Lisa notes

Are you justified in your anger?

By LisaNotes June 17, 2015 Book quotes 26 Comments

Do we have a right to be angry? Especially if it’s righteous anger, like anger against sin?

If you’re like me, you automatically assume, “Yes, of course we do.”

But I’m being challenged on that.

I’ve only read 30 pages so far in Brant Hansen’s new book Unoffendable. But I’ve already marked so much that I need to stop and share some with you.

See what you think. It starts on the dedication page:

“To all those who want grace for themselves
But struggle to extend it to others.

Wait: that’s everybody.”

And it just gets harder. Here’s an excerpt from Chapter One, “Being Unoffendable: The Ridiculous Idea.”

“The thing that you think makes your anger ‘righteous’ is the very thing you are called to forgive. Grace isn’t for the deserving. Forgiving means surrendering your claim to resentment and letting go of anger.

“Anger will happen; we’re human. But we can’t keep it. Like the Reverend King, we can recognize injustice, grieve it, and act against it—but without rage, without malice, and without anger. We have enough motivation, I hope, to defend the defenseless and protect the vulnerable, without needing anger.

“Seek justice; love mercy. You don’t have to be angry to do that. People say we have to get angry to fight injustice, but I’ve noticed that the best police officers don’t do their jobs in anger. The best soldiers don’t function out of anger.

“Anger does not enhance judgment.

“Yes, God is quite capable of being both just and angry, but if I’m on trial in front of a human judge, I’m sure hoping his reasoning is anger-free.”

This book’s premise raises lots of questions for me:

If it’s ok for God to get angry, is it okay for us?
If we’re not to let the sun go down on our anger (Ephesians 4:26), is our temporary, daytime anger justified?
And if so, how long is it okay to stay angry?
If all the other verses in the Bible on anger except Ephesians 4:26 are totally negative about human anger, do I need to rethink my righteous anger idea? (See James 1:20)

I look forward to opening my mind and thinking afresh as I read through this book. I’ll let you know how it goes.

* * *

Intrigued? Here’s a podcast with Brant Hansen talking about Unoffendable
And a blog post, “Now that Unoffendable is out: 5 Things I’m Learning“
Brant Hansen’s I Am Second video

What are your thoughts on anger? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Are we scared of the wrong things?

By LisaNotes June 15, 2015 Encouragement, Now, Trust 36 Comments

I opened the back door.

The rabbit froze immediately. Terrified, I could tell. I’ve had that look in my own eyes.

But what he didn’t know was this: There was no danger. Zero. I wasn’t going to hurt him.

How many times have I awoken in the night to a noise I was sure was a thief?
Or imagined my husband was late because his truck was in a ditch?
Or that the virus going around was already inside me, too?

And instead, none of those things happened. None of them were going to hurt me.

Not this time anyway. Bad things do happen. I know. I’ve had them happen to me. You, too. And we will again.

But most of the things we worry about don’t happen. It’s unlikely you’ve had Ebola, been targeted by a terrorist attack, or been bitten by a shark (or even a snake).

Are we scared of the wrong things?

Jesus said we shouldn’t be afraid of those who can only kill our body (Matthew 10:28).

The second half of the verse says only be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

But we know that if we are God’s, we don’t have to be afraid of him either.

So what if instead of wasting our mental energy worrying about our safety, we took Jesus at his word, and refused to be intimidated by our bully brains?

What if we just said to each day: I welcome whatever comes today because God knows about it (Matthew 10:29). Even if it’s something scary and deadly, my hairs are numbered, I’m more valuable than sparrows, and God claims me as his own (Matthew 10:30-32).

Through life.
Through death.
Through eternity.

I’m getting better at releasing my worry, by the grace of God. The more I stay in the now, the more I see his grace and uncover his peace, no matter what happens.

But I still have plenty of room to grow. I won’t give up now.

I watched the rabbit a little longer. As long as I was perfectly still, so was he.

But as soon as I moved, away he hopped, as fast as his legs could carry him. To perceived safety. From a perceived threat.

Or so he thought.

I don’t want to be a rabbit.

* * *

Are you a worrier? How do you overcome it? Please share in the comments.

If you need to catch your breath

By LisaNotes June 11, 2015 Guest posts, Worship 10 Comments

It’s summer, the time we’re supposed to be less rushed. But what if we’re still out of breath?

Breath is one of our first gifts from the Creator, and when we don’t guard it, our lives feel stressed.

See how you can use the wind this week to remind you to guard your spiritual breathing. And participate in our mini-Bible study.

God breathes hard into us—we are brought forth from his very breath—so let’s use our breath to bless him (and ourselves) in return.

Read here “Need to catch your breath? Try Him”

* * *

We’re studying our #Marvelous Creator this month at Do Not Depart. Will you join me there to talk about the connections between breathing, wind, and Spirit?

When is the last time you’ve been really out of breath, physically or spiritually?

More:
5 things I learned from my “Year of Deep Breathing”

Take an inner vacation

By LisaNotes June 10, 2015 Book reviews, Spiritual disciplines 16 Comments

“The call, I am certain, is to stop reaching, forcing, and trying to make the experience into something. I need to recognize that it already is something. My willingness to be here and follow the quiet voice is enough. The angels of grace know my intention is true.”
– Christine Valters Paintner

Do you have any trips planned for this summer?

Author Christine Valters Paintner (an online American abbess currently living in Ireland) wants to take you on an inside one.

I’m on it.

I read Paintner’s The Soul of a Pilgrim to do a review, but now I’m going back to live it.

While my daughter Jenna is on her outer pilgrimage to Guatemala this summer, I’m walking through an inner one, one chapter per week. (It’s already taking some curious turns here and here).

If you’re interested in taking a trip, too, learn more about the book and author here.

Here’s what you’ll find. You’ll be invited to . . .

hear the call
pack lightly
cross the threshold
walk it out
be uncomfortable
begin again
embrace the unknown
then finally, come home again.

Within each chapter you read introductory thoughts, reflect on a biblical story, practice lectio divina, participate in visio divina (she suggests photography on a walk but you can make it what you want), write midrash, and receive a blessing.

I’m also creating a vade mecum (Latin for “go with me”) for my journey, a small guidebook of my thoughts, prayers, and photos from each week’s theme.

Here’s an excerpt that hit me hard, being the book lover that I am, from Chapter 2, “The Practice of Packing Lightly,” under the section, “The Monastic Practice of Simplicity.”

“Pilgrimage demands preparation. There is much letting go that needs to happen. Packing bags means we need to discern what to carry with us and what to leave behind. This is one of the great gifts of pilgrimage; an invitation to discern what is essential.

~ * ~

I learned to check in with myself: Do I really need this book? Am I avoiding embracing my own wisdom by relying on the words of others? This is a delicate balance because I believe that books open up new worlds and the ideas of others do help me grow.

~ * ~

Books can have a shadow side. They might lead us to believe that we need more information so we can feel complete. Sometimes we buy more books as a surrogate for living because we believe those books contain life. We need to examine whether we’re being fully present to ourselves and understanding our hunger for knowledge.

~ * ~

We must practice this kind of letting go each day. Learn to apply it to possessions as you seek to consume less. Give more to those in need. Let go of your compulsive thoughts and release expectations. All of these prepare us for the bigger moments of letting go. “

Yes, it’s that kind of book. For that kind of journey.

* * *

Read my book review at Patheos.
Read an excerpt from The Soul of a Pilgrim.

Stay hungry

By LisaNotes June 8, 2015 Homeless, My stories 26 Comments

I am already getting hungry.

This Wednesday afternoon isn’t working out like it normally does. Usually after we volunteer a few hours, Kay and I go to Zaxby’s for chicken. Or I meet up with Jeff for supper. Or I just go home and eat leftovers.

But Kay is busy with her daughter’s UAB tour this Wednesday. Jeff is in Denver all week for business.

And I’m asked to do one more thing before I go home. I do it.

Then can you go this one more place? I go.

Oh, and now this. Okay. But now my stomach is grumbling loudly.

That means my heart isn’t far behind.

I am getting desperate. I haven’t had food in, like, 5 hours. Sad, I know.

And I’ve just committed to a two hour task.

Part of it requires an errand to Dollar General—where there is food.

I buy a can of Pringles (original flavor, still the best) and a Minute Maid lemonade. It’s supper. Woe is me. It’ll have to do.

I pop the lid, down a few chips, and drive to the next stop.

The rest of the night flies by. Finally I’m heading home down Memorial Parkway. Remembering I never really had supper, I eat a few more Pringles as consolation.

Until I get to the stoplight at University Drive.

It’s almost 9 p.m. Usually the homeless aren’t as visible after the sun sets, but here is a man in his late 30’s, still working his sign.

I look around my front seat. I have nothing.

Well, except this half-eaten can of Pringles.

I click my car doors locked, then I make eye contact with the man. He catches my glance immediately.

I roll down my window. Hey, it’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got. You can have it.

He walks to me and takes the can. He asks can I give him a dollar, too? I say, Sorry, no. He starts talking. He’s not adjusting well to civilian life, he says. I say again, I’m sorry. And I am.

My light turns green. I roll up my window. I drive away.

I watch the guy in my rear-view mirror. He sets down the can of Pringles without eating a single one.

Maybe he’s saving them for later. Or maybe he doesn’t want them at all. I mean, a can of Pringles? My feelings aren’t hurt.

But maybe it doesn’t matter either way. He’ll survive with or without them.

And God says to me:
So will you.

Perhaps giving away the Pringles was more for my good than the man’s.
Perhaps the divine appointment wasn’t to help him, but to help me.

Perhaps God wants me hungry.

So I’ll know the feeling.
So I’ll open up to a greater variety of resources he wants to provide.

And so I’ll share them with other hungry people.

If God hadn’t let me go without a real dinner tonight, I wouldn’t even have had chips to give away.

I’d have had nothing.

And I would have avoided eye contact with the stranger. I would not have connected at all.

And maybe most importantly, I would not have come full-circle with my own hunger. And God’s provision.

But instead, God let me get empty hours earlier so I’d buy shareable food with chump change, not knowing he’d use it most at 9:00 that night. . . .

. . . not to feed the homeless, but to feed my soul.

Oh, Lord.
It’s not about my stomach, is it?
It’s about my heart.

Keep me hungry there.

In my hunger, open my eyes.
In my poverty, fill my heart.
In my riches, unclench my grip.

* * *

Have you been hungry lately? How have you seen God provide? Let’s talk in the comments.

“When Mockingbirds Sing” – Book review

By LisaNotes June 4, 2015 Book reviews 4 Comments

This novel by Billy Coffey intrigued me. The story inside When Mockingbirds Sing is about a 9-year-old named Leah Norcross who moves with her parents to the close-knit, small town of Mattingly.

Outsiders are not welcome in Mattingly. Particularly not outsiders who claim to be “spiritual but not religious.”

Even the Reverend in the town doesn’t know what to do with the Norcross family when they say, “We ask the same questions religious people ask; it’s just that you believe there are answers to those questions and we don’t.”

But the story moves along, centering around Leah’s strange relationship with her invisible friend, the Rainbow Man. Author Billy Coffey is careful not to show his hand early about this friend. Real or pretend?

Leah is inspired by the Rainbow Man to paint a mysterious picture (far above her normal abilities) to give to the town’s toymaker as a favor he desperately needs.

Coffey keeps events moving swiftly, making it easy to keep reading one more chapter, one more chapter. But even at the halfway point, I still wasn’t sure where he was going with the religious angle. Were we the readers supposed to be with the girl or against her?

I admit that I liked we didn’t know. It wasn’t predictably Christian. Coffey leaves room for gray, like real life.

“He c-comes to us all, Ruh-Reverend. He’s always w-with us. You and me aren’t duh-different. No one’s duh-different. It’s just that I nuh-know I’m small and everyone else thinks they’re buh-big. That’s why no one else c-can see Him. They pruh-pray and sing and say they luh-love Him, but d-deep down they think they know beh-better than He does. They d-do their own things because they thuh-think they’re b-big enough. But they’re not. No one’s big enough.”

Overall I enjoyed the novel and will recommend it to others. There were a few minor irritations I had with it (it was hard to read the stuttering portions because Coffey chose to spell them out phonetically instead of just repeating the actual letters), but the plot was compelling and never dragged.

It’s not sappy sweet, so be prepared for some suffering. But for both adults and kids alike, this book would make a great summer read to keep you thinking about what faith is. And what it isn’t.

* * *

Have you read any of Billy Coffey’s books? Do you have a favorite book to read this summer? Please share in the comments.

thanks to BookLook Bloggers for the review copy of this book