I arrived in the church parking lot still amazed by the weather. When I left St. Louis, temperatures were hovering in the 95-100 degree range. Here, it’s a cool 60 degree…with an ever present chance of rain.
I follow the sounds of Rich Mullins to the pastor’s office. In the middle of the room sits a massive desk. Behind it is a Bookworm’s delight…a huge bookshelf filled with books ranging from Apologetics to Eschatology with lots of others in between. Over in the corner of the room, sits another desk, copier and a computer that has cartoons taped to it. I see a FarSide cartoon that shows two bears peeking out from behind a bush gazing at a Nudist Colony. One bear is saying: “Well, there goes my appetite.”
I hear a voice behind me saying: “You must be Bookworm.” I turn and I see Jennifer at last. She stands about 4’11” tall…with shoulder length blonde hair that’s fixed in a spiral perm. Her eyes are greenish blue and they’re gleaming with amusement because she didn’t look like her blog picture at all. After some laughs and hugs we set down and the interview begins.
Bookworm: Jennifer, Thank you so much for consenting to this interview. You were one of my first friends here on the Stream under your Girlpreacher identity.
Jennifer: I could say the same about you! Your blog is always such fun, and I really enjoy it.
Bookworm: Your faith has always been an inspiration to me. It saddens me to hear that you’ve decided to leave the Stream….I know at times you’ve been like a lightning rod because of your stands on certain issues. So the first question I have for you is what is your personal philosophy of life?
Jennifer: I don't know if I have a given philosophy that I could condense in a few words. It think the scripture that has held me up for so long and through many fires, is that "All things work to the good for those who love the Lord and are called unto His purpose." In other words, all the stuff we go through, good and bad, works out for a greater purpose, and those of us who love Him can be assured that it works out in the end, in our favor. Maybe not all at once, but it does work.
Bookworm: One of your creations was the Blogstream Community Church. Working with you on the Cyberchurch was a healing process for me, what was your purpose in forming the Cyberchurch?
Jennifer: When I was doing the Girl Preacher blog, I got a lot of questions from people who had maybe only a brush with Christianity, or who had a bad experience with it, and wanted to know what I thought about certain doctrines, or how I thought certain issues squared with scripture. And I thought, most of these people are folks who are seeking God but are not comfortable in a church setting. So that's when I decided to begin the Cyberchurch.
Bookworm: Are you happy that it is still going strong?
Jennifer: I am!
Bookworm: Why did you turn it over to the current team of associates?
Jennifer: Well, as we all know, my popularity took a nosedive after I took a stance on a rather explosive issue. I saw that my association with the church was resulting in less attendance, and thought I should leave for the good of the church.
Can I take a moment to set the record straight on that? I’ve done it before, but there are those who haven’t heard me, or still don’t get it.
We all know the issue that divided the Stream, so I won't repeat it here. I will just say that when Jesus died on the cross, He died for everyone. We do not have the right to withhold forgiveness. We just don't.
The person who I defended- and I do not regret it! - is someone who did something that is horrible, has paid for it, and is living a life where he deliberately avoids being in a situation where that can happen again. His "coming out", as it was, was a means of confession, but also, I think, he wanted to be honest. He took the high road.
This is very different from someone who did a terrible thing, continues to do terrible things, and is unapologetic and has no desire to change. A person like that does not have my sympathy in the least. I might try to talk to that person, and persuade him to change, but I would not defend him.
The other reason I left was because my duties at my physical world church were growing to the point where blogging was no longer something I had much time for.
Bookworm: Who are the five people (living or deceased) you would like to spend the day with? Why?
Jennifer: I don’t like to spend the day with dead people, they're not much fun! Okay, seriously....I would say Jesus, but I DO spend as much time with him as I want.
I would like to spend the day with Shakespeare, because I love his work. He pretty much had the whole human race pegged.
I would love to spend the day with Rich Mullins, who is and always will be the most amazing Christian singer in my opinion. He's one of the few "Christian" entertainers who was in it for all the right reasons. Some of them I wonder about, they seem kind of disingenuous. I have a story along those lines, but perhaps another time.
I wish, totally, that I could spend the day with RE Knowltonni, who I swear is my doppelganger. We are so much alike (Scary).
I'd love to talk to the Apostles Paul and Peter, and ask them a million questions.
Bookworm: What three movies made you laugh? Cry?
Jennifer: I know this is going to go against my Christian image, but The Big Lebowski is funny because it's so bizarre and such a satire on human nature, philosophy...and bowling. I know, the F word is used rampantly, but for some reason, it’s funny.
I thought Bruce Almighty was great. I was prepared to hate it, but it did a great job of showing how we think God should be like us, and play by our rules, when it is actually the other way around.
And Tommy Boy...I have watched it a million times, to the point where I can quote the script by heart. But I never get tired of it.
Crying movies...The Notebook, the Passion of the Christ, and Pay it Forward...All for obvious reasons.
Bookworm: What was the best concert you ever attended?
Jennifer: 1987, Tempe, U2....Back when they were still Irish.
Bookworm: What was the last book you read? Fiction and nonfiction?
Jennifer: Ironically, reading is one of my favorite things, but lately I haven’t got time to read anything that isn’t somehow work related. I am in the middle of reading Lee Strobel's "A Case for Faith", which I strongly recommend to anyone who is put off by Christianity. Seriously.
For fun, I like to read things that make my mind work, where the ending is a complete surprise, and where I am left thinking about the book long after I put it down. One example is "Girl on a Swing" by Richard Adams.
Bookworm: If you could vacation anyplace in the world (all expenses paid), where would you go?
Jennifer: Puerto Rico!
Bookworm: What brought you to Blogstream, and what did you hope to get out of it.
Jennifer: I love to write, and I have a million opinions. Gotta let it out somehow!
Bookworm: Now for the Mandatory Questions that we have to ask:
First of the mandatory questions is What 5 CD's are currently in your player?
Jennifer:
1. Songs, Rich Mullins
2. WOW 07
3. Tim McGraw, Greatest Hits
4. Chris Tomlin, See the Morning
5. Hootie and the Blowfish, Cracked Rear View
Bookworm: Then of course the 5 bloggers you want to meet.
Jennifer: I can’t answer that one. There are many, and I don’t want to leave anyone out.
Bookworm: Favorite alcoholic beverage?
Jennifer: I don’t drink
Bookworm: What is your nationality or ethnic background?
Jennifer: Jewish, German, Irish, French and Scandinavian, plus a few others thrown in.
Bookworm: Last book you read?
Jennifer: Angela's Ashes
Bookworm: Color of your underwear? (I really hate this question…but it is mandatory)
Jennifer: Like I’m wearing any.
Bookworm: Ummm…that answer surprised me, to say the least. What’s your middle name?
Jennifer: Lyn Ane
Bookworm: What is your favorite word?
Jennifer: Anything that makes me sound smart
Bookworm: What is your least favorite word?
Jennifer: Not really a word, more of a saying....24/7. I HATE that.
Bookworm: What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Jennifer: I don't know. Inspiration comes when it comes.
Bookworm: What turns you off?
Jennifer: Mean-spiritedness, and people who are not willing, or perhaps not able, to look at things logically but respond out of pure emotion ALL of the time. That's one of the reasons I am not blogging right now.
Bookworm: What is your favorite curse word?
Jennifer: I'm really trying hard not to do that. I have my own phrases that are not really curse words, but they get the job done. Like, Monkey-butt. "Whose Monkey-butt idea was this!" That kind of thing.
Bookworm: What sound or noise do you love? What sound or noise do you hate?
Jennifer: I don't really pay much attention to ambient sound. I have so much going on in my head; I just don’t hear much else.
Bookworm: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Jennifer: I would like to be a radio talk show host!
Bookworm: What profession would you not like to do?
Jennifer: Anything that causes others pain.
Bookworm: If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you when you arrive?
Jennifer: "Not a bad job, kid!"
Bookworm: Do you have any last thoughts ….regrets…etc about leaving Blogstream?
Jennifer: I'm not really sure that I am going forever. I get a little upset when I think the dust has settled, and then I come back ready to put the past in the past, where it belongs, and someone writes me a nasty email that is undeserved.
At best, I am ambivalent. I am wondering what the best course of action is. I hate to leave. My son and my ex-husband have bogs here, and I worry that people will start to take things out on them when they figure out we're family. That worries me. At the same time, I feel I should stand my ground.
I just need a break, and to wait. If God directs me to blog again, I will.
Bookworm: Well, I guess that about wraps up the interview. Jennifer, I wish you the best in your current and future ministry. I’ll miss you on the Stream and hope to see you back there before too long. Take care, my friend.
