Elizabeth Adams Practical Theology as a Practice of Faith project March 6, 2014

51 + 3 equals eternity What the feminist in me says about loving: WAIT. Dont be so loving, it will only be used by men to further their kingdom(s) of patriarchs. love silenced me for 50 years, 100 years, 2000 years. That which is Eve in me engages: Lord, I love this time of day, when we walk together in the cool of the garden holding the hand of my creator formed in A true love, made in love, bought with unconditional love. The practical theologian in examines how, when and where: Perfect love drives out fear study all the Ologies cannons texts apply righteous salve to the hardened heart inform renew Redefine Loving the Lord heart soul mind ... surely this is going to take more than human strength to love my neighbor as myself.

What is the white, middle class, American, capitalist within me says: MINE. I earned this...the earth is my domain. That which is Queen Ester in me engages: for such a time as this I will conserve energy, recycle, reuse, downsize and repurpose. Pressing past my dominion mindset reworked seeing a larger purpose... A universal purpose Tikkun olam The Practical theologian in me examines how, when and where: To those given much, much is expected Come... join us in this healing banquet feast ...with the future generations go out call those who are eating the bread crumbs from under the table. reminding me to hunger for God, Our cultural stomach is stretched by first world appetites external pressure to forget what is from man and what is from God What is refined by fire cannot rot. Rotting manna of the fearful who stored up for Pharaoh.

What the motherless child / and childless mother in me whispers into the face of suffering: NO, I am not/was not/ ever will be ready to let her leave me. What is Mary in me engages: Jesus if you were here, she would not have gone That faith Faith where what we are sure of what we hope for will be done, Certan

of what we do not see peace that transcends all understanding the empty tomb the empty room, finding direction Discovering mommas green bible propped open to Matthew 20 she touched the hem and stopped bleeding she touched the LORD and stopped breathing Be still No more pain, giving me hope on this side of the resurrection. The Practical theologian in me examines how, when and where I was ready for her to leave After the funeral. This year. Monday. Get out of the way of the Spirit, she knows what to say A opening for the living who are still seeking eternal life, eternal healing, a more complete witness All the while suffering in separation and the blessing of faith. The recovering evanglical fundamentalist in me says: DISCIPLESHIP! Do not claim words that allow dogma to hold fishers of men under water until they become sacrificial bait for the institutionalized numbers game. Woman be silent, obey your leaders, seek first the kingdom repent

submit prove your faith with fruitfulness Baptise leaders put the weak on a list The disciple of Jesus in me engages: If you follow my teaching, then you are my disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free. swim free from the hook let it be ripped out of your mouth The Practical Theologian in me examines how, when and where: Throw out the net given to you by your ancestors risk an exodus into faith feel the weight of the catch rocking the boat is exciting movement that is needed when sitting on top of the water. Seek your next tribe in school a place of intercultural dialogue. A space for Discipleship and hermeneutics An opened up of life refusing exposing instead excepting restricting dogmas of our God engendered, multi-colored, timeless living and active Discipleship spoken in a Holy language, learning to forgive God for mans inhumanity. THE God that loving, suffering, laughing, weeping Lord that had already forgiven me, before I was created Imago Dei Btzelem Elohim