Facing the Music by Jennifer Knapp

 How often can you say that you have read a book that moves you?  A few days ago I finished Facing the Music: My Story by Jennifer Knapp.  What amazing honesty and openness that is written about.  Being able to find her way back to music.  Despite the great pain and fear.  Jennifer has been able to speak her truth.  A journey that took her from one part of the world to the other.  Along with many places in between.  Being able to finally come to a place where she can be at peace with who she is.  Even with those who have and possibly still are upset with who she is. 
I can't help but wonder what my story is and what it looks like.  Wondering what it is to be able to speak my truth. 
How can I find my way with all that is going through my hear, mind and soul.  
How can I stay true to who I am.
Yet, what about my faith and beliefs?
I have so many things that are spinning around in my mind.  That I don't know that I can put words to them.  Where that it would make sense.
So, here's a link for Facing the Music.
http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Knapp/e/B00JH11HJQ/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1438617151&sr=1-2-ent 

Challange in what it is to have faith part 3

  This video is what Jefferson Bathke is the bases for the book of the same title. 

Jesus>Religion had been such a great challenge in what it is to have a true authentic faith.  Once, in causes people to ask what is it that brings peace and joy.  This has not been easy to work through while I was in the hospital. The post titled Tough few weeks talks about this in more detail.  The question that has been one I have been about Jesus' relationship with the law made new.  How this influences  my understanding of the expectations for the Christian faith communities and how my understating of the outward codes of these communities.  This is from the discussion questions at the end of chapter that is titled, Why I Still Think Jesus Hates Religion (and You Should Too).  I don't know that there's a concrete answer to this.  This has lead to questions about what it is to belong to a community of faith.  What it is to have a personal living faith and what it is my part within this local community.  That is part of the larger Christian community.  I am not sure really how this looks or that words can be used.  In a way that makes it seem small or cheapen it.

Tough few weeks

It has been a tough many weeks for me.  I have longed to be able to get back to posting here.  Yet, I've had to take a time out of sorts, to take care of myself.  I have bipolar disorder and is not always easy to live with.  I had a major in many ways a set back.  That will take a lot to explain and I feel that isn't what the heart of what I want for this blog.  Yet, at the same time want to share a small part of this journey.  That is very hard and much of the time draining.
So, in a nutshell I stared to have some pretty troubling symptoms of bipolar.  That I haven't ever had before. I stared to hear what seemed to be voices that where not there and could not be made out as to what was being said.  Seemingly, at the same time life lost its appeal and joy.  The desire and deep longing to live far out lasted the darkness.  I was in the hospital for about week and half.  This week I'm home and doing the outpatient program.  This has been my first week.
Here are a couple of YouTube videos that I hope that will be helpful.

Revolution Church

https://medium.com/52-churches-in-52-weeks/lgbt-wwjd-b13493f61db9
What is it to find a place that is truly safe to be fully who one is. Safe to say I don't know if God is real.   Jay Bakker as a pastor who has found a church that is such a place.  I find great comfort in his serous.  Which he prefers to,call talks.  The above above link is an article about Jay's church which he started in Altanta, Georgia.  Then was in New York, New York and know is in Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota. Here's Revolution's website http://revolutionchurch.tumblr.com.  Where Jay's talks are posted.   Something else that's worth a listen is This Radio Cast.  Which can be found on iTunes.

Challenge in what it is to have faith part 2

I had to take several days to chew on what I've read in Jesus>Religion chapter One Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up.  It has gotten me thinking.  The questions at the end have been such a great help.  Especially, the last one which basically asked why the focus for Christians are on what 'righteous' deeds rather then the needs of those who are in need.  This has been something I have to figure out who it is that are in need.  Are the one who are in need who are typically thought of or not?  I don't know how to really how to fully answer this fully. 

Sacred Journeys

What is it be on a journey? There are so many types of journeys that we go on through out life.  How can one make a journey that is sacred?  What is it to be seeking for an answer?  For God?  Faith?  There are as many answers as there are people.  Life is one that everyone is on.  What about the ones that we are going on that take effort.
I have been watching the series on WTTW 11, Chicago's PBS station.  It was has and is been very powerful and moving.  I am longing to be able to one day to go to Lourdes and to Israel.   Both have been in this series.  All the shows are so powerful.  What is it to be on a sacred journey at the place that I am.  There are many places that are right here that I go to.   Is the longing to go to Lourdes, Israel, and so many others places.  Is it to just I have been there?  Or for the deep long to connection to why going on a great journey?  Will the true meaning lost?
What is the journey you are on?  What is that you are seeking?


 
 Here's the link for the Sacred Journys
http://video.pbs.org/program/sacred-journeys/

The Way of St. James, a Journey Back to Basics

A former pastors journery

This article about a former pastor living as an atheist and is no longer a Christian. Ryan Bell, the former pastor, went on a year long journey of seeking.  I hope that you enjoy this article.
 http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/pastor-who-tried-out-atheism-for-a-year-gives-up-on-god-to-have-a-closer-relationship-to-reality/