Detoxing from Church

I found this blog very interesting and convicting - I articulates many of my chaotic thoughts.

The Off Ramp

Imaginary Lord

In the book Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller writes: "It feels as if believing in God was no more rational than having an imaginary friend." I think that Don has never had an imaginary friend. After I read this it clicked - I think deep faith requires wild imagination.

I had an imaginary friend once, her name was Honey. She was a live-in girl friend of sorts. We did everything together, I even remember bringing an extra chair to the diner table for her, which my parents tolerated. We were very close, I told her everything about me. She new what I liked and what I didn't, what I felt, and what my mood was. It was hard to get her to be as open as me, but regardless we shared a certain intimacy.

I think my relationship with Honey has prepared me for a deeper understanding of a God who is like a genie in a lamp - "Enormous cosmic powers, in a itty-bitty living space." God's all encompassing existence does not keep him from being my best (imaginary) friend, in who I will confide my likes, dislikes, feelings, and deepest secrets.

What"s in a Name?

A question I am still searching for an answer to...

Why do we call Jesus by his name, Satan by his name, but we call God by his title? Why don't we call him Yahweh, or AM, the names he gave to the Isrealites. I feel this name conundrum limits my understanding of the intimate nature of Yahweh. He desires to be my living friend, like Jesus, he's not dead, nor is he remote, so why are we so impersonal? Is it just a comfort issue? Like when people call Yahweh daddy, that is just a little wierd. What do you think?

Me, I'm gonna start a revolution to call him Yahweh.

Here I am, Come and get Me!

My 8 month old daughter does not like to go to sleep. She really wants to be a part of everything that is going on. She does not have the wisdom to know that she needs to sleep, that is my job. Sometimes she's more interested than others, but usually I have to probe her to find the best way to convince her to sleep is. Sometimes she needs a bottle, other times ten minutes in the rocking chair, and in the most dire circumstances - daddy to walk her around the house. I always seem to find the right way to get at her, it may take a few tries, but eventually I win!

I think Yahweh comes at me that way. Sometimes I'm more interested in him, other times I'm not. He keeps coming, looking for the smallest crack to squeeze through to find me - and he always does. He comes to me where I am. I imagine, just like putting Hannah to bed, there are times that are easier than others. No matter, he comes to me. Yahweh seeks me out, and finds me, and eventually He wins!

So - I believe that method to be the ONLY way to effectively share Yahweh's love with others. I can not expect people to understand him and his love through my perspective. Yahweh will come at them the way they need to be put to sleep. He will rock them, feed them, or walk with them until they feel the security of his presence. I must love people in this way. Understanding life from their circumstances. If a friend is broken, I will choose to be broken in love with him. If a stranger is celebrating, I will choose to celebrate with her.

Of course as in all things Yahweh is far wiser than I - so I ask: "Lord, give me wisdom to know how to love my neighbor."