The Spiritual Discipline of Shopping

Chances are, you're thinking that this post is going to be a metaphorical conversation about how my experience trying to find the perfect pair of heels is like bumbling through a fallen world and receiving God's grace at just the right time.

This post isn't anything like that, but it still holds that in this broken world, God's grace is abundant and sustaining in every circumstance. I am learning this more and more each day. I am getting older and ever-so-slightly wiser each day, trying not to regret the things I have done or left undone in my younger days and learning from my mistakes.

This post really isn't about me, though.

I babysit for two of my professors who are ethicists. In our classes we discuss our responsibility to the environment, to our fellow humans, and the morality of the things we do and ways we can improve our lifestyles to be more at peace with each other and the world.

Often these conversations leave us discussing recycling, or the moral crisis of consumerism and how we so often fail to consider the hands that made the product we are purchasing.

In "these difficult economic times", which I put in quotes because I've been hearing it for years now, members of the church often talk about money and God either regarding the necessity of tithing even when times are right, or that the financial resources we have are gifts of God and we are called to be good stewards of those resources.

Out of this desire to be good stewards, many of us go to the cheapest products available so we are spending less on things we might consider frivolous. Why spend $3 on dish soap when I can spend $1? I asked myself this same question in the grocery store the other day, until I reached the uncompromising realization that I must put my morals where my money is.

While babysitting, I continued to find recycled products, fairly traded products, and earth-friendly products, knowing that they are surely more expensive but also thinking that this family must value responsibility to the earth and to their fellow human beings and show this through their purchasing power. They seemed to put their money where their ethics were.
This babysitting experience came to mind as I was purchasing dish soap yesterday.

Morality in dish soap?

Yes- many dish soaps are made with ingredients that are non-biodegradable and thereby can pollute the water table. In addition, I felt the need to purchase a product made out of post-consumer recycled materials. So I went with the more expensive soap. In this sense, being a good steward of the financial resourced God has given me was to purchase the more expensive product because it respected and protected God's creation, rather than purchasing the less expensive product to make my money last longer.

In such a consumer-driven society, one of the biggest ways we can use our voice actually doesn't involve vocal chords; it is through our purchasing power. The PC(USA) (and, I'm sure, many other religious/nonreligious denominations and organizations) has recently called for a boycott of materials made in and from occupied Israeli lands (which, if memory serves correctly, was originally Palestinian land; another ethical foible). I feel called to use my monetary voice to purchase products that are ethically bought, sold, and traded; made by people who are employed freely, treated kindly, and receive a fair wage; and are designed and made to be used in ways that continue to protect the environment.

This world is not of my own making. I live in a beautiful world that was made for me, yet is not my known; it is God's. I deem it worshipful to respect God's creations. Just as I want to purchase products that were not made by slave labor or child labor or sweatshop labor, all which another human being who was created by God, so I want to purchase products which respect the flora and fauna which God likewise created.



Next time you go to the grocery, I challenge you to ask yourself if the product you are purchasing is contributing to pollution, human degradation or enslavement. I ask that you seriously and prayerfully consider if there is a more ethical alternative. May shopping be for you as it is for me a spiritual discipline.

Peace,

The Sarcasm of Paul

Did the word of God originate from you?

I am sure that most of you, dear readers, are familiar with the ages-old debate in the Christian church over women in the church. Can they speak? Be ministers? Hold positions of authority over a mixed congregation?

It could seem as if there isn't an simple answer. I hold that there is a simple one and it's been right where we would least expect it! But prepare yourself, because this post and this topic requires logic and reasoning. Reader beware!

Let's start off with some good, old-fashioned Pauline epistle. How about Corinthians? I love me some good Corinthians. Nothing like a Snuggie and Paul's first epistle of the church in Corinth to complete the FOREVER ALONE
expectations I have for my life. But I digress.

In this letter, Paul is dealing with some upset in the church. In the chapter I'm about to discuss, Paul tries to set some grounds for orderly worship. I, for one, love nothing better than a worshipful brouhaha but evidently the Holy Spirit doesn't work that way. Too bad God doesn't work the way I want God to. That sounds like another post, though.

Chapter 14:26 starts off the section. Paul tells the Corinthians that it could be that everyone has something to add to the worship experience- rock on! However, those contributions need to be added in orderly, respectfully, and most of all, worshipfully. I think that from time to time, we as Christians forget just how worshipful peace and respect can be. I'm glad that Paul brought this up- the sovereignty of God strikes again! (Perhaps "strikes" wasn't such a great word choice.)

But then we get to a troubling passage at verse 33b and following

(As in all the churches of the saints, 34women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.* 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?)

What is this? Does Paul, who believes that God doesn't care what sex we are, really believe this? What is he saying?

The answer to this is quite simple, but I wouldn't expect your armchair theologian to know it. Why? Because it's all in the Greek pronouns! Of course! (Done in my best Mr. Portokalos from My Big Fat Greek Wedding impression)

Let me paste in the Greek text for verse 36.
ἢ ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐξῆλθεν, ἢ εἰς ὑμᾶς μόνους κατήντησεν;
with a literal English translation being "Or did the word of God come out from you(male, plural) ? Or came it only unto you (male, plural) ?
See those plural male pronouns in there? Oh, Paul! You slay me! Your sarcasm knows no bounds.

What is Paul getting at?
Paul is asking the men of the congregation if God's word came only to them, or if comes only from them. Now, Paul could have said this a number of other ways to avoid a gender distinction, but he said it in this particular way. Why? Because Paul wants to make certain that the Corinthians understand that although the women of this church are causing a problem right now (most of it related to Docetism if I'm not getting my history too flubbed), women can hold positions of ecclesiastical authority just as men can, and can speak in a church just as the men can.

The moral of the story is this: Paul is trying to disciple the church in Corinth while reminding them that all Christians- male or female- can hold positions of authority if God ordains them to hold it. Context is absolutely crucial to the formation of doctrine, as is taking the Bible as a whole.


Did God's word originate from only you?

Use Scripture in Context!

An exegetical how-not-to.

"So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself." Jesus said, "Go forth, and do likewise."


Dripping with sarcasm,

I haven't neglected you, dear blog!

I have been overwhelmed lately!

I am behind in my classes (but I'm getting back on track, thank God!)

Also, I have had a tough time on the family front lately. My paternal grandfather passed away a few weeks ago and I'm a very slow griever. I get really tired and lazy when I grieve, which explains my terrible work ethic. However I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so I hope to be able to invest some time in this blog again, soon!

Upcoming post:
The Sarcasm of Paul: "Did the word of God originate from you?"


In everlasting arms,

Church.

Do I want to go to campus worship and support my comrades or do I want to go back to the liturgy that centers my day, my week, my life?

I can't express how vital the church experience is to me. The routine isn't the only thing, although my fellow liturgical buddies can attest to its comfort.

No, it's the spiritual experience. I need it, I thrive on it. And any religious person should be able to identify with this. It's more than just my personal enrichment, too. We pray for the glorification of God. We pray for our leaders, religious and those on earth. And we pray for the people of this world.

Then there's always communion. A mystery that I can't even being to explain. But it's a mystery that I need, desperately.

Knowing how much faith and religious experience has helped me and shaped me as a person, I can't help but wonder what it's like not to grow up religious. What is it like to have a nonreligious family? If you grew up in a family that wasn't religious, what was it like? Do you feel like you missed out on anything?

I feel that I would. I'm so grateful that I've never had to go a day of my life knowing that nothing I do could ever separate me from the love and grace of God.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think. You're welcome to do so anonymously!

Peace be with you,

I have been struggling for a while.

I've been dealing with my chronic pain disorder for a few years now and never figured out how to use my faith to help me through it. All I could seem to do would be to fuss at God- get mad, get angry, cry tears of frustration that I was so helpless and hopeless at times. Which is fine, because God can take my anger. God's big enough for that.
Side note: It's astounding how much my pain disorder controls my life.

Today I finally got it.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I was deliberately created, specially, uniquely, just the way that I am. My legs were crooked for a reason. I had to learn to walk with a brace for a reason. I don't know what that reason is, but I'm unique and God knows that.

Maybe I'm meant to be that one girl who'll go out on a limb and test a wonder drug. Maybe I'm the only one who will be honest enough about my struggles to get some attention to worldwide sufferers of pain disorders.

Maybe I have something to learn from my pain disorder.

Am I supposed to rejoice in the fact that some days it takes strength that is honestly not my own to get out of bed? I don't think so. I don't know if God wants me to be joyful about this- certainly God doesn't think I'm wrong for getting pissy every now and then.

But I finally get it. I'm unique. I'm special. This is how I see life. Everything down to my very anatomy- my very nerve endings- my brain cells- is different with me. I am a unique human.

That's a good feeling. God knows that I'm miserable sometimes, and it's not what God desired to see me hurt, but God knows that I do. God is holding my hand through all of this as I grow.

And I'm thankful.



Uniquely yours,

Spoons

Do you know what it's like to be chronically ill?
My case is a pain disorder. It's one of those things that I know that I'm sick, and I feel myself in constant pain and can't control it, but the doctors haven't given me a definitive answer yet. That is painful emotionally because I feel invalidated, but I should let that bother. You know that you have a cold even if you don't go to Doctor's Care. I know that I have a chronic pain disorder but I just don't know which one yet.

Having said that, my day-to-day existence is different from that of people who aren't sick.

I would post the following story in full, but I want to be respectful to the author's copyright. Please click this link and read about the Spoon Theory. It explains what day-to-day life is like for someone who doesn't "look sick".
I'm having a bad evening with my pain disorder and want you all to know what it's like for me. From now on, when I refer to "running out of spoons", you all will know what I'm talking about.

Love,

What do you want to read about?

Let's face it.
I'm working full time this summer and I don't have a lot of hilarious stories.
I don't have a lot of rant about and I'm not making any large leaps on a personal level that are blog-worthy.

So tell me what you want to hear! What do I think about this? Opinion on that? Tell you about a member of my family or more about my autistic deformed cat.
You know you want to.


BEGGING YOU FOR IDEAS,

Hoping to

Get some decent sleep tonight.

Last night, my cat decided that she wanted to sleep inside. Then she wanted to sleep with me- fine. Then she wanted to sleep ON-FRIGGIN'-TOP OF ME. Kitties make you hot, y'all. It is not cool in my neck of the woods this time of year. So this was not exactly a welcome experience.

I didn't mind too much, I just figured if it's a step in good bonding and if she doesn't give me all sorts of nasty fleas I'd be fine with it. I mean, I was sleeping on my tummy and she was lying on my back so I wasn't breathing in her kitty-ness. Which would have been rank because that child needs to brush her TEEF.

So I go to sleep with my 8-toed-mentally-retarded cat.

Then I wake up in the middle of the night because she started crying and either chasing a squeaking mouse or playing with plastic spoons and making them squeak. Either way, it was OBNOXIOUS because I was trying to SLEEP.

Normally, even at the moment, I would think her behavior was just fine. Shame on me for leaving the spoons on the floor. But at 3 AM... I was annoyed.

So I'm going to go to bed soon and hope that my kitty either doesn't find a mouse to chase and warble out, or that she just lies down with me and stays put. I put the spoons away- lesson learned.


Grace and peace (AND SLEEP),

What is Pentecost?

Pentecost is big celebration in the Christian community. At least it should be!

This holiday is based on the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, which celebrated the Ten Commandments coming down from Mount Sinai 50 days after the Exodus. 50 days, thus "Pent"... eh?

In the Christian tradition, it's the celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came at the conclusion of that same Jewish Festival, just after the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Christian tradition, the feast falls 50 days after Easter (aha! "pente" again!).

Pentecost is hailed as the birth of the Church. The gifts of the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to begin their ministry and expand the Church on earth; to spread the Gospel of our Lord.


Happy Pentecost!
Thank you, God, for the Holy Spirit!

60th post!

Oh yes!

I've been busy lately crocheting a baby afghan for a friend. I kind of like the pattern, it's simple- but I'm using a delicate yarn and a bigger hook (size K) so it's very hole-y. That's actually a good thing in a baby blanket, because the baby can't suffocate. Science supports my granny habits. You heard it here first.

I just got back from attempting to give my most recent project companion animal, Delilah (a super-polydactyl cat) a bath.
I say attempting. Because it didn't work out.
She was just too afraid of the water, but my precious baby was so sweet about it! She desparately tried to get out of the tub, but she didn't scratch or claw me, she just wanted OUT!
I gave it two tries, but in the end I couldn't hold her down to bathe her and I really didn't have the heart to make her so worried. Even though her skin really needs a bath- she's got a lot of scabs from her flea bites. So now Delilah is probably a little angry with me, but she's still chilling in the yard so she's not that mad. I just wish I could soothe her skin without a bath! Dad suggested a dip, so I'll look into that.

You can't give Delilah a bath if she doesn't want one. She's from the 'hood. Not kidding.

I tried to give our old rescue/out-of-the-'hood cat, Morpheus, a bath back when he was with us. I took him on the back porch, got a wet towel, and rubbed him down. He was STANKY, y'all, so this was more than necessary. I think I got some Mane and Tail on the towel, and then rinsed him off with another one. I had to have Mom (AKA "Muhhh-ther") to help me, but he got a little clean.

All I succeeded in today was to see how very many toes Delilah has, rinse them, and possibly piss her off.
Utter failure.


Grace and peace (and flea bath),

Hello, Summer!

It's summer. I'm busy.
WHAT?
Normally I just sit on my tush all summer, but this summer I have a Real Job.
Thankfully, it also comes with a Real Paycheck. Thank you, Jesus!

Speaking of Jesus, I need to read my Bible more often. Who wants to get on my tail about this? I am going to try to be proactive about it and set a daily time to be with God and only God. I talk to God all day, but I need to set apart some time just to spend reading my Bible and "be still and know that I am God".

Which brings me to a point. I feel really uncomfortable and strange just talking to God. Just saying what's on my mind. I think that God knows what I'm saying all the time- there isn't a time when I imagine that God isn't privy to what I think, say or do. So I feel weird JUST praying. It also is an incredibly intimate thing, to talk to the creator of the universe. It's a privilege that isn't lost on me.

Does anyone else feel this way? That praying, just praying, feels a little strange?

Grace and peace,



P.S. Next Sunday is Pentecost. Woot!

What is Maundy Thursday?

Also known as Covenant Thursday, this is the celebration of the Last Supper and the institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ.

Here's the Bible Story:
FROM LUKE
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.



FROM MATTHEW
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

JOHN
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.

Maundy Thursday is often celebrated with a foot washing service or a stations of the cross service. If a church wishes to have a Good Friday service with Holy Communion, then the Sacrament to be used for that service must be consecrated now. In other words, on Good Friday reserve Sacrament must be used, and this service is a good opportunity to make consecrate it.

Maundy Thursday grace and peace,



EDITED TO ADD: I realized at church on Thursday that I have been gravely remiss in this post, and have left out an important part of the Maundy Thursday service.
What I have left out is related to the foot washing ceremony.

Here is the Gospel story that I originally omitted:

FROM JOHN 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

This is where the custom of foot washing comes from. The reason we do this in Jesus' example is so that we can learn to wash one another's feet as Jesus did. To serve others, to love others, just as Jesus set the example.
What have you, or I, done lately that has been "foot washing" for us? What have we done to love others or serve others selflessly as Jesus has? If nothing comes to mind, think about loving or serving someone in the example of Jesus. You'll be glad that you did!

NOTE: All scripture is from the NIV (Copyright Zondervan, via www.biblegateway.com)

Plans for the future

are uncertain for me.
There are a few things that I know:
-I will graduate from college
-I will eventually go into ordained ministry
-I will eventually go to seminary and become ordained

I just don't know HOW to do those last two. I'm so conflicted about in which denomination I'm called to serve and the timeline for going to seminary. Do I go directly after college? Do I wait a few years? If I decide to go into ministry somewhere other than PC USA, I'd need to take some time to attend that church, join and be confirmed. (Or do I?)

Which asks a related question, what do I do with myself between college and seminary? I'll have a degree in Religion with a minor in music and probably history as well. Would I teach? Will a school even hire me? (Save Christian schools) Do I go into youth ministry for a while to get on my feet? That seems the most reasonable option, I can get acquainted with the church and its procedure and still fulfill my calling. Maybe it's not even necessary to be a confirmed member in the denomination before you attend their seminary and seek ordination.


This whole post left out the ENTIRE "marriage" question. I find that interesting, for so long I always assumed that I would just get married soon after college and would figure things out then, but now I'm wondering about that. I haven't met anyone that I am interesting in marrying, and I am definitely not going to settle. I don't want to get married old because I'd like to have children, but ultimately it's all in God's hands when I find that special one and the circumstances thereof.

Holy Week grace and peace,

Still alive

But barely! Greek test tomorrow is going to melt my brain. It will be fantastic. I stayed up late "studying" but I'm really just on facebook the whole time because I can't concentrate worth beans. I know, cue terrible person sob story here.
Anyway, sorry for neglecting the blog. School has been busy like WOAH and as soon as I get a chance to breathe, I will update you all on what's going on with me. =)

Grace and peace (Greek for peace is χαρα btw),

I can haz JOB!

That's right, internet. Brookie officially has a summer job.
This is either the end of the world or the dawning of a new, beautiful era. Let's go with the latter- I could use some good times!

Thanks everyone for your support, I can't wait to be a working woman. I know, shocked are we? I think that it will be an empowering and rewarding experience for me, and I hope that I'm able to do something good in someone's life through my job.

Lenten grace and peace,

Well, here's a change...

A real post!

Actually, it's only a real post to those of you who aren't my friends on livejournal. I post there to keep my entries private (well, mostly private, since no one from LJ really reads my blog unless I tell them to and no one from my blog reads my LJ because they aren't my LJ friend. So there.)

I'm going to edit and then copy and paste the post in. It's pretty much the lowdown on Brookie, and if you've been a longtime reader you'll notice how much I've changed since going to college.

THE POST

LIBERALS
Evidently my church is one of the most liberal out there. Woo? I mean, liberalism has been a long time coming for me. I'm very fundamental on some things but really liberal on other stances. I guess that I'm okay being PC USA because, in all honesty, it's something to stand behind. I can disagree with things that I have reason to disagree on but when something comes up and I don't really know what to think about it, I trust my denomination enough to just fall back on them. See next section:

GAYS
My church is fine with gays. Individual churches may have their own opinions, but my denomination doesn't see homosexuality as a sinful sexual identity. I mean, there's scads of theological research on both sides of the story. I've read it all. I've believed it all at one point or another. At this point, I'm kind of wobbly on where I stand but I'm essentially of the mindset that God doesn't care who you love. I go back to the "well heterosexual relationships biologically produce offspring so wasn't that God's design?" a lot, but when I think about how overpopulated we are... I am beginning to think that homosexuality could even be a blessing from God. Stop reproducing kids that you'll just screw up anyway, and if you're well-balanced enough to want a child and care for one and biologically don't make one with your partner and don't want to do artificial insemination, then adopt a child who needs a home! Care for the orphans, I seem to remember that being something that Jesus lauded. Anyway, at this point in time I can't say what I think on the gays... but it's not like they're hurting anybody. Live and let live, and if you want to get a gay partnership blessed, when I'm ordained I can do so. Woot?

V-DAY
And I don't mean Valentine's day. I'm talking about the Eve Ensler Vagina Day- empowering women, ending the silence, trying to end the violence toward women. My campus just had our own offshoot of the V-Day movement and it was empowering, liberating, and rewarding. For girls who have been victimized it was like a week of "Yes, this happens. It happened to me. Let's end it now" mixed with "I am FREE". I was so pumped that we have a V-Day movement here on campus and can't wait to get involved with it next year.

GOD
Has no gender. I wish that people could wrap their minds around this. God doesn't have a gender, doesn't have a sex, IS NOT A MAN. OKAY? Using "He".... whatever. Don't make a habit of it. It perturbs me slightly and if I'm cranky it can totally set me off (blame it on the Presbyterianism). But then I see this downright patriarchal theology and I want to scream. God doesn't care if I'm a man or a woman. God loves me for me. Nothing I can do will change that in any way. This is also why I'm pretty okay with the gays- there is no male or female in Christ... why do I care if sexless individual A marries sexless individual B? I don't. But this whole God thing goes so much further. Women repress themselves when they think that God's MASTER PLAN for them is to raise good Christians and keep a clean home and make their husband's life easier et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseum. Child-rearing is a SHARED job. Whether the wife stays at home to care for them or the father, it doesn't matter. It's not just one person's job. Neither is better than the other based on pure genetics. Maybe the wife IS the better full-time caregiver and that's fine with me. But the husband might be, too. Or heck, the other wife might be too. Or the other husband. Or whatever. God hasn't generalized an entire sex because God doesn't care what sex you are. God can't set gender roles when God doesn't care what gender you are. God is portrayed as a father. God is also characterized as a mother. Deal with it and move on. And stop putting my God, the creator of the universe, into a box. How offensive that must be!

BYE BYE PATRIARCHAL THEOLOGY
See GOD

FRIENDS
I am making them. I am also starting to puzzle them out, which is incredibly exciting. (insert rambling that I'm not including for the sake of anonymity).
Have you ever noticed that people can say a lot of honest things without ever actually saying anything?

Lenten grace and peace,

MAKE UP GIVEAWAY

I saw Emily's giveaway and thought- BLOG POST! I gave up makeup for Lent, so what better thing to do than let my readers win some products that I can't use? Of course I'm entering, too, and maybe after Lent I'll get to use the spoils should I win! Anyway, here's the link to Emily's blog, and I hope that you all are lucky!

Lenten grace and peace,

BOOK GIVEAWAY

But I'm not doing it! It's my friend Melissa Peacock at devasha.com and she's giving away the book Hear No Evil by Matthew Paul Turner. You know you want it! Follow the link to her blog and enter to win!

Want more info? Here's the book's blurb:
A collection of wise, compelling, and often uproariously funny essays built around the experience of music as a transformational element in a moment of truth, Hear No Evil mines Matthew Paul Turner’s humorous memories of his evangelical youth and invites readers to groove along on his journey.

From attending forbidden contemporary Christian concerts to moving to “Music City” Nashville, Hear No Evil chronicles Turner’s “life soundtrack” which morphs seamlessly into the stories of people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straight forward and amusing, Hear No Evil is an exploration of a life of faith lived to a personal soundtrack.

Lenten grace and peace,

Lent

I'm Presbyterian. This means that we don't generally "do" a lot about Lent. We leave it up to the individual. This individual chose to do something for Lent, and this is what I chose!

ADD SOMETHING
I'm adding serious prayer into my routine this Lenten season. It will hopefully mean less frivolous Facebook time and more time with God. Collegiate friends, did you all know that we have a prayer room in the campus center? That's where you'll find me!

CUT IT OUT

Getting rid of MAKEUP. Shock. I know. This child is practically the international makeup spokesmodel. I've done everything but be dispatched to the UN. And I'm giving it up. Why?
I think that I view makeup as something that does more than just improve an already beautiful face or complexion. I hide behind it. I don't feel comfortable in my own skin without it. I found myself wearing makeup because I didn't fit in unless I did so.
It became my mask.

So for 40 days I will not wear it, and you, my friends, can hold me to it. Hopefully I'll learn a lesson about being myself for myself and become more comfortable in the skin that God gave me.

Lenten grace and peace,