Our middle school and high school students are going on a retreat at the end of October and the team of people who lead that ministry have been working very hard to put all of the details together. They are doing an awesome job. Part of the process has been figuring out transportation for all of these students over to the peninsula. Keith Anderson was able to connect with Campbell Nelson Volkswagen, who donated the use of a 12 passenger van for our students. That’s donated as in “free of charge”. Stuff like that doesn’t happen often in the business world and I thought it deserved a Shout-Out.

Andy Warhol asked the question, “Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?” Whether television/media is the cause or simply a reflection of our society, I am sure that it is evident to all of us how the perception and portrayal of sexuality has changed in our culture over the past 50 years.

Do you remember “I Love Lucy”? Lucielle Ball and Dezi Arnez were married in real life, played a married couple on their television show, yet were portrayed as sleeping in seperate beds. In fact, when Lucielle Ball got pregnant (in real life) they wrote her pregnancy into the script (along with Little Ricky), but would not allow the word “pregnant” to be used on the show. It was too revealing. It wasn’t until the Brady Bunch in the 70’s that television ventured into the realm of a husband and wife sleeping in the same bed. (Some claim Herman and Lily Munster, from The Munsters, as the first couple to share a bed.)

Today…well, I probably don’t even need to say anything do I? We have taken something that was intended to be private and made it public. Yet, even as it has become a part of our public culture, it is still not something we are allowed to speak to. For instance, it is okay for someone to express even extreme public displays of affection, but our culture does not have appropriate words to discuss that with them.

This event , which took place weeks ago, is a perfect example. People can express themselves publicly, but the public is not allowed to express itself in return.

Wading through our cultural taboos as we talk about God’s intention for sexuality is extremely important for followers of Jesus. How do we speak without condemnation? How do we communicate God’s intention when other’s don’t believe there is an intention? Let’s struggle through this one together this weekend.

On Wednesday night, October 3, we are going to have an encore presentation of our Film and Theology study that we did this past summer. This is a dialogue around he we see God’s image and markings at work in the questions that are explored through the art of film.

Anyone is welcome. Watch the movie Bridge to Terabithia before you come, and as you watch, pay attentions to the yearnings and pains it might stir in your soul. Then come and join the discussion. (If nothing else, come to experience the glory that is Milk Duds mixed with Orville Redenbacher!) We’ll gather at the Chandlers’ home (13002 25th Ave SE near Silver Lake) at 7pm.

For those of you were were at Reach last night (or for those who weren’t!), here is a brief guide to Lectio Divina in case you would like to try practicing it on your own. For anyone who is interested in learning more about Lectio Divina, there is some introductory information available in the Lectio Divina article on Wikipedia.

I had a conversation with my boys at dinner last night about God. That’s not odd, but it struck me last night how difficult it is to describe and explain God, who is eternal, to someone, myself included, who is only able to grasp what we can experience with our five senses. Scripture often gives us a description of God by using word pictures that we would understand. For instance, David regularly refers to God as a place where he can hide in the shelter of His wings. God is obviously not a hen, but it gives us a picture of God’s protective and caring nature. Heaven is also described as having pearly gates and streets of gold. I honestly doubt that God has utilized the excess from Fort Knox to pave His streets, but it gives us a visual picture of something that we probably could not grasp.

What is fascinating is that throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, as God describes His relationship with His people, He consistently uses the language of intimacy and marriage. He speaks of Himself as a groom coming for His bride. He speaks of wooing the woman that He loves. Jesus tells stories describing the Kingdom of Heaven in terms of marriage. Why would God use this picture of intimacy and marriage to describe His relationship with us and what does that tell us about how God sees marriage?

This past weekend, many shared a meal together in each other’s homes for our first weekend of Tables of Eight. I’ve heard a number of reports from people who cherished the opportunity to connect with others in such a relaxed setting.

We will do two more rounds of Tables of Eight this fall — October 19-21 and November 16-18. If you missed the original sign up, we’d love to try to work you in if you want to share in this experience. Contact Dianne Bratz (sbratz@juno.com / 360-941-5365) and she will try to work you in.

There are two books that I have encountered and read in the process of preparing for our series that stand far above anything else that I have read recently. If you are looking for further references, these books will take you far deeper than I will be able to go in 40 minutes on a Sunday morning.

The first is Sex God, by Rob Bell. When I first saw the title, it worried me a bit; however, I have been listening to Rob preach for quite a few years and really respect him greatly. This book is not controversial. It is straight up the best book I have ever read on the connection of Sexuality and Spirituality. He explains it with grace and clarity.

The second book is Real Sex, by Lauren Winner. She speaks from a single’s perspective (although she got married during the printing of the book), and writes with a heart to help us understand the story behind the rules. In other words, sometimes rules are not compelling enough to follow unless we understand their story and meaning. “God said so” is a good enough reason, but if we don’t understand “why” it often fails to carry the weight it ought.

This is great reading!

Our own Josh Williams may be a former childhood star, but his fame continues even today! Josh’s autograph is going for $7.95 on ebay. How was this not snatched up long ago? What a bargain!

If only my name was Bill…

Last weekend was just flat awesome! I love walking away from a weekend feeling like our community as a whole is venturing into waters that God has charted for us. (I’m still not sure I know how to swim). Sunday morning was filled with a sense of knowing we are dealing with a subject that has affected all of us. When I asked the question about how many of us feel like our parents prepared us well for issues of sexuality - not a single hand went into the air. Wow! Does that say it all? We are being bombarded by the world and from the people that we trust the most (our parents and our faith community) we hear silence. No wonder so many are hurt and damaged by trying to figure it out on their own!

This weekend we are dealing with the issue of how we objectify the people around us. We talked through a similar discussion at the beginning of our “Space Between Us” series. Why are we dealing with it again? Because it is a foundational issue for us as followers of Jesus. Are we able to see the story behind the person or do we see people as a means to accomplish our own goals?

A classic example of this is the Pharisee’s treatment of the woman in John 8:1-11. There is no concern for her or for her situation. There is no connection to her as a person whom God loves. She is only a tool to accomplish their own goals. In fact, she is viewed by the Pharisees in the exact same way as the man who was commiting adultery with her. Jesus, instead, saw her as a person. A person with a story. A person with a story and hurts and dreams and failures and hopes and desires. How do we see people?

Are there other stories that you have seen in the news or you are familiar with in Scripture that reflect seeing people as objects? Share them or link them in the blog this week.