the view from her

In a very interesting circle of events, former Los Angeles Times investigative journalist Bill Lobdell has joined with ex-felon Barry Minkow to launch iBusiness Reporting, “an online news operation that will report on business corruption and fraud.”

Bill is the author of “Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America–and Found Unexpected Peace,” a memoir of how he gave up his faith while covering the corruption of televangelists and the Catholic sex abuse scandal. Minkow founded the Fraud Discovery Institute, an organization that that has uncovered more than 1.8 billion in financial fraud. He’s also senior pastor of Community Bible Church in San Diego.

The new venture will provide investigative news stories and report other news content about business corruption. This is interesting to me because Lobdell is a great writer and excellent investigative reporter - something we are starting to miss online as printed newspapers fade away. Also, as my friend Di pointed out:

- Ex-Christian joins investigative news enterprise
- Enterprise is run by ex-con
- Ex-con is now a senior pastor as well as businessman
- Thus, former Christian’s new partner is a believing Christian

We believers can see God’s sense of humor there. But everyone can be glad to see them both join their considerable talents to make the world better, by bringing financial accountability and justice into today’s economic chaos.

It’s there… looming. Oh yes, the Superbowl hype and parties and such allow you to ignore it this weekend, but then there it is, blocking out all light on the horizon. What singles refer to as “Black Sunday.”

Couple of suggestions. First, you may warily consider seeing the movie Valentine’s Day with its “all-star ensemble cast” which looks suspiciously like it’s all about couples. Still, with a group of friends who have a sense of humor, a little bit of fun and romance may be appreciated.

Second, invite some friends over - potluck - for a casual dinner and a movie. Require everyone to bring a themed gift - maybe something red - for a white elephant exchange, and set the limit at $5. Yes, that’s right, just $5 and no cheating. It’s possible, but you have to be way more creative, so it’s way more fun. Then watch an old movie (you don’t have to worry so much about R-rated content). I recommend How to Marry a Millionaire, a hilarious film with an all-star ensemble cast including Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall.

And third - single, married or dating - you may just be looking for an alternative to this over-hyped Hallmark holiday. In a world where Haiti is still completely devastated, spending upwards of a hundred dollars for flowers/dinner/chocolate may not seem… quite right. Check out Free Wheelchair Mission’s Valentine suggestion. For just $60 you can put a human being in a light, all-terrain wheelchair, providing them with freedom and dignity. You can do it for Haiti. That would be a sweet expression of love.

Here’s an interesting blog post reviewing an article about why women are finding it harder to find Mr. Right. Theories range from women who are too highly educated for the average beer-drinking Joe (yes, we could all be happily involved if our only criteria was pants), to a scientific phenomenon known as “operational sex ratio.” (Which basically means you don’t want to be a single male in China for the next 15 years or so.) What actually does make sense is the television theory: a constant assault by the media portraying men as stupid, incompetent dads and husbands.

“So our society has created a mess where men are vilified in the classroom, fed PC rhetoric, told their life’s goal is to make women happy and do anything that assists her with her goals, while simultaneously told that he is a dope, idiot and unable to care properly for children, and now people are questioning where Mr. Right went?

He just became the stereotype that society has portrayed him as for the last 20 years.”

(HT: Impacted Wisdom Truth)

On Sunday I had the privilege of being part of an amazing experience, Lumen.131. With a tagline “Bringing questions to light,” the goal was to begin an open discussion about some topics that we as believers can often find difficult to discuss, and hopefully find ways to compassionately engage with them. Check out the link above for what it’s all about, and bios of the presenters. Here are some key highlights:

Alan Hirsch
God - Jesus - Spirituality - Church
Alan pointed out that in general, most people in our world either believe in God, or are comfortable with the concept. They also pretty much like Jesus, they think he was a great teacher, and generally a good guy. People are also searching for spirituality - it’s obvious in today’s literature, story lines, and the way we respond to things around us. But most people don’t like the church. Here’s the takeaway: Alan pointed out that the first 3 concepts are our 3 core messages - and they are all still intact in today’s culture. Rather than worry about the church losing ground, we need to focus on engaging culture in these core areas where we share common ground.

Bethany Huang, Naomi Zacharias, Sandie Morgan
Three activists on a discussion panel about sex trafficking. Bethany recalled seeing a sign that first made it real to her: “Stop rape for profit.” This is what sex trafficking really is. A term I’d never heard - “sex tourism” - is largely the reason in many countries that 12-year-old girls are sold into brothels. Sandie Morgan brought it close to home by describing how it happens right here in Orange County, California. We need to pay attention, and not be afraid to speak up.

Tyler Wigg-Stevenson
The circle on the screen is the effective range of 1 nuclear bomb dropped in Irvine, CA. Why is this even an issue for Christians? Here’s why: 1) 60,000 souls enter eternity, their destination unsure. 2) 320 square miles of God’s creation for our good is ruined for a generation. 3) If, for example, a bomb detonated at Port of Los Angeles, shipping & supply around the world shuts down. Is there another bomb? Just like 9/11 when all aircraft were grounded, no one would be allowed to enter the country. 4) Humanitarian efforts stop immediately as we focus on survival. Your church stops supporting missions. We forget Haiti. The suffering of the poor around the world is increased. As Tyler said, “You don’t even have to be a Christian to care about this.”

Andrew Marin
Andrew is a married believer who lives and works in a gay community. His passion is to find ways to bridge the chasm between the entrenched positions of both Christians and gays to have constructive engagement. This was clearly a topic whose time has come. Key comments: “It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict. It’s God’s job to judge. It’s my job to love.” And, “when did the church change from come as you are to change in order to come?” And, “When you believe what I believe THEN we’ll be reconciled - that’s not biblical reconciliation.”

Nearly 600 people were there. Not everyone agreed, and we didn’t expect them to. But we were so encouraged to see believers willing to engage, willing to wrestle with their own biases or apathy, and try to find a compassionate, God-honoring response.

TJV = The Jan Version:

I’ve waited for God so often in my life;
he hears me. He notices.
He’s rescued me from some pretty crappy situations,
Messy, lonely, no-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel places;
and put me on solid footing.

I have a life so rich I never thought it was possible,
and it’s only because of him.
Incredibly, my story has encouraged others,
and reminds them of God’s faithfulness.

God, really, you’ve done so many amazing things.
So many “coincidental” things that fit together perfectly.
When I think back over my life,
I see you working everywhere.

And you know what? I think I’m finally starting to get it.
It’s not about anything I’ve done, how I served or how much I gave.
Turns out it’s just like the Bible says:
God is pleased when our only goal is to become the person He wants.

God, I’ve been telling everyone about your interaction in my story.
I’ve told about both the successes, and my failures.
I’m not trying to do it by myself - alone, in secret;
I talk about your faithfulness and provision.
I tell everyone in the blogosphere and twitterverse
of your love and faithfulness to me.

So don’t hold back now.
Now, when I’m really counting on your unfailing love and faithfulness and protection.
Because I’m afraid, drowning in “what if’s?”—
and I can’t see a way out.
I’m sorry God, I’ve lost all courage.

Please, Lord, rescue me…
As soon as possible, please help me.
And if there are those who think “she must have done something to deserve it,”
or, “thank God I’m not in her position,”
Well, let them see what happens when you’re in charge.
In fact, let them be stunned by what you do in my life.

And for others who are desperately searching for you
Oh God please provide for all their needs and most of their wants.
Fill them with your hope and joy and faith and gratitude
until all they can say is, “ohmygosh God is so awesome!”

As for me, since I am poor and needy,
God, just let me know you haven’t forgotten me.
I do trust you to save me.
But dear God, would you please hurry?

For all its obsession with the world’s “leadership” hype, the church’s traditionally male leaders nevertheless suspect a creeping “masculinity crisis” in the church. While one could consider a crisis of this sort a reflection of leadership - (ahem) - today’s leaders seem to have taken one of two approaches: blame women for coming to church more often and in greater numbers than men (feminization), or develop programs and strategies designed to appeal to more… manly men.

Okay, I just re-read that paragraph and wanted to laugh. Good grief - we’re talking about church here. It really shouldn’t be that hard.

What got me thinking about this was a recent blog post, “How NOT to Respond to the Church’s ‘Masculinity Crisis.’” The author articulately addresses Pastor Mark Driscoll’s opinion that “Sixty percent of Christians are chicks, and the forty percent that are dudes are still sort of chicks.” Driscoll states he cannot worship a guy he “could beat up.” Which to me says more about him than it does about Jesus.

And that reminded me of something my friend T.W. (Tech Wizard) at my previous church said, when I asked him about “feminization” versus male leadership. He said:

“It’s because the church leaders have gotten caught up in marketing. And marketing is mostly geared towards women. And most of them don’t know how to lead - really lead - MEN.”

Really, Driscoll is just marketing a butched-up Jesus, one that appeals to “ultimate fighters” and WWF fans. Or, as Rachel said in the link above, a Jesus that’s easier to follow. That won’t fix the perceived “masculinity” conundrum in the church. Because the real problem is our desire for our church to be popular. Great leadership has become equated with great numbers, and slanting the message to target wider audiences has simply created a Jesus that’s easier to follow. And that’s not leadership.

There are some topics that seem safer to keep off limits. Now that the holidays are behind us, it’s safe to discuss the things that everyone agreed to ignore over Christmas dinner: cousin Andy’s stint in drug rehab, Aunt Paula’s obvious alcoholism, the unrepaid loan to Uncle Ted. Everyone’s so entrenched in long-established positions there’s just no way to even have a conversation about the issues everyone realizes may be hugely significant to the family.

There are a few of these issues that conflict the Church today. We believe homosexuality is wrong, but struggle to reconcile this with God’s love and forgiveness. Does God have a position on the use of nuclear weapons? We realize that sex trafficking is a $12 billion a year enterprise, but we don’t know where or how to begin to address it.

Here’s your chance to talk about it.

If you live in southern California, Lumen 1:31 is a one-afternoon conversation about these very topics - “bringing questions to light.” Featuring speakers who are currently influencing these avenues of culture with the gospel message, the afternoon also includes time for questions and dialog. Check out all the info at Lumen131.com. The afternoon is being hosted at Mariners Church in Irvine.

A lumen is “the volume of space illuminated from a point source having an intensity of one candle.” This informative event will begin a conversation that can really illuminate these difficult issues. I highly recommend it.

I can’t help it. This has been a down week, mostly because I’ve been pretty sick with the cold/flu. Between drinking Nyquil and lying on the couch moaning, there just wasn’t a lot of motivation for blogging, or tweeting, or Facebook-ing

Actually, there’s more. I got sick. Then the holiday job in the shoe department came to an end. And then I found out I’m apparently the only one out of like 8 million people not eligible for even one extension of unemployment. (That just happens to be a drawback of working for a non-profit.)

So I claimed this verse: “My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me.” Gotta love Job.

Because the thing is, Job kept going anyway. God let Satan strip away everything - Job’s family, his possessions, his livelihood. And somehow, Job got up every day and kept going. He argued with friends. He railed at God. He questioned, was frustrated, evaluated his actions. I’m not sure why we speak of “the patience of Job.” Believe me, patience has nothing to do with getting up every day and waiting for whatever is next - good or bad. There’s no other option than waiting.

So here’s what I know. God allows (and sometimes causes) things in our lives to be stripped away. Things we ordinarily might be tempted to take credit for or find identity in - careers, resources, creativity, income, abilities. And when they’re gone, we’re left sitting questioning, frustrated, evaluating… just like Job. We cling to our faith, get up every day and keep going.

Because the next thing that happens is… God answers out of the storm.

And it’s a big one: Married women gain more weight.

Feel free to use this information with discretion in conversations about why you’re not married. Heh.

• Thanks to about a trillion bailout dollars, money really does “grow on trees.” Just not for you and me.
• Established companies ignore social media at their own peril.
• A black man can be president
• Beer really might help solve the world’s problems.
• Some remarkably talented singers don’t come in pop-star packaging.
• Tiger Woods isn’t perfect.
• Neither is President Obama.
• Terrorists are not finished trying to kill us yet.
• Giving it away for free still makes money: U2’s radical decision to live stream their Los Angeles concert.
• Regular folks on Twitter continually beat professional news organizations to breaking stories.
• Global warming experts “cooked the books.”
• Imma tell you why live television is so entertaining.
• It actually is possible for a plane to make a water landing.
• We’re fickle… It’s not okay for some people to have eight children, but it’s okay for others. Except when it’s not.
• Occasionally, there’s not “an app for that.” But maybe in 2010…