How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life

Category Archives: THINK AGAIN

“Am I 102?”

October 10th, 2013

“Bills increasing access to abortion signed by Gov. Jerry Brown”
-San Jose Mercury News

“Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill allowing more medical professionals to perform abortions…The Assembly passed the bill on a 50-25 vote in May, and the state Senate passed it on a 50-25 vote in August, with most Democrats and no Republicans voting for it.”

Dear 101 lawmakers of California,

You have ignored every instinct you have ever had, every bit of intelligence you have ever mustered, every sense of moral outrage you have ever possessed, and you have willingly decided to make it more likely that children in our state are killed on purpose.

No amount of linguistic gymnastics (“reproductive health,” “women’s rights”), no attempt to “plead the fifth” morally and philosophically (sorry, everyone has a worldview; everyone has a filter) no trying to change the subject to “what about children killed in war” and such (yep, that’s horrendous, too, but let’s focus here…), no, I’m sorry, but any attempt to explain or justify what has just happened is never going to change the fact that you have consciously decided to make it more likely that children in our state will be killed on purpose.

100% of you were not aborted when you were children.100% of you. 100% of children who were aborted and 100% of the children who will be aborted, more now according to your own estimates and according to your vote, well, they had no chance to decide on anything. They’re dead.

You see, children who are killed on purpose don’t have voice or vote. So, you, 101 human beings who have escaped being killed as children (50 Assembly, 50 House, and the Governor of California), you have made it law that there will be more children who will not have the same right to live. You have made it more likely that children now and in the future will not have the most precious gift, life, that you, the 101, take for granted every day.

They didn’t get to vote on this. They were never heard on this issue. But they are heard, according to my worldview.

Hear these words.

“I have heard the cry of my people…”

Sincerely,

Dana Hanson
“Wrestler”

(Wrestling with God and my conscience because I am part of a culture that practices child sacrifice, and wrestling because I am one who voted for one of you. Wrestling continues…)

Grace? She gets it…

September 13th, 2013

I started reading this book, by Lutheran (ELCA) pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber, the moment it arrived today. Now, I am done. I can think of no reason why you wouldn’t want to read this book.

Why wouldn’t you read a book where:

- someone honestly wrestles with the self-absorption we so often combat as pastors?

- a “liberal” Christian actually admits that not being a jerk towards a “conservative” who is being a jerk to her is actually a good working model for the Gospel? You see, we have had confessions of jerkiness from “conservative” authors for quite a while, now. Not much has come form the smarmy, holier-and-cooler-than-thou “liberal” camp, however. Refreshing. O, and smarmy, holier-and-cooler-than-thou folks? I embrace you!

- you will laugh, cry, cringe, pray, thank God, and open up to the Holy Spirit, all in an afternoon?

- when you finish it, you just want to say, “I thank God for Pastor Nadia and everyone whose lives God touches through her.”

Thank you for reading this review and now, please buy this book.

Grandpa Diary #9

July 30th, 2013

Dear Kaylee,

Grandma and I went on a camping trip with some friends, and we drove back from far away and were tired and needed to just get home and relax. We didn’t even stop and eat anywhere. But, we were driving past where you live, so…

Of course, we were stopping! We hadn’t seen you for four days! Funny, how we weren’t tired anymore when we pulled up to in front of your new house and got to see you. We even had friends Mac and Donna stop, too. They hadn’t seen you, yet.

Grandma, got to hold you first (the way it should be), then Donna, then Mac said he didn’t want to hog you and so he would defer from holding you, but Grandma handed you over to him anyway, and boy did he like that! It was fun watching friends enjoy holding you, because you bring love out with everyone. You are not just part of our family, you are part of our extended family, too. This means you have many people who love you and pray for you, even though they don’t live with you.

God designed us to live in extended family, called, “tribe,” in the early days of His people and then later, called, “Oikos,” or “household.” There are going to be many, many times in your life that you are going to be blessed because your mommy and daddy are loved by so many people, too. We all will be there to care for you, encourage you, and watch God grow you. You are a part of us all, now.

And it just so happens you are the cutest part…

Love,Grandpa

Grandpa Diary #7

July 23rd, 2013

Dear Kaylee,

 

Grandma and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary this weekend. Your Grandma is beautiful and smart and strong and good, but I will let you in on a little secret. One of the main reasons I asked your grandma to be my wife is because I thought she would be a great mommy. Guess what? I was right! Your grandma is an amazing mommy and you’ll really get to know this because your mommy learned how to be a mommy mainly from grandma.

 

We learn most of what we know from modeling when it comes to being a mommy and daddy. That’s a fancy way of saying we watch our mommy’s and daddy’s and we learn from them. Well, what Grandma learned from her mommy, your Great-Grandma Lindgren, she has passed down to your mommy, and now you get to enjoy the blessing, because Great-Grandma Lindgren wasn’t just Great-Grandma she was a great model!

 

We don’t pass down everything, though…We leave behind things that aren’t helpful. When your Uncle Greg and Uncle David get married some day, there will be some things I don’t want them to model from me. Sometimes I have said things that are not nice to your grandma. Over the years I have learned to not do that as much, and I always say I’m sorry, but your uncles will be better at this because I never hid from them when I said, “I’m sorry to Grandma,” and she didn’t hide saying, “I forgive you.”

 

You see Kaylee, moms and dad argue sometimes and children see this, so when mommy’s and daddy’s don’t apologize in front of their children, as well, the children never learn about saying, “I’m sorry,” and “I forgive you.” All they see is their mommy’s and daddy’s are arguing and that’s scary by itself. Uncle Greg and Uncle David will be better husbands because they saw their daddy is not perfect but he doesn’t try to hide that fact.

 

I have to admit something Kaylee. The best part of our anniversary was seeing you. Spending time with you and watching your mommy and daddy with you. Already I like to watch your mommy and daddy look at you. They have messages in their eyes that say you are beautiful, you are loved, you are precious, you bring them joy, you fill them with wonder, you are their little Kaylee. Someone once said, “The eyes are windows to the soul,” and Kaylee, when I look at your mommy and daddy’s eyes look at you, I can tell you that they love you- with all their soul.

 

That’s just how God wants it…

 

Love,

 

Grandpa

 

Grandpa Diary #2

July 15th, 2013

Dear Kaylee,

You are beautiful. At least that’s what everybody is saying on Facebook, texts, and conversations, thus far. However, there is another side to this.

Your mom is gorgeous, but it is her “inside” beauty that matters the most. She loves God and he works through her, especially as she works with teenagers. You have a “cool” mom. If you learn from your mom, your beauty will not remain hidden, as God will find many ways to work through you, too.

Well I know you are leaving the hospital. You will have a quick trip home, but don’t get used to it because your mom and dad bought a new house up in Valencia. I will get used to that house quickly because I will be seeing you a lot!

Love,

Grandpa

 

Dana Hanson Show #29

June 27th, 2013

The greatest freedom for us to be the person God designs us to be begins with self-forgetfulness. What is it and how do I get it?

Paul gets it (1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7) and author Timothy Keller gives excellent insight. Listen in…

How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk

Faith in real life