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MissionAccess
Celebrating Disability Ministry Worldwide
Are We There Yet?
SHEA FAM TRIP TO CALI 1969
Harken back to 1969 with me when our fearless mother Gerry Shea loaded us up onto a westbound train in Cleveland, Ohio to visit Fam now living large in The Promised Land of Cali. Restauranteurs by trade, they took a chance and bought an unknown franchise named McDonalds which by the time of our visit expanded to four franchises in Bakersfield. Sitting motionless on the tracks we had yet to budge an inch when my brother Jim brimmed over with anticipation blurting out breathlessly “Are We There Yet?”
How like my brother I am when it comes to my Christian journey! And with the intense suffering that so many of our Christian Brothers and Sisters are enduring right now, I seek not just Good answers or even Better answers but press forward towards the Best answers that He has to offer.
Let’s try it out on this simple verse:
GOOD
Ps 119:50 NASU
This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.
Hey! That’s good! But let’s dig a little deeper with a Life Application I call “Good—Better—BEST.” Remember The Goal: we are Hurting & we are pressing forward towards the Best answer possible. One surefire technique is simply to Seek Out Different Translations of the same verse. Let’s try the New International Version:
BETTER
Ps 119:50 NIV
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Yes! Better indeed. But wait! There’s more! Check out this version I was unaware of prior to my search:
BEST
Ps 119:50 GW GOD’S WORD® Translation This is my comfort in my misery: Your promise gave me a new life.
Wow! That’s it! His Word not only revives and preserves me—it gave me New Life! So the next time you find yourself yet again in the Crucible of Sanctification—Fear Not! Take great comfort in abiding in His personalized promises meant just for You. And me.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
Unselfies Arise!
Image Source: iStockphoto.com
Suffice to say that when it comes to Becoming More Like Christ the post-millenial phenom of The Selfie is proof positive that we as Christians are seriously steaming full speed ahead in the wrong direction.
According to a survey by Luster Premium White:
*95% of young adults have taken at least one selfie
*66% of Millennials primarily post their selfies on social media for their friends to see.
*On average, Millennials spend 54 hours a year taking pictures of themselves.
*Millennials will take 25,000 photos of themselves in their lifetime.
*Last year alone more people died in selfie-related incidents than from shark attacks.
OK so what should we as Christians do about it?
1 Cor 10:24 (NASU) says “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” Wow. What if we took the camera off of ourselves and focused it on someone—ANYONE—else?
Betcha if Jesus had a Smart Phone nary a selfie would it contain. Just like my dear Uncle Frank (who single-handedly created the bulk of our family’s photographic archive) not a trace of his own likeness could be detected on his own hard drive because he was busy behind the scenes–not seeking the spotlight.
So Unselfies Arise! Here is your Challenge—if you choose to accept it–& I pray that you will:
Q: How Do We Transform From Selfies To Unselfies? As Individuals? As A Church?
Looking forward to sharing your suggestions about how best to take the spotlight off of ourselves and place it squarely where it belongs: on others.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
Worthless? Or Priceless?
IMAGE SOURCE: http://goo.gl/NxEPYT
ABC has a show called What Would You Do? that aims to catch folks in a variety of vexing social situations to capture how they react. Sometimes they catch real people being A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. But mostly—well, not so much.
In this season when we celebrate the death, burial & Resurrection of Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ we should ALL be caught red-handed being Amazing For His Glory, right? Because the real question for Followers of Jesus Christ is simply this: was His sacrifice worthless? Or Priceless?
Last week as we were locking up the church a young black woman entered the lobby claiming to be homeless and looking for the Food Bank. “We no longer have that here” I responded which is somewhat true because our precious 89-year-old Ruth is no longer able to run it (though we do stock some items for our members). “Well do you have any bottled water?” she asks however a search of the fridge proves fruitless. Now getting somewhat irritated she says “Well can you buy a bucket of chicken for me and my boyfriend?” to which I clutched my purse closer and sprang into full survival mode. “No I’m sorry we were just leaving” I said and heaved a self-righteous sigh of relief as the door finally locked behind her.
Seriously??! Suffice to say in that one shameful uber-selfish moment I rendered The Cross utterly worthless.
Time for a reset. Let’s head back to the Book of James (for the umpteenth time) in the hopes that perhaps this time it will actually make it from my head to my heart:
James 2:14-17 NASU
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Suffice to say our discussion of Transformation remains Worthless until we put it into practice through Benevolence. Stay tuned as we dive deep into how best to do that with Brian Fikkert & Steve Corbett’s follow-up book: “Helping Without Hurting in Church Benevolence: A Practical Guide to Walking with Low-Income People.”
Awesome Lord allow our Faith to become Priceless as it travels the precious last mile from our Heads to Our Hearts & Our Hands & Our Feet For Your Glory! Godspeed!
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
Rewrite The Script
Image Source: http://goo.gl/snhzFF
Greetings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess! You know we are all about Transformation. Yet sadly in pursuit of our noble goal I am yet again gently reminded that– as Robert Frost would say—we have yet miles to go before we sleep in order to Rewrite The Script when it comes to Transforming Disability Ministry Worldwide.
I came across the 1946 movie The Enchanted Cottage. It’s about a newly-disabled man struggling with physical impairment from WWII. There’s also a blind neighbor who offers wise counsel with an incredible story about how his experience with blindness has allowed him to see things he never thought possible! And I’m thinking OH YEAH! THAT’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT!
Alas! That’s where the story takes a steep nosedive south. IMHO of course.
This disabled man falls in love with and marries what is described as a “plain” woman who is a servant in the house. And because the Cottage is Enchanted You see–suddenly they are miraculously restored!
He’s no longer disabled! And she’s gorgeous! And they live happily ever after!
Oh I was SO upset that I wanted to throw a shoe thru the TV! I‘M HIGHLY insulted at the implication that “magic” (or what I would call Name It & Claim “Healing”) is the ONLY possible cure for our struggles with disability.
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! To add Insult to Insanity this movie is a REMAKE of a 1924 SILENT film made with the same hopeless plot! Suffice to say we are at least a century overdue for fresh new Transformational script.
So stay tuned! ‘Cause work is underway on a simple YET powerful 3-5 minute vid that talks Opportunity! What’s the Best Part? The People & Families of BBTemple.org ARE The Message! And Together WE CAN REWRITE THE SCRIPT!!!
HOW COOL IS THAT??
Isa 43:18-19 NIV
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
Posted in Disability Evangelism, Healing, Mission Accessible Inc.
Resolve To Serve
IMAGE SOURCE: http://goo.gl/HSSCxi
I’VE GOT IT! The Last New Year’s Resolution you will ever need. Like it says in Isaiah 43:18—“FORGET the former things! Do not dwell on the past.” Yeah verily let old broken resolutions Be forgotten & never brought to mind in 2016 because we are fixin’ to replace and supplant them with this Most Excellent Resolution EVER:
RESOLVE TO SERVE.
So Faithful Followers of MissionAccess let’s tackle The Word together, shall we?
Our passage is found in Matt 6:25-34 NASU The Cure for Anxiety but I’m skipping to verse 31: “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Hmmm—kinda strange choice of verses Linda! The word “goal” isn’t even in there! But the Key Verse 33 says it all. Because my humble observation is that My New Year’s Resolutions—no matter how good or noble or right—are ultimately doomed to fail. Why? Simply because they are MINE—NOT HIS!
This week I came across a fascinating book entitled:
SERVE: Others First In A Me-First World by Courtney Rees.
Rees cuts right to the chase with this quote from Debbie Bube (who heads up Volunteer Recruitment & Placement at Courtney’s church) who shares that “The primary purpose of serving is NOT to fill all of our roles so that church can function, BUT IT IS SO PEOPLE CAN FIND THEIR PURPOSE”! (i)
So if you are not currently Serving—someone somewhere somehow in a meaningful way: 2016 is Your year to S-T-A-R-T!
But if you are Serving—REFLECT on whether you are truly helping people discover their God-given purpose. If not perhaps 2016 is your year to Renew, Refocus or Redirect to propel your efforts however small in significant ways For His Glory.
As you Resolve To Serve in 2016 and beyond, take heart.
SEEK HIM FIRST & ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU!
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
(i) Courtney Rees, Serve: Others First In a Me-First World (Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2013), Kindle edition: Location 81.
Regifting Grace
Image Source: iStockphoto.com
So any regifters amongst us? Come on, admit it—for better or for worse you have on at least one occasion recycled a gift. Be not ashamed! In fact according to Regiftable.com “the mission of the superslick site, from Money Management International, is to make regifting less shameful.”(i) Well there is one gift that everyone is free to regift sans shame—and that is the Gift of Grace.
Grace is “favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God.” (ii) However an even shorter, sweeter definition is simply this:
GRACE=UNMERITED FAVOR
THAT’S IT! That says it all in just two words: I didn’t earn it and I do NOT deserve it. Now that’s Grace. Amazing Grace.
You know, we’ve got this whole Christmas thing so totally wrong. It’s all really focused on STUFF—Giving STUFF; Getting STUFF; & RE-GIFTING STUFF!!!
But we never stop to think about what God really wants for Christmas.
Don’t get me wrong—God LOVES giving gifts! In fact in James 1:17 NIV it says: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”
But if we were to ask: here’s what I think He would say:
Psalm 133 New Living Translation (NLT)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.
1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! 2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. 3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion.
Wow. HARMONY. What a concept. A Little Peace. A Little Harmony. A Little GRACE! Now THAT would Be AWESOME. Because the best gift is Harmony! Last month we talked about The Good Fight—but the BEST Fight is NO Fight. The BEST Fight Is H-A-R-M-O-N-Y.
In other words–Hey! It is OK to Regift Grace! So in the Happy New Year 2016 ahead, let’s Regift The Gift of Grace…Liberally! Unashamedly. And Joyously throughout the year.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
(I) http://www.catalogs.com/info/bestof/top-10-most-regifted-gifts
(ii) Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Unleash Your Warrior Within
Photo Source: iStockPhoto.com
Today let’s talk fighting. Not just any fight—but The Good Fight. Paul writes about it in 2 Timothy 4:7 NASU: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” But let’s dig a little deeper to discover its Context and Culture to unleash its power especially for people and families affected by disability.
First let’s talk Context. Deeper study of the Word involves looking at what was happening before, during and after the verse was written. The Book of 2 Timothy was Apostle Paul’s second and final letter to his beloved protégé Timothy.
OK now Get Your Paul On and imagine what it was like: YOU are on Death Row in a disgusting underground prison cell, chained to a Roman soldier. Escape is NOT an option. Death is inescapable.
And yet YOU are able to write that YOU’VE fought “the Good Fight?”
Wow not exactly what most folks would define as success. But that’s exactly what I’m talking about!
Now let’s talk Culture: let’s look at the Word Paul uses here—“AGONIZOMAI.”
According to the Blog post “Why Agonizomai?” the root word “agon” described the Cultural contest fought to exhaustion by Spartan males separated at birth in order to forge them into fierce Warriors. “In the Koine Greek of the New Testament, the derivative word “agonizomai” means ‘to strive, to fight, to labour fervently.” (i)
And that’s the very Good Fight we are all called to as Christians.
So what’s Your Good Fight? Whatever it is, know that if you are a Christian, your fight is not meant to destroy you–it is meant to make you strong! So unleash Your Warrior within! Because You My Friend are a Warrior in Training set aside from birth, being prepared for a glorious Crown that awaits:
2 Tim 4:8 NASU
In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Keep Fighting The Good Fight! And Keep Letting Your Light Shine!
Speaking of which: Here Is your new Battle Cry by Unspoken to keep You fortified for combat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0M3X3_pFD4
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
(I) http://agonizomai.blogspot.com/2005/08/why-agonizomai.html
Theology Matters!
Theologian A. W. Tozer said that “What I believe about God is the most important thing about me.” [1] Yeah verily! For whether you are disabled or not, what you believe about God impacts every single aspect of your life both here and in the hereafter. So join me as we launch boldly into a new Blog series entitled: Theology Matters: Considering Calvinism.
Image Source: istockphoto.com
For this ambitious goal we shall consult the erudite theological source: Christianity For Dummies.
So let’s start with a look at Calvinism, including a brief history along with some basic characteristics as well as some comparisons with another important theological concept called Arminianism.
The Catholic Church—pretty much the only game in town in the early 1500s—began selling “indulgences” to help absolve the sinful sheep in the flock (think “Get Out of Hell Free Prepaid Debit Card). This aroused the indignation of a truly righteous man named Martin Luther who on October 31, 1521 nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg. His protest earned him the title of First Protestant and his followers became known as Lutherans.
Around the mid-1500’s the Second major Protestant Movement headed by John Calvin (who fathered a theology known as Calvinism, or 5-Point Calvinism) [2] summed up his theology with the acronym “TULIP.” However the basic premise of Calvinism is that though we are saved through God’s Grace alone, He still has to make the first move which became known as Predestination. Oh and by the way—it’s not open to everyone: just the “Elect” whom He chose before the foundation of the earth.
Gee I never met a Calvinist who wasn’t one of the elite Elect. Weird, right?
Fast forward to the late 1600’s and a Dutch Pastor named Jacobus Arminius who rejected Calvinism’s foundational concept of Predestination with his own Five-Point theology known as Arminianism. Though they agreed on the Total Depravity of man, unlike Calvinism, Arminianism allows for Free Will meaning that man can freely choose to accept God’s gracious gift of salvation. But alas! Man also has the freedom to totally blow it and lose his salvation forever.
Ouch! Talk about defeat from the jaws of victory!
But seriously folks–bottom line? Know what you Believe and Live it. For with it, everything matters. Yet without it, nothing else ever could.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
[1] http://www.iwise.com/i7Ma6
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism#Five_points_of_Calvinism
Log Out!
Transformation. That’s all I seem to talk about. And it sounds pret-ty good. Yet as I reflect on our Summer Series it occurred to me: I simply cannot help ANYONE Transform into what God created them to be until I allow God to Transform ME first. Can I get an Amen?
But what does that mean?
And how do I get there?
PART 1: HOW NOT TO GET THERE
This Scripture about How NOT To Get There appears in both Matt 7:3-5 & Luke 6:41-42:
Matt 7:3-5 NASU “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
And OH we are GOOD at picking out the specks in everyone else’s eyes! But let’s work on getting the LOG OUT of our own eyes first, shall we?
Since we’ve looked at How NOT To Be Transformed, let’s look at a more excellent Way:
PART 2: HOW TO GET THERE
Rom 12:1-2 NASU Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
OK So how do you do that? Why The Rom 12:9-13 Checklist Of Course!
Rom 12:9-13 NASU Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Some of the things on that list sound a little “nebulous” don’t they? Like: are you “persevering in tribulation?’ Well, I guess I’m “hanging in there”—but is that what He’s talking about? But then He gets more specific in verses 12 & 13: devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
OK NOW How Are You Doing? So not to lay a guilt trip on ya, but I mean: Do you wanna be Transformed? Truly? Then You are gonna have to do things d-i-f-f-e-r-e-n-t-l-y (i.e. Not Be Conformed)! Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing but expecting a different result. So starting this week let’s STOP THE INSANITY!!!
TAKE THE #DO1THINGDIFFERENTLY CHALLENGE!
I’ve started keeping a journal with my daily Bible reading. I take one verse that really speaks to me & I write a one-paragraph reflection on it. It has really helped me truly focus my thoughts and actions in powerful ways. So let me challenge you:
Q: What’s ONE Thing You Can Do Differently This Week?
Transformation can seem overwhelming but I Challenge You—Do just one thing differently this week and watch the Transformation For His Glory commence.
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
Image Source: iStockphoto.com
Back To School Rabboni!
As we lay down our flip-flops and pick up our School Supplies I want us to be Encouraged! ‘Cause whether we are learning it for the first time—or just taking a refresher course—we ALL need to be headin’ Back To School to continue our Transformation in order to become everything God created us to be.
So let’s take a look at a rather unlikely Back To School passage in the Book of John. Jesus has just been crucified. His Disciples scattered. And Mary Magdalene approaches the empty tomb to find what she believes is the gardener:
“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”– John 20:15-16 NIV
According to BibleHistory.com, “RABBONI” or Teacher (pronounced Rahbonee) is a term that appears only twice in the Bible: here in John and interestingly enough—in Mark 10:51 when Jesus heals the blind beggar Bartimaeus, the namesake of the church we attend in Dallas. Started more than half a century ago by a Pastor with Disabilities named Don Whitmore and his wife Anna Ruth, Bartimaeus Baptist Temple still ministers to People and Families affected by Disability citywide and worldwide via the Internet.
Rahbon means Great Master; but Rahboni suggest My Great Master. It signifies not just a Relationship but a deep Personal Relationship like the kind He desires with each and every one of us.
Through His Eyes
My husband Larry’s Aunt Becky shared a cool graphic on Facebook (featured above). Up until her recent retirement, Aunt Becky loved igniting a passion for mathematics in her students.
What a gentle, beautiful reminder for all of us–regardless of disability–to see not just ourselves but Others the way God sees them! So let’s all go Back To School together to allow each other to become Rabboni For His Glory and to help each other Transform into everything He has created us to be. Amen!
In His Accessible Grace,
Linda
Image Source: https://goo.gl/XoZRkA