No More Oprah

I have never been the biggest fan of Oprah, but I've also never really disliked her. You have to respect her success, she is very generous and has done a lot of good for a lot of people.

However, she also has a lot of influence over a lot of people, and its scary. Not because she is a bad person, but because people rarely question what she says. This is scariest to me now because of her latest book recommendation.

Most of Oprah's book recommendations become best sellers. Her most recent recommendation has done the best of any of her recommendations. It has sold 3.5 million copies in the 4 weeks since she recommended it and is the fastest selling Oprah pick ever at Barnes & Noble. Not only that, but Oprah and the author are hosting on line seminars based on the book for the next 10 weeks and over 500,000 people are already signed up.

So, what's my problem with this book? Its one of the most blatant examples of false teaching I have ever seen. The book is called " A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose". Here is the description of the book from its publisher's website:

"Building on the astonishing success of The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: He implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity.

Tolle tells us there is good news, however. There is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current egoic consciousness to an entirely new one.

In illuminating the nature of this shift in consciousness, Tolle describes in detail how our current ego-based state of consciousness operates. Then gently, and in very practical terms, he leads us into this new consciousness. We will come to experience who we truly are—which is something infinitely greater than anything we currently think we are—and learn to live and breathe freely."

Anyone else scared?!? Millions of people are reading this book and accepting it as truth!! It seems to be the greatest deception of the masses against Christ since the Divinci Code; although at least the Davinci Code acknowledged that it was fiction. (In fact, I would probably go as far as to say this is a cult and false religion, but the book at least claims to be self help and not a religion, so I will lump it in with the Davinci Code for now).

Here is an even scarier part...this book was actually published in 2005. It has been around for almost 3 years with little response. However, the minute Oprah puts her seal of approval on it, its a best seller. In fact, Oprah's exact words in recommending this book were: "Being able to share this material with you is a gift and a part of the fulfillment of my life's purpose, it was an awakening for me that I want for you, too."

I have tried to research this book over the last few days, and many Christians seem to be unaware of the incredible popularity of it. I have been to several websites that reviewed the book, but not a single Christian one. Thankfully, many Christians are visiting these other sites and sharing the truth, but I really think the Christian community needs to come out strong against this book. I have also read several reviews from people who are Christians but seem to also accept the lies in this book. They are being deceived and led away.

I don't really have much of a response at this point except to pray. So, I am praying for the truth to shine through the lies. Oprah seems like an unshakable empire...but no one thought the walls of Jericho could fall, nor did they think Babylon could be captures. I am praying for the Oprah empire to fall...and for Oprah to come to repentance. But above all of that, I am praying that this book will no longer lead people astray, but that the lies will be revealed and lead people to the truth.

And if you think I'm overreacting, just do a little research and read what people are saying about the book....

Truth and Humility

One of the hardest things for me in ministry is living out what I teach. I have been really challenged and reminded of this several times over the last few days. This struggle ranges from the simplest tasks to the deepest spiritual truths.

A few weeks ago Bonita was slicing bread in her hand and sliced her hand. She actually just had surgery on that hand yesterday (and although she is not fun when she's hurting, she made it through fine. They had to repair a nerve). Anyway, Bonita was extremely embarrassed about the whole incident and was actually very upset with me for a while for telling people what happened. I kept telling her to not worry so much about what people think, we all make mistakes.

Then yesterday I ran a red light and hit someone...and several people I know saw it. It was a very minor accident, no damage to my car at all and very little damage to the other guys'. Still, I am extremely embarrassed and can now understand how Bonita feels. Now I have to live out what I've been telling her.

A bigger struggle for me is what we teach at God's Girls. I got this email yesterday from a girl who was on my first team to Africa back in the summer of 2003. This is part of it:

"I was just thinking about you the other day because i came across the book "Do You Think I'm beautiful" The things that you said to me in Africa never left me or my Bible. You really made me see how beautiful I really am to God. That has really changed my thinking, so thank you for that."

And 5 years later, I still struggle to live that out. Hasn't stopped me from teaching it though. I have come to realize that no matter how difficult things are for me to live out, if they are truth, I still have to teach it. And I just continue to pray along the way that I will learn to believe and live these things out for myself. Ugh, I have such a long way to go.

These thoughts then led me to think about humility. See, its a pretty humbling experience to realize that you struggle just as much as everyone else to live out the truth. (actually, it isn't so much a realization as it is a reminder) Of course, humility is not bad at all, but its more than just realizing you aren't perfect. I have discovered that you can't truly love someone without humility. And as I seek to live a life of love, I realized that in order for that to happen, I need humility.

I really like Webster's definition of humility: "modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance". Actually, I like even better what it doesn't say. It doesn't say, "unimportant", "worthless"...it simply says that you don't place yourself high above others. I don't think you can love people if you place yourself above them; they can't reach you.

I was reading Micah 6:8 and noticed that there isn't anything written about love. Micah 6:8 is a short and concise list of exactly what God asks of us. Jesus says that all of the law and prophets can be summed up in the first commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul". So, if the 1st commandment sums up all the law, then Micah 6:8 tells us how to live out our day to day life. It has 3 simple things to do.

1) Act Justly
2) Love Mercy
3) Walk Humbly with God

Or the way I read it:

1) treat everyone equally and fairly
2) Forgive, even when I have the right to be angry (and especially when I don't)
3) recognize that God is the one who makes me important...and He does that with everyone else as well. And, its my role as His hands and feet to remind others just how important they are.

Love seems to be summed up with all those things.

I feel like life is just a constant struggle (at least for me). Maybe struggle isn't the word...struggle sounds bad and I don't mean that things are always bad. I just mean I feel like I always have to work; at everything. Always working to learn, grow and relearn things that I thought I understood but apparently didn't, or at least forgot.

Time to get ready for another day of...endeavoring? I'll work on finding the right word...

Amazing Friends

My friend Jacqueline left last night and we had an amazing time!! She was here for 5 days and was such a huge blessing to me!! A few weeks ago my friend Catherine was here and she also was a huge blessing to me, and this weekend another friend, Alexa, will be here. They are all friends from high school (Catherine and I have actually been friends since 1st grade and Alexa and I since 7th grade). First, how blessed am I to still have so many friends that I have known for so long?!? (In fact, there is a group of about 10 of us, not including spouses and children, from high school that still keep in touch and visit one another as often as possible.)

These friends also consist of most of my supporters. The people that know me the best, support me the most. That constantly surprises me. They know my faults better than anyone, yet they support me here. Of course, they all also and and trust in God and His redemption. :)

I was looking around my kitchen the other day and I am so thankful. My fridge and stove were bought for me by a friend and supporter, and everything else in the kitchen was provided by my home church. It's very easy to feel all alone here in Philly, especially when I live alone and do much of my ministry alone (or at least with men that I don't exactly share my deepest fears with, haha). Jacqueline, Catherine, Alexa, and so many of my other friends remind me that while I am sometimes physically alone, I'm never really alone. And, I have tons of partners in ministry.

That is such a blessing.

God's Girls

I only have a few minutes to write this. My friend Jacqueline is visiting me (we have been friends since 10th grade and she and her husband are wonderful supporters of mine). We are having a BLAST!! I forgot how wonderful it is to have someone to talk to during the day!!!

I wanted to share quickly about God Squad tonight. Tonight I had one of the best small groups ever, and I'm still so excited!! While the topic of the group started with "What are some things that make you question God", we quickly traveled to how difficult it is to be a woman of God. We spent a lot of time talking about what the world says about us as women and what God says. This is obviously a topic that I am passionate about, so that made it very exciting to me. But, the best part is that there were 3 God's Girls in my small group tonight and they helped me teach!! They shared some of the things that they learned in God's Girls and really helped the other teens understand the truth. It was SO GREAT!!! I feel so blessed to be a part of these girls lives and so blessed that God provides such encouragement to me!!

Please be praying for the rest of the girls. We have been talking about trying to do a God's Girls for the teens (the ones that didn't get to participate in the preteen class). Tonight reminded me of the need...now I need God to find the time and resources.

God Outside of Philadelphia

As a missionary in a certain location, it is VERY easy to get focussed on what God is doing where you are. Its even easier to become focussed on what God needs to do where you are. I feel like I am constantly overwhelmed with the needs all around me.

In addition, as a support raised missionary I am constantly working to get people excited about what God is doing here and wanting to join Him here (whether physically or in other ways). That makes it so easy for me to forget what God is doing elsewhere.

Well, I shouldn't say I forget what God is doing everywhere. I am constantly reminded of what He is doing in poor countries, oppressed countries, or spiritually dead countries. Pretty much, I am reminded often of what God is doing outside the US. And of course, His work among the poor and oppressed in our country is often on my mind as well.

But, our God is even bigger than that! I was reminded of this today when I got an email from a friend who is teaching school in North Carolina.

She teaches at a regular, suburban, middle class school. The kind of place that I often forget needs powerful moves of God just as desperately as inner city Philadelphia.

Today, she reminded me.

This is an excerpt from her email to me:

"I was excited to teach my kids about justice, equality, civil rights, amazing people that stood up for freedom and equality. People that inspire me. People that changed our world.

Then I started teaching and I started off the lesson with "story time" and it was a book by Toni Morrison about the Civil rights movement, it was a moving book and excellent to use with high schoolers. They hated it, they made fun of the people and joked around. I had to send one to the office for making racist comments.

He said, "Dang all *iggers got real big lips" and a few other things I don't even want to repeat.
Then I assigned them each a person, movement, protest, boycott or organization that was influential to the civil rights movement. They had not even heard of the Little Rock Nine, and did not know what Brown v. Board even did. They said there still should be separate facilities. I was astonished and angry, confused, and disheartened.

I just couldn't believe this was happening.

So then I thought maybe 3rd period would be easier. They were a little better but they laughed when they saw the Selma March and the police spraying the blacks with fire hoses. They made fun of the Freedom Singers. They didn't even attempt the project."


I was so disheartened when I read this letter...she was disheartened writing it. It reminded me so much of people's desperate need for God. Not Philadelphia's need, not China's need...people's need.

She is teaching in a public school, so while her response can't be to teach them what the Bible says about racism, I know she is praying for her students and that she is working hard to change their heart and attitudes toward racism and injustice. This letter made me so thankful for her, and so many others like her, that aren't on the "mission field", but are seeking to see God glorified just as desperately as I am. She is an amazing ambassador for the Gospel and God is going to use her to change hearts and minds and turn them toward Him.

And in a lot of ways, her road is harder to travel than mine. I don't have to worry about what I say or who I say it to. She has to trust God to say the things she isn't allowed to. I am so thankful that she is willing to let God lead her on that road. People will be changed through her obedience. She has reminded me that its not about missionaries, pastors, or Sunday School workers. Its about ALL people letting God use them in whatever way He chooses.

She is letting God use her, and although its difficult, He will be glorified. Thank you for the reminder, friend. :)

Boring Game

As you can see by the final score, this wasn't much of a game. Still, we had fun!

Usually on Wednesday nights we have Guys Basketball/Prayer and Girls Craft/Prayer, however tonight we wanted to do something special. So, we took the guys and girls that come regularly to the prayer groups and invited them to a Sixers game. We had a blast hanging out, dancing to the music and cheering the Sixers to a pretty sweet victory.
I don't have much else to update. My friend Jacqueline is coming to visit me tomorrow for 5 days!!! We have been friends since 10th grade and she and her husband are huge supporters of me here in Philly. She was actually supposed to visit me in the fall but then got mono and had to postpone. She has been in San Francisco for the last several days visiting our other friend Elisabeth who does inner city ministry there. I can't wait until she gets here!!

And a quick update on my door...I STILL haven't gotten it open!! I tried several times to get it open and have been unsuccessful. I tried knocking the door knob off, taking it off the hinges...its still locked and closed. I did make the hole bigger so its easier to get in and out of. :)

There have been several times today when I wondered if that really happened...and then I go to my room and see a giant hole in my door. Yes, that did happen.