Weekly Summary February 4, 2023

Do you know what a Vulnerability Hangover is? I definitely had one this past Sunday after my sermon. I talked about some of the emotional and attachment-based damage that I had in my early childhood. Nearly thirty years later, I'm finally working through that with my therapist, and it's helping me make huge connections with how I perceive my relationship with God. It's the most affirming feedback I've had after a sermon in quite some time, in part, because so much of the feedback was: "Me too."

This week I also wrote about perfectionism; the goodness of anger; the fact that men are not meant to rule over women; and my favorite task-management app. You can check it all out below.

P.S. My preferred cure for a vulnerability hangover is a bowl of freshly made popcorn and a British panel show, like Would I Lie To You.

What's Happening on the Blog

Sermon: From Compulsion to Change to Freedom to Grow

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been grappling with the fact that, deep down, I feel unlovable.

Specifically, I’m dealing with the fact that my early childhood was deeply traumatic. What researchers call “complex developmental trauma.”

It means that early on in my life, I learned that the people who were meant to be a source of safety and comfort were, instead, sources of fear.

That led to deep shame, the belief that I am inherently flawed and broken.

And all this had profound effects on my spiritual life. I knew that I was unlovable. And therefore I knew that God knew that I was unlovable too. Whatever shame I had, God agreed with. So, I had to do everything I could to prove to God that They should like and love me.

Revelation From God May Make You Angry…and That’s a Good Thing

In our culture, both anger and its sibling grief are often repressed and looked down upon. The only thing worse than Public Displays of Affection are Public Displays of Rage. Or crying. Crying in public—can you imagine!?

But we need to be open to the idea that a revelation from God may require our anger, rage, or bitterness.

Things the Task Management App

Things, by Cultured Code, is a task management app. I love it because it’s beautiful, functional, and offers more power and flexibility than the Reminders app that comes with Apple devices without being overwhelming.

Scary Scriptures: Genesis 3:16

This verse has been used for centuries in Christianity to prove that men are meant to lead or have headship over women. It is proof that the patriarchy is God-given and is simply the way things are meant to be. However, there are a few issues with that interpretation.

Q&R: Is there more to Christianity than striving for perfection and trying to avoid sin? If so, what?

Yes, there’s more! In fact, striving for perfection is not even a component of Christianity.

If you are trying to be perfect, please stop. You’re making yourself miserable, and there’s a decent chance you’re making those around you miserable as well.