tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40633882810393458302024-02-19T10:59:51.126-06:00Human Beings Matter More [archive]Stephen Wagnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14211311062803596380noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-74293816156814390292015-03-01T07:59:00.001-06:002015-03-01T07:59:33.241-06:00We've Moved!This site is an archive for the writings of Stephen Wagner, Executive Director of Justice For All and author of <i>Common Ground Without Compromise</i>. It contains only posts up until February 2015.<br />
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Please see Steve's new web home at <a href="http://www.hbmm.net/">www.hbmm.net</a> (or <a href="http://www.hbmm.wordpress.com/">www.hbmm.wordpress.com</a>) for writings, audio, video, and new blog posts. <br />
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(Note: Still in the process of migrating the pre-March 2015 content to the new site. Thanks for your patience.)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-51388933131497934832015-02-23T08:02:00.002-06:002015-02-23T08:20:19.706-06:00Seeking Justice for All by Ministering to OutsidersI delivered the sermon to both Sunday services at <a href="http://www.ccctucson.org/" target="_blank">Christ Community Church in Tucson, Arizona</a> earlier this month. Approximately 1700 heard the message. In a section describing Biblical reasons for showing respect to both the unborn and to pro-choice advocates, I said essentially this:<br />
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Think about it. I can defend the unborn with such anger and impatience that I reflect back to the pro-choice advocate that she is not a valuable human being. Or I can treat her as a means to an end, seeking a convert, seeking another win for our side, seeking a mark on my chalkboard in the sky, seeking to gratify my own sense of importance as doing something significant, more than seeking to minister Christ’s love and truth to this other human being.</blockquote>
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Friends, a human being is nothing to be trifled with. We should not treat others in this way. When I am looking into the face of another human being, I am being given a precious gift, the chance to behold the creation of which God is most proud.</blockquote>
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To hear the whole message or excerpts, click on the following links: </div>
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<li><a href="http://c8363afd06b583d80b22-354f0431fd6e0555316fe2f16bb18732.r94.cf2.rackcdn.com/02082015.mp3" target="_blank">Seeking Justice For All by Ministering to Outsiders</a> (51:34 - whole message with introduction, hosted at the CCC website)</li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/CCC-Feb2015-Excerpt-Steve_Recalls_a_Big_Failure.mp3" target="_blank">One of my big failures that helped me to learn to listen</a> (1:28)</li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/CCC-Feb2015-Excerpt-Two_Sisters_at_KU.mp3" target="_blank">Two sisters who signed opposite sides of the JFA poll table</a> (2:59)</li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/CCC-Feb2015-Excerpt-One_Young_Man_Finds_His_Opinion.mp3" target="_blank">The young man who didn't have an opinion</a> (2:59)</li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/CCC-Feb2015-Excerpt-Why_Respect_Abortion_Advocates.mp3" target="_blank">Why a Biblical perspective on the unborn leads us to give respect to pro-choice advocates</a> (3:16)</li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/CCC-Feb2015-Excerpt-One_Minute_Challenge.mp3" target="_blank">The pro-choice advocates who gave me exactly one minute to defend the pro-life position</a> (4:58)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/CCC-Feb2015-Excerpt-Jordan_and_Beefys.mp3" target="_blank">The story of Jordan Newhouse's conversation at Starbucks, along with my experience at Beefy's on the Green</a> (8:11)</li>
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For the pdf that includes the handout for the sermon and the PowerPoint file, <a href="ftp://jfaweb5@jfaweb.org/public_html/steve/Seeking_Justice_For_All_by_Ministering_to_Outsiders-PP_and_Handout.pdf" target="_blank">click this link</a>.</div>
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To share this post with others, you can use this link: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/ccc">www.jfaweb.org/steve/ccc</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-45733213273737893292014-12-27T20:13:00.002-06:002014-12-27T22:44:53.668-06:00On Scribbles and False Beliefs: Are They Beautiful?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/IMG_0065c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://jfaweb.org/steve/IMG_0065c.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
In my <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014" target="_blank">Christmas letter</a>, I made the point that we should value a person's false beliefs in much the same way I appreciate the scribbled art my kids offer to me. <br />
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I am not saying that false ideas are beautiful or intrinsically valuable when abstracted from their owner. Surely not. The woman’s claim that her aunt would still be alive if she had had an abortion is likely false, and that particular falsehood has compounded this woman’s grief. So, I’m not suggesting that we ignore the falsehood that needs correcting. But we can place the correcting of it later in the conversation. A more pressing duty is before us, and we must attend to it first.<br />
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I said in the letter that when my son hands me his scribbles, I thank him with my attention and appreciation "because of <i>his</i> value, and the value of <i>his giving</i> of the gift."<br />
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In the same way, when a pro-choice advocate (or anyone who disagrees with me about anything, for that matter) shares thoughts with me, she is offering me a gift. But if I see her thoughts only as impediments to the truth, I will set them aside. I will miss the person in my pursuit of a convert.<br />
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So, in my view, the false beliefs are not intrinsically valuable, but the great intrinsic value of their owner causes me to respond to the false beliefs a bit differently. At minimum, I pause...and respond as if I am in the presence of the creation of which God is most proud - a human being!<br />
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<i>Note: </i>I can't help myself but make a comment about the drawing in the photo above, which I've included in my Christmas letter and this post as an example of my son's "scribbles" and a sort of metaphor for the offering of false beliefs in a conversation. This particular drawing is not quite the best example to make the point, though, since it is actually a drawing of the Mayflower, a pretty amazing drawing for his age. I <i>thought</i> it was a "worthless" scribble until he told me what he was doing, and then I could see how he was making a pretty good rendition of a picture he had seen in a book on the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving. (There's another helpful point to be made from that part of the metaphor, too. How many thoughts that are shared with us do we discard as worthless before we take the time to understand what the owner of the thoughts is trying to communicate? Perhaps some of the "false beliefs" we bristle against so quickly are only hasty, false interpretations.) <br />
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So, we can debate whether or not the drawing above has intrinsic value (I am going to tend towards the affirmative side of that debate, I suppose), and we might even debate whether or not most preschool scribbles are actually intricate renditions of the pictures in the minds of the very young (I am again probably going to tend towards the affirmative side of that debate too), but the point about scribbles and false beliefs still stands. If the picture above isn't that helpful for the point, just sit down and take some markers and randomly flop them all over the paper and hand your scribbles to someone else as a gift. You'll make the point for me quite nicely:)<br />
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<b>Recent Posts in this Series:</b><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-tale-of-two-gifts-christmas-letter.html" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Gifts (Christmas Letter + Extras)</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-dont-be-like-me-storys-lest-we-get.html" target="_blank">My "Don't Be Like Me" Story(s) - Lest We Get Cocky</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-adam-was-doing-right.html" target="_blank">What Adam Was Doing Right</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-you-fall-off-your-high-horse-dont.html" target="_blank">When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don't Get Off the Horse Altogether</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/on-scribbles-and-false-beliefs-are-they.html" target="_blank">On Scribbles and False Ideas: Are They Beautiful?</a> (this post)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-35236580798573859432014-12-27T19:03:00.001-06:002014-12-27T20:15:08.707-06:00When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don't Get Off the Horse AltogetherYesterday I shouted at my daughter in such a way that I am ashamed to admit it. I had certainly fallen off my high horse of feeling like a good parent (again). But I also felt like getting off the horse of "good parenting" altogether, both hating myself for getting it wrong and thinking I'll just never get it right. I felt like spending less time with my kids so that I won't hurt them, so that I will make less of a mess of their lives. But the point of my <a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-adam-was-doing-right.html" target="_blank">"What Adam Was Doing Right"</a> reflection rang in my head. "No, I need to do just the opposite: Spend <i>more</i> time so that I can fail more...and hopefully put the failures further and further apart...until I get better at parenting." <br />
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There's really no good alternative, if you think about it. If I spend less time with them in order to hurt them less, I hurt them more...through neglect. If I spend more time, the failures are inevitable.<br />
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Presented with the choice in this way, I choose the courageous action of being "on the horse" rather than the cowardly retreat of getting off of the horse altogether in order to avoid failure at all costs. I think the key is to place hopeful trust in Christ to build virtue into me through very small baby steps.<br />
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<b>Recent Posts in this Series</b><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-tale-of-two-gifts-christmas-letter.html" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Gifts (Christmas Letter + Extras)</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-dont-be-like-me-storys-lest-we-get.html" target="_blank">My "Don't Be Like Me" Story(s) - Lest We Get Cocky</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-adam-was-doing-right.html" target="_blank">What Adam Was Doing Right</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-you-fall-off-your-high-horse-dont.html" target="_blank">When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don't Get Off the Horse Altogether</a> (this post)<br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/on-scribbles-and-false-beliefs-are-they.html" target="_blank">On Scribbles and False Ideas: Are They Beautiful?</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-70860030945246402982014-12-27T18:54:00.003-06:002014-12-27T21:19:22.523-06:00My "Don't Be Like Me" Story(s) - Lest We Get CockyIt's important to note when you read my Christmas letter, <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Gifts</a>, that Adam is not alone in making the mistake he made. I've made very similar mistakes, if not precisely the same mistake. My October 2003 letter, <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/SWnews-2003-10" target="_blank">She Had Concerns, But I Wasn't Listening</a>, tells one such story, and then relates another conversation story (featuring my friend and JFA's founder, David Lee) that helped me grow as a listener. Indeed, it's only through experiences like the ones I related in this letter that I was able to see something Adam didn't see in the interaction with the woman at the poll table. (And now, Adam is likewise more able to see.)<br />
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<i>Note: I wrote the October 2003 letter while a speaker at <a href="http://www.str.org/" target="_blank">Stand to Reason</a>. I'm grateful for the resources and team at STR and for the time I spent as a Bioethics Speaker there.</i><br />
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<b>Recent Posts in this Series:</b><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-tale-of-two-gifts-christmas-letter.html" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Gifts (Christmas Letter + Extras)</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-dont-be-like-me-storys-lest-we-get.html" target="_blank">My "Don't Be Like Me" Story(s) - Lest We Get Cocky</a> (this post)<br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-adam-was-doing-right.html" target="_blank">What Adam Was Doing Right</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-you-fall-off-your-high-horse-dont.html" target="_blank">When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don't Get Off the Horse Altogether</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/on-scribbles-and-false-beliefs-are-they.html" target="_blank">On Scribbles and False Ideas: Are They Beautiful?</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-42309917439106834452014-12-27T18:54:00.001-06:002014-12-27T20:36:03.300-06:00What Adam Was Doing RightWhen you read the story of JFA's volunteer "Adam" in my <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014" target="_blank">Christmas letter</a>, you may be tempted to heap scorn on him for missing an important opportunity to minister to a woman in need. That's the opposite of the right response, in my view. I think Adam was doing exactly the right thing, at least in one important sense: He was on the path. He had started the journey towards becoming a good ambassador. <br />
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That day at the poll table, Adam was putting himself in the uncomfortable position of being in a conversation with someone who disagreed, with the likelihood of “eating crow.” One can best learn what not to do, sometimes, by doing it. Or, what <i>to do</i> by <i>not doing it</i>. And he was certainly “not doing” one thing he needed to be doing at that moment. (Although he <i>was</i> asking good clarification questions with an open heart; and he was focused on the question, "What is the unborn?" which is generally a good practice.)<br />
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So, I say, "Bravo, Adam! Keep up the good work, trusting Christ to make good results from your efforts, even if they include missteps. I'm praying for your next conversation!"<br />
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Some of my readers may think that they can learn from Adam's mistakes by reading his story. Sure, I think there's value in the story; I wouldn't share it if there wasn't. But let's not overestimate what a story like this can do for us. It can make us more aware, but <i>hearing </i>a story of a mistake is not a foolproof method for <i>not making </i>the same or similar mistakes when we are ourselves in the crucible of a real conversation. This is why JFA emphasizes <a href="http://jfaweb.org/HOW.html" target="_blank">Seat Work <i>and</i> Feet Work</a>. They are like train tracks. You can't have one without the other. To say we've learned to dialogue, we must...ahem...dialogue. Or, to quote an old <a href="http://godpeopleplace.com/" target="_blank">Charlie Peacock</a> tune, "We can only possess what we experience. Truth to be understood must be lived."<br />
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So, I invite you to follow Adam's model and <a href="http://jfaweb.org/Join_Us.html" target="_blank">join JFA</a> for a Seat Work seminar so that you can gain enough confidence to get "on the path" (like Adam did), followed by a Feet Work outreach event, so you too can “eat crow.” It will be the best thing you ever did for your growth as a pro-life advocate.<br />
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<b>Recent Posts in this Series:</b><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-tale-of-two-gifts-christmas-letter.html" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Gifts (Christmas Letter + Extras)</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-dont-be-like-me-storys-lest-we-get.html" target="_blank">My "Don't Be Like Me" Story(s) - Lest We Get Cocky</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-adam-was-doing-right.html" target="_blank">What Adam Was Doing Right</a> (this post)<br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-you-fall-off-your-high-horse-dont.html" target="_blank">When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don't Get Off the Horse Altogether</a><br />
<a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/on-scribbles-and-false-beliefs-are-they.html" target="_blank">On Scribbles and False Ideas: Are They Beautiful?</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-84678509635651839652014-12-27T10:56:00.001-06:002014-12-27T11:01:50.813-06:002014: A Snapshot in Recent Letters, Posts, and PicsHere are links to recent JFA letters, blog posts, and pics:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/2014-Report" target="_blank">2014 Year-End Report: JFA Helps Volunteers Escape an "Easy Escape"</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/nov-2014-more" target="_blank">2014 Year-End Report - Extras, including a post on ISIS</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014" target="_blank">Steve's Christmas Letter: A Tale of Two Gifts</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014-Extras" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Gifts - Extras, including Steve's "Don't Be Like Me" Story</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/jfa-fall-2014-events-update-2-pictures.html" target="_blank">November 2014 Update with Pictures</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Fear" target="_blank">October 2014 Impact Report: Crippled by Fear? Rise and Do Feet Work.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/09/jfa-fall-2014-events-update-sept-30.html" target="_blank">September 2014 Update with Pictures</a></li>
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Give a year-end gift to JFA here: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Donate">www.jfaweb.org/Donate</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-52935733897997976082014-12-18T17:41:00.000-06:002015-01-21T08:50:42.427-06:00A Tale of Two Gifts (Christmas Letter + Extras)<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/2014_12.PNG" height="320" width="244" /></a><br />
One woman's tears began to fall near our poll table. The other's fell all over the feet of an extraordinary man. Only one of the women received the care she needed. And one of our volunteers got a gift he'll never forget.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">In my Christmas letter, </span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001J7epx04mVJWpFbbVjmQ55JdB-zG1y8YnUnGd6BGzFjA2oxYEzWU1Z92h27ugSwP7sZBPXKZHlgKF-OYxK7agSJU5Xo6gd1YIrkVsIT4qyw4UKotbFGQHYg==" style="text-align: center;">A Tale of Two Gifts</a><span style="text-align: center;">, I share these two true stories followed by a picture of my preschool son's art. You'll have to read the letter to find out why.</span><br />
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Click the hyperlink above or the newsletter graphic, or click here: <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001J7epx04mVJWpFbbVjmQ55JdB-zG1y8YnUnGd6BGzFjA2oxYEzWU1Z92h27ugSwP7sZBPXKZHlgKF-OYxK7agSJU5Xo6gd1YIrkVsIT4qyw4UKotbFGQHYg==">www.jfaweb.org/Dec-2014</a><br />
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Merry Christmas! </div>
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P.S. Here are links to additional posts on the topic of this letter:</div>
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<li><b><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-dont-be-like-me-storys-lest-we-get.html" target="_blank">My "Don't Be Like Me" Story(s) - Lest We Get Cocky</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-adam-was-doing-right.html" target="_blank">What Adam Was Doing Right</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/on-scribbles-and-false-beliefs-are-they.html" target="_blank">On Scribbles and False Beliefs: Are They Beautiful?</a></b></li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-you-fall-off-your-high-horse-dont.html" target="_blank"><b>When You Fall Off Your High Horse, Don't Get Off the Horse Altogether</b></a></li>
<li><b>On the Possibility that the Woman in Chicago “Would Be Alive” if She Had Had an Abortion</b> - <i>Coming soon. Post a comment if you're interested in this post, and I'll prioritize finishing it.</i></li>
<li><b>"The Gift": </b>At a recent workshop in Tyler, Texas, I tell one of the stories from this letter. <i> (Audio coming soon. Post a comment if you're interested in hearing it.)</i> </li>
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P.P.S And here are other links of interest: </div>
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<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/jfa-fall-2014-events-update-2-pictures.html" target="_blank"><b>Pictures from Recent JFA Events</b></a></li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/Nov-2014-More" target="_blank"><b>JFA's 2014 Report</b></a> (published last month)</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Donate" target="_blank">Donate to JFA</a></b></li>
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(Post updated 12/27 with links.)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-83320091114642481942014-11-23T04:00:00.000-06:002014-11-23T11:44:27.937-06:00ISIS: A ReflectionI've been doing some thinking recently about the ISIS crisis, and specifically the plight of Christians watching their children being beheaded. I'm expecting many pro-life groups will want to comment and "put this in perspective" and start talking numbers. "A few kids being killed in Iraq is bad, but abortion is badder," is essentially the perspective. (Or, to be more charitable, we might imagine a pro-life blogger simply asking the question: "But since over 3000 unborn children are being dismembered each day in the US alone, isn't abortion worse?" or, "Shouldn't we at least give equal concern to the unborn being killed each day?")<br />
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I think there is a knee-jerk in the pro-life movement to always try to relate evils in the news to abortion.* I have a theory about one of the reasons for this: we are tired of people not being very empathetic towards the plight of unborn children. I think there is, though, within that statement, a sort of solution to its own problem.<br />
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Think about it for a moment. Why are people empathetic towards Christian parents watching their kids being beheaded in Iraq? Because they can imagine being in that very same situation. They can imagine being the parent. They have enough memory of being a kid and enough familiarity with kids to imagine what it's like to be in that situation – being asked if you follow Christ, while a sword is literally at one's throat.<br />
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But it is much more difficult for any of us to imagine being aborted. The world of the womb seems many worlds away. No one knows what the unborn child is able to feel, especially early in pregnancy. Indeed, to borrow <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_it_Like_to_Be_a_Bat%3F">a phrase from Thomas Nagel</a>, none of us knows or remembers <i>what it is like to be</i> an unborn child at all.<br />
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It's a problem of imagination then, at least in part. We can imagine "what it is like to be a Christian in Iraq" but we can't imagine "what it is like to be an unborn child facing the curette and suction machine." When an injustice or suffering is not only visible to us in some way, but also viscerally presents to us a suffering or other injustice that we ourselves might be asked to endure, we don't have much trouble imagining. It's plainly different with the injustice that is suffered by the unborn.<br />
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This realization gives me a sense of empathy, then, for my fellow Christian, who gets quickly motivated to pray and act on behalf of suffering and injustice towards the born human, but is lackluster in action towards the injustice towards the unborn. I cannot expect this Christian (or myself) to feel empathy regarding an injustice I cannot even imagine happening towards myself or my children.<br />
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So, perhaps my (our) prayer should be,<br />
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"Give me empathy for the unborn, to reflect what's true about them, that they are my brothers and sisters, children very much like my children." </blockquote>
I tend to think, though, that my (our) prayer might more profitably be this:<br />
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"God, help me to act on behalf of human beings in need, even if it's impossible to imagine that I might be in that same situation, <i>even when I cannot empathize</i>." </blockquote>
We need both: action on behalf of those with whom we empathize and action on behalf of those with whom we cannot.**<br />
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* I'm not intending to be critical by using the term "knee-jerk." I'm intending to be purely descriptive. I'm sure I've also suggested this as a way to create dialogue on abortion, and I think there are ways to do this so that it doesn't seem dismissive to the particular evil in question. In any case, it's not my purpose in this post to comment on the wisdom or appropriateness of these comparisons.<br />
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** When I discuss <i>action</i> and <i>response </i>towards ISIS and abortion here, I am not intending to imply that the response towards both of these should be similar. While I am making no claim about the proper response to ISIS in this post (military or otherwise), I will restate JFA's position on the proper response to abortion: I and JFA unequivocally condemn the use of any sort of violence or force to stop abortion.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-21438243473662396312014-11-22T13:25:00.002-06:002014-11-26T16:40:07.316-06:00Thanksgiving 2014 Newsletter (JFA 2014 Report) + Extras<br />
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<a href="http://jfaweb.org/2014-Report"><img border="0" src="http://jfaweb.org/Impact/2014-11.JPG" height="200" width="155" /></a></div>
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I recently posted my Thanksgiving 2014 newsletter, which doubles as JFA's 2014 Report: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/2014-Report" target="_blank">JFA Helps Volunteers Escape an "Easy Escape"</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
Here are the links I share at the end of the letter: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Give to JFA (Online/Mail/Phone/Etc): <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/donate">www.jfaweb.org/donate</a></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Your generous end-of-year gift to JFA’s Training Program Fund will keep JFA staff in the field providing face-to-face training for hundreds of pro-life advocates like McKinsey in 2015. This fund covers many of the expenses JFA trainers incur, including flights, rental cars, food during travel, office space, phone, computer, internet, and printing of materials.<br />
<br />
Your generous end-of-year gift to support a <a href="http://jfaweb.org/Mentors">JFA staff member's work with JFA</a> also keeps mentors in the field training pro-life advocates: these funds are used to pay salaries and salary-related expenses.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Read Recent Blog Updates from Steve: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/nov-2014-more">www.jfaweb.org/nov-2014-more</a> (this post)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/jfa-2014-in-numbers.html" target="_blank">“JFA-2014 in Numbers”</a> (includes presentations & a list of campuses on which we’ve worked this year)</li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/isis-reflection.html" target="_blank">“ISIS: A Reflection”</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/jfa-fall-2014-events-update-2-pictures.html" target="_blank">Pictures from recent JFA events</a></li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/smileamazoncom-jfa-can-be-your-charity.html">Smile.Amazon.com</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-30699594050560447352014-11-22T11:30:00.000-06:002014-11-25T17:19:56.983-06:00JFA Fall 2014 Events - Update #2 (Pictures)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
See some of JFA's recent events in pictures: </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-10-WSU/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-10-WSU/images/WSU_Oct_2014_10_21_113956_235.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-10-WSU/" target="_blank">Wichita State (Wichita, KS): Oct. 2014 (click image for gallery)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-10-OU/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-10-OU/images/OUWeb_Oct_2014_10_27_5.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-10-OU/" target="_blank">University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK): Oct. 2014 (click image for gallery)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-FHSU" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-FHSU/images/FHSU_Nov_2014_11_10_104124_064.JPG" height="230" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-FHSU" target="_blank">Fort Hays State (Fort Hays, KS): Nov. 2014 (click image for gallery)</a></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-KSU-GSU/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-KSU-GSU/images/KSU_GSU_20141111_134124_273.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-KSU-GSU/" target="_blank">Kennesaw State University: Nov. 2014 (click image for gallery)</a></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-KSU-GSU/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-KSU-GSU/images/KSU_GSU_20141113_131934_311.JPG" height="244" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-11-KSU-GSU/" target="_blank">Georgia State University: Nov. 2014 (click image for gallery)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Related Recent Posts:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/09/jfa-fall-2014-events-update-sept-30.html" target="_blank">JFA Fall 2014 Events Update #1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://jfaweb.org/2014-Report" target="_blank">JFA's 2014 Report</a> (including McKinsey's reflection interwoven with JFA's 2014 numbers)</li>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/jfa-2014-in-numbers.html" target="_blank">JFA - 2014 in Numbers</a> (in a list, including campuses on which JFA conducted outreach)</li>
</ul>
<div>
(updated with Georgia pictures on 11/25/2014)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-70086510131955106972014-11-22T11:09:00.001-06:002014-11-24T12:48:37.300-06:00JFA - 2014 in Numbers<div>
<i>For a reflection from one of the people represented by these numbers, see JFA's 2014 Report, <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/2014-Report" target="_blank">"JFA Helps Volunteers Escape an "Easy Escape."</a></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Seat Work Events: 33<br />
Seat Work Participants: 625<br />
<br />
<div>
Feet Work (Campus Outreach) Days: 48 (divided between 29 distinct projects)<br />
Feet Work Participants (New)**: 326<br />
Returning Feet Work (in days)^^: 222 </div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Outreach Venues: 19</b><br />
GA: Univ. of Georgia*</div>
<div>
GA: Georgia State Univ. (Atlanta)**<br />
GA: Kennesaw State Univ. (Kennesaw, GA) ^<br />
AZ: Arizona State Univ.*<br />
TX: Univ. of North Texas*<br />
TX: Texas Women’s Univ.^<br />
OK: Oklahoma State Univ. (Stillwater,OK)*<br />
OK: Univ. of Oklahoma^<br />
OK: Univ. of Central Oklahoma^<br />
KS: Univ. of Kansas*^<br />
KS: Fort Hays State Univ.^<br />
KS: Wichita State Univ.^<br />
KS: Wichita Downtown Areas^<br />
CO: Univ. of Colorado at Colorado Springs^<br />
LA: Louisiana State Univ.^<br />
CA: Fresno City College^<br />
CA: Fresno State Univ.^<br />
OK: Yukon Freedom Fest^</div>
<div>
<br />
Presentations/Workshops: 27 <br />
Presentations/Workshops Attendance: 735</div>
<div>
<br />
* Big Exhibit<br />
^ Kiosk/Poll Table/Surveys<br />
** Probably our most important metric, this number represents how many people completed both parts of JFA’s signature training program: Seat Work & Feet Work. We call these folks JFA alumni.<br />
^^ Because JFA outreach events regularly attract our volunteers for multiple days a year, we don’t count how many people return to do more Feet Work. We count how many days were spent at outreach by these returning folks. This number is approximate.<br />
<br />
<i>Thanks to <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Joanna-Wagner" target="_blank">Joanna Wagner</a> for compiling JFA’s numbers and keeping them accurate!</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-38206356113128081692014-11-22T10:11:00.003-06:002014-11-22T11:38:27.741-06:00Smile.Amazon.com - JFA can be your charity!If you shop at Amazon.com regularly, you can help JFA a little bit just by starting your shopping instead at Amazon's portal dedicated to helping charities, <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/">Smile.Amazon.com</a>. Select Justice For All as your charity. The portal experience and prices are exactly the same as Amazon.com.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://smile.amazon.com/about/ref=smi_se_ft_abt_saas" target="_blank">Here are details from the Smile.Amazon.com website.</a> <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Note: Amazon Smile sends .5% of purchases to your charity. So, if you spend $1000, Amazon sends $5 to JFA. Here's an example of what that means: Recently JFA received a check from Amazon Smile for about $31, so, people who have selected JFA spent a little over $6000 to produce this gift to JFA. It may not seem like much, but it can add up.</div>
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Go to Smile.Amazon.com to select JFA as your charity. Then use Smile.Amazon.com every time you shop. It's that simple:)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-2120214226543299042014-10-22T17:00:00.003-05:002014-10-22T22:30:16.712-05:00Crippled by Fear? Rise and Do Feet Work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Fear" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://jfaweb.org/Impact/2014_10.PNG" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
<h3>
JFA's October 2014 Impact Report</h3>
In JFA's October 2014 Impact Report (<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Fear" target="_blank">Crippled by Fear? Rise and Do Feet Work</a>), JFA volunteers Angela, Molly, and Afrika describe how JFA's training program turned their fears into productive conversations with pro-choice advocates. Read the <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Fear" target="_blank">Impact Report</a> first, then read below for additional helpful thoughts on fear and the confidence JFA's training approach produces.<br />
<h3>
Impact Report Extras</h3>
Here are some additional reflections on different types of fear mentioned by these women and the ways in which JFA helped them overcome those specific fears. See if you identify with a certain type of fear, and note the additional resources from JFA that might help you:<br />
<h4>
Fear of Conversations and "Maybe I Don't Know as Much as I Thought"</h4>
Angela started to become more afraid of engaging people when she was asked to use her pro-life apologetics in the context of a conversation (a role-play in our seminar, what we call Seat Work). The antidote for her, though, was the fact that we made Feet Work (outreach conversations with strangers) an essential component of the training program. That's why we highlight the fact that <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/How" target="_blank">with Seat Work and Feet Work, you can't have one without the other</a>, at least not if you want to say you have been "trained" to create dialogue that changes hearts and saves lives.<br />
<br />
Angela later highlighted how important the Seat Work and Feet Work combination is:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It does not matter how much you read, how much you know, or how much you care about changing people’s minds about abortion. Period. I have read the books, studied talking points, given presentations, written essays, and there are few things I care about more than ending abortion. But I was not prepared or equipped adequately until I participated in the Seat Work and Feet Work of Justice For All’s training program... </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
As I reflect on my time with JFA, I can confidently and honestly state that it is the best training I have ever received, and I know without a shred of doubt that I will be using what I learned in my work with Students for Life of America.</blockquote>
<h4>
Fear of Starting Conversations</h4>
In the <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Fear" target="_blank">Impact Report</a>, Molly described the step-by-step process that she and her mentors walked through on campus to help her build confidence in starting conversations. But this process started for her much earlier, in a JFA seminar in 2012. That day she said,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
How to build the conversation was really helpful. Getting to practice with our mentors in a group really gave me the opportunity to respond.</blockquote>
Molly then attended the JFA outreach at KU in 2012, and then two years later she joined JFA again for a seminar and outreach experience. Molly is a model of the sort of tenacious spirit any of us would have if we really wanted to learn a new skill. We must practice. We can't expect to learn to navigate challenging conversations about abortion with only a one-hour lecture or even a JFA Seat Work seminar (four hours or more). Sure, some people can take what they learn there and put it into practice immediately (note <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Crash-Course" target="_blank">Amanda Hill's experience with a crash course from Catherine</a>). That's great. But the much more common experience is like Molly's: Learning to start conversations takes practice and effort, and not just any practice and effort, but the right kind of effort. In this case, it took repeated efforts in an outreach context where the purpose is creating conversations (with JFA mentors present to help).<br />
<br />
Note also the community component here that was critical for Molly's success. Catherine and Joanna and other JFA mentors ministered to Molly in the midst of the outreach event, but they also ministered <i>with</i> Molly, starting conversations together. This was essentially the same experience that I suggested was the key for me to accomplish outreach at a restaurant called "Beefy's on the Green." Another JFA mentor Jordan Newhouse also noted the same thing recently regarding outreach at Starbucks. Both my and Jordan's reflections are in a collection of letters called <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Beefy" target="_blank">Beefy's on the Green</a>.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Impact/Crash-Course" target="_blank">Crash Course Training Helps Save a Life</a> (Amanda Hill)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Beefy" target="_blank">Beefy's on the Green</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>
Fear of Being Stumped</h4>
<div>
Through her Feet Work experience, Molly also learned that there are questions she wasn't sure how to answer. She remarked that having experienced mentors on site helped her do some of her research on the spot so that she could continue to have conversations. This is one reason JFA makes its <a href="http://jfaweb.org/Mentors" target="_blank">mentors</a> and <a href="http://jfaweb.org/Who" target="_blank">the mentoring process</a> such a priority. It's how we help people like Molly become world changers.</div>
<h4>
Fear of Offending and Fear of Embarrassment</h4>
<div>
Like Molly, Afrika's training process with JFA began years earlier. In 2011, she heard a chapel presentation at her school (CHA):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I was really glad to hear of how they were defending the unborn and would like to learn to defend them if I ever needed to. </blockquote>
Then in March 2014, on a mission trip with a team from CHA, she participated in JFA's Seat Work seminar and Feet Work outreach to the University of North Texas. After the seminar, she wrote: </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I walked in with no confidence to have a conversation about abortion. I walked out not only with confidence but a good understanding to have a conversation with someone about abortion.</blockquote>
</div>
In September 2014, Afrika continued her training on her own intiative when she attended another Seat Work and Feet Work project, this time to Oklahoma State University. In the Impact Report, she mentioned fear of offending people and fear of embarrassment, both very common fears. Through the outreach event, though, Afrika saw these fears fade in the light of the important truths we have to share. Now she is starting conversations with friends about abortion intentionally.<br />
<br />
Here are two newsletters with additional perspective on these fears:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Joanna_Wagner/JoannaAug2012Update.pdf" target="_blank">Facing Our Fears - Joanna Wagner</a> (August 2012) - Joanna shares some of the fears she and two young women she was mentoring worked to overcome: fear of others thinking badly of us, fear of failure, and fear of being seen as young and ignorant.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/CherylKaye_Wisner/Wisner_2014_10_Oct.pdf" target="_blank">Practicing What I Preach - CK Wisner</a> (Oct. 2014) - CK comments on the very common fear of failure and makes a helpful point about how no conversation is a failure.</li>
</ul>
<h4>
What's Your Next Step?</h4>
Want to join these JFA mentors and volunteers and give your fears a good dose of Feet Work? Visit JFA's <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Join-Us" target="_blank">Join Us page</a> to register for upcoming training projects (including Seat Work and Feet Work).<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-42702287278768878362014-10-21T09:17:00.003-05:002014-10-21T10:15:04.450-05:00"Esau's Soup" by Daniel JosephNote: I'm privileged to post this recent spoken word performance by Daniel Joseph along with the text (below). Used by permission. This is the performance I mentioned <a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/10/esaus-soup-wins-500-in-talent-show-for.html" target="_blank">earlier this month</a>. - Steve Wagner<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=721822254556685">Post</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shalomcog">Shalom Church of God</a>.
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<h2>
Esau’s Soup</h2>
Famished, Esau sat down in his chair<br />
His dizzying hunger making him unaware <br />
Of anything but an earthen bowl<br />
Yet something didn’t settle within his soul.<br />
Before his eyes dances strange sights<br />
<br />
Flashbacks of long winter nights<br />
Sitting with his family by the heath<br />
Atop a mound of cold hard earth<br />
As he snuggled with his mom next to the fire<br />
His father, though weary, would never tire<br />
Of telling the boys of their granddad<br />
And what a splendid promise he had.<br />
<br />
The one true God had spoken to a man<br />
And revealed a majestic plan.<br />
God himself came to Abraham<br />
And led him outside by the hand<br />
<br />
The sky was blacker than a spilled bottle of ink<br />
But Abraham would never had dreamed to think<br />
Of calling the night sky anything but bright<br />
For every inch of blackness had a burning light<br />
<br />
A thousand shining swords thrust through black felt<br />
Instantly caused Abraham's heart to melt<br />
The weight of the beauty knocked him to a knee<br />
And a booming voice, “so shall your descendants be”<br />
The childless old man looked again to the skies <br />
As a river of tears flooded his eyes.<br />
<br />
No sound was made, no word was said<br />
But humbly Abraham bowed his head<br />
And trusted God with all his heart<br />
Grateful that, in God’s plan he had a part.<br />
<br />
At this point Isaac would pick up his firstborn boy<br />
And toss him in the air has he beamed with joy<br />
“Now, Esau, that promise is for you<br />
So trust in the Lord in the Lord in all that you do<br />
He will make you like the sand on the shore<br />
Jacob will have blessings, but you will have more”<br />
<br />
Esau came back to reality and look around<br />
Then all that could be heard was the sound<br />
Of bitter weeping for what seemed like years<br />
Until his soup consisted of less lentils than tears.<br />
<br />
“Jacob!” he roared, throwing the bowl at a shelf<br />
But inside he knew, the guilty one was himself<br />
As the broken young man sat on the floor<br />
He began to realize that, he no more<br />
Could claim the promised of the Jews<br />
Because he had decided to choose<br />
To despise his birthright for a bowl of stew.<br />
<br />
Now here is the question I have for you<br />
Compared to Christ’s promises, Esau’s promises were small<br />
So, why, may I ask, do we still fall<br />
Into the same snare in which Esau fell?<br />
Instead of losing blessings, we go to Hell<br />
<br />
We could judge angels and even sit with God on his throne<br />
But we don’t want that, we leave those promises alone<br />
And cling to lust, pornography, and one night flings<br />
Along with a whole host of other stupid, worthless things<br />
<br />
Christian, I beg you, look at Isaac’s firstborn son<br />
And realize that there are mistakes that cannot be undone<br />
So forsake your sin, for its pleasures are brief<br />
And brings with it a whole host of grief.<br />
Rather, cling to the one whose name is faithful and true<br />
And don’t sell your glorious birthright for a meager bowl of stew.<br />
<br />
-Daniel JosephUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-16152719945217312692014-10-01T11:47:00.000-05:002014-10-21T09:26:58.050-05:00"Esau's Soup" Wins $500 in Talent Show for JFAJFA volunteer Danny Joseph recently gave a moving performance of a spoken poem entitled "Esau's Soup" at a talent show in Oklahoma City and won $500 for JFA! In his introductory remarks, he described JFA:<br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
So, what they do is they train people to be persuasive and at the same time gentle about the subject.</blockquote>
Then Danny exhorted the audience to consider Hebrews 12:16 and the ways in which we many times trade our "birthright" for a mere "bowl of stew," just like Esau. Much recommended! </div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/10/esaus-soup-by-danny-joseph.html" target="_blank">Danny Joseph: "Esau's Soup"</a> (6 minutes; includes introduction)</li>
</ul>
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(10/21/2014 Update: The link above now points to a 10/21/2014 post on this blog that includes Danny's text. Thanks, Danny!)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-2520005037156894852014-09-28T09:00:00.000-05:002015-02-24T13:07:37.115-06:00Abortion at the Gas Pump (w/Links to Extras)<br />
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What takes the most courage regarding discussing abortion? Perhaps you resonate with this:<br />
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The hardest part of the conversation, the beginning, was behind me. Even if Alex’s response had been the opposite, that “abortion is a woman’s choice,” I would have already landed myself squarely in the middle of the abortion conversation.</blockquote>
This is an excerpt of my <a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2014_09.pdf">September letter</a>, which tells the story of how one simple sentence in an everyday conversation with a stranger at a gas station led to a meaningful exchange about how to stop abortion.</div>
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<b>Extras: More examples of Starting Conversations in Everyday Life</b><br />
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<li>In <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2004_09.pdf" target="_blank">Earn Trust First...Then Defend the Unborn</a>, Steve Wagner describes how in the course of normal conversation at Costco, a young professional asked him to tell her all about his pro-life position.</li>
<li>In <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Joanna_Wagner/Dec2013News.pdf" target="_blank">A Transient, a Teenager, and a Cup of Tea</a>, Joanna Wagner describes how a simple act of kindness to a beggar ended up changing a teenage girl's mind on abortion.</li>
<li>In <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Beefy" target="_blank">Beefy’s on the Green</a>, JFA trainers describe how a passion for the lost turned a conversation about theology at a San Antonio restaurant into a conversation about God and abortion with others on the restaurant patio.</li>
<li>In <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Training/TheConversation002.pdf" target="_blank">Repeat Work in Science Class</a>, nursing student (and JFA Intern Alumnus) Laura Beeson shows us how she was able to not only bring up abortion with a classmate in Anatomy and then wisely and naturally share abortion images. The result was amazing.</li>
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<b>Extras: <a href="http://jfaweb.org/Fall-2014-Events">Recent and Upcoming JFA Events (September Update)</a></b><br />
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(Updated 2/24/2015 with link to "Repeat Work in Science Class")</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-33541248235536265592014-09-25T19:17:00.000-05:002014-12-30T16:22:07.702-06:00JFA Fall 2014 Events Update - September<h2>
September at a Glance</h2>
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<i>(12/30/2014 Update: <a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/11/jfa-fall-2014-events-update-2-pictures.html" target="_blank">October-November Pictures Update</a>; <a href="http://stephenmwagner.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-snapshot-in-recent-letters-posts.html" target="_blank">December Update Roundup</a>)</i> </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-09-OSU" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-09-OSU/images/2014-09-08-14h46m10%20OSU.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-09-OSU" target="_blank">OSU, 9/8-9/10 -- Click the image to go to gallery.</a></td></tr>
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The JFA Team completed two training projects in September, centered around the campuses of Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the University of Kansas (KU). </div>
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We had challenges with our space reservations on both campuses, so we thank God for allowing us to engage both campuses for a total of five days.</div>
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At OSU, we displayed a portion of our Big Exhibit near the Union along with poll tables, free speech boards. We also displayed an A-Frame kiosk in the high-traffic area near the Chi-O Clock, and we initiated a new dialogue experiment by placing chairs right next to the display marked with different roles in the abortion conversation. Catherine shared about one conversation she had using this new dialogue experiment in her <a href="http://jfaweb.org/catherine/Catherine-Oct-2014.pdf">October newsletter</a>.</div>
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Our days spent at OSU were some of the hottest days on campus that our staff can remember, reaching the upper 90's with high humidity for most of each day. With some staff falling ill, and all staff needing regular breaks from the sun, it was a challenging three days.</div>
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You can read about three of CK's conversations at OSU in <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/CherylKaye_Wisner/Wisner_2014_09_Sept.pdf">her September newsletter</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-09-KU" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-09-KU/images/2014-09-22-16h35m32%20KU.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/gallery/2014-09-KU" target="_blank">KU, 9/22-9/23 -- Click picture to go to gallery.</a></td></tr>
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At KU, we set up a poll table at Wescoe Beach on Day 1, and then at the Library lawn on Day 2. Our team also used a survey focused on equal rights to strike up conversations. This was the second outreach experience for a number of JFA volunteers. One of these from Benedictine College, Molly, reflected after the outreach:<br />
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"One thing that I really liked about this time as opposed to my first outreach experience was that I interacted with the mentors more. I really enjoyed learning from their experiences and knowledge, as well as just getting to know them a little...</blockquote>
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All in all, it was a great experience. I really felt as if I was doing something to make a difference; <b>I was actually talking to people, trying to find the truth with them</b>. That’s what I really like about JFA: you are out there actually talking to people face-to-face. It just seems so much more fruitful than writing article upon article about the issue. Talking about abortion actually makes people think about it."</blockquote>
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September by the Numbers</h2>
<i>(All Seat Work events are "Abortion: From Debate to Dialogue" Seminars)</i><br />
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<ul>
<li>9/4 Chapel Presentation for Grades 8-12 at Southwest Covenant Schools, Yukon, OK - <b>Approx. 70 attended</b></li>
<li>9/4 Presentation for Grades 6-7 at Southwest Covenant Schools, Yukon, OK - <b>Approx. 30 attended</b></li>
<li>9/4 Seat Work seminar for Southwest Covenant School, Yukon, OK - <b>26 participated</b></li>
<li>9/5 Seat Work seminar for Oklahoma City area at Memorial Road Church of Christ, Edmond, OK - <b>13 participated </b></li>
<li>9/6 Seat Work seminar in Tulsa, OK - <b>3 participated </b></li>
<li>9/8-10 Feet Work outreach at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK - <b>18 new JFA alumni* from this event and 20 others returning to do more Feet Work!</b></li>
<li>9/20 Seat Work seminar for Benedictine College, Atchison, KS - <b>29 participated</b></li>
<li>9/21 Seat Work seminar at Morningstar Church, Lawrence, KS - <b>8 participated</b></li>
<li>9/22-23 Feet Work outreach at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS - <b>12 new JFA alumni* from this event and 10 others returning to do more Feet Work!</b></li>
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<i>*A JFA Alumnus is someone who completes both parts of JFA's training program: Seat Work and Feet Work.</i><br />
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(Note: Updated numbers on Oct. 1 for accuracy.)</div>
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Still to Come in October and November</h2>
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<li>10/4 Seat Work seminar for Fresno area, Fresno, CA</li>
<li>10/6-7 Feet Work outreach at Fresno State University, Fresno, CA</li>
<li>10/11 Seat Work seminar for Athens area, Athens, GA</li>
<li>10/13-14 Feet Work outreach at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA</li>
<li>10/18 Seat Work seminar for Wichita area, Wichita, KS</li>
<li>10/20-21 Feet Work outreach at Wichita State University, Wichita, KS</li>
<li>10/25 Seat Work seminar for Norman area at The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK</li>
<li>10/27-28 Feet Work outreach at The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK</li>
<li>11/7 Seat Work seminar for Atlanta area high school, Atlanta, GA</li>
<li>11/8 Seat Work seminar for Atlanta area at Fellowship Bible Church, Atlanta, GA</li>
<li>11/9 Seat Work seminar for Atlanta area at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Canton, GA</li>
<li>11/10-11 Feet Work outreach at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA</li>
<li>11/12-13 Feet Work outreach at Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA</li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-38231817790916037642014-09-01T09:00:00.000-05:002014-09-25T11:23:38.968-05:00More Labor DaysJFA volunteer Tricia participated in our Spring Break mission trip earlier this year and shared this reflection: <br />
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"My favorite conversation was with a girl who wasn't really sure what she thought. It was really cool just to talk through it all with her. As we talked, she realized how much sense it made that the unborn was a human being from fertilization and that abortion was wrong in any situation. I think the seminar prepared me as much as it could, but I never feel completely prepared. I think the best part is that I can ask or talk to the mentors anytime during the outreach."</blockquote>
JFA's <a href="http://jfaweb.org/Impact/Labor-Days">"Labor Days" Impact Report</a>, edited by John Michener, is packed with reflections and pictures from volunteers like Tricia who have been laboring this spring and summer to help bring about more "labor days."<br />
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Also included is JFA's packed Fall 2014 Event Calendar.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-4897199979147183012014-08-06T15:30:00.000-05:002014-08-08T12:43:57.681-05:00Feet Work Changed My Life (w/ Links)<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4063388281039345830" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Do you remember your first JFA outreach event, or the first time you purposefully set out to start conversations in hopes of changing hearts and minds about abortion? For me, that first day was in June 2002. Read in my July 2014 newsletter, <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2014_07.pdf" target="_blank">Feet Work Changed My Life</a>, which describes how that day and the many outreach days that followed it changed my life and changed my approach to training. The letter includes two pictures from the early years, but for nostalgia's sake, I thought I'd add the pictures the pictures that didn't make the cut below. They are from my first JFA outreach event back in 2002. In one, if you look closely, you can even find JFA founder David Lee.</div>
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In my letter, I mention STR, Greg Koukl, LTI, Scott Klusendorf, upcoming events, and JFA Volunteer Reflections. Here are links to all of these and more: </div>
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<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/How">www.jfaweb.org/How</a> - JFA Seat Work and Feet Work (Can’t Have One Without the Other)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Reflections">www.jfaweb.org/Reflections</a> - JFA Volunteers Tell Stories from Feet Work</li>
<li><a href="http://www.str.org/">www.str.org</a> - Greg Koukl and STR </li>
<li><a href="http://www.str.org/training">www.str.org/training</a> - Greg on STR Radio (Listen just like I did for the first time back in 1997!) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.prolifetraining.com/">www.prolifetraining.com</a> - Scott Klusendorf and the Life Training Institute (LTI) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Register">www.jfaweb.org/Register</a> - Register for Upcoming JFA Training Events</li>
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To share this post with a friend, you can use: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Steve-July-2014-More">www.jfaweb.org/Steve-July-2014-More</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-48454874001104182492014-07-22T11:56:00.002-05:002014-07-30T10:37:40.819-05:00Favorites: The Mud<div>
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<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2010_05.pdf" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGHTL62REJssFTqath3VNwwixGyYNlEe_CAicjabLYX6qdi074Dc5tVW1ySM_CjXX8pO3o6w9Z1S8YkunkVdU2VJXqN-6-ExTbCOcN_V8_Z9_ufRKlCllqhCNtCprh4jX2-ccfPB62Y9F/s1600/2010_05.JPG" height="320" width="248" /></a>In May of 2010, Lizzie, a student at Focus Leadership Institute, made a remarkable decision. While her friends decided to play Frisbee in the shadow of the Justice For All Exhibit, she decided to jump in the mud. This newsletter tells the story.<br />
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<li>May 2010: <a href="http://jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2010_05.pdf">The Mud (Will You Wait or Jump In?)</a></li>
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(Note: This post is part of an ongoing series in which I'm posting a few of my favorite newsletters from the past few years. If you're new to my blog or my work with JFA, I think these letters will give you a snapshot of my work. I hope you enjoy them.)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-41001681997641284842014-07-07T08:57:00.000-05:002014-07-07T08:59:28.056-05:00Favorites: Bryndan Gets the Picture<br />
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<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2012_June.pdf" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/2012_06_pic.PNG" height="320" width="248" /></a>In the spring of 2012, I spoke with Bryndan at Fresno City College. He changed his mind about abortion in the case of rape within a matter of moments. This newsletter describes how.</div>
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<li>June 2012: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2012_June.pdf">Bryndan Gets the Picture</a></li>
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(Note: This post is part of an ongoing series in which I'm posting a few of my favorite newsletters from the past few years. If you're new to my blog or my work with JFA, I think these letters will give you a snapshot of my work. I hope you enjoy them.) </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-17615195129535376452014-07-01T12:40:00.004-05:002014-07-01T16:22:55.358-05:00Favorites: Yes = No<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2012_Oct.pdf" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/2012_10_YesNoImage.PNG" height="320" width="248" /></a>Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting a few of my favorite newsletters from the past few years in this space. If you're new to my blog or my work with JFA, I think these letters will give you a snapshot of my work. I hope you enjoy them. Here's the first one:<br />
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In 2012, I talked with two sisters at the University of Kansas who were on opposite sides of the abortion question. Or were they?</div>
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<li>October 2012 Newsletter: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/steve/SWnews_2012_Oct.pdf">Yes=No</a></li>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-4605174983329130872014-03-11T23:42:00.000-05:002014-03-11T23:42:28.563-05:00The Heart of Common GroundJordan Newhouse beautifully captures the heart of common ground in <a href="http://heavenlyprincess.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/i-can-agreewith-him/">this poem</a>. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063388281039345830.post-80920136817560615212013-12-06T10:20:00.001-06:002013-12-06T10:58:39.383-06:00Listening with your foot?“There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is an impatient, inattentive listening, that despises the brother and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person. This is no fulfillment of our obligation, and it is certain that here too our attitude toward our brother only reflects our relationship to God. It is little wonder that we are no longer capable of the greatest service of listening that God has committed to us, that of hearing our brother's confession, if we refuse to give ear to our brother on lesser subjects. Secular education today is aware that often a person can be helped merely by having someone who will listen to him seriously, and upon this insight it has constructed its own soul therapy, which has attracted great numbers of people, including Christians. But Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.” <br />
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― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29333.Dietrich_Bonhoeffer">Dietrich Bonhoeffer</a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/168889">Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community</a><br />
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HT: <a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/Joanna-Wagner">Joanna Wagner</a> (passed the quote on to me)<br />
<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/David-Lee">David Lee</a> (title of this post)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0