Busy Week, again (isn't this just life's broken record?)

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
or mortals that you care for them?" (Ps. 8:3-4)

Have you considered the brilliance of this popular little Psalm? After lauding the glory and majesty of the King-Creator God as revealed in the creation (the macro-scale), the psalmist breaks down in light of the humbling thought that in the midst of all of this God's heart is deeply concerned for humanity (the micro-scale). It is a brilliant, almost overwhelming thought. (Also notice the comparison of the glory set in the heavens with that pouring forth from the mouths of babes and infants in verse 2!)

Yesterday, I was amazed by the brilliance of God's concern for creation on the micro scale. Natalie and I had our 12 week appointment yesterday. While we were there we got to hear the whooshing doppler warp, warp, warp of our little baby's heartbeat. It was hitting at about 160-165 bpm. Like the psalmist, I was awestruck that in the midst of the glory of creation, God is mindful of all of us.

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I am convinced that Scripture has opened the door for a more intentional inclusion of women in our churches. I am thankful that in many churches I see women being empowered to use their gifts more intentionally for the upbuilding of the body.

Sunday was an interesting morning for us at LOCC. We have an incredibly diverse group theologically speaking. For a long time people have been able to cohabitate the same building by refusing to talk about their theological differences, almost ignoring the fact that they exist. This Sunday some of that came to a head as one woman took a moment after our Bible class and shared about her recent experiences with God through Scripture and through the teaching that Garth and I have been doing on elders/shepherds. She was trying to narrate her experiences in the community of faith, similar to what we read happening in Acts 10-15 with the long road to the full inclusion of Gentiles in the emerging church. (Luke Timothy Johnson has done some wonderful work on this section in his Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church. I don't agree with all of his conclusions, but it is a wonderful and provocative read.)

I will not take much time to discuss all that happened that morning. Suffice it to say that I think God was present in that conversation more than I, in my lack of belief, thought at the time. It was interesting to see how people responded. The responses ran the gamut.

Now is not the right time to have this discussion at LOCC. We are in the middle of a serious elder selection process. The time will come, but I think right it was important that a few women felt that they finally heard their experience in the church given a voice. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to listen humbly.

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Last night I finished Margaret Guenther's Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction. (This is a wonderful and insightful little book for anyone who finds him or herself playing the role of a spiritual guide or director to others, whether as a "professional" minister or elder or just an insightful listening member who is often approached for advice and insight. It would even be helpful a professional counseling setting. I digress...)

Having exposed my bias on the inclusion of women, I ran into an intriguing question that has caused me to step back and reflect a little bit more on some of my thinking. Her last chapter deals specifically with women, who more often than not have lived their spirituality on the margins of our churches, and spiritual direction. She claims that marginality and powerlessness has become a foundational component many women's spirituality. Their understanding of and relationship with God is filtered through these stories and experiences.

Reflecting on the slightly shifting situation with regards to the powerlessness and marginalization of women in churches, she asks:

What will happen as more women's voices are heard, as women move from the edges toward the center, as they become equal partners in the establishment? Will the church change or grow toward a wholeness because of their inclusion, or will women lose their spiritual freedom as they lose their marginality?

These are two provocative questions that I am still pondering. Any thoughts?

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This week SoulForce, a group concerned with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students who have been traveling the country visiting colleges and universities who discriminate on the basis of sexual preference/orientation, made a stop at ACU. They have typically been welcomed by police forces for civil disobedience and by screaming Christians who wanted to make sure that they knew they were going to hell. At ACU they were welcomed with the open arms and hospitality of Christ. They were invited to banquet tables, to chapel and devotionals, to speak in classes, and to dialogue with students and professors in open forums. The SoulForce group was evidently overwhelmed with the kind of reception they received. I have read emails from Royce Money and Jack Reese about the events of the week and can say that this week I am prouder than ever to be associated with Abilene Christian University.