Sidebar before the real comment: Taylor Swift’s new album has a song called “Thank You Aimee” with strategically placed capital letters and it gave me the giggles every time I tried to write that for you. 🤣
Oh man, so many of your points (and Peterson’s too by extension) reminds me of Tim Mackie’s sermon series (he’s the founder of The Bible Project but used to be a pastor many years ago) on Jonah as a dark comedic satire of a prophetic book. But I never thought of it being an example of how God uses us and ministers to us exactly where we are, and then calls us higher. 🙌🏻
Sounds like a book I need to move to the front of the list of books to read as we navigate another Pastor scandal…news of faithful friends who are leaving bloodied and deeply bruised. They need a place to heal and truly worship although they are going to be deeply missed.💔
Administrators/boards, and consistories that are still covering up, controlling, and throwing around authority because there is no accountability here on earth below. 😢. Going to a Ladies Bible Study only because of the concern for the hearts of these women and their watered down theology. Blowing past the Eternal Subordination of the Son blatantly stated throughout a whole page. Knowing my Pastor doesn’t agree with any of this stuff but his Consistory has silenced him as well.😓
Okay…now that I got that off my chest maybe it is time to go listen to some Swift myself.💓
Haven’t even read the post yet—later today when I’m not working and can read such excellent writing and comment without distraction—but I’m here commenting now because you had me at hello.
“Hello” being the title and teaser line.
Well done, Aimee. Well.done.
Please keep it up. Because such writings are helping keep—prop—help—us up.
“No, *you’re* Schmoopie!!” haha…major mad Seinfeld superfan here; ok I’m back now. (clears throat, resumes a more business-like, professional, non-Seinfeld voice) No, Aimee…you’re the one encouraging ((us)).
But thank you nonetheless. Clearly, your sweet humility is one of the attributes that got you to where you are now in your writing-your-worldview world.
Saw what you did there, to put that another way. “It’s not you, it’s me” who’s doing the encouraging here…
Whenever I read the book of Jonah, or just think about it for that matter, I am forced to consider again what it’s supposed to reveal.
What it teaches me is that God's plans, work, and achievements are not dependent on my desires, efforts, or accomplishments. When Jesus talked about the sign of Jonah, I think he’s saying he’s the embodiment of that book. Belonging to Jesus means that he’s working in me, through me, and despite me. It’s a sobering thought.
Then again, his final words to his friends were that it’s all about love. His brother reiterated it when he wrote that we know we’re on the right track when we love people. I’m glad that’s what Jesus is accomplishing in me, through me, and despite me.
I feel uncomfortable giving hyperbolic praise. I have read your stuff. Your comments on the Song of Solomon are some of the best I have ever read. But, this piece has struck me deeper than anything you have ever written. I promotes meditation, sharing, discussion, reflection, and focus on God's work in our lives and others. It puts me in a place of seeing within by seeing without. It is God's way of peace within our churches as is and the world without and marry action with heart. It frees us from being victims toward an active empathy to those who are. This is the stuff that I like hearing from you, sister.
About midway in the 33 years I served as pastor of a small urban Baptist congregation, there was a day i was having lunch with the local Vineyard pastor. I shared my discouragement and that if I wasn't the pastor I'm not sure I would attend the church i was serving.
He told me that i needed to make the church be like one that I would attend.
After a few days of reflection it came to me that God did not call me to make that church fit my desires. God called me to be present with those people and seek to be faithful and urge them to be faithful. That was an important lesson for me!
And I'm sure that also feels kind of lonely. It is interesting how God brings his people together, though. I'm sure that you learn a lot more from them as you look at them these new eyes. And that is the kind of thing that requires the Spirit of God.
"It’s often in coming to the end of ourselves that we find that portal to our spiritual life again." Darn it. So true. Under the Unpredictable Plant was at my feet, in my cabinet of favorite books, this morning as I read your words. I opened it back up + found encouragement...God with His "windmill Jesus arms, calling all of us to grace and mercy and salvation." There is goodness + there is God, right here at the end of ourselves, however nukes + ash our story might be. No thanks to the destruction or those who caused it, but to the One who isn't done with us. Thank you.
Thank you, Aimee. I so needed to read this today. I was gonna write "Love you!" like I always do with my family, and then I caught myself and didn't because well, you know . . . ah hell, "Love you!"
Sidebar before the real comment: Taylor Swift’s new album has a song called “Thank You Aimee” with strategically placed capital letters and it gave me the giggles every time I tried to write that for you. 🤣
Oh man, so many of your points (and Peterson’s too by extension) reminds me of Tim Mackie’s sermon series (he’s the founder of The Bible Project but used to be a pastor many years ago) on Jonah as a dark comedic satire of a prophetic book. But I never thought of it being an example of how God uses us and ministers to us exactly where we are, and then calls us higher. 🙌🏻
I will have to listen to that song now! And that sermon series sounds really good.
Just a heads up, it’s cheeky and it’s got swear words, but if you know some basic Swiftie lore, it is entertaining in its own special way. 😅
I repeat, Jackie, you've got a voice to share! :v https://youtu.be/WUUqwJlA9eY?si=B6CtgaOdrcMJWjWH
Jackie, please write your blog. You have a voice to share.
Ugh stop it, you are very kind. 🥹
“ what she said “ ;)
Sounds like a book I need to move to the front of the list of books to read as we navigate another Pastor scandal…news of faithful friends who are leaving bloodied and deeply bruised. They need a place to heal and truly worship although they are going to be deeply missed.💔
Administrators/boards, and consistories that are still covering up, controlling, and throwing around authority because there is no accountability here on earth below. 😢. Going to a Ladies Bible Study only because of the concern for the hearts of these women and their watered down theology. Blowing past the Eternal Subordination of the Son blatantly stated throughout a whole page. Knowing my Pastor doesn’t agree with any of this stuff but his Consistory has silenced him as well.😓
Okay…now that I got that off my chest maybe it is time to go listen to some Swift myself.💓
This is awful, I am so sorry.
Haven’t even read the post yet—later today when I’m not working and can read such excellent writing and comment without distraction—but I’m here commenting now because you had me at hello.
“Hello” being the title and teaser line.
Well done, Aimee. Well.done.
Please keep it up. Because such writings are helping keep—prop—help—us up.
#survivorsassemble
Haha, I love this. Thanks for the encouragement.
“No, *you’re* Schmoopie!!” haha…major mad Seinfeld superfan here; ok I’m back now. (clears throat, resumes a more business-like, professional, non-Seinfeld voice) No, Aimee…you’re the one encouraging ((us)).
But thank you nonetheless. Clearly, your sweet humility is one of the attributes that got you to where you are now in your writing-your-worldview world.
Saw what you did there, to put that another way. “It’s not you, it’s me” who’s doing the encouraging here…
Dang it, now we’re back to Seinfeld ;)
Can't go wrong with Seinfeld.
Whenever I read the book of Jonah, or just think about it for that matter, I am forced to consider again what it’s supposed to reveal.
What it teaches me is that God's plans, work, and achievements are not dependent on my desires, efforts, or accomplishments. When Jesus talked about the sign of Jonah, I think he’s saying he’s the embodiment of that book. Belonging to Jesus means that he’s working in me, through me, and despite me. It’s a sobering thought.
Then again, his final words to his friends were that it’s all about love. His brother reiterated it when he wrote that we know we’re on the right track when we love people. I’m glad that’s what Jesus is accomplishing in me, through me, and despite me.
Amen to all this, Tim!
I feel uncomfortable giving hyperbolic praise. I have read your stuff. Your comments on the Song of Solomon are some of the best I have ever read. But, this piece has struck me deeper than anything you have ever written. I promotes meditation, sharing, discussion, reflection, and focus on God's work in our lives and others. It puts me in a place of seeing within by seeing without. It is God's way of peace within our churches as is and the world without and marry action with heart. It frees us from being victims toward an active empathy to those who are. This is the stuff that I like hearing from you, sister.
Thanks Thomas.
About midway in the 33 years I served as pastor of a small urban Baptist congregation, there was a day i was having lunch with the local Vineyard pastor. I shared my discouragement and that if I wasn't the pastor I'm not sure I would attend the church i was serving.
He told me that i needed to make the church be like one that I would attend.
After a few days of reflection it came to me that God did not call me to make that church fit my desires. God called me to be present with those people and seek to be faithful and urge them to be faithful. That was an important lesson for me!
And I'm sure that also feels kind of lonely. It is interesting how God brings his people together, though. I'm sure that you learn a lot more from them as you look at them these new eyes. And that is the kind of thing that requires the Spirit of God.
Indeed. I often thought that being a pastor is a kind of church discipline, in the best sense of that phrase. Thank you for this post, Aimee.
"It’s often in coming to the end of ourselves that we find that portal to our spiritual life again." Darn it. So true. Under the Unpredictable Plant was at my feet, in my cabinet of favorite books, this morning as I read your words. I opened it back up + found encouragement...God with His "windmill Jesus arms, calling all of us to grace and mercy and salvation." There is goodness + there is God, right here at the end of ourselves, however nukes + ash our story might be. No thanks to the destruction or those who caused it, but to the One who isn't done with us. Thank you.
Amen!
Thank you, Aimee. I so needed to read this today. I was gonna write "Love you!" like I always do with my family, and then I caught myself and didn't because well, you know . . . ah hell, "Love you!"
Haha, thank you Majik.
I think we Christian should begin to realize what spiritual mongrels we actually are.