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The Interview Game - Come play!

February 24, 2005

I volunteered to be interviewed by Tod Bolsinger of It Takes a Church. After posting here I will turn around and interview some other blog writers, look for details below.
Here are my answers:

1. What's your favorite Shakespeare writing, or, what inspired the quote for the name of your blog?

Well, I'll answer both. My favorite Shakespeare writing is MacBeth - but there are no quotes from MacBeth that would be blog friendly. I came up with Mine and Thine for three reasons.
1) I love Latin, and Latin phrases, Meum et Tuum is from Cicero, and is translated mine and thine, a phrase I've loved.
2) A.W. Tozer has written A Prayer of a Minor Prophet. In it he says:

My God, I shall not waste time deploring my weakness nor my unfittedness for the work. The responsibility is not MINE, but THINE. Thou has said, "I knew thee - I ordained thee - I sanctified thee," and Thou hast also said, "Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak." Who am I to argue with Thee or to call in to question Thy sovereign choice? The decision is not MINE but THINE. So be it, Lord. Thy will, not MINE, be done.

3) Shakespeare's Sonnet 38 : How can my Muse want Subject to Invent?

If my slight Muse do please these curious days, The pain be mine, and thine shall be the praise.

The muse/poet was using a young man as inspiration for all he wrote. The poet felt he was running out of new ideas and even said in Sonnet 108 "must each day say o'er the very same." This encapsulates for me the joy and fear of blogging. I look for fresh ideas, and I'm dependent on others for my inspiration. I fear my muse will run out - but Lord willing it continues - the pain be mine and thine be the praise.
If you put Tozer's prayer, Shakespeare's sonnet and a beautiful Latin phrase together - that is how you get to Mine and Thine.

2. What's the short story of how you came to be a Calvinist?

I grew up in a Plymouth Brethren Church. As a teen I attended a conservative Baptist youth group, went on to a charismatic assembly, and than a Presbyterian Church in America church post-college. At the PCA church we studied the Westminster Catechism for Sunday School. This was my first exposure to reformed, Calvinism. I fell in love with the doctrine of justification by faith alone and Jonathan Edwards, Man's total depravity and God's effectual grace became real in R.C. Sproul's writings. I learned to put first things first - the Lord seeking and saving me. This provides even today joy, peace, comfort, mystery and awe - the depths by God's grace I continue to plumb. In Calvinism I found the gospel - the good news. This last Sunday we sang "Amazing Grace" it is wonderful to sing that song and understand what it means.

3. Why did you start a blog?

I have two reasons for starting my blog. My friends say "Ask Chris, she'll know." That is not entirely true - but I do seem to be able to read and absorb a lot of discrete information and than pull it together in ways that are meaningful. Something I've read in a newspaper, than heard mention of on TV, reminds me of a book read 10 years ago, a website that gives more detail, a friend of a friend who knows. I hope to use and practice this information gift with my blog.
The second reason is I hope to connect with other reformed believers. Living in New England often seems like the desert of Christianity. I have a very small church, very limited Christian fellowship that offers meaningful dialogue. I hope my blog can continue meaningful and edifying dialogue among other Christian bloggers - so that we all may benefit and grow - it's a way of being part of a larger Christian community.

4. Describe the church you've always wanted to belong to?

Like I said in a previous post, Tod's church sounds about perfect. But since I don't live in California let me dream... The church would have sound Biblical reformed teaching. Each Sunday I would walk out and know that the Gospel was preached. This is the foundation! From there I would look for a maturing congregation. Evidence of discipleship. I want to be part of a "growing in the knowledge and love of the Lord" congregation. Active church discipline and discipleship are hallmarks. People that pray and care for each other. I could go on and on... but let me also say - I'm looking for community.
I miss being part of a church community. Maybe it is New England, maybe it is our busy lifestyle, maybe it is our church. I dream (and my closest friends dream) of starting a Christian commune. Yes, we are joking. But, we desire a place of safety, love, companionship, shared vision, worship and accountability that is a retreat, but still in our community. A place where we could gain strength and encouragement, but still engage the world. You get the idea.
I'll close with a question... why does it seem that to gain community you have to accept theological looseness? We have churches up here you are big on community - almost mega churches (by New England standards), but they lack theological vitality, it's all about the programs. The church I've always wanted to belong to has both community and affirms sola fide, soli Christo, soli Deo Gloria, and sola gratia.

Here's how you can play the interview game:

1. Leave me a comment saying "interview me." The first five commentators will be the participants.
2. I will respond by asking you five questions.
3. You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. (Write your own questions or borrow some.)

Thanks Tod, this has been fun. I look forward to interviewing other bloggers.

Comments

Posted by: Tod Bolsinger at February 24, 2005 10:19 PM

Posted by: Patricia Kersbergen at April 29, 2005 4:39 PM

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