In the spirit of the new book Letters to a Future Church: Words of Encouragement and Prophetic Appeals, InterVarsity Press and the Patheos Book Club hosted a contest inviting readers to submit their own prophetic letters to the Church.  IVP chose three winners to receive a gift package of books and the opportunity to have their letter published here at Patheos.  We’ll print one winning letter over the next three days. May these letters, and all of those from the book, inspire you to find your own voice for the sake of the future of the Church.

“Become Whole Again” from Andrea VanderMey

Dear Church,

I know that you think that you have it right, but you have it oh so wrong. Don’t misunderstand me. I know that there are parts of you that are reaching out to people. But you are damaged. You are broken. You are supposed to be a whole, not divided as many “churches.” Even though you are in different locations, different cities, different countries, you are one. But you have fallen apart. You let little disputes and arguments easily separate you. These faults are cracking you to the core, and outsiders have noticed. You, Church should be the place where people go to find God, to find answers. Yet you push people farther with your fake love. Church, why are you pushing your “godliness” on outsiders? They just want answers. They just want to feel love. They thought you had the answer, thought you had the hope they longed for. You push them and they in turn want nothing to do with you. Can’t you see that they are fragile? Can’t you see that you have to be tender with them?

Church, you are one body. Not many. You are the bride of Christ, not bride’s. You need to become whole again. You need to put your focus back on God. You need to take your focus off of numbers, presenting an appealing message, and anything else that distracts you from God. The Bible doesn’t always have a pleasant message to present! Don’t lie to the outsiders to strengthen your numbers. Tell them the truth, that they WILL suffer, just like Jesus, if they follow in His footsteps; but be gentle. Jesus told us that the world hated him and that it will in turn hate us. It beat him, bruised him and killed him! How can you be blind to think that it will not do the same to you? You, church, need to be strong for all those seeking refuge. Do not give them a false hope, give them Jesus. Do not tell them that life is going to be easy, it’s not. They will only end up hating you and falling away. How can they believe anything you say if you first tell them a lie? Tell them the truth. Tell them that God is worth it. God is worth the pain and the suffering.

I know that these words may seem harsh, Church. But we have to make a change before it is too late. There are so many souls that have already turned away from God because of you. So many that will not give you a second look because what they see is more hideous than what they see in the bars. There needs to be a change, a unity, and it begins here.

Start to follow the things that you preach. Show grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness– to everyone, not just people you think deserve it. This is what separates you from the world. This is why you are the bride of Christ. You are not like the world, you are not of the world. You are God’s. You are different and called out for another purpose. Rise up church, prove to the world that you are God’s.

With love,

Andrea

By Deborah Heneghan, author of Closer than You Think, now featured at the Patheos Book Club.

Guidance, guidance and more guidance!  We all receive it, but sometimes we don’t see it, or we choose to ignore it.  I will tell you that after going through the remarkable process of writing my book, Closer Than You Think: The Easy Guide to Connecting with Loved Ones on the Other Side, I will always check out any lead that I receive because it proves to be wonderful every time.

And so I’d like to share the importance of following our guidance/leads because the act of doing so, and being open to what’s coming while letting go of the control of the outcome, is miraculous. There are no mistakes in life and most certainly the guidance we receive prepares us for what’s coming next. I know; I’ve experienced it with the writing of my book.

I’m not one for reading books much, let alone writing books, but in 2009 I started receiving messages that I should write a book, and these messages were indeed from above.  The signs came in the form of ideas that popped into my head out of nowhere; my sister above telling me to write; people saying to me ‘you should write a book’; and even advertisements discussing writing books.  It was everywhere I turned.

So as the idea of writing a book settled into my bones, I asked for validation that this was indeed the next step for me to take in my life.  I had already been in the realization, since 2007 when my first son was born, that something was shifting in my life path. Sure enough, I received every single confirmation and then some.  I had no idea how to start the process, but I did want to move forward since this was clearly the direction for me.

So I said a prayer one evening before going to sleep asking for guidance on what I needed to get started. The next morning, which was a weekend morning, I felt compelled to check my email as soon as I woke up (something I never do) and the first email in my inbox had a subject of “You Should Write a Book; I’m Glad I Did.”  The email provided me the exact steps to get started.  It was from that point forward that I literally was provided absolutely everything I needed to write the book, including figuring out the topic to write about!  It was the most remarkable and miraculous experience in my life (next to having my children).  And it was all inspired and guided by my beautiful sister, Kathy, who passed away in 1987.  She popped in and out continuously providing messages, guidance, ideas for the book, and even the strength and courage to do it. I must admit that writing a book was very new and a bit scary for me, but knowing Kathy was cheering me on and leading me gave me exactly what I needed to do it.

Some of the synchronicities and blessings I experienced as I followed those spiritual breadcrumbs (a phrase a good friend of mine always says) included being brought the perfectly talented ghostwriter, Linda Sivertsen, to help me write my book proposal and actual book.  We were brought together by my sister and her parents on the other side.  I couldn’t have done it without her and the fabulous stories and people she brought to the table.  In addition, when I submitted my book proposal to a few publishers the timeline for their response was 6 to 8 months or longer.  This just did not feel right in my heart.  It was only 1 ½ weeks after submission that I seriously considered self-publishing because I felt an urgency to get this book going (more guidance via my intuition).  So I said a prayer on a Monday that if I am supposed to self-publish that I will sign up with a self-publisher on Friday, and if I’m supposed to get a book deal I will receive it before then.  Low and behold, I got a book deal that Wednesday; exactly two weeks after I submitted my proposal. I couldn’t believe it.  At this point, having a book deal meant meeting deadlines, no excuses. The idea of working full-time with a newborn and a 21 month old just did not sit right with me (nor was it even possible). I was off on an extended maternity leave and requested to work part-time. My request happened to fall at a time when the company had just laid off 16,000 employees in North America, so the odds were against me.  However, deep in my heart I knew what felt right and so I asked anyway.  Miraculously, a part-time position was not only created for me, it was approved.  This allowed me the extra time to write my book and to have the balance I desired between my work and personal life as a new mom.

I could go on and on with amazing stories of how everything literally just fell into place perfectly, but there isn’t enough room. J  So what I want to get across to everyone is the importance of listening and paying attention to the messages whirling all around you right now.  If something doesn’t feel right in your heart, then pay attention.  Your body will speak to you when you should be considering something else.  Don’t allow your mind (and its crazy chatter) to keep you from following your heart in any area of your life (relationships, jobs, finances, beliefs, etc.).  Do not allow fear to hold you back. Do not allow beliefs or the world around you make you feel as though you can’t do something that you believe you can. Make a choice to live your life on truth and on following your heart.  Love yourself enough to do what feels right to you.  Stop following the majority just because that’s what everyone else is doing.  Be a leader in your own life.  When you do this, you will be abundant in every area of life.

Ever since my book was finished and published, my world has opened up more than I could’ve thought possible.  I’ve grown so much as an individual and have learned so much about myself and my 40 years of living (routines, patterns, beliefs, etc.).  It’s amazing to me by how much my sister’s passing has affected me in so many (positive) ways.  I’m open to guidance, to growth, to learning from others, to sharing my experiences, and most importantly to following my heart.  My heart knows Truth, as does yours.  I leave you with the request to please follow your heart, your intuition, your guidance, and be open to what’s next without controlling the outcome.  When you let go of control, open your heart, and have faith in the process, the rest will miraculously fall into place. This is fact. I know. I’m living it right now.

Deborah Heneghan is a working mother who has been communicating with her dead sister for over 20  years. She is the founder of Closer Than You Think, a national resource for after-death communications, grief management and learning how to live a more spiritually fulfilled life. She has her own weekly radio show, and has appeared on Lifetime TV, and programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox.  Visit her website at http://closerthanyouthinkthebook.com/about.html

 

 

 

In the spirit of the new book Letters to a Future Church: Words of Encouragement and Prophetic Appeals, InterVarsity Press and the Patheos Book Club hosted a contest inviting readers to submit their own prophetic letters to the Church.  IVP chose three winners to receive a gift package of books and the opportunity to have their letter published here at Patheos.  We’ll print one winning letter over the next three days. May these letters, and all of those from the book, inspire you to find your own voice for the sake of the future of the Church.

Where are your women?  from Elle Pyke

To the church in North America:

I don’t suppose myself to be an all knowing critic. In fact, I find a great comfort in finding my own fault, rather than assessing the faults of others.

Having said that church, I feel it necessary to pose a question to you.

All throughout the narrative of scripture, God asks questions of His people. From the garden to the cross, our God questioned, inquired and queried those whom He loved. Questions have the ability to open up new worlds, explore new possibilities and unearth depths we may not have known before.

So it is with humility, gentleness and as much respect as I can muster, I pose my question to you.

A question I don’t presume to be answered with ease.

A question that is nuanced and textured.

A question that has been asked from those who have gone before me and a question that I fear will be asked long after I have returned to the earth. But a question nonetheless that is banging at the door of my heart with a steady beat.

Knocking.

Longing.

Pleading for a voice.

I tread lightly asking you, the North American church, such a question.

I tread with ease and care because I know with my question I step on years of rich Christian tradition, theology and doctrinal stances. I tread on rules, rituals, and routines that have long been in place. I tread on fellow brothers and sisters earnest and sincere beliefs. Please know church, as I tread, I tiptoe with honest and thoughtful care.

North American Church, broken yet beautiful North American church, the question I ask you is this:

Where are your women?

Women with scars, women with baby weight and blistered feet.

Women who are daughters, women who never knew their fathers.

Women who knew force at the hands of the men they trusted, women who know deep abiding love at the hands of the men they trust.

Women who are friends, fellow travelers and faithful family members.

Where are your women?

Women who till fields. Women who run companies. Women who change diapers. Women who mend souls.

Where are your women?

Listen to the wind words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.

Oh church, I see your women in the pews.

I see them spiritually shaping and discipling the hearts and minds of people in other countries, as they serve as missionaries all over the world.

I see them creating the constructs of our children’s first encounters with God as Children’s Pastors and Sunday school teachers

I see them calling our congregations to worship God in music and penning hymns of glory to God as Choir directors and musical leaders.

But I don’t see them standing in front of our churches, microphone in hand, passion in their bellies, sharing their rich stories with us.

Women, it seems, are disqualified from shifting the souls of men.

Able bodied to lead, aptly called to serve, everywhere else but behind the pulpit. I don’t hear their voices resonating through literature, headlining conferences or enriching our understanding of Jesus through their perspectives and giftings.

Those voices are scarce, almost silent. Sometimes they drift in the wind, tossing to and fro. But they never stay long, they are not constant.

Where are your women?

I fear that storytellers rich with wisdom, living under the authority of compassion and steeped with long suffering love are being laid to rest without ever being given voice.

Their stories go with them.

To the ground.

To the dust.

Are you awake?

Listen to the wind words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.

I see everything you do church. I see your love, faith, service and persistence of your passion. I see your labor and your good works.

But where are your women who are preaching and interpreting the canon of Scripture? Where are the women preaching powerful, faithful, and compelling biblical expositions of the life, work and mission of our Christ? Where are the women calling our communities of faith to stare long and hard into the eyes of our Savior?

Have you hidden them church?

Have you relegated them to the sidelines?

It seems Church you have empowered and encouraged women to be disciple-makers by prayerfully speaking the Word of God to others, in whatever way and to whatever extent that their gifting and circumstances allow. Just not behind a wooden structure called a pulpit.

I can’t help but wonder Church, if years from now, when our generation is gone, will the Christian minds of tomorrow wonder what we were thinking, when women changed the world and were left silenced in the church?

Silenced in His kingdom.

Women will always be, by nature lovers. They hold their lives loosely in their hands and pass it around, like Communion. Their whole life, a Eucharist of service and love and sacrifice through mundane tasks and mountain top moments alike.

Women.

The cressendo of God’s creation.

But church, where are your women?

Are your ears awake?

Listen.

Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches

No single sweep of my pen can underline an answer to the question of women in ministry. But my spirit, oh my spirit longs for to hear the voice of the daughters of Christ.

To see daughters of the King, full of grace, beauty and radiance take their place with the sons of the King in teaching, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom.

The good news of the Way.

The good news of our God.

My dream church of North America is to see men and women together engaging in radical subordination and mutual submission, holding hands and holding authority together to steward the message of bountiful and wasteful grace.

To let every mouth proclaim the good news of the gospel and the hopeful call of Christ.

It’s more than just equal rights.

It’s a longing for all who come into the Kingdom to join in community and be empowered to participate in a revolution that spreads the Way.

Together.

Men and women. Sharing, teaching, preaching, calling.

So that the world might taste. So that the world might hear. So that the world might see and know.

That the savior has come.

North American church, that I love so dear…

My conscience beats that we are all called

To be voices of justice, revolutionaries, prophets and priests.

Women of the way, women with flaws

With cellulite and acne scars

Women with two feet on the ground and arms open wide

Beautiful women with the spark of the divine.

I will listen for your voices, you narratives, your exegesis.

Your passion, your perspective, your musings on Jesus.

To the church of North America, broken yet so beautiful.

Listen to the wind words, the Spirit blowing through your steeples

The wind of the spirit is empowering your women.

Give them voice as the creator has.

North American church!

Please.

Listen.

 

With love from one of your own,

Michelle