The Holy Kiss

This will be a short but sweet one. The holy kiss. What is it, why am I going to talk about it?

Something is vastly missing from our culture. It’s also missing in our churches and families here in the western world. I’m talking about affection. Not PDA as couples go but the holy kiss. In scripture, we are commanded to greet each other with a holy kiss not once but at least three times in the New Testament. Paul twice, and Peter once (Romans 16:16,1 Peter 5:14,1 Corinthians 13:12). What does a “holy kiss” even mean? Do we even in our own cultural context, have the slightest clue? 

I don’t think so and I will tell you why.

I have a friend from the near east, namely Israel that is not a Christian but every time he steps in my house or I in his, there is an affection that gushes between our families that to outsiders would be a spectacle. In fact, I think that some in looking at at it through the lens of our American culture would consider it almost borderline scandalous. Greeting each other with a smothering of kisses  on the cheeks, hugs that embrace way too long, eyes lock and souls unite and say you are family. For many, this type of affection makes us squirm, uncomfortable, pull away and tidy our selves up to be prim and proper. I myself don’t like that I feel the need to pull away from this.  Do you know that physical touch has a lot to do with babies development, curbs depression in adults and extends lives in the elderly?

It’s how God built us to be. With each other however, we’ve sexualized affection to the point of isolating ourselves and others from the joy of receiving such a thing as a holy kiss. The hug that hangs on for dear life. The arms wrapped around your shoulder or neck with the laughter that is a salve to one’s hurting soul. Could this be what Paul meant in his words “holy”....kiss? Not sexual but holy ordained affection.

I’ve experienced this in Europe as well, namely Italy as complete strangers grabbing my head and planting a kiss on both cheeks...who are you? what do you want from me? Honestly as a woman you always second guess forms of affection from men. It’s our nature to be skeptical. But I am always taken aback that genuine affection my Israeli friend shows me is a part of his upbringing and culture that we simply can’t see or understand from our vantage point. There’s something about these cultures that we should understand as we are gravely anemic in this vital practice. If we don’t practice affection, we don’t see how isolated we can be from each other. Imagine if the church truly expressed the love and affection for each other like this.

I tell you what, I think people would walk through the thresholds of church more often.

“I’ll go back this week they loved me!!”

I think singles would not be so lonely.

“It’s been so long since someone held my hand”

I think depression in the church and beyond would waiver.

“I felt accepted and valued there....”

I think orphans would find families.

“I’m an only child with no parents...I am alone on the holidays”

I think widows would find comfort.

“ I can’t fathom the rest of my life without his embrace or a good night...”

I mean, imagine being told you are loved over and over again. How beautiful you are even though you didn’t even dress for the occasion. Imagine the feeling of belonging...to a family. My friend never ceases to bring this feeling into my home. Middle eastern culture, and much of Europe this is how they are...all the time. Hugging, kissing, celebrating with feasts, weeping in grief for their friend’s loss of a loved one or the absolute joy in the celebration of a wedding, a birth or milestone as a Bar Mitzvah. Somehow, sadly we’ve lost this aspect in our culture and as a result in the western American church. I’m not dogging the countless other ways we express love in the church, but this is about filling a need that we might just don’t even know we have. When this dear friend leaves my home, I mourn just a little because it feels like a family member is leaving for a really long time. A brother that you spend time on your knees asking God to protect them against the savage haters in this world that want to snap their necks simply because they are Jews. What my dear friend has also taught me, is that love regardless of belief opens the doors to peace and the gospel. Jesus said to love our enemies and to pray FOR them. Do GOOD to them. That’s tough stuff. Judas kissed Jesus with betrayal. It was not a holy kiss. Yet, Jesus poured out his life for sinners who rejected him. I am almost positive, that Jesus poured affection on his disciples in the form of a holy kiss. Grievances melt, bitterness and envy have less room to grow if you are locked in a holy grace embrace. We hear, read and quote many things about love but because Jesus walked among us in the flesh there was no holier kiss than to be loved by Jesus. So the next time you are the greeter at church or you see a friend, plant a sloppy holy kiss on each cheek and help melt the frozen chosen.

Bad at Blogging

Right now, I am horrible at blogging. I don’t know how people do it, but several other bloggers have confessed to this lately. Truth is, I haven’t had too much energy to attack some interesting and crazy things swirling around in my head of late, nor the issues in the media. I will say at this point I think I have reached that time during the summer that all I want to do is lay in my hammock and read novels, drink tea and enjoy the quiet before my small New England town is invaded by a plethora of freshman college students that clog up the Target, Staples and Walmart parking lots. Someday I know I probably will be one of those parent that can not handle or fathom dropping their children off at one of the nations largest state party schools and try to find their way in life. I am really trying to enjoy the moment of my children’s childhood but there are days that it exhausts me being the camp director, camp cook, custodian, referee and court martial for my over active boys that on a halfway decent day are bent on destroying something.

So as I realize the last time I tended to my garden was let’s see...MAY and I have not found any of the summer homework packets that came home the last day of school, the reality that summer is short here in New England suddenly hits me like a ton of bricks. We have two weeks left to squeeze in what we said we wanted to do in May. I am amazed at social media however. Hey over achievers out there doing cool stuff with your kids EVERYDAY, can you pick up my kids? These are things that people on social media seem to be doing with their kids that if I wish I had the energy to do..they seem easy enough,simple and fun to do.

Camping...oh the camping. Every year I think...let’s go camping. Nope. I actually don’t really like camping. If we camp...it’s in the backyard so that I have access to running water and a hot shower. And my microwave and espresso machine. Bugs. Snakes and bears...and mosquitos.I need not say anymore. oh..and skunks.

Cycling!! Now I like to cycle and we went to Block Island while our kids were at camp but this is really it’s a farce. We are the most out of shape people on that island. My husband has a the BEST looking bike though because we’re cool like that. I call it the diva bike. And his hat is more of a hannibal lecter hat than a cycling helmet. We made the mistake of staying as far away from civilization on that island and we had to cycle uphill...four miles...each way...to get Wifi. We are lucky to still be married. I can’t imagine doing this with my kids.

Swimming!! I actually really love to swim. We’ve been to the beach for a day and I was reminded...this is New England. It’s COLD. We swim in a lake about 15 minutes away that is shall I say...pee warm. I’m used to that temp and I’m not ashamed to say it. I try to swim across and get a good workout but this year the weeds are freaking me out. My kids are at the stage that I have make them go swimming...for punishment. I know. spoiled.

Hiking!! OMG when you realize that you are out of shape and hate the heat, hiking is seriously the last thing I want to do. I prefer to wait til the fall. Let the people who are training for triathalons have the trails. Consider it my gift.

Traveling!! Let’s just say I still might have a suitcase from June sitting beside my desk. Maybe that’s where the homework packets are. I want to go to all those places you people post and I do.... vicariously through you. I’ve backpacked Europe and do get the itch to travel but it’s a drag packing, unpacking, the dog, the house. How do people travel with kids? Insanity is my only reasoning.

Historic sights!! Bless you people that want to instill a rich sense history to your children. We here in New England have LOTS of history that we can explore...right in town, down the street. Maybe, just maybe I’ll get to Plymouth Rock this year....or next.

Ice Cream!! I do scream for this stuff nearly every day however...it’s still fattening. It does catch up to me eventually. In my own fantasy world, the local froyo has so many probiotics it digests itself and thus...leaving me with a svelte super model body. Right?

Movies!! Okay- we saw Guardians of the Galaxy and that was funny, dark, and violent. I would give it a 3 star out of 5 mostly for the retro 80s soundtrack that I LOVED, but really and secretly I want to watch smart indie films about the human condition and not about a universe that doesn’t exist with a cyborg racoon that gets drunk. What ever happened to summer blockbusters like UP and Toy Story?

Campfires!! Most people who really know me...know my husband is a pyromanic. I highly discourage campfires here at the Vote house. The last church small group we had here I think scared off a new mom as my husband poured tiki torch on the wood and proceeded with his blow torch lit...I know how to make microwave s’mores. Fire is over rated.

Gardening!! Again. Bless you people who grow your own food, milk your cows and spin your own wool. I love zucchinis the size of baseball bats and there nothing like a good tomato. We did have a farm share a couple years ago (another thing I wanted to do but didn’t) and my kids are the worst migrant workers on the face of the planet. I had grandiose visions of having a raised bed of salad greens and tomatoes that is not going to happen.

We HAVE done a lot this summer despite these things. But this is “hump” day in the life of a mom of boys for me. I see those kids down south and out west heading to school NOW and think...what’s with that!!? You lucky dogs who don’t have snow days or worse yet, ICE or BLIZZARD days. Looking back, I can’t whine too much. I took an intensive 3 credit class online in Johannine Literature over 8 weeks. We flew to Pennsylvania and visited Grandma and Pap Pap. Hosted a Fresh Air kid for two weeks. The kids went to sleepaway camp for a week while we had a couples getaway. I painted my son’s room and it looks spectacular despite there not a single picture or decoration on the walls yet. Here’s the thing though...as always I have grandiose plans of accomplishing so much and realise I haven’t done many of the things I originally set out to do. I’m sure others moms have the same feeling. We mom’s all need to cut ourselves a break because being a stay home mom is probably one of the hardest jobs on the planet! And it IS a job even though we don’t collect a paycheck or get a Nobel prize for it. Our reward is being able to sit in a hammock and read novels, watch our kids grow up happy, healthy and having good clean fun because when I look at the world today the news says that’s is not every woman or child’s experience.

Pray for Peace.

It's why I go to Eternity Bible College

So my second blog entry after a longer hiatus. My last being more creative, this one more informative. I wanted to share this with anyone who would read it because I do believe it’s vital to understand why I blog, but also why I also go to Bible College. I started going to school and blogging at the same time. I haven’t been the best follow up person with writing but I wanted to post a recent testimony of a fellow student that I have actually studied alongside in several classes during my distance education at Eternity Bible College. His story is one of the reasons I am at Eternity Bible College after a career in fashion, being a stay home mom and generally trying to figure out my next step in life. While our testimonies are worlds apart the call to Bible College is the same. Hearing Francis Chan years ago planted the seed for me and here we are.

Many times we see men go into Bible College because they are called into ministry. Smart men, men that might even go from one career path into ministry. Bible College, and seminary is expensive. Bible College and seminary is hard academic work even if you are not studying quantum physics or scientific proof of evolution. But what is the purpose of going to Bible College? To get a job in ministry? To become a church planter? To be a pastor, church secretary or go onto seminary?

I posted a couple weeks ago a video with Glenn Beck speaking at Liberty University, which in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous places to attend college at this point, if the administration at Liberty can not discern the dangerous theology that mormon Glen Beck speaks into their graduates. I guess if you have your own tv show, publish best selling books that makes someone viable as a keynote speaker at Liberty’s graduation.

There is a greater conversation on blogs, books and such about vital issues both the church and culture encounter. I fear that while viable conversations about these can be valuable, the "heart" change behind the believer seems to be completely ignored.

For me, the last 5 years at EBC has been an soul searching of my identity and my purpose, my future. What do I want to do with my degree in Biblical Studies I am often asked. Fellow soccer moms have asked, “Do you want to be ordained?” and while that is appealing to me for a nanna second I laugh and say no. I don’t want the job of an ordained minister for all the tea in china frankly. Besides, the uniform isn’t that flattering or fashionable for this fashion victim. However, the question for me more recently has been, “Why go to Bible College if the larger church doesn’t value women in leadership or ministry?” I don’t think every woman is simply given the gift of administration or to be the secretary or librarian of a big church. Especially not this woman with the gift of adhd! I am what they call a “continuist” in that spiritual gifts are given by God, not as personality traits but “supernatural” gifts for the ministry in the church.

Valuing women’s spiritual gifts in the church by intentionally empowering women through discipleship is something I’m growing to see as a vital ministry that is sadly lacking in the overall church atmosphere. I'm not talking about reading a book together. I'm talking about taking a rough diamond and empowering the new generation of Beth Moore's, Kay Aurthur's and Pricilla Shriers. The women are out there. They have spiritual gifts to write, preach, teach...but they are not empowered effectively.

So what would be the benefit for women to pursue a Biblical degree or education? We see how dangerous women can be when they know scripture and have an education with the crisis of the Nigerian girls, most of whom are Christians. While I do think this should be a question every Bible College asks itself in it’s purpose I see the testimony of Jahill Richards crucial to the final result, which is to equip people (men and women) for THE ministry of the gospel, and empower them to speak the gospel in whatever means necessary. Weather it’s to preach as a pastor, or equip women’s ministry leaders the crucial heart and core value behind Eternity Bible College is genuine.

In listening to Jahill’s testimony you can hear the father redemptively transforming his past and confirms why I’m blessed and privileged not to study in the elite world of academia but to study God’s word with people like Jahill.  He, like myself are being equipped for our future ministries that God has already laid out for us. Part of that equipping is the transformation the heart and frankly, no one should be in Biblical ministry if they haven’t experienced it. It’s not about getting a job or becoming the greatest of leaders. When listening to Jahill, imagine someone him being critiqued for not being an effectual leader or devalue him because he hasn’t defended a thesis among the most elite Biblical scholars. He probably won’t write a bestselling book like Francis Chan or be an well known pastor like John Piper, however when you listen to his testimony you know.....THIS is what it’s all about.

Click here to listen to Jahill's testimony

http://vimeo.com/m/95198448

I’m putting this on my blog because I am making a financial appeal to anyone who wishes to see people like Jahill equipped for gospel driven ministry, not for jobs. People who otherwise would not be given the opportunity otherwise. If you invest in Eternity Bible College, or desire to go to Bible school I can’t recommend Eternity Bible College enough. It’s an awesome experience, spiritually challenging and the most spiritually fulfilling process you could subject yourself to even if you are a mom of three boys and do most of your work in your pajamas drinking countless lattes while your kids sleep.

Peter the Redeemed Sheep

Disclaimer: the purpose of my blog is expression. Not to prove anyone right or wrong or passive aggressively call anyone out. I’m a creative person. It’s how I do life. So before going on in this blog I want to make that clear. Expression and imagination is the “artsy” in me that takes a break from more academic pursuits and works a different part of my brain and satisfies something in my being that other mediums do not. If you LIKE what you read, please follow my blog. I try not to nag about it in an annoying way but I do post it on FB and Twitter. Consequently I’m learning to accrue followers that I do not know personally so if you choose to comment, be respectful of that and don’t think this blog is about you. It’s not. I write about all sorts of stuff. Some people might not like. Some might. Onward!!

In my recent scrolling thread on Facebook, I noticed this picture on National Geographic photo of the day. I need to give the photo credit seeing as though our living comes from the world of photography and I believe in upholding copyright laws etc. Click here to check out the photo as I do not have usage permission to post it on my blog. 

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/sheep-farm-sanctuary-australia/ 

The sheep in the picture is a picture of an old rescue sheep. I’ve never heard of rescuing farm animals but for some reason this picture inspired me. And I’ve had lacking inspiration for a while now thus not writing on my blog in a while.  

If there ever was a stubborn sheep it was Peter. The character of Peter in the narratives of the gospel we know he often put his hoof in his mouth and he was like a 600lb gorilla in a china store as he spoke first and thought later. We also know that God revealed to Peter that Christ was “the anointed” one that the nation of Israel was prophetically waiting for. Peter also denied Christ three times, not once...not twice...but three times. This was after this divine revelation of who Christ was. Peter also vowed he’d NEVER do this act right to Jesus’s face. There was flesh, denial and a heart that meant well but the application was so assured in his own strength that when Jesus spoke the truth to Peter, we find silence on the page of scripture.

“Lord I am ready to go to prison with you and to death.”

Yes, Peter...the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me.

Sheep often have a tendency to get lost not just because sheep are not smart but because they are domesticated animals. That means they are not wild animals.Apart from the care of a steward they can not survive the wild by their own means. They didn’t evolve into domesticated sheep. They’ve always had a purpose. Man gained something of value from them, thus their domestication produced things like wool, milk and meat that you didn’t have to hunt. I’ve always wondered what happens to old farm sheep like Peter. Put out to pasture perhaps, but it costs the farmer to maintain an old sheep like Peter. Years ago they would be cheap meat, mutton that was only fit for a stew and served to the poor.Certainly not for a king’s meal and not valuable on the open market for breeding. He’s a sheep that has at face value, lost his value.

Peter the disciple, often lost the plot even when he was one of the main characters in the kingdom story. He jumped out of the boat, and the moment he took his eyes off his Shepherd, he sank like a stone into the sea. He was a fisherman with rough hands, calloused by pulling nets into boats and spending countless hours on the water. It’s not like he didn’t have his sea legs. I would like to think that a fisherman can swim at the very least. Or one would hope. Peter was all about the BEST of intentions. He was a pleaser. I kinda think he had adhd especially because he felt so strongly about things but failed to follow through. We aren’t told this of course, but when I imaginatively look at scripture, I see it. Peter swore he would never...never....never deny Christ. Not ever. Cross my heart Lord and hope to die! with YOU!! But he did.

And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

And he broke down and wept.

Peter’s heart, crushed knowing that Jesus was right. Always right. He knew his heart and he knew his faults. Easy to forget. When an angel of God appeared to Mary, Mary Magdalene and Salome at the tomb, Jesus called Peter out of the boat again this time by name.

“go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

There are many differing accounts of the resurrection. To pull the full picture together is not the point. The point in this account was Peter’s heart. That rough calloused fisherman wept as he felt the hopelessness of denying the Messiah, and as a result denying God. Peter who vowed that he was the best disciple for the job and  willing to suffer prison and death with Christ. When the rubber hit the road for Peter was his heart just not in it or did he forget who Jesus was?

And he broke down and wept.

Jesus was right. He was always right. He knew Peter’s heart better than Peter knew himself. Peter was probably hiding and commiserating with the rest of the disciples that fled the event of Christ’s crucifixion for fear that they were heretics of the Jewish faith and they were next. The purpose of scripture is not prove one’s faith but to nurture it. So we see the story of Peter. Such a blockhead at times. I’ve even heard a pastor call Peter a moron, but not without hope when you take the Shepherd’s perspective of grace to mention Peter by name. Peter forgot again, looked away, took his focus of Christ and who He was. But Jesus didn’t take his gaze off of Peter for one minute. Jesus appeared to Peter. Not just once, but several times. The account of Jesus speaking directly to Peter has grown to be one of my favorite passages because of the significance of grace to the Christ denier.

Peter...do you love me?

Jesus was about Peter’s heart. Not his worldview. Not the absolute fact that he denied Christ to the point of losing any hope of a ministry. Peter went to Galilee as Jesus said to do. He got bored and went back to what he knew how to do. Fish for fish. That was Peter’s plan B.

Peter...do you love me?

Again, that annoying question. I’m sure Peter squirmed because his heart didn’t match his behavior and certainly not the fact that he had that pesky issue of denying Jesus lurking in the background of his mind. Now what? Peter still held his heart back from Jesus even on the banks of Galilee eating fish for breakfast. But Peter either is seriously stupid, his mind is elsewhere or he just makes an assumption that this is how things are going to be now. But Jesus asked him a question not for Jesus’ benefit. But for Peter’s. Lost,starving, hard hearted sheep do not make good shepherds of other sheep.

Peter...do you love me?

Lord, you know I do.

Feed my lambs.

I think Jesus is saying this: This is where we met Peter. On the banks of Galilee. We’ve been here before. You fishing for fish. Didn’t I tell you I will make you a fisher of men? You haven’t lost value to Me, Peter. Don’t think for one minute I haven’t redeemed your past. This is what grace is. It’s not what you do or did. It’s what I did and what I will continue to do. Go and feed the hopeless, devalued, the weak in faith this message of hope, grace and love. You’re mine Peter and I will continue to use you. Once so eager to be faithful in all his intentions yet sifted by Satan. And yet perhaps in Peter’s mind regardless of the news of Jesus’s resurrection or seeing him in person Peter still saw himself as a failure.

Peter’s purpose and his faith remained under the gaze of his Shepherd.

In Peter’s story, Jesus revealed to Peter how he would die. Why did Jesus speak these words to Peter? Peter would die according to what Christ had told him. We don’t find that story in scripture, but we know it historically happened. Peter would be faithful to the point of sharing in the sufferings of Christ because Jesus said it would. Jesus spoke these words for Peter’s benefit not to prove who He was, but to speak to Peter’s heart. If anyone who had a habit to give up, not follow through or maybe hang the “gone fishing” sign on the door. It was Peter.

If you love me, feed my sheep.

We miss the whole point of the story of Peter if we look at characters from the Bible in such narrow single dimensions. Like a Facebook page or a Tweet or a blog. Those never really reveal someone’s heart do they? or do they?  You would think that Peter, hanging out with Jesus for the majority of his ministry as well as having personal appearances in His resurrected state wouldn’t have to be called out by Paul about the theology of food. Having faith still couldn’t fix Peter’s capacity to be a blockhead, but that never should define Peter’s true identity in Christ.

Looking at Peter the sheep, I see a crusty old sheep enjoying the last of his days in the grass fields of a farm. But reading the story behind that crusty old sheep, changes how I see the picture it doesn’t change the picture itself or the truth of Peter’s story. The fact is, Peter the sheep is living the rest of his days on a farm that rescues farm animals that have lost their prime use for humans. Too tough to eat. Too costly to maintain on a regular production farm. I think it’s a picture of how Christ prepares a place for the weak, the scared, the vulnerable and often Christ deniers that need to graze in the Shepherd’s field of grace. He restores their soul.

Peter the redeemed sheep has great value to his Shepherd.