Faith Art & Tiny House‪s‬ Carmen Shenk

This week I learned a great deal more about my own Anabaptist and Mennonite heritage.  Hans Herr was my 8th great grandfather.  This is first in a two part series on the nature of being a modern Mennonite.  

Can the church find a more perfect union with her women?

Join me as I pray through some childhood bullying experiences that have surfaced due to current events.  This double length episode is a master class in praying through childhood trauma from bullying.  This process is intensely private, but if you've never experienced this kind of prayer, this may help you get a feel for how it works.  Plus, you can pray your own prayers right along with me as a virtual prayer partner.  I Holy Spirit leads us through the process to the joy of healing on the other side.  

Many of us have heard that phrase "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" and it can be scary to think of God that way, and it can lead to living under shame and self loathing.  Well, what if we changed the channel?  The story of Gideon shows us that God walks Gideon through his fear into victory, and changes his lived reality from being "the runt of the litter" into the man with a bearing of a prince.  That's a transformation that comes out of God seeing the best in us.  What a blessing!  

I'm explore what it means to me to be a "Woman of the Cloth", and the various ways we find cloth interwoven in the Text as symbols that speak of who God can be for us, and brings me hope, courage, and empowering Presence. 

Lately, we have seen more disappointing behavior from religious and political leaders.  I've been thinking about the way Jesus crossed the aisle to speak healing to the Roman Centurion's son.  I've been thinking about what leadership is and isn't, and I believe God is calling us higher and blessing us with empowering presence.  Change is in the air!