Love Without Agenda » faith

LWA & Faith (Neue Magazine repost)

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:24:13 +0000

I wrote this as a featured article for a christian leadership magazine called Neue Magazine (NeueMagazine.com)that asked me to explain my personal view on Love Without Agenda and my faith… hope you enjoy

“I don’t want to talk about church.”

Thats what she said. Didn’t blink. Didn’t smile.

She just picked up some food and said “thank you”–and went on her way.

My co-founder had met her at work. They both picked up morning shifts to have health insurance. Kim was a really nice lady. Friendly, chatty, always willing to make pleasant small talk about work or what here kids were up to.

Thats why her statement caught me off guard. It was like a religious preemptive strike. A warning shot across my proverbial bow….the message was simple.

“Your a nice guy, and I appreciate the help— but don’t try to get me to join anything”

I got the message loud and clear. In fact, the more I get involved with my neighborhood’s life, the more I Read more...

“Playing Church” article from Neue Magazine

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:11:17 +0000

I was very happy to see the folks over at Neue Magazine (www.neuemagazine.com) reposted an article I did for them last year about “Playing Church.” It’s an article about my journey of faith, and me realizing that building a church wasn’t he only way for me to discover my purpose. I hope you all like it. Check the article out on Neue’s very cool book viewer on their site and post what you think.

Response to “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America”

Jimmy Spencer Jr. — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:49:58 +0000

Focus on The Family Action released a 16 page letter entitled “Letter from 2012 in Obama’s America,” on October 22. It was written to portray what life would be like in the future should Barack Obama, a Christian, become President.
In the first page the letter, from a future Christian, states it purpose:

“So here is a picture of the changes that are likely or at least very possible if Senator Obama is elected and the far-Left segments of the Democratic Party gain control of the White House, the Congress, and perhaps then the Supreme Court.”
Hold onto your hats … this letter has some bombs in it.

According to Focus on the Family here a few of the 25 events that will likely take place if Barack Obama is elected:
* The Supreme Court would pass law that legalizes same sex marriage across the US
* Elementary schools will mandate homosexuality as a choice to children
* Christian radio stations will be removed from the airwaves
* Churches will be forced to hire homosexuals and host homosexual Read more...

canned peas living

Lisa O'Brien-Wentzel — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:48:06 +0000

I was at my parent’s home for a recent holiday. My parent’s parents were immigrants and so my parents earned all they have the good old hard workin’ way. They LOVE to tell stories of the past as much as i love for my children to hear them.

People who work hard for their things often value them more than their actual market value; creating what we fondly call ‘pack rats’. Grandpa and Grandma’s basement will be the worlds greatest estate sale some day complete with old post cards, cubs beer cans, kirby vacuum parts, cigar boxes, wooden toys that were too good to play with, tools and old magazines that look like newspapers.

Seated around the fireplace, my kids and I were reading some of these old newspaper/magazines. WOW. so funny. The women wore aprons, pantyhose, pumps and pearls at home while cleaning; cigarettes were cool for men, women were about the home and ‘it’s man’, and all the ads were about items that made the woman’s job easier-hence “to make the mans castle shine!. EASY. More convenient. Read more...

the cool people table

Lisa O'Brien-Wentzel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:10:27 +0000

i loathe cliques.very seriously.

as a young girl, starting in kindergarten, i was the kinda kid who had all kinds of friends from all kinds of cliques and groups. i was nice. my long time best friend was a girl most people found odd at least until high school when she found belonging amongst “burnouts” which led her into trouble, but ive always loved her all the same, for the person she is at her core. i was able to hang with her friends and never try smoking, booze or anything. i also had lots of guy friends. played mostly ‘keep away’ and ’500′ at lunch time and climbed trees and rode bikes after school with the boys. none of them were boyfriends and it didnt even enter my mind until much later. guys are still my favorite friends by far, so long as you keep them friends. i think it was easier when i was young. i was free to be a non sexual girl for in jr high, it was a wonderful childhood. i wasnt bombarded with sex everywhere until later highschool.

the lunch room is a class, in behavioral science.
i recall walking into the Read more...

the weather on mothers day

Lisa O'Brien-Wentzel — Sun, 11 May 2008 05:17:07 +0000

dear lord
i speak to you now with a heart filled with so much
heaviness. a cloud filled day.
i long to persevere…. and am tired
i feel unequipped. i am not great. all this is new to me.
i do long to capture each teachable moment of the lives of my children
to send them into this world grounded in the knowledge of you,
with strength of fine man and gentleness to care!
-i feel overwhelmed by all my jobs
they are too much:
to provide. to be there whenever they need me. to teach and train. to keep our house, manage our home.
to be the one that they can count on to take us through life storms

to be the one who can answer the questions of their souls:
what makes a man a man? do they really pray?
how do i manage stress?.. is there a way beyond simply hiding or shifting from it?
what is happiness?.. must i always be? what do i need to stay there? can it be exist within my own self?
is courage fearlessness?.. or the ability to walk over my fear?
what is failure? …..what does Read more...