16 Replies to “Bang Back! Contact PeaceBang”
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an independent on-line ministry of the Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
an independent on-line ministry of the Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
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So glad you came to Iowa. You made the conference for me. I look forward to learnin more from you on church audits! Lisa
One of your best ever, but HOW? Really? You put my feelings into words. Oops, guess that why its the best ever. So many rules, so many hoops, so little power. Relationships,relationships, relationships! What else you got to help me?
Loved your essay regarding the “guy on the street in Louisville”. Now I’m singing it!
Your hippest holiday song video is no longer available. In keeping with your piece on website rant, please remove video link or tell us about it now that you’ve peaked our curiosity. BTW, I love your work! [thanks! Will do! Okay, the song is “We Wish You the Merriest the Merriest!” by Frank Sinatra. – PB]
Thank you for “Curses! Foiled Again!” (February 2014). Well said.
I grew up with “Thy will be done.” Throughout my early prayer life, this was a great way of acknowledging the relative smallness of my own perspective. In prayer, a little humility (or maybe a lot) is an essential ingredient.
In later life, I came to use phrases common in witchcraft and pagan communities: “According to the free will of all and harming none;” “in accordance with the free will of all and for the highest good;” etc. I think of these kinds of phrases as similar to “thy will be done,” moved out of the monotheistic framework. Humility is essential to pagan practice, too, because, yes, “spells” (i.e., enacted prayers), as you say, *do* have real effects; and the exact nature of these effects & their impacts are not predictable by our (limited) minds. I’ve always found acknowledging my own limits in this way a good way to avoid “magical mishaps.”
I’m a member of Channing MC in Ellicott City, Maryland. I’ve heard so much (always in a positive light) about you, but had never seen your blog. I’m glad I stumbled on this. [I’m glad you did, too! Thanks for writing! My love to you and the folks at CMC. – PB]
Hello, I just read your article for how to write a sermon. I’ll be delivering my first sermon in November. Thank you for words! I’ve been searching on how to write and present a sermon. The message I have is Holy Spirit inspired! The title is, What If? I am a student at my church’s Ignite School of Ministry. I’ve felt God’s call on my life for two years. There are lot of ladies the same age as me or older. It’s amazing to see God raising up ministers that are 40+! We are praying for the younger generation to rise up and become ministers too. Again, I want to thank you! Blessings to your ministry!
I came across your article on Rape culture/Myth stuff & the Random Psycho Male. I have spent an hour trying to figure out how to make a comment/reply to assist in folks, esp. Christian folks to understand how VERY prevalent this problem, actually, is. I am an older & single woman & have been, intermittently, dating online for numerous years & in a very rural area. I was raped on Nov. 30th by an acquaintance (whom I had met several times after speaking online & on the phone for 2 months) while on a date & we were not at either one’s homes. I am also a healthcare provider & a very devout and Old-fashioned Christian woman who was raised in a strict & very sheltered environment. The only way people are going to keep becoming aware of the current & every growing “rape culture’ is for us survivors to keep speaking up. Unfortunately, it seems the men (especially lower-socio-economic rural and/or urban men) are attacking educated women the most; they assume that all of us are ‘controlling bitches.’ It matters not to them that I was required to acquire a Master’s in Nursing to continue meeting the regs of the USA government, and that I won several merit base scholarships and paid my way through with my own hard-earned money. I’ve heard “hmm, YOu have a Master’s, now, I’m going to Master you” and I hear, ” Oh, you are a faithful Christian and Hmm, your ex-husband & your father both were ministers, and you act like a ‘goody-two -shoes’ and “think your pussy is golden” It is a moment for witnessing that we are all fallen sinners saved by God’s grace; they don’t care, it gives them even more impetus to try to rip my clothes off or take me by the hair, etc. Actual rape…only once…however the assaults, assumptions, anger is Increasingly Present!
Victoria, this piece is wonderful. I do criminal justice reform work, and I remember setting up Sustainable South Shore meetings at your church in Norwell. I was disappointed just now to see that you are no longer there. Are you still nearby? Email me!! I would love to speak with you.
I loved the post. It articulates my pain and deeper frustration about the number of my cohorts who some how think it was ok. The black men/boy would not have been killed if they had not provoked the police. I am screaming in anger.
But I sit here in my very segregated community. How do I help? How do I make a difference? I am part of the problem.
Just read your “fat” essay and “Is the Internet Good for Religion.”
Both brilliant.
Just read your entry on beagles. You wrote about “los[ing] many the typical dog-person arguments.” My rule was “No dogs on the furniture”. Right now Nicholas the Ridiculous is in the next room curled up on the bed (he likes his comforts). In a few minutes I will have to move him aside so that I may go to bed. Anastasia (Anna!), or Princesssbeaglegirl, is curled up in her chair at my side. She will follow me as soon as I shut off the computer and walk into the next room. I have learned to accept that they are living proof of God’s love expressed to us through Creation and that that trumps any of my silly rules. – YAY!
Hi Rev. 🙂
I’ve been reading your writing and loving it. And I just wondered if anyone had mentioned to you that, in the techie world I often inhabit, “peacebang” is a verbal way of saying, “Peace!” , the exclamation point being said as “bang.” I thought it was seriusly funny and somehow appropriate.
All the best
John
[Thanks, John! I had heard that but wondered if it was true, and here you are confirming the rumors. I think that’s AWESOME. The whole silly way I arbitrarily chose the name PeaceBang was so random, and when I made the decision it was with the thought that about 20 people max would ever read what I wrote. And the rest is history… – PB]
Hi,
A friend sent me your blog about the Madras shorts at a funeral (OMG) and I read through your site. I am an interim pastor at a protestant church, named Covenant. The congregation is older and declining in numbers. I noticed your dissertation was entitled: “Covenanting: Ancient Promise & New Life for the Contemporary Church.” It piqued my curiosity, and so I ask if there is a way I may read it?
Thanks! And thanks for saying what we look like as ministers MATTERS!
Hello.
My name is John Draper. I’m hoping you might be willing to review my first novel, A Danger to God Himself. It is not a religious book. It is literary fiction and a satire of religious certainty. It’s the story of a Mormon missionary who goes insane on his mission. Here is the back cover blurb:
Mormon missionary/onetime hedonist Kenny Feller has realized that God isn’t about to give him an ounce of the miracle power he needs to succeed on his mission—as promised! What’s more, he’s concluded that, frankly, people aren’t worth the trouble. Then his new junior companion shows up—the wisecracking Jared Baserman—and immediately starts hearing heavenly voices and seeing fantastic visions. For Kenny, it is immediately clear that God has sent Jared to propel him into Mormon Manhood.
But Kenny’s not the only person who takes note. Interests both virtuous and malevolent cozy up to Kenny and Jared, eager to make use of Jared’s gifting. At first, Kenny takes this as a sign that his perceptions of Jared are spot on. God is using Jared.
But something’s not quite right.
Specifically, why in the hell would God choose someone as slope-shouldered as Jared—someone so unreligious, so strange—to be a channel for His supernatural power? He doesn’t even read the Book of Mormon. Plus he smells funny. As their tracting grows fruitless and Jared’s messages grow more bizarre, Kenny begins to wonder: Is Jared really touched by God?
And, if so, does God know what He’s doing?
A Danger to God Himself is a scathing takedown of religious certainty, a life-affirming tale set in 1970s Washington state—equal parts spiritual road map and coming-of-age tale.
I’d be happy to send you a copy for your review.
Thanks for your time.
-john
Hello! I love your comments about living alone and the comparisons made to gay struggles. I also found it refreshing to hear a Rev. Dr. NOT speaking disparagingly about gay people. So many Reverends do. At the end of the day, gay folks truly didn’t ask to be “that way” and they’re just trying to get through this life the best they can. When the layers of life are pulled back, gay people are no different from hetero or anything else. Those comments were just really nice to read and wonderful that your heart is in that place. All of the other comments about why a person might choose to live alone were bang-on as well but for some reason those gay comments resonated with me. Thanks for the uplifting article!
The Men Who Followed a Star
“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”
—Matthew 2:10
Who were the wise men? In the original language, the term that Matthew used for wise men comes from the Greek word magi. Our English words magic and magicians have their roots in this word. Thus, the wise men who came searching for Jesus were into astronomy, astrology, and occult practices, including sorcery.
In the Medo-Persian and Babylonian Empires, so-called wise men were summoned during times of emergency. The king would call in the various occult experts who could supposedly interpret what was happening. This was the position that these men held.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they would have been the equivalent foreign dignitaries. They were men of great importance and highly educated.
However, the Bible doesn’t tell us there were three wise men or that they rode camels. It doesn’t even give us their names. What we do know is they were not present at the birth of Christ, because by this time, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were in a house—not a stable.
Matthew 2:11 says, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (NLT).
This event happened one to two years after the birth of Christ. There may have been six wise men, or there may have been nine. It doesn’t really matter. But they came and worshiped, and they brought their gifts to Jesus.
It seems strange that at this moment, these men seemed to have more spiritual insight than the religious leaders who had dedicated themselves to the Scriptures. Though the wise men were into occultism and astrology, it appears that deep down inside, they wanted to know the truth.
Therefore, God came to them in a way that they could understand. They were into stars, so God brought them a star that would lead them to the truth.
God clearly was not condoning astrology, occultism, and the rest of it, because Scripture clearly condemns these. But God came to them where they were and brought them to the truth. They left what they were doing and came to the true and living God.
Isn’t it wonderful how God reaches out to each of us as individuals? He manages to reach hardened gang members in their lives of violence and show them their need for Christ. But He also reaches successful business leaders and shows them their need for the Lord. And He reaches young children and shows them their need for Jesus too. He comes to each of us on an individual basis in a way that we can understand, and He unfolds His truth to us.
Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT).
If someone really wants to know God, they will find their way to Jesus. And if people don’t find their way to Jesus, do they really want to know God? God will reveal Himself to true seekers.
(By Pastor Greg Laurie)
Added Note:
Isaiah 47:13,14 – Babylon originated astrology. God promised to destroy Babylon, then asked what the astrologers, stargazers, and monthly prognosticators would do to stop Him. All these were involved in astrology, but they were powerless against God.
Deuteronomy 18:9-14,18-22 – Occult practices, including divination, are an abomination to God. V14 specifically forbids listening to diviners. “Divining” is attempting to predict the future by occult or mystical methods. But astrology is part of the occult and attempts to predict the future.
Daniel 4:7; (2:10,11; 5:7,8) – On three occasions astrologers and other occult experts were asked to predict the future. Each time they failed, but Daniel succeeded by God’s power.
The Bible shows that astrologers cannot predict the future with certainty, and most astrologers will admit their predictions are often incorrect. What do we need astrology for? Bible writers reveal true wisdom to guide your life. Astrologers may occasionally guess right, but the Bible is always right.
The best way to prepare for the future is found in God’s word, not in Occult appeals to other forces. The Bible tells everything we need to know. It is the only sure way to know what God plans for the future, especially life after death.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Let us abstain from every form (appearance) of evil. [Colossians 2:18,19; Acts 19:19]
Are you following God’s true word or false spiritual guides? Have you become a true follower of Jesus? Are you serving Him faithfully?
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
(Immanuel translated: “God among us.”)
Isaiah 44:6
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of
host: “I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.’”
Revelation 1:7-8 says: Jesus is the Almighty
Genesis 17:1 says: The Almighty is God
Acts 4:12 says: Jesus is the One Savior
Isaiah 45:21 says: The One Savior is God
John 18:51 says: Jesus is the I Am
Exodus 3:14 says: The I Am is God
Did you know Jesus, as God, had a body? Refer to Philippians 2:5-8.
We think of Jesus as primarily in the New Testament, but the fact is that Jesus, being a part of the Godhead, being eternal, has always existed. Are you aware that we find Christ in the Old Testament as well, making appearances in different places:?
For example: In Exodus 3:2; Exodus 14:19; Genesis 3:8-24; Genesis 18:1–2
Did you know that the book of John confirms that Jesus existed in a glorified state before becoming flesh?
In the brief life of Jesus alone we see over 300 fulfilled prophecies! Only Jesus as an all-knowing God could make and fulfill.
Did you know that discoveries in particle physics require that God exists in more than 10-Dimensions of space and time? (Yet we can experience and visualize only three)
Do you realize that the Bible clearly indicates that God is simultaneously singular and plural? (This is definitely possible in extra dimensions of space and time)
God has the power to do anything He wants, is there anything impossible for God?