“When a woman was the right person for the job, whether it was leading in worship, prophesying, exhorting, saving a nation from genocide, or leading soldiers into battle, God didn’t hesitate to use her. And the results were impressive.” ~Ruth Haley Barton
If God is against women in leadership (as some people think) then He has some “splainin'” to do! In this podcast episode, we discuss some of the women that God raised up to lead as read in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible aka the Old Testament). Miriam, Deborah, Jael, a mystery woman, Esther and the prophet Huldah.
Even though the Bible is written within a patriarchal worldview, God was able to work within our less than perfect ideals and plant an idea for something better, and He is still doing that today!
God raised up and installed some amazing women to lead His people, both men, and women, which leaves us with a decision to make, Either He is breaking His own rules about women in leadership, or those are the rules of a patriarchal system and He is trying to lead us out of that to something better!
While there are many books and vast amounts of scholarship on this topic, one very readable and approachable book you might want to pick up is called “How I Changed My Mind About Women In Leadership” (Alan Johnson General Editor)
This is a compelling collection of stories from some prominent Evangelical leaders.
Also here is a link to an article written by @rachelheldevans (Rachel Held Evans) that is a good overview as well:
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.” ~Eric Liddell
Christians have been slow to the game. For a group of folks who talk a lot about prayer, the statistics show they rarely practice it. When they do, it is primarily a “Hail Mary” kind of moment hoping the divine will get them out of their current jam or to meet a specific need that that lives in the land of illusivity.
Most other world religions connect prayer to some physical act be it breathing, yogic positions, stretching, or as the Hopi Indians do, running.
When you link some type of activity to prayer, you begin to focus better, notice your humanity more, and connect to God’s voice and inspiration in a fresh way.
If you know the story of Eric Liddell, he was the main character in the classic movie “Chariots of Fire” which centered around his gold medal Olympic race that almost wasn’t.
Liddell was known for and was to compete in the 200-meter race. However, that particular race was scheduled on a Sunday. Liddell experienced a crisis of faith when he found out. His strong conviction told him that he should go to church and worship God on that day. So, he declined to run the race he had prepared for.
Can you imagine that?
Training for an Olympic event and then declining to run because it interfered with his personal priority of going to church. In a time when people decline going to church because it is raining too hard, or it’s too hot or or or….I think you get my point. Liddell decided he would run the next race which was the 400-meter.
This wasn’t his normal race, nor what he trained for, but he decided to run it, and the rest is history as they say. He won the Gold Medal. After the race he said,
“The secret of my success over the 400-m is that I run the first 200-m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200-m, with God’s help, I run faster.”
If you haven’t seen the movie put it on your list. The story is much bigger and beautiful than I can describe, but I have always been inspired Liddells’ famous quote in the movie:
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast!And when I run I feel his pleasure.”
I believe Liddell best connected with God while running. This discipline became a deeper prayer connecting his body, soul, and spirit to God.
I have many friends who are about to undertake a beautiful goal of running a full or half marathon to raise money for World Vision to bring clean water to areas where there is none.
A physical practice to achieve spiritual and physical goals. I believe God will meet them in a special way as they train. As they run they will notice how their focus sharpens. They will begin to hone in on the immediate moment whether it is because of fatigue, burn, or hard-breath. Their inner world will calm as they better unite with their outer reality. They will also have many “God I need you now” moments too!
With the right intention, their running will become for them a deeper spiritual experience, connecting them to God in a different way while making an impact for those who have no clean water. To me that is so good.
So for my marathon friends, here is a prayer I came across written by Lewis B. Smith Jr. he called his running prayer.
This is my running prayer Lord. I run in praise of you. I praise you with my motion. You sustain my breath That I may sustain your praise. All creation joining in Nothing in creation is still. My world revolves as I run across it. The heavens move as I run below them. Everything moves in praise. I move as I run. I run a trail of blessings, Giving and receiving both. As I run I am blessed, With moisture in the air To cool my straining body, Plants and trees nourish my breath, That I may run further. With birdsong to cheer me on. Joining in unending praise With the supportive murmur, Of the flowing creek. With passion in my arms and legs, With burning in my chest, That I may know that I am alive, To have more to praise you for. I leave blessings in my turn. Water for plants, Breath for trees. This run may end. The prayer will not. I may slow. I shall praise you still. Your praise carries me. To the limits of my body and beyond. Hands outstretched in praise, I run and collect bounteous blessings, The rhythm of the pavement sings A percussive song of power. Not of my might. Not of my strength. But of the persistence of your spirit. A regular rhythm of irregular melody Breath in windy counterpoint Still I run. Still I praise Ever the prayer runs on.
God gave us our bodies not only to live our mission through, but to experience His presence, purpose and power through.
When we integrate all of who we are we experience God in a whole new way. Let your body, created by God, help your spiritual journey and experience the kingdom of heaven that is within you and all around you.
More books and less binge-watching will transform your life!
The following books are in no particular order and speak to various areas of thought. From fiction to faith, I would encourage you to read widely and discerningly. Most people today read within a small circle of authors that they like and agree with. If you are only reading authors who think like you, there is limited growth happening in your soul. Read authors who come at things differently, think differently and even believe differently. Release your fear, you are stronger and more discerning than you think, and who knows, you just might gain some new insights or see things from a different perspective.
Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’
~Alfred Lord Tennyson
Every January is a divine gift of newness. No matter what the previous year brought into your life, a new year is a grace gift where you are reminded that it is possible to author a new chapter, paint on a fresh canvas, or sing a new melody.
It has been said, “You can’t fix a problem with the same thinking that created it.” So, here are 21 practices that will clear the way to engage and create a greater future and present.
Start each day with 10 minutes of meditation and/or prayer.
Refuse to check your electronic devices until you have centered your soul after you wake up.
Before you leave your home, ask God to make you a blessing to someone each day.
Talk less, listen more. Pause and think before you respond to make sure you are truly listening to the other person, perhaps you will choose to respond far less.
Commit to writing down at least one gratitude a day in a journal before you go to sleep. This will help you wake with gratefulness and less stress.
Practice the ancient art of smiling every day, your soul will thank you.
Own your mistakes and say “I’m sorry” quickly when you blow it.
Ask yourself why you respond the way you do to people’s behaviors before you respond. I call this a moment of holy curiosity. Your reactions tell you more about you than you realize.
Exercise a little every day, even if it is a few short walks during your day.
Determine to get 8 hours of sleep each night, “game-changer alert!”
Consider a Whole-30 type diet, eliminating sugary food and drinks.
Drink water-water-water, half your body weight in ounces. Water is life.
Grow in your generosity. Donate to charities and humanitarian groups that work to eliminate poverty. I’d recommend http://www.planetchanger.org 🙂
Read a book every month. I like Sacred Space 🙂 I will be posting my list of recommended reads soon!
Write down your top 3 goals. Post them where you can see them. Do one thing each day that connects to those goals.
Choose kindness over rightness
Choose grace over judgmentalism (pull that log out of your eye!)
Choose to assume positive intent towards others when things get dicey.
Limit your screen time. Break your smartphone addiction. You don’t need it in the bedroom. Turn it off, and check it in and leave it alone! You’ll be okay I promise. In fact, you’ll be better.
Learn to say “NO” Life is full of many good things that keep you from the best things. Does the opportunity align with your top 3 goals? If it doesn’t just say no,
Love. Pray daily that you motivation which fuels your actions would flow from love and compassion.
