Random Conversations in Random Places

It's time again for another rousing story of "Interesting Conversations Sarah Finds Herself In When She's In Random Places", which is what I assume everyone waits for in their days. =)

A couple years ago, I shared about the Starbucks conversation; on Saturday there was another blog-worthy with a man who tried to scare me out of doing international missions (ask for that one later).

However, today's conversation didn't occur in Starbucks...no, no...it was at the chiropractor's office.

There are several reasons why I love going to the chiropractor. Getting my back fixed is one; moments like this afternoon is one as well.

Starting with the Seahawks and their stylish and practical gear, the conversation quickly turned to what I did this weekend. Well, considering that homework encompasses my life, I mentioned to my doctor that I wrote a biblical theology paper. I'm assuming he thought this was cool/interesting because for the next 10 + minutes we discussed (meaning he talked, I listened in fascination) "theoretical theological quantum physics", the Matrix and the Bible.

Now, I've never seen the Matrix ("Firefly" & Orson Scott Card tap my nerdery in sci-fi stuff), but I've read the Bible. And I've never before considered them as having anything to do with the other. Until now.

Thus, I give you the short-short version of the "theoretical theological quantum physics" as per my chiropractor:

Ok, so, in the "Matrix" people are really just warm bodies in vats run by machines (I keep saying this is going to happen!). Neo, our protagonist friend, is the sum of all the anomalies in the machinery universe. He has "free will" and can see outside of the created world that the machines have created for humanity. He is told that he is the 6th version of the anomaly so that the machines can keep "upgrading." So Neo 7.0 is just the one that we, the audience, are introduced to, but he is not the only, nor will he be the last.

At this point, I couldn't really see where this was going to tie in with the Bible, but this is what my doctor then said (Sarah's paraphrase): "It's like Genesis/Revelation - God says that in the end, He will create a new heaven & a new earth. How many times has He or will He do that? It doesn't matter for Him to tell us; what matters is His love and grace for us now. But it's an interesting theory."

And for the last 6 hours, I have been turning this over in my head. I have since come up with 3 thoughts (yes, only three):

1. It's really moot for God to tell us if we're the 2nd or 6th or 12th version of heaven & earth. And we're never going to know that this side of heaven. What does matter is that God loves us and has asked us to demonstrate this love to the rest of the world. I've been so annoyed in one of my classes this semester - Christian Theology 2 - because we go round and round and round about whether or not someone can lose their salvation and if all are elect or if there is an "elect" and if babies go to heaven when they die. Yes, those are important things to talk about and consider and hammer out biblically. But at the end of the day, the biggest thing that matters, no matter what side of an argument you land on, is the fact that God loves us and wants us to love Him and others in return. It's irrelevant for Him to give us all the details about His character, His plan for the universe, history, future, etc because the biggest thing to know and acknowledge is His love.

2. That guy is smart. And I'm a little jealous.

3. My life is hilarious. I get to have the greatest conversations in the most random places and carry them around with me forever. So many reasons to keep going back to the chiropractor. =)

This concludes Sarah's random conversation of the day with her doctor. However, I am curious: have ya'll had an awesomely random conversations lately? And what do you think of the "theoretical theological quantum physics" theory?

New Things, New Things...

If you know me, you know that I am not a big fan of “topical sermons.” I have heard enough poorly exegeted messages that it has left me with a foul taste in my mouth for what I consider proof-texting. So I unfortunately tend to shy away from and devalue the practice of topical sermons.

Which is exactly what my pastor is doing for the month of July.

However, I trust Bob and know that he is a hermeneutical guy. So I made an agreement with my brain that I would calm down, let him preach, and me refrain from judgment for the month.

I am glad God got to me.

Two Sundays ago, Bob preached on the book of Revelation. Indeed, yes, the whole book. And yes, I went into PTSD when I heard about apocaplyticism, pre-,a-, and post-millenialism; I got the shakes when I heard 666 and the “rapture” referenced. But it was a beautiful exposition of a book that we simply can’t and don’t understand.

Over on SereYodh, you too can learn about some heavy topics that we’ll be delving into during the month of July. I have posted about Revelation from Bob’s sermon (and added my own notes). I’m still the “research” hand of Bob’s sermon-planning, a task that I have missed and love.

Hope you learn some interesting things in the next few weeks!!

Talk Thursday // Context Is King

On Wednesday nights, my pastor and I co-teach a hermeneutics small group for my church (hermeneutics is just a $10 word for process of interpreting the Bible). Anyway, we were discussing the hermeneutical process and interpretation and context, so as not to misinterpret the Bible. Most people there were not as excited about this, I think, as I was. Granted, I was hopped up on Sudafed, so I don't know that I can tell anything. =)

This is my dorky side coming straight out: I love biblical interp. Hebrew makes me happy on the inside; reading commentaries about obscure passages in the Old Testament lights up my day. But I am a nerd extraordinaire. 

So today's question: what dorky thing drives you? Do you like to read the dictionary? (I won't judge that cause I like to as well.) Do you play RPG's? (I might judge that... ;) ) Is LOTR Risk your favorite game? (I will judge that.) Do you read expositions of French Theatre in your spare time? Do you have a dorky side? 

That's a lot of questions. But the people want to know! What dorky thing makes you who you are?

I Got Tagged...

1. Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4th folder.
2. Go to the 4th picture and post it.
3. Explain the picture
4. Tag an additional 4 people.

Nic "tagged" me in this endeavor, so I decided to follow suit. Mostly cause I like those Tews, but also cause I like sharing pictures. =) So....

This is a photo of the road to Damascus. Damascus, Missouri, that is. =)

All through college it was a dream of mine to travel on this road and take a picture so I could say I was "on the road to Damascus."  (It's funny because of Paul. And Jesus. Oh, Bible humor...)

Anyway, I lived in Missouri for 5 years and never once did I head down this road. So in October, when I was there visiting, my girlfriends and I pulled over on Highway 13 and headed down towards Damascus. It was awesome. 

And because this is a "game" to play, I tag Sarah C., Mr. Maples, Jamie in SoCal, and Teresa in Ft. Worth. 

[ I know the game called for the one picture, but I can't help but share these too... =) ]

Emily and I running towards Damascus...

Jenny having a "Pauline" experience.

Oh happy days on the road to Damascus. =)

Deuteronomy 25.11

The Bible is weird. For those of you who haven't read it, it's weirdness is probably what is keeping you away. For those of you who have, you know what I'm talking about. 

There are some weird things happening all throughout the pages of Scripture - things we can't even begin to get our minds around (Judges 19, anyone?)

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is called a "sundry law" which states that "If two men, a man and his countryman, are struggling together, and the wife of one comes near to deliver her husband from the hand of the one who is striking him, and puts out her hand and seizes his genitals, then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity." (Deut. 25.11)

       

(thank you for the visual aids, TheBrickTestament)

Why is this my favorite? I don't know. But I like to use it as a threat. Until I remember that the retaliation is that my hand will be cut off...

Still! Stuff like this is in the Bible! Mixed in there with Moses and the temple and Jesus! Why, even in the Ancient NearEast, with the Hebrew people, would this have even been an issue?! I honestly don't know. 

How utterly strange. 

And how wonderfully fascinating. 

Man, the Bible is weirdly cool!

Honesty

I doubt the validity of my faith.

I doubt the historicity of Biblical texts.

I doubt the inerrancy of the Bible.

I doubt that my prayers get heard.

I doubt that God loves me the way He says He does.

I doubt that life will one day be ok.

I doubt that God's love is never-ceasing.


I don't want to doubt. Doubt Him, doubt others, doubt myself. But I do. And some days I feel helpless to stop it.

Does this make me less of a Christian? Does it mean that God is pissed because of me and my distrust? Often that feels true. But in spite of my doubt and my questions and my antagonism, God still remains true and I just need to hold onto that.


But some days it's just harder to believe.

Halloween Tradition

Today is Halloween. If you know me, you know I'm not a big fan. This could be blamed on my Southern Baptist upbringing or my aversion to masks or that I'm just not that creative.* But, for the last couple years I've had a "Halloween tradition". It started in college when I did workstudy for Dr. Fuhrman. It's not everyone's Halloween cup o' scary, but I like it. Sure, I still go to parties and enjoy candy like a fat kid enjoys....candy. Wow....

And we could blame this tradition on my Southern Baptist upbringing, Dr. Fuhrman, or the fact that I'm just not that creative.* Whatever the reason, my little Halloween tradition makes my little heart get excited for this holiday.

I watch Luther.

Before you get "all-up-on's" because I'm a dork, understand the history. Martin Luther, depicted in the movie by Joseph Finnes, posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenburg Castle Church on October 31, 1517. This led to the beginning of the Reformation, the Protestant movement and ultimately to the secession from the Catholic church.

It has action, theology, and a little romance. That's like the trifecta of awesome. Plus, church history and a bunch of German words. Does it get much better than that? I submit: no.

So, if you don't have any super exciting plans for Halloween tonight, you too can be as cool as me and enjoy a nice night with Martin Luther and all his Reformational buddies, watching them tear down the walls between the people and the clergy and opening up the Bible to a hungry people. (I really do sound like a nerd...)

* By the way, I'm actually stoked tonight about my costume because I got creative. It's a-ma-za-zing. Pictures tomorrow. =)

Happy Halloween!

Hellfire & Brimstone

I think I'm bothered by something. And I don't know if I should be bothered or if it's the way things are and I need to just move on.

The other day I was discussing with someone some ideas about preaching out of Joel and Jonah. He asked me to look over some verses and get back to him with my thoughts. Two questions were raised and, really each deserves a post of it's own, but I'll try to condense it. He wondered how he would preach out of the prophets based on all the judgment going on in the prophecy; it's hard for congregations to listen to judgment sermons and not get lost is what I imagine he meant by that. He also asked why people would want to hear a sermon based on Jonah or Joel - other than people who want to just because it's in the Bible.

That's why.

And this is what bothers me.

I believe that as Christians grow in their maturity, in their faith, in their relationship with the Lord and with fellow believers, they should want to read the Bible because it's the Bible. Do we always? No. I was a Bible major for 4 years and there were days I had to read something and I simply wouldn't. Cause I just didn't want to. Some parts of the Bible are as entertaining as getting your teeth cleaned, listening to smooth jazz, driving through Kansas. I know this.

But we should want to. Not because of some legalistic reasoning or because we have to get "right" with God, to improve "our walk." It's the Word of God. It's awesome. I can't even begin to describe how utterly cool I think the Bible is, both from a spiritual and literary perspective.

I think the biggest reason people DON'T want to read their Bibles or study the Word is because they don't know how to. They haven't been given the opportunity to realize how cool it is.

When was the last time you heard a sermon preached on one of the minor prophets? Joel, Amos, Hosea, Malachi, Habbakuk, etc? I know people who don't even know that those are books in the Bible! Because they haven't been introduced. And I can think of very few people who are going to try and do it on their own. Because we are removed from their time and their language and their culture. However, that barrier doesn't make it any less applicable for us today. God's word is living and breathing, and it cuts across time and distance and language to reach us today.

If we choose not to preach and teach parts of Scripture that are difficult or hard to understand, we are going to miss out on telling people about the awesome God we serve.

So often people color God as distant and mean and destructive and cold. This is based on the little they know of the God of the OT. He's not a Gandalf-type God with a flowing beard and a robe who listens to angels play their harps. Nor is He is mean and judgmental God who waits to throw lightening bolts on people when they sin.

The God of the OT and of today is love and joy and restoration and comfort and longing and desire and mercy. He will do anything it takes for people to understand who He and what He longs to be for them. Locusts didn't work, exile didn't work. He even sent Himself in the form of a man to die on a cross for the people He loved. Does that sound like an vindictive or mean god? I don't think it does. His judgment is part and parcel of His great mercy (which is a post for another day). We can't skip over these difficult parts of scripture just because they aren't as "applicable" as Paul.

I think we don't give the people in our congregations enough credit when we think that they can't handle learning new things or things that are hard. Whether they are new Christians or "grew up in the church", people have brains. They are able to hear a word from the Lord, especially if it's HIS word.

This isn't a slam against pastors or teachers or preachers or churches or even my friend. This is just my heart saying that it's vital that we present the whole truth, every aspect of God's character to our churches. I long for people to read the Bible and get drawn into the love story. Because that's what it is.