Category Archives: Atheism, Belief, Perspective, Religion, Viewpoint

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COMMON GROUND in a DIVERSE CHRISTIAN LANDSCAPE

Here’s What I Know~

God uses all kinds.

God uses all sorts of people, places, and things to get His message out. To name a few: books, publications, interactions, recordings, movies, services, ministers, missionaries, music, resources, circumstances, and denominations. No person or organization has the corner on the market. I believe this to be true across the board. This awareness comes as an interesting realization once you stop thinking in terms of limitations and begin seeing in terms of opportunities.

I challenged myself to write out a list of specific spiritual books that have impacted my understanding in some remarkable, lasting way. The books are quite different from one another but each has left an evergreen imprint. Their authors have helped me consider deep, and often difficult or uncomfortable, concepts and all have contributed depth and richness in my conscious awareness. These books have expanded my faith and caused me to grapple with their content and meaning.

Like many from a strong fundamental, denominational heritage, I wasn’t always so open. I feared exposure to expanded ideas about belief and spiritual duty. I didn’t realize one can read outside the margins of your own doctrinal beliefs and gain additional understanding. Everything changed once I let go of the reigns and let God take charge. I had asked God to teach me whatever He wanted me to learn. He has kept His side of the bargain. I have to say, I like it much better this way. Life has an element of surprise to it now. Life is never boring when God has your attention.

On some future date I plan to share with you a list of these books for your own perusal and enjoyment. You will be invited to  pick, diss, or ignore them as you see fit. Or you can read what strikes your fancy as jumping off points for spiritual development. I know some readers will take issue with one or more of these authors or books because of their diversity (and that’s okay and to be expected). Yet, this is my journey. You don’t have to like or read any of them, but actually, I don’t think that will be the case. My spiritual walk is all the richer for the reading of historic and contemporary Orthodox, Anglican, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal writers, with a couple of Christian mystics thrown in the mix. Who would have thunk it?

A word of caution is in order. Spiritual discernment is critical to this process and one must be grounded in God’s word. Otherwise, one might stray from the truth and become confused. When God checks, I stop. It’s a knowing, and I’m sensitive to it. I do not expect to agree with everything in a book, in fact, I don’t think I ever do. But I do find nuggets of truth in most every book excepting the ones that have little life to them. I sense their writers aren’t writing from the heart.

My list currently stands at 32 books by 32 authors. Thus far. Truthfully, I am amazed how God opened the dialogue after I determined to let go of my limited thinking and He had my full attention. The process wasn’t a walk in the park, however. Usually it came about as the result of pain. In my case, almost always a precipitating crisis spawned a new direction, which resulted in a greater, expansive, foundational awareness of spiritual truth. But that is another story. God is not in a box, no matter how much we want to put Him there. Aren’t you glad?

We learn and grow as we seek God with our hearts, minds, and souls. We absorb whatever He gives us. The path of ‘living’ spiritual life is, at best, unusual, unpredictable, and meandering; but it is such a beautiful one. Even though I struggle at times, I embrace the spiritual path. God keeps me at the place of ‘further still.’ I’m glad to say there is no end in sight.

Although your path is not my path, there are similarities between us. You approach your Christian beliefs from a viewpoint unique to you, and that’s a given; but there should and will be some concrete similarities in our beliefs. That is, as long as we both are serious in our devotion to God. The Christ life is lived out. Redemptive life is something we experience, have experienced, and will continually experience through the mind of Jesus Christ, the will of Father God, and the indwelling and enabling of the Holy Spirit.

The biblical narrative has a predominate message that flows from its beginning to end. Like in any well-crafted story, the pivotal point is the most important, exhilarating, and gratifying. In this case, it is the finished work of Christ from which He lives and breathes in our beings. He is alive.

CHALLENGE

Write out a list of the most influential books/authors you’ve read. See what you come up with. Why did they leave a lasting impression?

Care to share one or two of them? Be my guest (I double dog dare you). Others would like to know too, not just me.

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In the Meantime

My Friends,

For three weeks I’m on hiatus from posting my blog’s regular content. All for good reasons, though. I have decided to share a few random thoughts to fill in the gap.

My role has changed in the past few months. Now I am transient between two houses, my own and that of my folks. It’s hard to keep up with life when you aren’t rooted in one place. One of my current deals is sorting through things at my folks’ home. This activity is like a memorable journey back in time.

Most interesting to me are the photos and historical records: letters, marriage, birth, and baptism announcements. Wedding photos of my great grandparents, grand parents, and parents. We view pictures of the Brumbaugh homestead in Pennsylvania, now a historical site, my mother playing the violin as a child, my father as a boy standing in front of a haystack on the Southern California dairy farm, my siblings and I at the cabin at Big Bear lake and a variety of photos of relatives when they were young.

What the memories, books, writings, and all kinds of artifacts–including handmade doilies, laces, and tatting–give to me is a strong sense of family and our place in the world. I have a rich heritage on both parents’ sides. The past through my ancestors efforts is rich with practical teachings, the brethren tradition, spiritual direction, music, writing and good, honest, hard work. One ancestor, my father’s maternal grandparent, Grandpa Barkdoll, preached a sermon on his 100th birthday and lived to be 101. A newspaper clipping was saved of about him as a centenarian talking about his life in the local news.

Tears come on occasion. The path has its tender spots, as I remember those whom have gone on before us, leaving a hole in their wake. Tragedies that have occurred and impacted the family. I read them all and relive their emotion. I see a photo of my mother’s sister, who died from cancer and left six sons motherless, the youngest just five years old. She was beautiful, talented, and loved pretty things. My sister and I remember the girly-girl gifts she gave to us girls at Christmas. It seemed too sad back then, and still does.

But love is strong and weaves its vibrant thread in and out and round about. I have learned I can smile at life and have it smile back at me. There is beauty in every generation, in the sweet times of family, in the quiet moments of being alone with past family history. Life is to be lived generously and faithfully. I’m so thankful for their brave, strong, and Christian examples.

For this I am grateful.

It’s the celebration season for people of faith. As a people of life and belief, we can appreciate the past for in it we know our hope and our future. We can look back at the scenes our minds recall and bring the memories close. We remember our spiritual birth and growth–when we understood, embraced, wept, rejoiced, and transformed. There were the hard times and good times, sorrows and joys , and lots of living in-between.

For this I give praise.

I hope life is treating you well.