Great resources to open our minds!

My last post, Whose side are you on?, posed a challenge for us all...

Personalize, instead of generalize.

In order to do that, I suggested we explore different people, different religions, and different cultures.

Not to change ourselves but to change the way we think about God's children.

I figured I would offer some suggestions and resources to help you get started!

Movies/TV/Documentaries

Our America with Lisa Ling - TV show that follows journalist, Lisa Ling, as she explores many different topics such as the foster care system, teenage pregnancy, gun violence, child abuse, racism, transgender lives and many more. She gets all sides of the topic and really shows us the reality of all of these. 

I LOVE this show because it opens my eyes to things that I usually generalize, but now can personalize.

Arranged - A movie that follows the friendship of an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman. This is such a good movie!!!

For the Bible Tells Me So -Documentary that explores how homosexuality and religion often intersect due to certain interpretations, which can cause stigma.
This simply offers another way of thinking.

Saint of 9/11 - Documentary that shares the life of Father Mychal Judge, a fire department chaplain in NYC.

Chely Wright: Wish Me Away - "This documentary profiles country music star Chely Wright, a devout Christian who struggled to succeed in the business while hiding her homosexuality." What a story!

Under Our Skin - A documentary about the Lyme Disease epidemic and the many controversies that go with it.
This is such a well-done documentary that really captures the pain that Lyme Disease causes. I cried my eyes out the first couple times of watching it, because I felt like I wasn't alone finally.

Books

Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne - This book (except for the Bible) was the first book to really challenge me. It follows Shane's journey as he wrestles with poverty, suffering, homelessness, and much more. This is a must read!!

Torn by Justin Lee - If you've ever wondered about the gay debate in church, this is a great starting point. It offers a personal story of a man who struggles with his sexuality in the church and his desire to know the truth.

Strangers at My Door: A True Story of Finding Jesus in Unexpected Guests by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove - This is a neat compilation of stories about a hospitality house for all. It's an enjoyable, heart wrenching, easy read.

Unfair by John Shore - This book is a compilation of letters from people who have struggled with their sexuality. This is definitely an eye opener. I'm not finished reading this book yet, but every chapter offers a new perspective.

Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong - This book (although I haven't finished yet) offers an in-depth historical and cultural perspective of Muhammad and the Muslim faith. Great insight & unique facts that I've never heard before!

Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said? by Shane Claiborne & Tony Campolo - I love this book because it covers an array of controversial subjects and challenges us to really think about what Jesus would think/do. Very challenging, but easy read!

I hope you will check out these awesome books/documentaries! Before I was introduced to these, it was hard for me to understand and empathize with these certain topics, because for so long they were generalized. Now they are "personalized".
I went to a Compassionate Communication workshop with my sister awhile back and we did an exercise that really struck me. We were to walk around the room silently and every 30 seconds we would stop in front of a person and look them in the eyes. The instructor would say phrases like, "Realize that the person in front of you has a heart" or "Realize that this person has undergone trials and suffering just like you". It may sound strange but it proved the point that we all have emotions and a story. It reinforced the truth that ALL people deserve respect, dignity, compassion and kindness, despite our beliefs.

Following in Your Footsteps: And the answer is...

I've been wanting to write this post for awhile, but for some reason, it seemed to continually be put on the backburner. You know what? I'm glad it did!

 Raise your hand if you know the answers for...
How do we gain world peace?
How do I love my sibling who annoys me?
How do I forgive?
How do I see eye to eye with someone who I disagree with?
 

I just started a new book and as I read the intro  I realized that it could be a huge tool in opening my eyes even wider to what the answer is in terms of being a better Christian.

 Each page turned in Red Letter Revolution, my eyes watered and my heart stretched.

It dawned on me that my attempt of being a Christian hasn't earned me a gold star or an A+. I have failed to really follow what Jesus has taught me. My eyes have skimmed over the red letters in the New Testament (the red letters being Jesus' words). Yes, I may have read His teachings but my reaction most likely resembled, "Wow, I wouldn't be able to do/say that" or "Aw, how nice...Jesus sure is an amazing guy!" Instead, I should have reacted in a way of, "That's the answer...that's how I reach my hurting sisters and brothers...thank you Jesus for showing me the way to their hearts...I can't wait to go out and serve them, just like You have served us."

 

The Gospel is all about love, service, and redemption. I believe that Jesus didn't serve those people just so we could read about it and adore Him. [Yes, we should definitely adore Him for who He is because He is amazing!] Instead, we should take one step farther and not only adore Him, but follow in His footsteps. He has shown us how to reach people. He wants to use us to represent the kingdom of God. Jeremiah 29:11 says that He has great plans for us and I believe that the number one plan He has is that we embody the kingdom of God.

You know those questions I asked in the beginning of the post?

Jesus has given us the answer.

Jesus is the answer.

 

When deciding what to do for the homeless & poor...Jesus is the answer.

When talking about war...Jesus is the answer.

When fighting with a friend...Jesus is the answer.

When in contact with someone different than us (whether it be color, orientation, religion)...Jesus is the answer.

 

Love, service & grace is who I see Jesus as. That's what He was and is about. So many times I have chosen the wrong answer. I have answered in a way that religion and legalism (not Gospel based) would have me answer or I have acted out of own self-interest, but guess what? Jesus would have never answered in that way. More times than not, I think we answer to situations based on our comfort level, pocket book, and traditions that have been passed down. We fail when we do that.
We aren't representing the kingdom of God when we find our answer apart from Jesus.

 

Now, the last thing I want to do is to make us feel like failures in our attempt to be Christ-like. I'm writing this as motivation, as a reminder of what our motives should be. We talk so much about what we should do and search for the answers, when all along the answer has been standing right in front of us...Jesus.
Thank God for His loving-kindness and forgiveness towards us. Now we can step forward and follow in Jesus' footsteps, rather than walking in the opposite direction.
 

1 John 4:7-12 says, "⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us."

 

 Friends, if we know that God is love and that when we love one another, God abides in us, that should give us the motivation and confidence to live our lives in the shadow of who Jesus is. He loved the down and out. He even loved the people who nailed Him to the cross.

Do we have enough faith to turn the other cheek?
Do we have enough faith to give the coat off our backs?
Do we have enough faith to love our enemies?

 Tony Campolo has asked himself and I think we can ask the same question...
"Do we have enough faith to live this radical lifestyle?"

I challenge you to read the red letters of the Bible (Jesus' words) not as a story, but as a lifestyle...as an answer to change the world.

 

 

 Will you join me in following in Jesus' footsteps?

Check out www.redletterchristians.org or read the book Red Letter Revolution by Shane Claiborne & Tony Campolo about the many controversial issues that the church faces today.

Following in Your Footsteps: What makes a Christian?

 

When you think of a Christian, what do you think of?

 

-A person who goes to church every single Sunday, including a Bible study every week.

-A person who puts money in the offering plate at church.

-A person who has a "Christian fish" on their car bumper.

-A person who has 75 Bible verses memorized.

 

OR maybe you think of a Christian as...

 

-A person who doesn't like to have fun.

-A person who forces their beliefs on others.

-A person who judges others in a hateful manner.

-A person who is hypocritical.

 

OR maybe when you think of a Christian, you think of all of the above.

 

If you were to look up "Christian" in the dictionary, it would probably say, "one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ". And if someone believes in something, in turn they would act on it or follow it, right?

So whatever Jesus teaches, a Christian should follow it, correct?  

 

Let's play a game of TRUE/FALSE...

-Jesus didn't like to have fun. FALSE, how could a guy not have fun with his friends (aka disciples) fishing on the boat?

-Jesus forced His beliefs on others. FALSE, of course, He told people what He thought, but He never did it in a condescending way, instead He lovingly spoke His mind.

-Jesus judged others in a hateful manner. FALSE, Jesus may have told people to repent, but He always did it in a loving way.

-Jesus was hypocritical. FALSE, what He said, He did and what He did, He said.

 

So if Jesus didn't do those things, Christians shouldn't either (but more on that on the next post). In Shane Claiborne's book, Irresistible Revolution, he said,

 "He saw Jesus in me. And I saw Jesus in Him."

That's how it should be.

If we are hypocritical, judgmental, and arrogant, people will not see Jesus in us.

Christians should strive to show Jesus to everyone around them.

Of course, because we are humans, we are not perfect, but we can still try our best to live the way Christ wants us to live.

 

 

Shane also talks about his search for a real Christian. He said, "I wondered what it would look like if we decided to really follow Jesus. In fact, I wasn't sure what a fully devoted Christian looked like or if the world had even seen one in the last few centuries. From my desk at college, it looked like some time back we had stopped living Christianity and started just studying it."

Like I said, this book may make you feel a tad bit uncomfortable, but it's so thought provoking.

 

I think many people think of Christianity as a religion, which it is; however, I think it should be seen as a way of life, instead of a list rules.

Let's eliminate the negative connotation of Christianity that our culture has created and let's simply follow Christ - loving God & loving others.

Today, I just started reading Kyle Idleman's book, Not a Fan, and  he says, "Following by definition requires more than mental assent, it calls for movement."

 

I don't know if you are following Christ, but either way, I'm so glad you are checking the series out! I hope you stop by again as we journey together about what it looks like to walk in Jesus' footsteps. I hope we can be challenged together to really, really follow Jesus. I know that I have been the opposite of Christ-like  many times, so I am thankful for God's grace and forgiveness.  

 

If you want, check out my post Are you a fan or follower? to see what category you may fit in.

 

Think about this & feel free to share below in a comment-I'd love to hear!

As Christians, what are some ways we have contributed to this negative perception? Where have we messed up and how can we shed positive light on Christianity?

 

Don't forget to pray for the unreached people group of the day!

 

Bible reading plan this week:

Monday: Nehemiah 1-3

Tuesday: Nehemiah 4-6

Wednesday: Nehemiah 7

Thursday: Nehemiah 8-9

Friday: Nehemiah 10-11

Saturday: Nehemiah 12-13

 

Introducing "Following in Your Footsteps"

My boyfriend told me about this book called, "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne.

He loves this book. In fact, he bought multiple copies so that he could lend to people. Aside from the Bible, he told me that it was one of the most life changing books he has ever read.

So with that high of praise, of course, I would want to read it!

 

I started reading it about a month ago. I'm sure I could have finished it faster, but it is full of really thought provoking ideas that you really need to sit and chew on before reading further (plus, I've been really busy lately).

 

My mom actually started reading it before I did and the first day of reading it for hours, she was totally impacted. Once I started reading it, I was affected the same way. I believe this book is meant to challenge us...to get us out of our comfort zone of Christianity and get back to the basics...living like Jesus.

With that being said, check this book out...you won't regret it!

 

Our flesh may make it difficult to live like Jesus, but Jesus has told us, "follow me". After reading this book, as well as a few others, I've been inspired to do a new blog series. It's been awhile since I've written a series and I'm really excited about this one. So grab a cup of coffee and join me in the next few weeks as we talk about what it really means to follow Christ!

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to pray for the unreached people group of the day!