Lisa Spencer
@theochick.bsky.social
Christian of the PCA sort | DTS grad (ThM ‘14) | Exec. Director of an amazing nonprofit | Lover of international cuisine | Sometimey writer at theothoughts.com
As a conservative independent, it would bother me to be called a Leftist. But when it comes to the current state of affairs of immigration, I no longer care because some things are way more important. Sharing my thoughts here.
theothoughts.com/2025/08/12/t...
theothoughts.com/2025/08/12/t...
Then call me a Leftist
This is a rare post in which I share a glimpse of my political orientation. So here it is–I am a right leaning independent voter. Why right? Because I am in favor of lesser government control…
theothoughts.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
As a conservative independent, it would bother me to be called a Leftist. But when it comes to the current state of affairs of immigration, I no longer care because some things are way more important. Sharing my thoughts here.
theothoughts.com/2025/08/12/t...
theothoughts.com/2025/08/12/t...
One good sign that you’ve exited the cage stage phase of any transition is that you no longer feel the need to let others know about your enlightenment from the supposed errors of what you’ve moved away from. You can just go on secure in your reoriented path.
April 28, 2025 at 10:34 PM
One good sign that you’ve exited the cage stage phase of any transition is that you no longer feel the need to let others know about your enlightenment from the supposed errors of what you’ve moved away from. You can just go on secure in your reoriented path.
A Good Friday repost…”I believe that even our desire to skip to the victory of Sunday is but an indication of an unwillingness to confront our own sinful propensity for rebellion of various sorts.”
Yes Sunday is coming . . . but today is Friday
As Easter draws near, I’ve noticed a trend and one that I’ve fallen comfortably into myself. On Good Friday, it is not uncommon to hear some brief reflection on the Jesus’ sacrifi…
theothoughts.com
April 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
A Good Friday repost…”I believe that even our desire to skip to the victory of Sunday is but an indication of an unwillingness to confront our own sinful propensity for rebellion of various sorts.”
I think by now it’s safe to say we’ve moved way beyond crackdown on illegal immigration to removal of as much foreign presence as possible. And the xenophobes cheer.
April 11, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I think by now it’s safe to say we’ve moved way beyond crackdown on illegal immigration to removal of as much foreign presence as possible. And the xenophobes cheer.
A relevant 10th commandment application for us to today: you shall not covet your neighbor’s ministry, crowd size, book deals or social media following.
March 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A relevant 10th commandment application for us to today: you shall not covet your neighbor’s ministry, crowd size, book deals or social media following.
New SS class started today on 1 Cor. As many times as I’ve read the book, I’ve never really thought too much abt the actual divisions. So I found this breakdown pretty interesting. Not unlike today!
March 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
New SS class started today on 1 Cor. As many times as I’ve read the book, I’ve never really thought too much abt the actual divisions. So I found this breakdown pretty interesting. Not unlike today!
Absolutely! There are allies who have worked with the US, granted permission to come, now stuck in a place where their government wants them dead. These at least should have matriculated through not left as sitting targets.
Let’s suppose the US gov should entirely stop refugee resettlement (I disagree). There’s still the matter of transitional justice, following through on commitments to those we have already welcomed. We’ve utterly failed at transitional justice.
March 4, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Absolutely! There are allies who have worked with the US, granted permission to come, now stuck in a place where their government wants them dead. These at least should have matriculated through not left as sitting targets.
My latest. I write about an observation I’ve been making for several years.
Rise of the Christian Ideologue
I don’t think any Christian would want the claim of an ideologue. But as I observed discourse in the past several years related to social and political engagement, unfortunately I do believe …
theothoughts.com
February 19, 2025 at 10:54 PM
My latest. I write about an observation I’ve been making for several years.
In Christianity, the goal is not to be anti-leftist, conservative or progressive but to be faithful to all Scripture commands. Earthly partisan lenses will dilute this perspective.
February 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
In Christianity, the goal is not to be anti-leftist, conservative or progressive but to be faithful to all Scripture commands. Earthly partisan lenses will dilute this perspective.
Throughout Scripture, the Lord’s commands to his people included mercy for the vulnerable, boundaries in ethics & prohibitions of actions against his character. Deciphering these distinctions in the whole counsel of Scripture & their applications today is vitally important.
February 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Throughout Scripture, the Lord’s commands to his people included mercy for the vulnerable, boundaries in ethics & prohibitions of actions against his character. Deciphering these distinctions in the whole counsel of Scripture & their applications today is vitally important.
Interesting that when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, absent from the instructions he gave to them was they must confess to their father what they did. Instead, he only wanted him to know he was alive, well & able to take care of them. That’s pretty instructive for us today, I’m thinking.
January 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Interesting that when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, absent from the instructions he gave to them was they must confess to their father what they did. Instead, he only wanted him to know he was alive, well & able to take care of them. That’s pretty instructive for us today, I’m thinking.
This may be an unpopular opinion BUT…I don’t know how anyone reading Revelation can think wars will cease prior to Jesus’ return. True peace will not happen until then.
January 20, 2025 at 1:17 PM
This may be an unpopular opinion BUT…I don’t know how anyone reading Revelation can think wars will cease prior to Jesus’ return. True peace will not happen until then.
With all the issues going on in the US & the rest of the world, getting mad at who entertains at inauguration & it’s related events is a waste of energy IMO. Entertainers entertain, that’s what they do. Let’s move on to more important matters.
January 20, 2025 at 2:13 AM
With all the issues going on in the US & the rest of the world, getting mad at who entertains at inauguration & it’s related events is a waste of energy IMO. Entertainers entertain, that’s what they do. Let’s move on to more important matters.
Hear, Hear!
Put an end to 2 Chronicles 7:14 abuse!
January 20, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Hear, Hear!
“Silence is creation’s expectant response to the Lord’s impending arrival in judgment. ‘Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for he is aroused from his holy habitation.” (Zech. 2:13) - Dennis Johnson, Triumph of the Lamb…A sobering thought in our noisy, busy world.
January 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
“Silence is creation’s expectant response to the Lord’s impending arrival in judgment. ‘Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for he is aroused from his holy habitation.” (Zech. 2:13) - Dennis Johnson, Triumph of the Lamb…A sobering thought in our noisy, busy world.
Exactly this! I will keep resisting, even for short posts.
Why I don't use ChatGPT to write or even brainstorm. For me, it's not some principled stand or moral high ground. I'm not afraid of being replaced.
It's more that 1) I do not want to experience deskilling, and 2) the hard work of writing is part of how I participate actively and fully in the world.
It's more that 1) I do not want to experience deskilling, and 2) the hard work of writing is part of how I participate actively and fully in the world.
Life Cannot Be Delegated
The Convivial Society: Vol. 5, No. 15
open.substack.com
January 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Exactly this! I will keep resisting, even for short posts.
I’ve been a serious student of the Bible for many years but resisted reading plans as checking boxes. In my latest, I write why I’ve had a change of heart about that.
On checking boxes and bible reading plans
I confess, I have a love-hate relationship with checking boxes. On one hand, it gives a sense of accomplishment as I find with the logistics of event planning I have to do for my job. And who doesn…
theothoughts.com
January 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I’ve been a serious student of the Bible for many years but resisted reading plans as checking boxes. In my latest, I write why I’ve had a change of heart about that.
Unpopular opinion: it’s really not more spiritual to wrestle with the biblical text by yourself to figure it out alone. Scripture was given to God’s community including those who studied more than you. It’s ok to look at notes & a good commentary while reading.
January 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Unpopular opinion: it’s really not more spiritual to wrestle with the biblical text by yourself to figure it out alone. Scripture was given to God’s community including those who studied more than you. It’s ok to look at notes & a good commentary while reading.
“Materialism, no less than persecution, is the serpent’s weapon of war against Christ’s church.” - Dennis Johnson 🎯🔥 it helps to remember that materialism comes in many forms including institutional protection
January 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
“Materialism, no less than persecution, is the serpent’s weapon of war against Christ’s church.” - Dennis Johnson 🎯🔥 it helps to remember that materialism comes in many forms including institutional protection
My latest, after a year of writing inactivity. Hopefully an encouragement to the saints. Let’s go into 2025 with eyes wide open & looking upward.
Some encouragement for 2025
Despite my best intentions of keeping up with regular writings in this space, I have now come to the end of the year without posting anything since the beginning of the year. A few weeks ago, I had…
theothoughts.com
December 31, 2024 at 2:04 PM
My latest, after a year of writing inactivity. Hopefully an encouragement to the saints. Let’s go into 2025 with eyes wide open & looking upward.
Same as last year, I’m ending my chronological Bible reading at Revelation & simultaneously going through this gem. I honestly can’t recommend this narrative oriented commentary enough!
Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation
Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation [Johnson, Dennis E.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation
www.amazon.com
December 27, 2024 at 1:08 PM
Same as last year, I’m ending my chronological Bible reading at Revelation & simultaneously going through this gem. I honestly can’t recommend this narrative oriented commentary enough!
I think most Christians would agree that discernment is crucial. The bigger task is by what criteria discernment is being made. Scripture, yes! But the propensity to sift through clouded lenses & tribal affinities is real. Discernment is but the first step. Challenging presuppositions is next.
December 14, 2024 at 11:51 PM
I think most Christians would agree that discernment is crucial. The bigger task is by what criteria discernment is being made. Scripture, yes! But the propensity to sift through clouded lenses & tribal affinities is real. Discernment is but the first step. Challenging presuppositions is next.
Reading through James reminded me of this piece I wrote 6 yrs ago. Do we rave over that unknown preacher the way we do the popular one? Something to be mindful of in our celebrity oriented culture that unfortunately seeps into the church.
The partiality that gets a pass
I’m currently going through the book of Matthew and paused at this passage; Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet …
theothoughts.com
December 13, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Reading through James reminded me of this piece I wrote 6 yrs ago. Do we rave over that unknown preacher the way we do the popular one? Something to be mindful of in our celebrity oriented culture that unfortunately seeps into the church.
Observing SM interactions, sometimes I think we need as much a robust a theology of mercy as we do a theology of sound doctrine. Both relate to Christian orthodoxy.
December 6, 2024 at 3:59 AM
Observing SM interactions, sometimes I think we need as much a robust a theology of mercy as we do a theology of sound doctrine. Both relate to Christian orthodoxy.
A good & challenging piece on how Schaeffer’s warnings about personal peace & influence are relevant today… “Christianity was never meant to affirm our desires but to redirect them toward God’s purposes.” anthonybbradley.substack.com/p/francis-sc...
Francis Schaeffer’s Warning: The Idols of Personal Peace, Affluence, and Expressive Individualism in Professional Class Christianity
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
anthonybbradley.substack.com
December 5, 2024 at 2:22 PM
A good & challenging piece on how Schaeffer’s warnings about personal peace & influence are relevant today… “Christianity was never meant to affirm our desires but to redirect them toward God’s purposes.” anthonybbradley.substack.com/p/francis-sc...