-10 04:36:27','2012-03-10 12:36:27','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/5515495904_951f69fe16.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5439,119,'2012-03-10 04:32:40','2012-03-10 12:32:40','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\n\nI didn\'t wince.\n\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\n\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\n\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\n\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\n\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\n\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\n\nThis time, I did wince.\n\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\n\nBut it made me start to think.\n\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\n\nI am not immune; I do this too.\n\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\n\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\n\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\n\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\n\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\n\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\n\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\n\nBut I need others in my life too.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\n\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?','','','inherit','open','open','','5435-revision-3','','','2012-03-10 04:32:40','2012-03-10 12:32:40','',5435,'http://provoketive.com/2012/03/10/5435-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5146,160,'2012-02-07 10:56:22','2012-02-07 18:56:22','<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 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\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-revision-7','','','2012-02-07 10:56:22','2012-02-07 18:56:22','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/07/4823-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5147,160,'2012-02-17 07:50:11','2012-02-17 15:50:11','<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-revision-8','','','2012-02-17 07:50:11','2012-02-17 15:50:11','',4823,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/17/4823-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5435,119,'2012-03-22 08:00:19','2012-03-22 15:00:19','<em>You reminded me of Joyce Meyer, </em>she said.\r\n\r\nI didn\'t wince.\r\n\r\nI would have, once, though.  I don\'t agree with everything Joyce Meyer says.  Some of it is great.  And other parts...well, other parts are maybe not as great.\r\n\r\nBut I have come to respect this lady\'s immense skill at delivering her message when preaching.  Irrespective of some occasional question marks over some of her content, she knows how to connect with a congregation; she understands the importance of truth through personality when preaching.\r\n\r\nSo I took this statement from an African-origin lady as a massive compliment in respect of my preaching in the Bible college chapel that week.  An over-generous one, for sure.  But definitely a compliment for an introverted white-girl preacher from England whose default setting would be to preach like a quiet English girl.  To be compared with Joyce Meyer is a pretty awesome comparison, in fact.\r\n\r\nBut it was what came next that threw me.\r\n\r\n<em>Do you have a ministry, </em>she said.<em>  You should have a bigger ministry, a travelling one.  Not just the church you lead.</em>\r\n\r\nAnd when I demurred, taking it perhaps as lack of faith, she said, <em>Pray about it</em>.\r\n\r\nThis time, I did wince.\r\n\r\nI know she meant it well.  She was paying me a high compliment, one which I consider to have been loftier than the true assessment of my preach.  And I was honoured.  Of course I was.\r\n\r\nBut it made me start to think.\r\n\r\nWhy do we assume that success in Christian ministry means bigger platforms, larger crowds, more adoring listeners?  Why do we suppose that a certain degree of gifting demands a stage of equivalent size?  Why do we find it hard to conceive that to pastor one little church for all of our days might well be God\'s true will for our lives, his determination of the appropriate use of the gifts which he has given to us?\r\n\r\nI am not immune; I do this too.\r\n\r\nI claim that I must focus on the roots of my tree, deepening them ever-more in a search for the water of life.  I even <a href=\"http://theartofsteering.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/not-so-lost-in-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">go public on my blog </a>about it.  A statement that spiritual depth is what matters.  A declaration that if the branches of the tree which is my life grow wider and higher in their reach, then that is up to God; I will not promote myself because promotion comes only from the Lord.\r\n\r\nAnd yet within four weeks or so, I have already got myself confused about this.  I start to focus on growing my reach.  I don\'t forget the roots, but they become one priority among many.  I begin to succumb to the cult of Christian ministry.  I too assume that success means a platform.\r\n\r\nUntil God whispers in my heart one day.\r\n\r\nUntil the next day when he sends another to discern my heart and ask me what I think I\'m doing.\r\n\r\nAnd I remember the truth I have always known.  The truth that to be a minister is to labour in the field which God gives us, not the one we think should be ours.  That the work of God is often hidden to the world, though our Father in heaven sees it.  And that the cross redefines the way of success every time.\r\n\r\nI need this to be the theme of my life.  A life which chooses the way of the cross over a platform.  A life which can look at the gifts which God has bestowed and yet be willing to use them wherever he decides, rather than to seek my own \'bigger ministry\' wherever I decide.\r\n\r\nI am grateful for the kindness of those who honour me with compliments too big for me.  There is a ministry of encouragement in such things.\r\n\r\nBut I need others in my life too.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ones who will remind me with just one look that\r\nto be a minister is to walk in the way of the cross.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ones who are not impressed by me\r\nbut can ask the right questions, bring the needed rebukes.</em></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ones who, even as they celebrate my joys in ministry,\r\nwill perceive the state of my heart and hold it to its true call.</em></p>\r\nAnd so, lovely as the compliments from others are, these are the ones whose words matter most to me.  These are the ones with whom I can trust my heart.\r\n\r\nBut, enough of me; what about you?  Do you have those who will remind you of the true call in your life, a call which leads us downwards, a call away from the glory of the flesh and towards the glory of the One who became flesh?  And, if not, how could you start to become open to receiving - and, indeed, offering - such friendship?\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/axelhartmann/5515495904/\" target=\"_blank\">Photo credit</a>','Platform for Ministry?','','publish','open','open','','platform-for-ministry','','','2012-03-20 18:08:40','2012-03-21 01:08:40','',0,'http://provoketive.com/?p=5435',0,'post','',12),(5149,20,'2012-02-17 10:12:36','2012-02-17 18:12:36','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.\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 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.\n\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:\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>\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.\n\nI hope that this distinction makes sense, and I\'m curious as to whether it resonates with others.\n\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:\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>\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 strive to somehow order our lives so 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.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','two kinds of faith: from interventional to enabling ','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-8','','','2012-02-17 10:12:36','2012-02-17 18:12:36','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/17/4866-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5150,20,'2012-02-17 10:12:51','2012-02-17 18:12:51','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.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','two kinds of faith: from interventional to enabling ','','inherit','open','open','','4866-revision-9','','','2012-02-17 10:12:51','2012-02-17 18:12:51','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/17/4866-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5151,20,'2012-03-24 13:55:23','2012-03-24 20:55:23','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.\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 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.\n\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:\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>\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.\n\nI hope that this distinction makes sense, and I\'m curious as to whether it resonates with others.\n\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:\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>\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 ','','inherit','open','open','','4866-autosave','','','2012-03-24 13:55:23','2012-03-24 20:55:23','',4866,'http://provoketive.com/2012/02/17/4866-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),