Disqus - Latest Comments for Kathy

Re: The Subersive Spirit 4

Kathy — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:50:07 -0000

Dittos on the creation passage. It's been on my mind a lot recently because a professor here in Ames (Iowa State University) has been denied tenure basically because he supports intelligent design. But he's not a young-earth creationist. He wrote the book, "The Privileged Planet," which helped open my mind to the possibility that God methodically established the conditions of habitability for our planet--no shortcuts. Life on earth required, among other things, the birth and death of galaxies and stars to form its basic elements.

It struck me that believing creation happened in six 24-hour days is a major factor in much of the church's warped eschatology. If one believes creation is easy-come, easy go--disposable , corrupted, destined for the fire of the end times, it would never occur to one to expect --let alone collaborate with the Spirit in-- the holistic, breaking in power of the Resurrection making all things new in Christ.

The Gnostic eschatology of rapture to a disembodied heaven has diverted the church from its primary purpose of making disciples to fill the earth with image bearers made fit in Christ to live in concert with renewed creation.

Spirit take the scales from our eyes so we can see the "world as it could be," and cooperate with you power and purposes.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:50:07 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:50:07 -0000

Re: Evangelicals to take on homelessness

Kathy — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:40:40 -0000

I might start thinking there's a point to mega-churches if something like this were to happen....

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:40:40 -0000

I might start thinking there's a point to mega-churches if something like this were to happen....

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:40:40 -0000

I might start thinking there's a point to mega-churches if something like this were to happen....

Re: Gardening Revelation: Ground Ivy

Kathy — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:59:48 -0000

This is fabulous news. I happen to think it's pretty, so I don't pull it up. I am so happy. (It obviously doesn't take much to induce euphoria in me these days.)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:59:48 -0000

This is fabulous news. I happen to think it's pretty, so I don't pull it up. I am so happy. (It obviously doesn't take much to induce euphoria in me these days.)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:59:48 -0000

This is fabulous news. I happen to think it's pretty, so I don't pull it up. I am so happy. (It obviously doesn't take much to induce euphoria in me these days.)

Re: Beware the Subtle Shade of Oligarchy

Kathy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:24:48 -0000

How are women contributing actively or passively to this trajectory? Just curious. The celebrities all seem to be men.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:24:48 -0000

How are women contributing actively or passively to this trajectory? Just curious. The celebrities all seem to be men.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 11:24:48 -0000

How are women contributing actively or passively to this trajectory? Just curious. The celebrities all seem to be men.

Re: Quick Question from the Road

Kathy — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:14:15 -0000

I think our impoverished understanding of the Trinity contributes to this confusion. Take Bob, for example. Is Bob merely "following " Jesus or is Bob worshiping and following Jesus? If he is both worshipping Jesus and following him, the Spirit is at work in Bob and he is experiencing God the Father. I don't think that's classic theism, but then, I don't think theism really captures the Trinity.

Worshipping Jesus presupposes the trinitarian nature of God and therefore, transcends the problem of theism. It's not a belief per se, but an act of worship.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:14:15 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:14:15 -0000

Re: If I lived in Springfield…

Kathy — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:19:33 -0000

That is brilliant. Springfield should be so lucky as to have you move there.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:19:33 -0000

That is brilliant. Springfield should be so lucky as to have you move there.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:19:33 -0000

That is brilliant. Springfield should be so lucky as to have you move there.

Re: Emergent and Al Qaeda sitting in a tree…

Kathy — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:40:37 -0000

Thanks for speaking up on this, Mark. Did you ever notice how Jesus didn't spend his time correcting peoples' doctrine on election or gender roles or church polity? I think we can read the gospels and figure out what matters most to Him. If Al Qaeda pays any attention at all to the church, they're clapping their hands with glee that we are so divided and uncharitable towards each other. A house divided....Who said that? Hmmm

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:40:37 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:40:37 -0000

Re: The Economics of Jesus

Kathy — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:31:09 -0000

Yes! We need to keep sharing these ideas. I blogged about it a few weeks ago--my ideas are a bit more modest than yours, but radical for the place where I live.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:31:09 -0000

Yes! We need to keep sharing these ideas. I blogged about it a few weeks ago--my ideas are a bit more modest than yours, but radical for the place where I live.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:31:09 -0000

Yes! We need to keep sharing these ideas. I blogged about it a few weeks ago--my ideas are a bit more modest than yours, but radical for the place where I live.

Re: Collaborative Blog, anyone?

Kathy — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:08:18 -0000

What kind of mix are you looking for? I think collaborative blogging is a great idea.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:08:18 -0000

What kind of mix are you looking for? I think collaborative blogging is a great idea.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:08:18 -0000

What kind of mix are you looking for? I think collaborative blogging is a great idea.

Re: Abraham Heschel, Wendell Berry & the Subversive Sabbath

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:28:07 -0000

Andrew, thank you! The post created a Sabbath space for me--I'm going to bookmark it and refer to it regularly for that purpose.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:28:07 -0000

Andrew, thank you! The post created a Sabbath space for me--I'm going to bookmark it and refer to it regularly for that purpose.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:28:07 -0000

Andrew, thank you! The post created a Sabbath space for me--I'm going to bookmark it and refer to it regularly for that purpose.

Re: Food and Empire

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:02:10 -0000

You did a great job typing with a toddler on your lap. :) When my youngest was a baby, I worked from home and typed with one hand sometimes, or stretched my arms around the baby sling to reach the keyboard. Made for interesting copy editing. Thanks for the comment.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:02:10 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:02:10 -0000

Re: Food and Empire

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:38:15 -0000

Geoff, can you find the name of that ministry for me? I'd like to contact them. You bring up some sobering points about what's at stake with our food system.

It's such such a subtle deception, isn't it? As Christians we can rail against some forms of immorality and be completely oblivious to others whose consequences are catastrophic in terms of lives harmed and resources squandered.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:38:15 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:38:15 -0000

Re: Food and Empire

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:48:59 -0000

Wilsonian, this is the beginning of the journey for me. I will keep you posted, but I'd love to hear from people who are further along--I'm sure such people are out there somewhere.

I think a lot of soup kitchens and relief organizations serve cheap, easily accessible food because that's all they can afford. And you're right, it's not enough to simply feed the hungry--we need to feed them as well as we feed ourselves.

I'm on the board of directors for a relief organization that recently held a fundraiser at a gourmet restaurant. The tragic irony of this has been causing me to lose sleep. I'm getting together with the board president on Monday to make some suggestions. Why do we have to gorge ourselves with the cream of the crop to raise money to feed crumbs to the hungry?

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:48:59 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:48:59 -0000

Re: GIVE US A KING

Kathy — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:44:49 -0000

I think you nailed it--we are not called to "take America back for God," but to live as citizens of the Kingdom of the Beloved Son. How to balance this with civic responsibility is the rub--and I think our responsibility begins at the local level as we build community and hold our local authorities accountable.

I just read a recent sermon by N.T. Wright based mainly on Acts 16.16–34; and Wright brought out the fact that Paul held the authorities accountable for treating him according to the laws of Roman citizenship. I'm not sure how this works out at every level of government, so I look forward to more posts on this subject.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:44:49 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:44:49 -0000

Re: Whose Image?

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:41:34 -0000

Hi, Norm. I think you meant this comment for Mark's post below. Great observations, though, and there's some overlap, I think.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:41:34 -0000

Hi, Norm. I think you meant this comment for Mark's post below. Great observations, though, and there's some overlap, I think.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:41:34 -0000

Hi, Norm. I think you meant this comment for Mark's post below. Great observations, though, and there's some overlap, I think.

Re: Whose Image?

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:19:30 -0000

Hi, John AKA Pastorboy. I don't consider myself to be emerging. I'm a middle aged Christian woman who's recovering from modernity, perhaps, but not postmodern in the least. :) I will check out your link and be happy to engage you. Thanks for your interest.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:19:30 -0000

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Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:19:30 -0000

Re: Whose Image?

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:24:23 -0000

Well, said John. We must not do one without the other. Jesus always met the physical needs along with the spiritual ones. His desire is full restoration.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:24:23 -0000

Well, said John. We must not do one without the other. Jesus always met the physical needs along with the spiritual ones. His desire is full restoration.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:24:23 -0000

Well, said John. We must not do one without the other. Jesus always met the physical needs along with the spiritual ones. His desire is full restoration.

Re: Whose Image?

Kathy — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:17:18 -0000

Hi, Loral, this is Kathy, the author of the post : )

John quotes Ephesians 2:8-10, an amazing conjunction of anithetical concepts--we are saved by grace FOR good works to work out God's purposes--as he shapes us into the image of Christ, we awakens our imagination through his Spirit. Jesus is forming us and the Spirit is equipping us.

I used to think I knew what this looks like. That image has changed. Now I believe it's buildking relationships, meeting needs and sharing the gospel in the context of family and community life. Being church is the way I believe I'm called to build the church.

Stay with us, Loral. We're doing this together in the unity of the Spirit. We need your voice, your ideas, your questions and your passion.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:17:18 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:17:18 -0000

Re: Wrong place at the wrong time?

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:29:58 -0000

I would like to plant a seed here, John. I appreciate what you're trying to do, but please hear me out in love. Those of us who post at Jesus Manifesto believe we're being drawn by the Spirit into a more robust expression of the gospel than "the law" and "what happens when you die."

If your life was so desperately wretched that you were selling your body to survive, do you think you would be most concerned about what happens to you when you die? And can you explain what the Law has to do with this prostitute's spiritual needs? Didn't Jesus radically fulfill the Law and free us from it?

Of course this young woman needs to be reconciled to God, but she needs her basic needs met and to be drawn into a loving community.

If I were a man in the situation, I would probably have been caught off guard. But I would go back to my faith community and bring together a few men nd women to consider what we might do to meet the basic needs of young women like this one.

In the context of a relationship with her where healing happens, my community would give her the good news that through Jesus, God is reconciling humanity and creation and building a community of people who love and serve each other. Through Jesus there is forgiveness of sins , the hope of the resurrection and a call to be a part of God's future.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:29:58 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:29:58 -0000

Re: Shameless Promotion

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:54:42 -0000

Shame on you for thinking the things you're promoting and embodying are less important now that the blog has more voices. :)

There are two kinds of self-promotion, as you probably know. When we first hear that term, we think of promoting one's egotistical ambitions for personal gain. But in marketing, self-promotion is essential for people in professions that offer intangibles like expertise and service. The experience, credentials and skills of the professional must be promoted to communicate the value message to those who need it.

Christians who embody Christ can't avoid self-promotion. It is through our selves that people first get a glimpse of him.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:54:42 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:54:42 -0000

Re: 50 Ways to Encourage a Woman Leader

Kathy — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:32:56 -0000

Maybe it's hard for women to put their toes in the water since the Christian blogosphere is so male dominated and sometimes snarky (and the females can be snarky, too!).

I almost didn't answer your request for collaborators because I assumed you'd be so overwhelmed that you wouldn't need my voice. Thank you for the opportunity to write here--maybe the Spirit wants to use an older woman who's "emerging" in an unexpected way.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:32:56 -0000

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Kathy — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:32:56 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:33:53 -0000

Hey, Pastorboy. Let's be clear. We believe that salvation comes by grace through faith that Jesus is Lord. When we write about restorative justice, we are simply walking in the good works God prepared for us to do in Jesus' name.

Do you remember the acccount in Mark where its says Jesus confronted the Pharisees when they rebuked him for healing on the Sabbath? "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace."

So, I ask you, do you believe it is " lawful" for Christians to do good in their communities to help people break the cycle of poverty? Or do you believe they must be confess faith in Christ before we can help them? Help me understand.

Re: Whose Image?

Kathy — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:33:53 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:33:53 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:27:29 -0000

I don't believe Zebulun went to hell. He was saved by grace through faith in the Messiah God had promised. Like Abraham, he was still looking forward to God's fulfillment of his promises. It doesn't matter if Zeb was in the wrong place and time meet Jesus or learn his earthly name. If he had met Jesus and rejected him, that would have been different.

I 'm glad you're bringing up questions like this--we really must be prepared to think critically of the implications of our doctrine.

Re: Hell by Technicality

Kathy — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:27:29 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:27:29 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:15:30 -0000

Thanks, Jacob and Adam.

Adam, I've been talking to my husband about foregoing Sunday meetings and participating in small group instead. Maybe we could read Jamieson's book and it would help him understand where I'm coming from.

Re: What is a Faith Community?

Kathy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:15:30 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:15:30 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:22:14 -0000

Hey, Joe. You're right. I've never suffered political or physical persecution. But I've suffered deeply and painfully for righteousness sake in interpersonal relationships within the church--which is largely part of the "status quo" I was talking about in my post.

I'm not sure what you're second paragraph means, :) I don't think you're equating democratic rule of law with God's will on earth--but I do think it's a scandal we Christians have not lived in a way that risks persecution. That's why I pray for courage to recognize where to take a stand and risk the consequences.

Re: Bring it On

Kathy — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:22:14 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:22:14 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:24:39 -0000

Amen, Mark. Jesus told us to love our enemies because he loves them and wants them to follow him, too. Naming our enemies calls us to love them more, to love them to Jesus.

Re: Is America an Empire?

Kathy — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:24:39 -0000

Amen, Mark. Jesus told us to love our enemies because he loves them and wants them to follow him, too. Naming our enemies calls us to love them more, to love them to Jesus.

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:24:39 -0000

Amen, Mark. Jesus told us to love our enemies because he loves them and wants them to follow him, too. Naming our enemies calls us to love them more, to love them to Jesus.

Re: The Last Breakfast

Kathy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:37:20 -0000

Great writing. I love your bio and I consider myself a non-disillusionist, too. Just never had a name for it.

I've often wondered if the women were really absent from the Last Supper. After all, a Seder would have been a "family" meal.

This is not a criticism, just a comment for you guys to raise your awareness. I'm simply weary of the "Mary baked the bread and went off to do the laundry" treatment.

Think of about the implications of this passage: Luke 8: 1 "After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:37:20 -0000

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:37:20 -0000

Re: The Last Breakfast

Kathy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:14:58 -0000

Ah, thanks for clarifying that. :)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:14:58 -0000

Ah, thanks for clarifying that. :)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:14:58 -0000

Ah, thanks for clarifying that. :)

Re: the Jesus Manifesto » Maintenance Mode

Kathy — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:20:19 -0000

Mark, that's stunning. I wish I could come to the performance.

Re: Beat

Kathy — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:20:19 -0000

Mark, that's stunning. I wish I could come to the performance.

Re: Homosexuality and the Church Blogging Summit

Kathy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:10:28 -0000

I suspect some of the commenters here don't understand the dialectic process. I'm not sure I do either, but I'm learning about it and see its value. I'm very interested in any process that brings people to the point where they can at least respect people who hold differing views and effectively and functionally coexist with them in church and society and even in family. And if the process helps both sides concede some territory by recongizing truth in new contexts, that's even better.

As a non-academic layperson, I'm probably not qualified to present an essay, but the homosexual issue is very important to me because my family is dealing with it. I cringe when people make absurd and dismissive comments, like Looney's above, because they show no regard for the precious and unique individuals they've lumped together in their sweeping generalizations.

Re: Should We Believe in Evolution and Still Care?

Kathy — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:08:31 -0000

I've never understood the logic that says evolution reduces humans to the same level as animals. I think one problem may be a notion of spirituality that is contrary to incarnation. We falsely assume anything that can be explained by "natural" processes precludes the possibility of a spiritual apsect. But we are so much more than those natural processes. Our capacity to think, for instance, can be explained by biochemical processes and electrical impulses. But that doesn't reduce our thoughts to chemicals and electrons. Our capacity to love our neighbor can probably be explained by hormones and electrical impulses, too.

As far as I know, humans are the only animals aware of their own mortality. That's another place where Christianity and evolution meet. Our stewardship of the planet is a component of a stewardship of love as modeled by Jesus and it's only thing that gives us hope and meaning within that terrible awareness.

Re: Dear Disillusioned Generation, It’s More Than Just “Hanging Out”

Kathy — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:46:17 -0000

Well, Drew. I mostly agree with you. It's not so much the hanging out with Jesus that bothers me. And it's not the 20 somethings I'm concerned about. I'm concerned about people my age who've never grown past dragging Jesus down to the level of their needs. And in protestant churches, transcendence has left the building.

Re: Dumbest Man Alive?

Kathy — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:29:02 -0000

Hummmm....is it okay to disparage a political candidate on a billboard and keep the church's tax-exempt status?

Re: Freaky Feed and Stimulation by Bush

Kathy — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:28:11 -0000

Your feed still isn't working in my Bloglines. Maybe I should delete it and resubscribe. It's worth it to me to do an extra click and load your site, though. :)

Re: It is Believed That…

Kathy — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:54:19 -0000

"It" is not the only culprit. The insidious use of passive voice lets the reporter off the hook and if we aren't careful readers, we don't demand to know who is doing the believing or if their belief is warranted.

My editor would never let me get by with a lead like that, thank heaven.