Do. Love. Walk.



Hello, my name is Michael Clevenger. My life is a romance with providence. I love Jesus, the least of these, worship, music, biking, intercession, traveling, theology, philosophy, non-violence, learning, listening, reading, adventuring, exploring, tea, writing, photography, coffee, stirring up others faith, good times, good sweet tea, & good BBQ-- not necessarily in that order. Check out my new blog "Gospel of the Kingdom" below.

“In light of the events in the last few days involving attacks on American diplomats in foreign countries (and the ensuing political conflict), let’s remember one thing: Our fight is not with flesh and blood. As Christians, our real enemy is not Libyans or Egyptians or Muslims or President Obama or Governor Romney. Our enemy is the one who infects our hearts with hatred and violence and seeks to distract us from the cross and divide us against one another by any means necessary. Let’s not play his game. Instead, let’s turn our attention to Jesus and bring him glory by abiding in him and obeying him. (Luke 6:27-36)”

-Greg Boyd

Pacifist Fight Club - Round 3

[GOING ON RIGHT NOW]

Join us as we gather for Round 3 of Pacifist Fight Club to hear brief presentations from an all female fight team, and engage in open conversation about the least of these and other important topics including:

  • Torture
  • Immigration
  • Prisoners
  • Poverty

Ein Keloheinu // Momma sing my favorite hymn remind me: everyone is Him 

6 Suggestions for Christians for Engaging in Politics [LINK]

A great article from Sojourners by Justin Fung
Worth the read.

Ultimately, it comes back to God. As the people of God, it has to.

Prayer is not simply a way for us to petition God on the things we’d like to see happen, or to try to get God on our side: “Please let (insert presidential candidate) win!” or “Please keep (insert presidential candidate) from winning!”

It is also, and more importantly, the place where we come to meet with God, and to have our thoughts, our desires, and our wills, transformed by God to be more in line with who he is and what he desires–and reading and understanding Scripture is a good step toward being able to discern those things. Prayer is where we are changed, first —before that person with whom we’re disagreeing, before the policies and structures of our country, before the ossified injustices of our world. Prayer is where we grow our roots in God in order that we may bear fruit in the world.

In prayer, we are likely to be challenged to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God; to lower the accusing finger, to replace the vitriolic Facebook post with a civil one, to refrain from posting that oh-so-funny-but-not-particularly-gracious tweet; to truly love our enemies—that is, any who are opposed to us—and to seek their good.

I wonder if we could truly make this “the most important election of our lifetime,” as so many are wont to say, by showing the world that, as Christians, we are beholden not to a certain political ideology or party, nor to a particular economic or social philosophy, but that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God, who live out our faith with the love and graciousness and conviction and humility that are characteristic of our family.

That would be pretty awesome.

alexmonacella:

Lord Jesus, you taught us to pray. Now help us pray for our daily bread while laboring with love for those who hunger. Show us how to hallow your name while striving for justice in our relationships and in society. May our whole lives become a prayer, ever to your glory. Amen.

{Common Prayer}

“People need Jesus.  But they need the Jesus who lived and lives in God’s larger narrative, not just a set of theological beliefs.  Scripture tells us a story that has the ability to transform individuals, to lift communities out of poverty and to build nations that are free, just and compassionate.’  It’s a story powerful enough, good enough, and hope-filled enough to overcome the destructive worldviews, societal patterns and cultural narratives from which our globe suffers.  These narratives are steeped in meritocracy, resignation, cynicism, naivete and complacency.  Scripture’s story not only addresses spiritual and emotional concerns but societal and systematic ones too.  We need to rediscover this story for our own lives, and then we have to go out and tell it.”

Living Missions:  The Vision and Voices of New Friars

Ivan Illich, the philosopher and social theorist, was once asked, “What is the most revolutionary way to change society:  Is it violent revolution or gradual reform?”  He gave a careful but very insightful answer:  ”Neither.  If you want to change society, then you must tell an alternative story.”

The church has the most revolutionary story in the history of humankind, but for some reason we continually fail to tell it in all of its dimensions and to live in its reality.  Instead; we settle for alternate realities and lesser visions that in the end fall far short of that which God would have for us.

Living Mission:  The Vision and Voices of New Friars

(Source: Spotify)

My favorite little girl; Lolita. (Taken with Instagram)

My favorite little girl; Lolita. (Taken with Instagram)

“I’ve been in conversations with people before who will say that going to this extreme of putting people in motel rooms or buying them food or letting them sleep on your couch, those steps are secondary and of lesser importance. What those people really need is the Gospel. So, if you really want to love them the way Jesus means it when he says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” then you’ll tell them that they’re going to burn in hell forever if they don’t say a prayer. But, if what you’re suggesting here is true and if Jesus is really summarizing these Levitical commands and all of the Law and Prophets with the command to “Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself” then it seems the love command is really about showing actual compassion and demonstrating a love that results in shared food, shelter, and clothing. It’s not consistent to share the message of the Gospel without also seeking the Shalom of the whole person.”

-Keith Giles