Telling Lies—Guest post at Jesus Needs New PR

I enjoy reading Jesus Needs New PR, a website that combines serious posts with comedy with Jon Stewart-caliber sarcasm. It also has an active community of  passionate commenters, especially when Mark Driscoll is mentioned, so there’s rarely a dull moment.

I’ve come to find out is that the owner of the site, Matthew Paul Turner, is a super guy. He’s kind and an encourager. He’s a great writer, having written twelve books and was a contributor to several others.

I’m thrilled to have a post on his site today.

 

.

Here’s a few snippets from it …

A few years ago I was asked to write an essay for a newsletter. I sent it …

The editor complimented the essay and then had a few suggested changes …

I stared at her changes for a long time … trying to reconcile what it said with what I had sent. As an editor, she had ever right to edit my essay, but suggesting I change my words to fit a Christianese language/culture/false image she aspired to was way beyond editing.

My shock moved from the changes she made to my essay to other areas of life…

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.
Head over to Jesus Needs New PR to read the rest.

 

Other guest posts I have done:

Pushing Through a Bad Run at Rachel Held Evans
Word by Word at Shawn Smucker
Why I Run at Jennifer Luitwieler
My Sisters and I at Alise… Write
It all Started with a Book, a Blanket and a Flashlight at Andi lit
7 Benefits Affecting My Life at Attune Foods
 
Bookmark and Share
  • http://www.ramblingbarba.com Ken Hagerman

    Hey Janet I was looking for a contact to drop you a line but couldn’t find one. Thanks for this post. I am glad you pulled the article. I had Open-heart surgery in Dec 2010 and have had some of the same types of thoughts going through my head(fear, instability and the like). Also, in Feb 2011(2 months later), my wife, a triathlete was hit buy a truck while riding a motorcycle and crushed her femur. She recently had her second surgery and is wheelchair/walker bound for a few more weeks until she can begin weight bearing toe touches. Both of these incidents were made more stressful by the fact we are missionaries and both events took place in Paraguay, South America.

    It is encouraging to read your recovery and the fact that it wasn’t all flowery Jesus-covered kisses all the time. It’s hard and it shakes not only your body but your spirit as well. If you elect to edit/delete this comment that’s cool I just wanted to say thanks for sharing.

    • http://www.JanetOberholtzer.com Janet Oberholtzer

      Looking back through old posts and realize I missed this. Thanks for your comment. How is your health now? And how is your wife doing?

      Going to check out your blog now.

      • http://www.ramblingbarba.com Ken Hagerman

        I am nearing 14 months from my surgery and have regained much of my aerobic capacity now to get back all that lost muscle. I was a certified trainer in the U.S. before the move and diagnosis. SO, I am none to happy about the sedentary life required before surgery. 

        My wife is walking with one crutch now after 2nd surgery. She will move to a cane soon and we are surveying cities to move to so we can restart our ministry effort here in Paraguay.

  • http://twitter.com/richardmpotter Richard M Potter

    Hi Janet. I appreciate your story and the discomfort felt when Christians claim God told them to do something. Yet there have been a few times when I felt certain God spoke to my heart. Once when I was struggling with life in general, I prayed, “God, I feel like it’s a constant battle!” 

    Of course it is.

    Those words entered my head, and I don’t think they came from me. But they have stuck with me, and they have often helped me remember that I’m living in a world I was not designed to endure. Another time, I was wrestling with a decision; I knew what was the right thing to do. I just didn’t want to do it. Again, words entered my mind.

    You would do this for (insert idol here), but you won’t do it for Me?

    Did I sense anger in the words, or did I imagine it? I don’t know for sure. But I followed the prompting.

    Did God tell me to do something? Was it actually His voice, or was it my id or ego? What would Freud say? Does it matter?