Today I received word from a friend on Facebook that her book arrived at her door today!!
I can’t believe it happening!!!!
Uncategorized
Book Reading at Saint Elizabeth
On my last day at Saint Elizabeth Hospital, I was honored with a “going away” party where I was asked to read a sample of Seeking Imperfection. I read the introduction and spoke a little about my journey; we had a great time.
Thanks to my friends and colleagues at Saint Elizabeth for the memories and the laughter.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Seeking Imperfection
The Reading
Reflection for Fig Tree Christian Church
I was asked recently to provide a guest mediation for Fig Tree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), an online community of faith. I want to thank them for their interest and willingness to have me be apart of their community. Be sure to check them out at figtreechristian.org.
It’s not every day that you hear a sermon where the minister brings up the topic of underwear. That’s right… underwear. To be open and honest I myself have not broached the subject either.
Sure I have a heard a joke or two around the topic but never a frank, in depth discussion about it. If you were to search the Internet for a video of a minister railing against the ills of the world I’m sure underwear would be there but it would be lumped in with alcohol and some political rant not fit for the pulpit. Are there some subjects that the church is afraid to speak to or even unwilling to face head on? I am not speaking about those so called “hot topic” issues that are flooding the airwaves or social media but topics like body image or the sexualization of everything.
I asked parents about their understanding of how the church is speaking the issues that are facing if not plaguing teens and tweens. Many of them stated that the church is good about promoting good teachings of morality and civility but others stated that the church was not doing a good enough job in the realm of body image.
Body image is not just something saved for a random middle school church school lesson; the issue of body image is something that is being forced upon us each and every day and we as the body of Christ do not have a quality answer in response.
The Academy of Pediatrics states that every year adolescents are bombarded with 40,000 images on TV alone. Everywhere we look there is an advertisement waiting…. billboards, city buses, mall kiosks and even mobile applications. Through this medium marketers are able to shape and formulate an understanding of the ideal, of perfection with great ease. Computer manipulation with programs like Photoshop are able to take ordinary pictures and make them look unrecognizable. Through this process a standard is being set for men and women of all ages; women are to have flawless skin and be a size 2, men are to be muscle bound and enjoy hunting and fast cars. What is a young girl or young boy to do if she or he doesn’t want to be in that mold? The struggle of adolescence is hard enough with hormones, changing bodies and being stuck between a kid and an adult. Why are we adding to this problem with accepting and even promoting stereotypes and body images that are attainable for 99.99% of the human population? Surely if God is able to be the God of all people, then why are we all trying to look the same?
I was thrown into this world when in March 2013 I composed an open letter to Victoria’s Secret stating that I thought their marketing practices were aiming toward a younger demographic. After posting it to my blog (evandolive.com) it went viral to the tune of nearly 4 million views in a week and a half. People emailed me and told me that they too were tired of the in your face sexuality and distortion of the human body. They were ready for a change and so am I.
Throughout Christian history followers of Christ and theologians have all tried to understand, quantify, qualify and articulate with precision and clarity the relationship between humanity and God. We look throughout the Biblical record to find instances of God and humanity co-mingling. In Genesis 2 we find that God is intimately connected with humanity, forming the earth and breathing into, walking around the Garden, interacting with the male and female.
Has the notion of the interconnectedness of God and the image of God been lost? In a sea of applications and advertisements have been sold a product that does not match the understanding of humanity that God has set out for us? We have been told have we are created in the image of God. It has been slapped on bumper stickers and t-shirts and for some has become a rote phrase there to pacify us during times of sadness and despair.
The image of God is not something that we can take for granted; it’s a deeply theological and profound thing to say that we as a human are molded, formed, created and shaped in the image of God. This changed everything! Everything about our lives, our self-esteem, our notion of God changes we accept and believe that fact that God loved and cares for you so much and God made you just the way you are.
The church and followers of Christ are at a cross road in the 21st century; we know that images and marketing are in your face and distort the human form, but the answer the church has given lately is silence. This cannot be the case any longer; the church must reclaim our imperfections not as items that go against a social construct but something that makes you who you were created to be. You are beautiful, wonderful child of God created in the same of God. <span “font-size:14.0pt;font-family:”helvetica=”” neue”;=”” mso-bidi-font-family:”helvetica=”” neue”;mso-fareast-language:ja”=””>
May we be able to proclaim boldly and proudly that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
So Close You Can Almost Taste It
We are getting so close to the release of Seeking Imperfection!!!
I have received word that the book will be arriving at the warehouse today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday)!
Thank you for your support and look forward to your reaction to the book!
Some of you have written me after receiving an email from Amazon about the release of the book. If you go to Amazon now you will see the following:
I’m not 100% certain what the issue is but know that you can still get the book via the publisher’s website or my clicking here. It is my understanding that those of you who did purchase via Amazon still will receive your books but it might be later than others who purchased through other outlets.
Please use the #seekingimperfection on all of your posts and tweets about body image, marketing and God; let me know how you are using the book in your life and congregation.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Going Home Again
I happy to announce that I have been called to be the Associate Minister of Family Life at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Longview, Texas. I will start there on August 2. First Christian was the church I grew up in and I am very excited about the future; I know that this transition will be difficult because of the friends we have made in Southeast Texas but we are trusting in God for all things and know that God will guide us along the way.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Happy 4th of July!
Seeking Imperfection Is Now On Amazon!!
I am happy to announce that you can now by Seeking Imperfection: Body Image, Marketing and God on AMAZON!
Click on the icon below!
That First Sunday
I cannot imagine what that first Sunday was like.
What I do know is that my heart aches for the Emanuel community. The way they have responded to this grave injustice serves as a model for all of Christianity. Through their grief and pain, they offer forgiveness and love.
“Love is and ever will be the greatest tool against the wrongs and ills of the world. Love for all was able to end slavery, to give women the right to vote, to end segregation (at least formally we have a lot of work to do) and we aren’t done yet.”
“Where there is grief…love will be there
“Where there is pain… love will be there
Where there is heartache… love will be there
Where there is joy… love will be there
Where there is a body worshiping God to the fullest existent stirring them to be more like God/Christ… love will be there
Love will prevail, love is the answer, love is God!”
taken from Rev. Evan’s sermon, June 21, 2015.
Emanuel AME Church, June 21, 2015
Church Is Supposed To Be Different
The news channels and the internet have been buzzing with the terrible tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina. In an instant nine souls were lost in an act of hatred.
It’s a story is becoming all too familiar.
Violence.
Hatred.
Malice.
Rage.
Grief.
Loss.
Mourning.
Outrage.
Disbelief.
The shooting in Charleston brought these feelings and more to light. The loss of innocent life in any situation is tragic and wrong. On top of all of this, the senseless shooting took place in a church, a house of worship, where those killed were reading, studying and trying to learn from scriptures that have been passed down from generation to generation of what it means to be a faithful follower of a God. They wanted to learn to love like Jesus; they wanted to learn how to serve with compassion; they wanted to hear the promises of God told and re told again; they wanted to serve a God who is full of love for all people and all races; they wanted more for their lives.
This was not supposed to happen at all and especially not in a church.
The church is supposed to be different.
Church should be a place of sanctuary and rest.
Church should be a place of comfort and refuge.
Church is supposed to be a place to seek solace from the world around us, from grief and sorrow. Contained within the walls of a church is a promise that no matter how bad the world is there is a God who is above it all.
We can try to rationalize what happened or even try to articulate why but as people of faith we must hold on to the promise that one day there will be a time when swords will be turned into plowshares and the lion will lie with the lamb. There will be a time when God’s love will supersede hate, where God’s peace will supersede rage, where God’s hope will supersede doubt.
We live in a world in desperate need of a savior.
May God send God’s peace, mercy, love, grace and justice, now and forever.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
“I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”– Revelation 21:3-5 (Common English Bible)
[tweet 611582988988493824 align=’center’]“I’ve had to make statements like this too many times. Communities like this have had to endure tragedies like this too many times.”– President Obama speaking about the shooting in Charleston, SC.
I Want To Come See YOU!
As we draw closer to the release of Seeking Imperfection I want to let you know that I want to come see you! If you or your faith community would like to have me come and speak about Seeking Imperfection, please let me know! The easiest way is to click here and fill out the form!
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive 