Whenever a State of Emergency is declared everyone understands that something of major proportions is taking place--something that demands everyone's immediate and full attention. During a State of Emergency all resources--physical, financial, emotional--are required and people instinctively put their differences aside to pool those resources for the sake of the common good.
This past Saturday, The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church family joined the voices of those who have been crying in the wildnerness, "State of Emergency!" with regard to the enemy's attacks on the family. We decided that our first coordinated response would deal with one of the most virulent, invasive, yet least-discussed issues, Domestic Violence.
We had an incredible array of speakers and professionals who gave powerful presentations, insightful information, provocative perspectives and tear-jerking testimonies about the scourge of domestic violence. Some of their statistical sources were not all necessarily the same, but regardless of whether or not the data was in agreement, the presenters and participants were in 100% agreement that regardless of who perpetrates family violence it is an attack that must be countered by more than silence. We are in a State of Emergency!
Women are hurting men, men are hurting women, parents are hurting children and children are hurting parents. This is NOT God's will for us. We are in a State of Emergency!
Our keynote speaker, Jewel Diamond Taylor, reminded us that the very declaration of a State of Emergency contains within it the notion that something must "emerge" out of the crisis. When we look at the enemy's attacks on the family--which is THE unit that God established as a reflection of His divine, fruitful, life-giving love--if nothing else, the church must emerge as a voice for justice, a source of healing and a bearer of truth and light for our families.
I thank God for my husband/Pastor the Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry for his attentiveness and responsiveness to the voice of God in casting the vision for our Domestic Violence Summit. I pray that what we did here in the nation's capital will resonate in the hearts and spirits of those throughout our city limits and beyond.
Pray for us as we continue the charge of God to keep our families, "Moving Forward! Living and Loving Without Abuse!"
A weekly posting of encouraging and challenging thoughts about life from Rev. Karen W. Curry, a pastor's wife and mother of two who is also --in her "spare time"-- a dynamic preacher, teacher, motivational speaker, facilitator, writer, reviewer, poet, MC, liturgical dance/drama consultant and storyteller. Contact Rev. Karen at BNcouraged247@msn.com to speak at your next service or retreat.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
STOP! In the Name of Love
Diana Ross and the Supremes had many number one singles during their heydey in the 1960s. One of their most popular hits was, "Stop! In the Name of Love." The refrain of that song constantly reminded the one who was the object of affection to "think it over" before he broke her heart.
Some of us are in or have been in relationships where at least one party never really stopped to "think it over" when it came to handling conflict. Without a thought, harsh words would fly and in some cases, even fists or objects would fly, all aimed at hitting the intended target--the one whom we "loved."
Where do we get our images and notions about love? From the looks of things, not from God's Word. Somehow we have forgotten that not only is God the author and ultimate source of love, God IS love. His definition of love is THE definition of love--patient, kind, NOT jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is NOT easily provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
God knew we would be bombarded with distorted images of love, either from people we know or from the media. Why else would He give such a pinpoint description of what love is and is not?Without much effort, we often fall into doing the opposite of the things God described as love--we fly off the handle quickly, we are impatient, we think jealousy is a sign of love, we get self-absorbed and think love is all about someone making US feel good, we hold grudges.
When will we get it that we DON'T get it? When we step into the arena of love, we are walking into deep waters. We have no hope of keeping ourselves afloat without God's Word as a lifeline. Music, videos, movies, books, and TV shows cannot be our teachers with respect to love. They teach a warped version of love that is extremely sexualized, self-centered, overly-dramatic, centered on ownership and sometimes characterized by violence.
That version of "love" keeps people watching or buying whatever is being sold, but, "Kids, do not try this at home!"
When we want to know what love is, we need to be ready to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth, because God has already spelled it out for us. We might find out that what we've been calling love is really something else. In that case, we need to love God enough, and love ourselves and the object of our affection enough to "Stop! In the Name of Love" before we break God's heart any further by abnormally using, or ab-using something so integral to who God IS.
Don't worry, no matter how wrong we are or have been, God can still make us right -- if we are open. If you are in a relationship, check your love actions and characteristics against God's description in 1 Corinthians 13. Also, check your actions against the responses of the one you say you love. If you are responding to one another in fear, anger, sadness or anything that is not the fruit of the Spirit--Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control, then someone needs to Stop! In the Name of Love and let the one who's name IS love show you a more excellent way.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Note: The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church is hosting a Domestic Violence Summit, "Moving Forward! Living and Loving Without Abuse" this Saturday, July 24, 2010. See my schedule for details. And yes, one of the sessions is entitled, "Stop! In the Name of Love"....
Some of us are in or have been in relationships where at least one party never really stopped to "think it over" when it came to handling conflict. Without a thought, harsh words would fly and in some cases, even fists or objects would fly, all aimed at hitting the intended target--the one whom we "loved."
Where do we get our images and notions about love? From the looks of things, not from God's Word. Somehow we have forgotten that not only is God the author and ultimate source of love, God IS love. His definition of love is THE definition of love--patient, kind, NOT jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is NOT easily provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
God knew we would be bombarded with distorted images of love, either from people we know or from the media. Why else would He give such a pinpoint description of what love is and is not?Without much effort, we often fall into doing the opposite of the things God described as love--we fly off the handle quickly, we are impatient, we think jealousy is a sign of love, we get self-absorbed and think love is all about someone making US feel good, we hold grudges.
When will we get it that we DON'T get it? When we step into the arena of love, we are walking into deep waters. We have no hope of keeping ourselves afloat without God's Word as a lifeline. Music, videos, movies, books, and TV shows cannot be our teachers with respect to love. They teach a warped version of love that is extremely sexualized, self-centered, overly-dramatic, centered on ownership and sometimes characterized by violence.
That version of "love" keeps people watching or buying whatever is being sold, but, "Kids, do not try this at home!"
When we want to know what love is, we need to be ready to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth, because God has already spelled it out for us. We might find out that what we've been calling love is really something else. In that case, we need to love God enough, and love ourselves and the object of our affection enough to "Stop! In the Name of Love" before we break God's heart any further by abnormally using, or ab-using something so integral to who God IS.
Don't worry, no matter how wrong we are or have been, God can still make us right -- if we are open. If you are in a relationship, check your love actions and characteristics against God's description in 1 Corinthians 13. Also, check your actions against the responses of the one you say you love. If you are responding to one another in fear, anger, sadness or anything that is not the fruit of the Spirit--Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control, then someone needs to Stop! In the Name of Love and let the one who's name IS love show you a more excellent way.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Note: The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church is hosting a Domestic Violence Summit, "Moving Forward! Living and Loving Without Abuse" this Saturday, July 24, 2010. See my schedule for details. And yes, one of the sessions is entitled, "Stop! In the Name of Love"....
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
What Are You Looking For?
"Seek and ye shall find." "Knock and the door shall be opened unto you." Many of us are familiar with these scriptures in reference to searching for good things. But, how many of us ever stop and think about the fact that the door can swing open in both directions?
God's principles work, regardless of whether we use them for right or for wrong. If we seek good things, we find good things. Likewise, if we seek bad things, we will certainly find them. It is not wise to go knocking on every door, for indeed there are somethings best left behind the door--and securely locked away.
Despite our best intentions, our searches can sometimes have subjective endings, or endings that we set in motion based on where we set our sights. An extreme optimist, for example, can find the good in absolutely any situation. "Well, he's hard-working, faithful, and intelligent..." an extreme optimist might say--in describing Satan. "Hmmph! He comes around when He wants to, makes you wait a long time for what you want, and watches your every move!" an extreme pessimist might say about God.
We must be more mindful of what we search for and more honest about how open we are (or are not) to allowing God's Holy Spirit to truly lead us and guide us into all truth and help us to ask/pray for things that we don't even know to pray for. It all boils down to trust. Do we really trust that God will give us beyond what we seek and what we actually need?
Speaking of trust, some of us don't even need to be looking for anything or anyone at all. The question truly is, "What are we looking for," as in-- why are we even looking in the first place? What ever happened to "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you"? Some of us give the Kingdom of God a passing glance while we send out a search party, SWAT team, FBI, CIA, Green Berets and the A-Team (old and new) to hunt down something (or someone) we think we really want. What does that say about who and what are really important to us?
When will we realize that only when we truly begin to hunger and thirst after righteousness will we finally get what we're truly yearning for --without even really having to look?
Today is a good day for us to stop looking, and start leaning on God's loving and everlasting arms. God will gently, yet firmly guide us in the right direction when we've been looking in the wrong direction, carry us onward when we can't carry on, and reward those who diligently seek Him.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
God's principles work, regardless of whether we use them for right or for wrong. If we seek good things, we find good things. Likewise, if we seek bad things, we will certainly find them. It is not wise to go knocking on every door, for indeed there are somethings best left behind the door--and securely locked away.
Despite our best intentions, our searches can sometimes have subjective endings, or endings that we set in motion based on where we set our sights. An extreme optimist, for example, can find the good in absolutely any situation. "Well, he's hard-working, faithful, and intelligent..." an extreme optimist might say--in describing Satan. "Hmmph! He comes around when He wants to, makes you wait a long time for what you want, and watches your every move!" an extreme pessimist might say about God.
We must be more mindful of what we search for and more honest about how open we are (or are not) to allowing God's Holy Spirit to truly lead us and guide us into all truth and help us to ask/pray for things that we don't even know to pray for. It all boils down to trust. Do we really trust that God will give us beyond what we seek and what we actually need?
Speaking of trust, some of us don't even need to be looking for anything or anyone at all. The question truly is, "What are we looking for," as in-- why are we even looking in the first place? What ever happened to "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you"? Some of us give the Kingdom of God a passing glance while we send out a search party, SWAT team, FBI, CIA, Green Berets and the A-Team (old and new) to hunt down something (or someone) we think we really want. What does that say about who and what are really important to us?
When will we realize that only when we truly begin to hunger and thirst after righteousness will we finally get what we're truly yearning for --without even really having to look?
Today is a good day for us to stop looking, and start leaning on God's loving and everlasting arms. God will gently, yet firmly guide us in the right direction when we've been looking in the wrong direction, carry us onward when we can't carry on, and reward those who diligently seek Him.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
PLEASE STANDBY....
Whenever the message, "PLEASE STANDBY" appears on a television screen, it indicates that something originally scheduled to happen has been delayed, usually due to a technical difficulty.
In life, sometimes our plans are abruptly interrupted and we are forced to "standby" while the ruler and maker of all carries out His plan. Sometimes, what we view as technical difficulties are actually sent or allowed to come our way to build and strengthen us. They may be sent to force us to take a Selah, or a pause, so that we can see more clearly and reflect more deeply about the gift of life and our divinely orchestrated roles in it.
Sometimes, God asks us to "PLEASE STANDBY" and watch Him move as He handles pressures and challenges He's been waiting for us to turn over to Him. Other times, we might be on "STANDBY" when we are waiting for an opportunity to obtain something important to us--something important enough to stand by in faith, expectantly waiting to receive that which we long for.
Either way, whatever "standby" mode we find ourselves in, we should be expecting a move of God, a supernatural moment in which we shift from chronos time-- like the ticking hands on a clock--and into chairos time, which is God's perfect, divine timing. Sometimes we need that shift to remind us who is ultimately in charge of every minute of every day. (Hint--it's not us)
When we remember that "our times are in His hands," we can take our hands off of the controls and simply, stand by and let God have His way....
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
In life, sometimes our plans are abruptly interrupted and we are forced to "standby" while the ruler and maker of all carries out His plan. Sometimes, what we view as technical difficulties are actually sent or allowed to come our way to build and strengthen us. They may be sent to force us to take a Selah, or a pause, so that we can see more clearly and reflect more deeply about the gift of life and our divinely orchestrated roles in it.
Sometimes, God asks us to "PLEASE STANDBY" and watch Him move as He handles pressures and challenges He's been waiting for us to turn over to Him. Other times, we might be on "STANDBY" when we are waiting for an opportunity to obtain something important to us--something important enough to stand by in faith, expectantly waiting to receive that which we long for.
Either way, whatever "standby" mode we find ourselves in, we should be expecting a move of God, a supernatural moment in which we shift from chronos time-- like the ticking hands on a clock--and into chairos time, which is God's perfect, divine timing. Sometimes we need that shift to remind us who is ultimately in charge of every minute of every day. (Hint--it's not us)
When we remember that "our times are in His hands," we can take our hands off of the controls and simply, stand by and let God have His way....
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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