. . .his master replied, "Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. . .
~Matthew 25:23
One of God's servants left this world and went home. Although this is a continuous event, it is always a time to take pause when someone you know dies. There have been a few close to me this year who have "slipped the surly bonds of earth" and have arrived on the other shore (the closest and dearest of these was the early-summer loss of my grandfather).
Two days prior to Christmas a dear lady that I had known from growing up in a small church past on. She was 93. Her life had been devoted to the church and to some missions work. Perhaps the world will never know the full impact of her ministry upon others (who, in turn, continually pass along the flame). What made me reflect on this particular occasion was what I learned about the funeral.
I was unable to attend the service myself, but my parents have told me of the details. It seems that there were only a dozen or so people that came to the memorial. This is partially due to the fact that she has outlived most of her friends and fellow companions in the faith. Indeed, only a couple of her fellow former-church family are around to even attend. As her life came to a close on this side of eternity, she simply left with no ado.
What a stark contrast it is for Christians who have given their lives away. Even for the well-attended funeral for my grandfather, there seemed to be a climax that was missing. Given the amount of life that he possessed and shared on this earth, it was a calm and quiet send-off. Our best memorials never seem to capture the vitality of our best examples of humanity. We can only do so much. . .partly because we are still seeing through a veil.
For them, the veil is lifted and reality has set in. There is no comparison between the services we conduct in an effort to deal with the grief and the homecoming party these saints encounter when they come face-to-face with love himself. It is not the goal for Christians to make a name for themselves here. . .all of that, the Bible says, is meaningless vanity. Our humility and servanthood bring us to an almost secretive departure.
We slip out the back quietly - having completed God's work through us - and walk in to a mighty celebration.
Friday, December 31
Tuesday, December 28
sipping cocoa in a coffee shop
I am sitting in a coffee shop in northern Illinois. Although they have a wi-fi available, I come to the conclusion that I am too cheap to purchase access which means that I will compose now and post later from a free internet connection.
The other oddity at play here is that while I am sitting in a coffee shop, fully taking in the atmosphere, I am not drinking coffee. I never drink coffee. I can’t stand the stuff. I love the aroma of brewing coffee and find that the coffee shop itself is a great place to find oneself, especially in the cold northern winter. Actually drinking coffee, however, is another story.
So it all comes down to atmosphere. Perhaps other people. Perhaps the feeling of authenticity of some sort. Nonetheless it is a personal anomaly that I come to coffee shops with no intention whatsoever of drinking a cup of coffee.
And so it is with many who pass through the doors of a church. People come for many reasons. Perhaps people, the search for authenticity,* a feeling of warmth from the cold world – but something. I think it all comes down to atmosphere. Fundamentally there is a culture of Christianity that participates in all the tradition but never really has any intention of partaking of God.
In fact, I would suppose that there are a good number of churchgoers who, when face-to-face with God, find that they really cannot stand him. Yes, I said it. . .I’m talking about those of us who really cannot stand God. This is a little discussed problem with the Christian subculture which begins when an individual experiences a lacking faith experience. When our churches ignore the foundational aspects of a true biblical faith, then we find an ecclesiastical culture so addicted to a counterfeit that cannot accept the legitimate.
I have witnessed this phenomenon firsthand, while teaching an overview/introductory course on the Bible at my last church. There was a woman in that class who had spent a large amount of time in church for many years. She was so taken back by some of the events in the Old Testament (which would bother many of us) that she told me, “I just do not like this picture of God and do not think that I need to know this side of his character.” Point illustrated.
She – along with many, many others – had been left with such a misrepresented portrait of God that her image of Christianity was nothing more than a cultural read-back of what was comfortable to her. The result of this was a God who resembled a figure who was idealized from a human perspective rather than finding its definition in the transcendent divine. By her response, it seems that her spirit was rejecting Scripture just as my body convulses when the bitterness of coffee hits the upper pallet. The danger of biblical illiteracy among Christians keeps building.
Perhaps I’ll go force down a latte as an act of empathy and spiritual discipline.
The other oddity at play here is that while I am sitting in a coffee shop, fully taking in the atmosphere, I am not drinking coffee. I never drink coffee. I can’t stand the stuff. I love the aroma of brewing coffee and find that the coffee shop itself is a great place to find oneself, especially in the cold northern winter. Actually drinking coffee, however, is another story.
So it all comes down to atmosphere. Perhaps other people. Perhaps the feeling of authenticity of some sort. Nonetheless it is a personal anomaly that I come to coffee shops with no intention whatsoever of drinking a cup of coffee.
And so it is with many who pass through the doors of a church. People come for many reasons. Perhaps people, the search for authenticity,* a feeling of warmth from the cold world – but something. I think it all comes down to atmosphere. Fundamentally there is a culture of Christianity that participates in all the tradition but never really has any intention of partaking of God.
In fact, I would suppose that there are a good number of churchgoers who, when face-to-face with God, find that they really cannot stand him. Yes, I said it. . .I’m talking about those of us who really cannot stand God. This is a little discussed problem with the Christian subculture which begins when an individual experiences a lacking faith experience. When our churches ignore the foundational aspects of a true biblical faith, then we find an ecclesiastical culture so addicted to a counterfeit that cannot accept the legitimate.
I have witnessed this phenomenon firsthand, while teaching an overview/introductory course on the Bible at my last church. There was a woman in that class who had spent a large amount of time in church for many years. She was so taken back by some of the events in the Old Testament (which would bother many of us) that she told me, “I just do not like this picture of God and do not think that I need to know this side of his character.” Point illustrated.
She – along with many, many others – had been left with such a misrepresented portrait of God that her image of Christianity was nothing more than a cultural read-back of what was comfortable to her. The result of this was a God who resembled a figure who was idealized from a human perspective rather than finding its definition in the transcendent divine. By her response, it seems that her spirit was rejecting Scripture just as my body convulses when the bitterness of coffee hits the upper pallet. The danger of biblical illiteracy among Christians keeps building.
Perhaps I’ll go force down a latte as an act of empathy and spiritual discipline.
Friday, December 24
are met in Thee tonight
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all humanity. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. . .
The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
~John 1:1-5, 14~
Few things in this world capture the essence of humanity. We award prizes to those unique individuals who somehow grab hold of a piece of the human condition (Pulitzer and Nobel are the most famous). Even with these 'grand' accomplishments it is astounding how many people still question the meaning of existence and stare into the heavens with a sense of loneliness. Perhaps this is because all of our attempts to express the true nature of ourselves fall terribly short.
Christmas is a magical time. It is magical because of the sense of wonder it arouses within our innermost being. Every Christmas story or movie has some sort of magic attached to it, whether it is about Santa Clause, the birth of Jesus, or some singing snowman. All of our celebration - both secular and religious - comes back to the wonder that encompasses this special time.
And why is this time of the year so special? Most scholars will tell us that Jesus probably was not born anywhere near December and other folks will speak of the notion that this is a holiday invented to compete with the pagan celebrations. OK, so what? The point of the Christian faith is not the specific day that is celebrated but rather the inclusion of a season that focuses on the the coming of the Savior.
It is this advent that sparks the sense of wonder within us. When we stop and ponder the words of the first chapter of John our spirits stir within us and our souls rejoice. Even the world around us cannot hide from this magnificent story. The wonder and magic of the Christmas event permeates our very being. How can Christmas do this? Because in the person of Jesus the essence of humanity is captured fully. When we gaze upon this man we find that the entirety of ourselves is found in him.
The hopes and fears. . .all of our joys, sorrows, successes, failures, morality, sinfulness, laughter, tears are captured in time and space and found within this child. Tonight there is a wonder that is set loose upon the earth. Every year - for at least one night - it cannot be contained.
The wonder that is Jesus is revealed.
He is the essence of us. . .our hopes and fears. . .our beginning and end.
The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
~John 1:1-5, 14~
Few things in this world capture the essence of humanity. We award prizes to those unique individuals who somehow grab hold of a piece of the human condition (Pulitzer and Nobel are the most famous). Even with these 'grand' accomplishments it is astounding how many people still question the meaning of existence and stare into the heavens with a sense of loneliness. Perhaps this is because all of our attempts to express the true nature of ourselves fall terribly short.
Christmas is a magical time. It is magical because of the sense of wonder it arouses within our innermost being. Every Christmas story or movie has some sort of magic attached to it, whether it is about Santa Clause, the birth of Jesus, or some singing snowman. All of our celebration - both secular and religious - comes back to the wonder that encompasses this special time.
And why is this time of the year so special? Most scholars will tell us that Jesus probably was not born anywhere near December and other folks will speak of the notion that this is a holiday invented to compete with the pagan celebrations. OK, so what? The point of the Christian faith is not the specific day that is celebrated but rather the inclusion of a season that focuses on the the coming of the Savior.
It is this advent that sparks the sense of wonder within us. When we stop and ponder the words of the first chapter of John our spirits stir within us and our souls rejoice. Even the world around us cannot hide from this magnificent story. The wonder and magic of the Christmas event permeates our very being. How can Christmas do this? Because in the person of Jesus the essence of humanity is captured fully. When we gaze upon this man we find that the entirety of ourselves is found in him.
The hopes and fears. . .all of our joys, sorrows, successes, failures, morality, sinfulness, laughter, tears are captured in time and space and found within this child. Tonight there is a wonder that is set loose upon the earth. Every year - for at least one night - it cannot be contained.
The wonder that is Jesus is revealed.
He is the essence of us. . .our hopes and fears. . .our beginning and end.
Wednesday, December 22
shall come to thee
Tomorrow we head northward in search of family and Christmas tradition. We were just informed that the forcasted high for tomorrow at our destination is 2. That's right, 2 degrees fahrenheit. I'm still used to walking around without a jacket (still an odd December experience for me), so I definitely need to pack the heavy stuff.
Why do I do this? Really, when you think about it I should get all of my family to come down here. Somehow that just wouldn't be right, something would be missing. . .it just wouldn't be home. Home is that ineffible quality that refuses to be replicated. It is the reason why we overload the car with stuff, cram a crabby cat into the back seat, and drive for fourteen hours. To fellowship with family, catch up with friends, observe traditions, play in the snow, and to arrive - ultimately - at home. That's why we head to the cold.
The way I see it the pinnacle of ventures into the cold came two-thousand years ago. Jesus himself left the warmth of his heavenly glory and went out into the cold dark to find us. Why would he do this?
Because this isn't home and although we may have a map, he knows we'll need a ride.
[insert pithy quote here]
Why do I do this? Really, when you think about it I should get all of my family to come down here. Somehow that just wouldn't be right, something would be missing. . .it just wouldn't be home. Home is that ineffible quality that refuses to be replicated. It is the reason why we overload the car with stuff, cram a crabby cat into the back seat, and drive for fourteen hours. To fellowship with family, catch up with friends, observe traditions, play in the snow, and to arrive - ultimately - at home. That's why we head to the cold.
The way I see it the pinnacle of ventures into the cold came two-thousand years ago. Jesus himself left the warmth of his heavenly glory and went out into the cold dark to find us. Why would he do this?
Because this isn't home and although we may have a map, he knows we'll need a ride.
[insert pithy quote here]
Monday, December 20
where have all the magi gone?
"The three kings had only a rumor to go by. But it moved them to make that long journey. The scribes were much better informed, much better versed. They sat and studied Scriptures like so many dons, but it did not make them move. Who had the more truth? The three kings who followed a rumor, or the scribes who remained sitting with all their knowledge?"
~Søren Kierkegaard
There are those in this world who actually seek and those who think they have found. In the context of this quote those who seek are the magi while the scribes demonstrate those who think they have found. Matthew includes this juxtaposition at the forefront of his Gospel because it dramatically demonstrates the ongoing theme of Judaism missing Jesus. Throughout the Jesus story we find the old-guard religious leaders who believe they have this whole God-thing figured out. No one (especially not some punk carpenter from a hicktown like Nazareth) is going to tell them their business.
Now if we were able to step back through time, I don't think anyone of us would willingly align with the magi. These men come into the story because of their astrological practices. What is worse, they are foreigners who probably don't have a clue regarding Torah. The obvious choice is to side with the scribes. After all, they knew the Scriptures better than almost anyone and could recite more rules and regulations about the Sabbath than you could shake a phylactery at.
The problem with this nice little blog is that I don't believe it is necessary step back a couple thousand years to make this comparison. Even with this stark contrast set in front of us we often find ourselves choosing the scribes over the magi. I have often said that when our theology reaches the point at which we no longer ask questions, then we have reached the point at which we are no longer doing theology. The scribes had stopped doing theology because they had stopped searching. All the while, the magi were wholeheartedly searching even when they lacked the proper direction. Søren's question is right, "Who had the more truth?"
Today, who has the more truth? Is it those who gather in churches for association and comfortability or those who are unafraid to search any religious path in search of a deeper meaning? Jesus helped clarify the mystery with, "Seek and you will find." Here's the loaded question for the day: Will God hold it against those adherents of other religious practices who are so misdirected because the church failed to properly faciliate their search?
The magi came on the basis of a rumor. The rumor is that there is something better, something deeper, something greater. When the scribes of our world stop considering the rumor a possibility, perhaps it's time to find some magi.
~Søren Kierkegaard
There are those in this world who actually seek and those who think they have found. In the context of this quote those who seek are the magi while the scribes demonstrate those who think they have found. Matthew includes this juxtaposition at the forefront of his Gospel because it dramatically demonstrates the ongoing theme of Judaism missing Jesus. Throughout the Jesus story we find the old-guard religious leaders who believe they have this whole God-thing figured out. No one (especially not some punk carpenter from a hicktown like Nazareth) is going to tell them their business.
Now if we were able to step back through time, I don't think anyone of us would willingly align with the magi. These men come into the story because of their astrological practices. What is worse, they are foreigners who probably don't have a clue regarding Torah. The obvious choice is to side with the scribes. After all, they knew the Scriptures better than almost anyone and could recite more rules and regulations about the Sabbath than you could shake a phylactery at.
The problem with this nice little blog is that I don't believe it is necessary step back a couple thousand years to make this comparison. Even with this stark contrast set in front of us we often find ourselves choosing the scribes over the magi. I have often said that when our theology reaches the point at which we no longer ask questions, then we have reached the point at which we are no longer doing theology. The scribes had stopped doing theology because they had stopped searching. All the while, the magi were wholeheartedly searching even when they lacked the proper direction. Søren's question is right, "Who had the more truth?"
Today, who has the more truth? Is it those who gather in churches for association and comfortability or those who are unafraid to search any religious path in search of a deeper meaning? Jesus helped clarify the mystery with, "Seek and you will find." Here's the loaded question for the day: Will God hold it against those adherents of other religious practices who are so misdirected because the church failed to properly faciliate their search?
The magi came on the basis of a rumor. The rumor is that there is something better, something deeper, something greater. When the scribes of our world stop considering the rumor a possibility, perhaps it's time to find some magi.
Sunday, December 19
come, thou long-expected Jesus
"Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, 'Come Lord Jesus!'
Amen."
~Henri J. M. Nouwen
As the light from the candles atop the Advent wreath grow brighter, we are reminded of the increased intensity of God's entrance into the world - his light into our darkness. The fourth candle lit represents love. How fitting that the culmination of the other weeks - hope, peace, joy - are all brought together in love.
The elder captured it all with such a profound simplicity, "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
In many ways we are still waiting for Jesus to appear among us. I realize this sounds rather absurd to many of you since our church-time is spent, in large part, asking for the presence of God to be made real in our lives. Well, as long as the presence of Jesus doesn't hold us past 11:59am, ask us to alter our behavior in any way, or require that we know our neighbor beyond a hallow greeting. Otherwise, we are so ready for Jesus to show up.**
BUT. . .God is love. Contrary to what you may hear in most churches, this is not just some warm blanket that makes you feel like everything's alright in your life as long as you keep coming to Sunday service on a semi-regular-slightly-comatose state and coast your way through the ins and outs of spirituality.
No. Because the whole foundation of the Christmas story is that everything is not alright. Jesus did not come down to earth just to pat everyone on the back and try the fish. The advent of the Christ was an act of spiritual warfare, driven out of God's incredible LOVE for each of us. If everything is as good as preachers make it sound then there is really no need for Jesus at all. Perhaps that is why need-for-Jesus has been so removed from our pulpits.
Everything is not alright. Such is the effect of sin.
Everything will be alright. Such is the effect of Jesus.
With the light from the Advent wreath shining brightly to symbolize Christ's illumination of the darkness, perhaps we can increase the intensity of our self-sacrificial love for each other. Because, "God is love," and all will know his disciples by. . .
**(specifics are interchangeable; these three address a certain UM church in the so-called Bible Belt)
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, 'Come Lord Jesus!'
Amen."
~Henri J. M. Nouwen
As the light from the candles atop the Advent wreath grow brighter, we are reminded of the increased intensity of God's entrance into the world - his light into our darkness. The fourth candle lit represents love. How fitting that the culmination of the other weeks - hope, peace, joy - are all brought together in love.
The elder captured it all with such a profound simplicity, "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
In many ways we are still waiting for Jesus to appear among us. I realize this sounds rather absurd to many of you since our church-time is spent, in large part, asking for the presence of God to be made real in our lives. Well, as long as the presence of Jesus doesn't hold us past 11:59am, ask us to alter our behavior in any way, or require that we know our neighbor beyond a hallow greeting. Otherwise, we are so ready for Jesus to show up.**
BUT. . .God is love. Contrary to what you may hear in most churches, this is not just some warm blanket that makes you feel like everything's alright in your life as long as you keep coming to Sunday service on a semi-regular-slightly-comatose state and coast your way through the ins and outs of spirituality.
No. Because the whole foundation of the Christmas story is that everything is not alright. Jesus did not come down to earth just to pat everyone on the back and try the fish. The advent of the Christ was an act of spiritual warfare, driven out of God's incredible LOVE for each of us. If everything is as good as preachers make it sound then there is really no need for Jesus at all. Perhaps that is why need-for-Jesus has been so removed from our pulpits.
Everything is not alright. Such is the effect of sin.
Everything will be alright. Such is the effect of Jesus.
With the light from the Advent wreath shining brightly to symbolize Christ's illumination of the darkness, perhaps we can increase the intensity of our self-sacrificial love for each other. Because, "God is love," and all will know his disciples by. . .
**(specifics are interchangeable; these three address a certain UM church in the so-called Bible Belt)
Friday, December 17
will the real Jesus please stand up?
"And those who believe that in the life and teaching of Jesus God has given a unique revelation of His character and purpose are committed by this belief, whether they like it or not, whether they admit it or not, to that quest. Without the Jesus of history the Christ of faith becomes a Docetic figure, a figment of pious imagination, who, like Alice's Cheshire cat, ultimately disappears from view."*
Jesus is definitely a popular figure, by those who seek either to dismiss him or to promote him. And, of course, all across our news channels we hear about battles in various parts of the country over what does and does not constitute a religious celebration and/or symbol. It's the whole pc thing, and I'm sick of it too - but that's for another time.
As one scholar recently stated, "Everyone wants Jesus to be on his or her side." Indeed, there are all sorts of people that try to make Jesus fit into their preconceived notions and ideologies: both fundamentalists and liberals, feminists and chauvinists, charismatics and presbyterians, poor and rich. In fact, New Age thinking throws up its hands and says Jesus is whatever anyone thinks he is. Even political groups and movements have used Jesus to promote themselves.
What's the deal? If this were just another teacher from Galilee there would not be such a ruckus. But there is such a ruckus, so there must be more.
All of these approaches and movements have a common failure: to let Jesus speak for himself. Why? Because it is easier to see what we want in Jesus than to let Jesus see through us. Even as we draw near to the Christmas story, our preachers get caught up in feel-good theology that misses the whole point expressed in the birth of Christ. The level at which we fail to focus on this child seems to suggest that we have grown too old for the story. As if there was not enough wonder and magic in this story to forever captivate our imaginations.
So, as with most everything, our failure to see Jesus starts at the beginning. His beginning. And in order for us to embark on this quest of finding him we must start looking. Perhaps we cannot draw near to his death and resurrection until we can draw near to his birth and his life.
*G. B. Caird, New Testament Theology (Oxford: Clarendon, 1994), 347.
Jesus is definitely a popular figure, by those who seek either to dismiss him or to promote him. And, of course, all across our news channels we hear about battles in various parts of the country over what does and does not constitute a religious celebration and/or symbol. It's the whole pc thing, and I'm sick of it too - but that's for another time.
As one scholar recently stated, "Everyone wants Jesus to be on his or her side." Indeed, there are all sorts of people that try to make Jesus fit into their preconceived notions and ideologies: both fundamentalists and liberals, feminists and chauvinists, charismatics and presbyterians, poor and rich. In fact, New Age thinking throws up its hands and says Jesus is whatever anyone thinks he is. Even political groups and movements have used Jesus to promote themselves.
What's the deal? If this were just another teacher from Galilee there would not be such a ruckus. But there is such a ruckus, so there must be more.
All of these approaches and movements have a common failure: to let Jesus speak for himself. Why? Because it is easier to see what we want in Jesus than to let Jesus see through us. Even as we draw near to the Christmas story, our preachers get caught up in feel-good theology that misses the whole point expressed in the birth of Christ. The level at which we fail to focus on this child seems to suggest that we have grown too old for the story. As if there was not enough wonder and magic in this story to forever captivate our imaginations.
So, as with most everything, our failure to see Jesus starts at the beginning. His beginning. And in order for us to embark on this quest of finding him we must start looking. Perhaps we cannot draw near to his death and resurrection until we can draw near to his birth and his life.
*G. B. Caird, New Testament Theology (Oxford: Clarendon, 1994), 347.
Wednesday, December 15
bearing gifts, we traverse afar
OK, so we're all in the season of buying. You know what I mean: the Christmas spirit has us all running around trying to find the perfect gift for all of our friends and loved ones. Although I mostly enjoy finding gifts for others, it is apparent to me that there are many who do not enjoy the holiday experience. And to be truthful, I must confess that these crabapples are the primary reason why I would rather stay at home than to brave the shopping malls and department stores.
And the difficulty in our society is that the Christmas gift-giving has been interwoven into our culture. This is easily recognizable in that age old tradition of buying gifts for coworkers, clients, distant cousins, and other folks you never interact with throughout the year. This, I believe, is the foundation of our giving woes. While it is a good thing to make our close friends and family happy, we really don't care a whole lot about the rest of them. Perhaps this is why we quickly grab the first item we can find and end up giving some of the worst gifts ever.
C. S. Lewis wrote: "Things are given as presents which no mortal ever bought for himself - gaudy and useless gadgets, 'novelties' because no one was ever fool enough to make their like before." *
Then there are those who force gift-giving simply by presenting you with a gift. The modern rule here is that the act of receiving a gift means that one owes a gift in return. I guess it is a legalized blackmail.
How did all of this get started? Where did the absurdity begin?
The roots of all of this hustle and bustle trace back to Jesus - God's gift. Now, this is often referred to in corny fashion on some cheesy Christmas card, a holiday pencil topper, or one of those specialized shopping bags, but it is indeed true.
The difference is that he gave freely, not grumbling or complaining. He gave an incredibly great gift, not some spur-of-the-moment, infomercial product. He gave it to those closest to his heart, even though he might not hear from them as much as he'd like. And his giving demands nothing in return.
Although. . .it would be nice.
*C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), 305.
And the difficulty in our society is that the Christmas gift-giving has been interwoven into our culture. This is easily recognizable in that age old tradition of buying gifts for coworkers, clients, distant cousins, and other folks you never interact with throughout the year. This, I believe, is the foundation of our giving woes. While it is a good thing to make our close friends and family happy, we really don't care a whole lot about the rest of them. Perhaps this is why we quickly grab the first item we can find and end up giving some of the worst gifts ever.
C. S. Lewis wrote: "Things are given as presents which no mortal ever bought for himself - gaudy and useless gadgets, 'novelties' because no one was ever fool enough to make their like before." *
Then there are those who force gift-giving simply by presenting you with a gift. The modern rule here is that the act of receiving a gift means that one owes a gift in return. I guess it is a legalized blackmail.
How did all of this get started? Where did the absurdity begin?
The roots of all of this hustle and bustle trace back to Jesus - God's gift. Now, this is often referred to in corny fashion on some cheesy Christmas card, a holiday pencil topper, or one of those specialized shopping bags, but it is indeed true.
The difference is that he gave freely, not grumbling or complaining. He gave an incredibly great gift, not some spur-of-the-moment, infomercial product. He gave it to those closest to his heart, even though he might not hear from them as much as he'd like. And his giving demands nothing in return.
Although. . .it would be nice.
*C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), 305.
Tuesday, December 14
eternal revelation to men as dull as stone
"It is fitting, then, not only to be called Christians, but to be so in reality."
What happened after the nativity scene? I know that it seems to be a rather odd question to ask because we have preserved the scene in our minds just as it appears before us in painted ceramic. I wonder what kind of lasting impression the birth of Jesus left on those who were called to bear witness to the event. We are told that the magi went back to their own country (Matthew 2:12), at which point we can only speculate what they did with their newfound knowledge of the Savior.
The shepherds, on the other hand, went all about the countryside to proclaim what they had seen and heard (Luke 2:17-18). This appears to be the little known fact of the story. We seem to be quite content to let the shepherds rest at the manger, gazing upon the baby. Even when baby Jesus has grown up and left the stable we still picture the shepherds and their blank stare into the troff (ok, perhaps it's a bad paint job on their eyes but try to hang with me here). The point here is that they took the revelation given them by God and spread the news to everyone they could find.
And remember, these were the shepherds, not exactly the high-end-socialites of the day. God indeed came to the lowliest in order to make such an important announcement. To emphasize humanity's need for him he sent word out to those who had nothing else in which they could trust. No money. No status. No power. No respect. The dirty, filthy, stinking, rotten, no-good, vulgar, despicable shepherds. The result? It changed their lives and they could not contain it.
Why come to these guys? If we look closely we will see that the physical nature of the shepherds as such despised outcasts demonstrates the spiritual nature of each and every one of us. We are the dirty, filthy, stinking, rotten, no-good, vulgar, despicable sinners. And God has come down to us.
Do we stay at the manger, gazing with blank stares which are poorly painted onto our faces?
*quote from The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, first century A.D.
What happened after the nativity scene? I know that it seems to be a rather odd question to ask because we have preserved the scene in our minds just as it appears before us in painted ceramic. I wonder what kind of lasting impression the birth of Jesus left on those who were called to bear witness to the event. We are told that the magi went back to their own country (Matthew 2:12), at which point we can only speculate what they did with their newfound knowledge of the Savior.
The shepherds, on the other hand, went all about the countryside to proclaim what they had seen and heard (Luke 2:17-18). This appears to be the little known fact of the story. We seem to be quite content to let the shepherds rest at the manger, gazing upon the baby. Even when baby Jesus has grown up and left the stable we still picture the shepherds and their blank stare into the troff (ok, perhaps it's a bad paint job on their eyes but try to hang with me here). The point here is that they took the revelation given them by God and spread the news to everyone they could find.
And remember, these were the shepherds, not exactly the high-end-socialites of the day. God indeed came to the lowliest in order to make such an important announcement. To emphasize humanity's need for him he sent word out to those who had nothing else in which they could trust. No money. No status. No power. No respect. The dirty, filthy, stinking, rotten, no-good, vulgar, despicable shepherds. The result? It changed their lives and they could not contain it.
Why come to these guys? If we look closely we will see that the physical nature of the shepherds as such despised outcasts demonstrates the spiritual nature of each and every one of us. We are the dirty, filthy, stinking, rotten, no-good, vulgar, despicable sinners. And God has come down to us.
Do we stay at the manger, gazing with blank stares which are poorly painted onto our faces?
*quote from The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, first century A.D.
Sunday, December 12
Jesus the drop-out
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
(Mark 3:20-21)
This passage shows that Jesus' relationship with his family had some troubles. While he was going about his ministry, they were looking to bring him home by force. Perhaps they were worried about his affect on their own reputations. Perhaps he should have been tending to his mother's needs. Perhaps he should have been working in the carpenter's shop in order to provide for the household. Perhaps he shouldn't have replaced his siblings with twelve other men, with whom he now spent all of his time. Perhaps he should have gotten a real job, a wife, and a home of his own. He was, by their accounts, shameful.
Could we really expect anything different from the man who so often drew lines between family and faith? Jesus told one man who wanted to follow him after first burying his father, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:60). The high duty to one's parents comes second to the work of the Kingdom, a powerful reality that breaks family ties.
Was it difficult for Jesus to separate himself from his family? Maybe. But he knew that his real family were those who lived in the Kingdom of God. Above everything else, he demonstrated his faithfulness to God by following him alone.
Consider these thoughts:
"Jesus gives me courage to go my own way, even if my family don't understand it or my friends don't think that it's a good way. That's part of the loneliness in my life. Jesus encourages me to risk this loneliness. It's worthwile. It makes me open to the mystery of God's kingdom.
"'God's kingdom' means that God is near. God rules. When God rules in me I'm really free; then I take the form that God has devised for me, that suits me. Jesus calls on me really to go my own way. This unique way which God entrusts to me is more important than any human approval. Every man and woman is unique. That is Jesus' message. And we can all make our own personal way in this world. There is no need to justify this way, to explain it, or to get approval of it from the family. We must simply go our own way and do what God tells us in our hearts."
Anselm Grun, Images of Jesus (New York: Continuum, 2002), 17.
(Mark 3:20-21)
This passage shows that Jesus' relationship with his family had some troubles. While he was going about his ministry, they were looking to bring him home by force. Perhaps they were worried about his affect on their own reputations. Perhaps he should have been tending to his mother's needs. Perhaps he should have been working in the carpenter's shop in order to provide for the household. Perhaps he shouldn't have replaced his siblings with twelve other men, with whom he now spent all of his time. Perhaps he should have gotten a real job, a wife, and a home of his own. He was, by their accounts, shameful.
Could we really expect anything different from the man who so often drew lines between family and faith? Jesus told one man who wanted to follow him after first burying his father, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:60). The high duty to one's parents comes second to the work of the Kingdom, a powerful reality that breaks family ties.
Was it difficult for Jesus to separate himself from his family? Maybe. But he knew that his real family were those who lived in the Kingdom of God. Above everything else, he demonstrated his faithfulness to God by following him alone.
Consider these thoughts:
"Jesus gives me courage to go my own way, even if my family don't understand it or my friends don't think that it's a good way. That's part of the loneliness in my life. Jesus encourages me to risk this loneliness. It's worthwile. It makes me open to the mystery of God's kingdom.
"'God's kingdom' means that God is near. God rules. When God rules in me I'm really free; then I take the form that God has devised for me, that suits me. Jesus calls on me really to go my own way. This unique way which God entrusts to me is more important than any human approval. Every man and woman is unique. That is Jesus' message. And we can all make our own personal way in this world. There is no need to justify this way, to explain it, or to get approval of it from the family. We must simply go our own way and do what God tells us in our hearts."
Anselm Grun, Images of Jesus (New York: Continuum, 2002), 17.
Saturday, December 11
passionless doctrine
You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die. . .
-to the church in Sardis
Is it not interesting that of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation, only two were scolded for not having correct doctrine? Pergamum and Thyatira are described as having similar problems, both situations which revolved around idolatry and immoral practice.
What is mentioned to the remaining churches address problems stemming from a lack of spiritual vitality. Ephasus had lost sight of their first love; Sardis was described as almost totally dead; Laodicea was called undrinkable and useless. Although Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no criticism, they are admonished to remain faithful in their service and situations. Indeed, the underlying factor seems to be a passion for the faith, and that is what Christ wanted to talk about most of all to these seven churches.
What about us? What do we spend our time talking about? Perhaps we do not see the powerful work of God in our churches today because we do not look for it. In the church where I worked, there was an opportunity to come forward every week to join the church or to dedicate one's life to God. Although many walked up to gain "official membership," for two services a week over sixteen months. . .I failed to see one person come forward to receive Christ.
What are we talking about in our churches?
People do not kneel at an altar to profess faith in membership, buildings, or cash.
"People pay attention when they see that God actually changes persons and sets them free. When a new Christian stands up and tells how God has revolutionized his or her life, no one dozes off. When someone is healed or released from a life-controlling bondage, everyone takes notice. These things bear witness to a God who is strong and alive."
Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), 140.
-to the church in Sardis
Is it not interesting that of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation, only two were scolded for not having correct doctrine? Pergamum and Thyatira are described as having similar problems, both situations which revolved around idolatry and immoral practice.
What is mentioned to the remaining churches address problems stemming from a lack of spiritual vitality. Ephasus had lost sight of their first love; Sardis was described as almost totally dead; Laodicea was called undrinkable and useless. Although Smyrna and Philadelphia receive no criticism, they are admonished to remain faithful in their service and situations. Indeed, the underlying factor seems to be a passion for the faith, and that is what Christ wanted to talk about most of all to these seven churches.
What about us? What do we spend our time talking about? Perhaps we do not see the powerful work of God in our churches today because we do not look for it. In the church where I worked, there was an opportunity to come forward every week to join the church or to dedicate one's life to God. Although many walked up to gain "official membership," for two services a week over sixteen months. . .I failed to see one person come forward to receive Christ.
What are we talking about in our churches?
People do not kneel at an altar to profess faith in membership, buildings, or cash.
"People pay attention when they see that God actually changes persons and sets them free. When a new Christian stands up and tells how God has revolutionized his or her life, no one dozes off. When someone is healed or released from a life-controlling bondage, everyone takes notice. These things bear witness to a God who is strong and alive."
Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), 140.
Thursday, December 9
the advent of humility
"Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although he might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding him."
Why does Jesus bother us? I suppose we could easily produce a litany of replies to that question. There are many teachings and activities which he did among humanity that cut deep into our hearts and spirits. However, the foundation of everything accomplished among us is the character of this unique individual.
The season of Christmas is Advent, where we center our attention on the incarnation of divinity into humanity. Christianity teaches that Jesus came as an example of how all persons should live. And yet his largest group of followers, the church, still has difficulty handling this. Here we are - two thousand years after the fact - with the same struggle of trying to understand what his coming really means.
How can we stoop down to look into a manger and bear witness to the self-humilation of our creator and sustainer all the while we are fighting for power, bickering over prestige, and clinching our fists around our earthly treasures?
We can observe our fallenness by recognizing this absurd state of affairs...
We can emphasize our fallenness by thinking that there is nothing wrong with it.
"Let us be imitators also of those who in goatskins and sheepskins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ..."
*quotes taken from The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, ca. A.D. 97
Why does Jesus bother us? I suppose we could easily produce a litany of replies to that question. There are many teachings and activities which he did among humanity that cut deep into our hearts and spirits. However, the foundation of everything accomplished among us is the character of this unique individual.
The season of Christmas is Advent, where we center our attention on the incarnation of divinity into humanity. Christianity teaches that Jesus came as an example of how all persons should live. And yet his largest group of followers, the church, still has difficulty handling this. Here we are - two thousand years after the fact - with the same struggle of trying to understand what his coming really means.
How can we stoop down to look into a manger and bear witness to the self-humilation of our creator and sustainer all the while we are fighting for power, bickering over prestige, and clinching our fists around our earthly treasures?
We can observe our fallenness by recognizing this absurd state of affairs...
We can emphasize our fallenness by thinking that there is nothing wrong with it.
"Let us be imitators also of those who in goatskins and sheepskins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ..."
*quotes taken from The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, ca. A.D. 97
Wednesday, December 8
searching for authenticity
On what makes an authentic blues club, as described by one sociologist:
"Regulars experience B.L.U.E.S. as a place of refuge where authenticity is measured in terms of the club's ability to represent an idealized vision of community and moral order...By forging nocturnal selves that emphasize membership in such a community, these regulars can experience the blues club as regulars by enjoying the emotional benefits associated with the role, including a sense of individual worth...
"Meanwhile, among more professional musicians, concerns over authenticity always play a role in determining how they view their own status as musicians, but unlike their audiences, they tend to search for authenticity within the musical performance itself, as opposed to the racial ascription of the performer or the clubs where their performances occur...In fact, for some of these performers, the sliding scale of authenticity was not the yardstick by which they measured their worth as musicians, but served as a stumbling block to their success and happiness, and thus represented a false stereotype - an expectation to be overcome, rather than achieved." *
On what makes an authentic church, as described by this theologian:
People search for a place of refuge and acceptance, a place to fill this God-shaped vacuum in their lives. Many will evaluate a church's ability to represent an idealized vision of community and moral order by forging pious selves that emphasize membership in such a community, complete with all of the right words and actions that characterize the community. These regulars can experience a church as members by enjoying the emotional benefits associated with the role, including a sense of individual worth.
Meanwhile, from God's perspective, concerns over authenticity always calls individuals to a deeper and more profound experience of himself. And unlike church gatherers who often act more like audiences than worshipers, he tends to search for authenticity within the single-minded devotion of these very people, as opposed to any socio-cultural ascription of what his followers must look like or the churches where their meetings occur. In fact, God does not view the sliding scale of authenticity as some yardstick by which he measures our worth as his people, but calls it what it is: a hypocritical standard of a hallow piety that serves as a stumbling block to our spiritual success and joy. Thus, our own merit is a false stereotype - an expectation to be overcome, rather than achieved.
For he does not search out performance...
*quote from: David Grazian, Blue Chicago: The Search for Authenticity in Urban Blues Clubs (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003), 24-25.
"Regulars experience B.L.U.E.S. as a place of refuge where authenticity is measured in terms of the club's ability to represent an idealized vision of community and moral order...By forging nocturnal selves that emphasize membership in such a community, these regulars can experience the blues club as regulars by enjoying the emotional benefits associated with the role, including a sense of individual worth...
"Meanwhile, among more professional musicians, concerns over authenticity always play a role in determining how they view their own status as musicians, but unlike their audiences, they tend to search for authenticity within the musical performance itself, as opposed to the racial ascription of the performer or the clubs where their performances occur...In fact, for some of these performers, the sliding scale of authenticity was not the yardstick by which they measured their worth as musicians, but served as a stumbling block to their success and happiness, and thus represented a false stereotype - an expectation to be overcome, rather than achieved." *
On what makes an authentic church, as described by this theologian:
People search for a place of refuge and acceptance, a place to fill this God-shaped vacuum in their lives. Many will evaluate a church's ability to represent an idealized vision of community and moral order by forging pious selves that emphasize membership in such a community, complete with all of the right words and actions that characterize the community. These regulars can experience a church as members by enjoying the emotional benefits associated with the role, including a sense of individual worth.
Meanwhile, from God's perspective, concerns over authenticity always calls individuals to a deeper and more profound experience of himself. And unlike church gatherers who often act more like audiences than worshipers, he tends to search for authenticity within the single-minded devotion of these very people, as opposed to any socio-cultural ascription of what his followers must look like or the churches where their meetings occur. In fact, God does not view the sliding scale of authenticity as some yardstick by which he measures our worth as his people, but calls it what it is: a hypocritical standard of a hallow piety that serves as a stumbling block to our spiritual success and joy. Thus, our own merit is a false stereotype - an expectation to be overcome, rather than achieved.
For he does not search out performance...
*quote from: David Grazian, Blue Chicago: The Search for Authenticity in Urban Blues Clubs (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003), 24-25.
Zach
So it hits me smack in-between the eyes today that we are in the dead center of the season of Advent. Through all that has been going on (no small amount), I seem to have lost sight of this special time. On top of everything else that has happened, I will not allow Christmas to be overshadowed by insignificance.
So I'm thinking of Zechariah, who is an oft-overlooked person in Luke's infancy narratives (that whole Jesus thing can really get distracting...). Perhaps he is a bit ignored because we think of the other important people in the story. And, after all, isn't this the guy who really messed up by not believing Gabriel? Yes, this is the one.
Zach's problem had many different angles. There was the fact that he flat-out questioned the promise of the angelic messenger when he asked, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years" (Luke 1:18). This is a question motivated by a lack of faith to accept, not just any Joe-Blow, but an angel.
An angel.
In the Temple...
Furthermore, this is Zechariah the priest, who should have trusted a little bit more and asked a little bit less. Perhaps he should have thought of folks like Abraham and Sarah (among others) that characterized God's incredible ability to pull this stuff off. In the face of real-life, Zach forgets his theology and doesn't pull through.
As if that wasn't enough, he is then contrasted with the faith of a twelve year old peasant girl. Indeed, if we look closely to Luke 1:34 we see a question of method that is driven by her faith. Mary's response to Gabriel: "OK, this sounds like a good plan. Um...since I'm going to be such a pivotal instrument in this, might I ask how God is going to pull this off?" Gabe's reply, "Oh yeah. Well, OK...there's this whole Holy Spirit dealy..." (personal paraphrase).
Moral of the story? Learn from Zach. Although it is easy to say now, it takes a clear and sure devotion to face life and hold true to one's faith and theology. We face the world and its challenges everyday. As was true 2000 years ago, those with the religious status do not always have all the right answers. Sometimes, it is the twelve year old poor kid. But, don't worry - people got freaked out by this back then too.
So I'm thinking of Zechariah, who is an oft-overlooked person in Luke's infancy narratives (that whole Jesus thing can really get distracting...). Perhaps he is a bit ignored because we think of the other important people in the story. And, after all, isn't this the guy who really messed up by not believing Gabriel? Yes, this is the one.
Zach's problem had many different angles. There was the fact that he flat-out questioned the promise of the angelic messenger when he asked, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years" (Luke 1:18). This is a question motivated by a lack of faith to accept, not just any Joe-Blow, but an angel.
An angel.
In the Temple...
Furthermore, this is Zechariah the priest, who should have trusted a little bit more and asked a little bit less. Perhaps he should have thought of folks like Abraham and Sarah (among others) that characterized God's incredible ability to pull this stuff off. In the face of real-life, Zach forgets his theology and doesn't pull through.
As if that wasn't enough, he is then contrasted with the faith of a twelve year old peasant girl. Indeed, if we look closely to Luke 1:34 we see a question of method that is driven by her faith. Mary's response to Gabriel: "OK, this sounds like a good plan. Um...since I'm going to be such a pivotal instrument in this, might I ask how God is going to pull this off?" Gabe's reply, "Oh yeah. Well, OK...there's this whole Holy Spirit dealy..." (personal paraphrase).
Moral of the story? Learn from Zach. Although it is easy to say now, it takes a clear and sure devotion to face life and hold true to one's faith and theology. We face the world and its challenges everyday. As was true 2000 years ago, those with the religious status do not always have all the right answers. Sometimes, it is the twelve year old poor kid. But, don't worry - people got freaked out by this back then too.
Tuesday, December 7
joy v. happiness
OK, so in the last class that I taught (which I didn't know was the last) we spoke about joy. The Bible often brings up this concept as being a proper and fitting attitude for believers. Jesus spoke of this outlook in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:10-12). The book of James also points to "pure joy" as the right way to confront life (1:2). The difficulty in implementing the biblical view of joy is that it is pretty much misread in one of two ways.
First, there are those who see this as a "pie-in-the-sky" religious ideal that can never be achieved. These are the folks who dismiss constant joy and never actually try to attain it.
Then there are those who confuse joy with happiness and try to make every moment of their life an emotional high as though a smile on the face were directly proportionate to a more spiritual walk. This, I believe, has been one of the dominant forces behind popular-level Christianity which is (as Swindoll once described) 4000 miles wide and about 1 inch deep. Indeed, entire churches are actually built around this philosophy of happiness.
Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Christians experiencing (yes, displaying) happiness. Certainly, there is enough of this lacking today. But doesn't Ecclesiastes tell us that there is a seaon appropriate for everything? In all of these seasons, we are still reminded to have joy. All of this can be easily understood if we would just remind ourselves of the fundamental difference between joy and happiness. While happiness is a fleeting emotion that is a fickle as our humanness, joy is that God-given worldview that characterizes our entire lives because of the neverending hope that lies within us.
When we come to God, our problems don't just go away, but he does give us the joy to live out each season of our lives. By trading this incredible quality for a momentary experience that can be so easily altered, we miss out on all that he has in store for us.
Consider:
"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, folling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001), 26.
First, there are those who see this as a "pie-in-the-sky" religious ideal that can never be achieved. These are the folks who dismiss constant joy and never actually try to attain it.
Then there are those who confuse joy with happiness and try to make every moment of their life an emotional high as though a smile on the face were directly proportionate to a more spiritual walk. This, I believe, has been one of the dominant forces behind popular-level Christianity which is (as Swindoll once described) 4000 miles wide and about 1 inch deep. Indeed, entire churches are actually built around this philosophy of happiness.
Now, don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with Christians experiencing (yes, displaying) happiness. Certainly, there is enough of this lacking today. But doesn't Ecclesiastes tell us that there is a seaon appropriate for everything? In all of these seasons, we are still reminded to have joy. All of this can be easily understood if we would just remind ourselves of the fundamental difference between joy and happiness. While happiness is a fleeting emotion that is a fickle as our humanness, joy is that God-given worldview that characterizes our entire lives because of the neverending hope that lies within us.
When we come to God, our problems don't just go away, but he does give us the joy to live out each season of our lives. By trading this incredible quality for a momentary experience that can be so easily altered, we miss out on all that he has in store for us.
Consider:
"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, folling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001), 26.
Monday, December 6
to give up, I'd be a fool
Just over two years ago I went to Romania. My wife was going to help promote a special concert for Romanian youth. I was going along just for the ride. Since American Christian music is such a big hit over there right now, a popular Christian artist went and did a show as part of this special youth-oriented outreach.
The trip was (overall) amazing. There was only one problem: the coordinator. As far as running a missions trip, he wasn't very good, often times getting in the way of those trying to accomplish their respective tasks. And my wife was never really able to do everything she was brought over to do. There was a lot of confusion and aggravation, all of which culminated in the fact that this guy was totallly awe-struck in the presence of the Christian artist. Might as well throw everything else out the window. On top of all of this the logistics of setting up the arena for the concert were running very late and having a difficult time coming together. I figured that the whole thing was going to be a total wash. So I thought.
During the opening act, I was making my way around the arena in order to take pictures of the event. As I was cutting behind a row of bleachers, the band began to play You Are My All in All. I stopped and realized that I was all alone, underneath an overflow crowd of worshippers. I looked to my right and saw that I was next to a wall of glass, looking out on the city-lit nightscape of a land that only dreamed of such religious outpouring a few short years ago.
The song: "...seeking you as a precious jewel...Lord, to give up, I'd be a fool...you are my all in all"
Everyone was singing as loud as they could! I stood motionless as tears ran down my face. In the midst of all we had been struggling with, I knew in that moment that God was bigger than all of it. His presence made everything else so meaningless in comparison. All of our tears, our hurts, our triumphs, our tragedies, our joys, our sorrows...our lives are incomparable to him.
Indeed, to give up...
...I'd be a fool
The trip was (overall) amazing. There was only one problem: the coordinator. As far as running a missions trip, he wasn't very good, often times getting in the way of those trying to accomplish their respective tasks. And my wife was never really able to do everything she was brought over to do. There was a lot of confusion and aggravation, all of which culminated in the fact that this guy was totallly awe-struck in the presence of the Christian artist. Might as well throw everything else out the window. On top of all of this the logistics of setting up the arena for the concert were running very late and having a difficult time coming together. I figured that the whole thing was going to be a total wash. So I thought.
During the opening act, I was making my way around the arena in order to take pictures of the event. As I was cutting behind a row of bleachers, the band began to play You Are My All in All. I stopped and realized that I was all alone, underneath an overflow crowd of worshippers. I looked to my right and saw that I was next to a wall of glass, looking out on the city-lit nightscape of a land that only dreamed of such religious outpouring a few short years ago.
The song: "...seeking you as a precious jewel...Lord, to give up, I'd be a fool...you are my all in all"
Everyone was singing as loud as they could! I stood motionless as tears ran down my face. In the midst of all we had been struggling with, I knew in that moment that God was bigger than all of it. His presence made everything else so meaningless in comparison. All of our tears, our hurts, our triumphs, our tragedies, our joys, our sorrows...our lives are incomparable to him.
Indeed, to give up...
...I'd be a fool
Sunday, December 5
worth quoting:
"We must confess that Jesus' prayer for the church to manifest the perfect, loving unity of the triune God has by and large not been fulfilled. Whatever else the church may be known for in the world, it is not generally known for exemplifying a distinctive, radical, self-sacrificial love, either toward those within the body of Christ or toward those without. The church generally has not left people with the impression that we are unique in the way we affirm the unsurpassable worth of each individual, regardless of how immoral and unlovable he or she may be.
"If anything, the church today is largely known for its petty divisiveness along denominational, doctrinal, social, and even racial lines. On the whole, it is perceived as being less loving and less accepting than most other communities. It is often known for its self-proclaimed and often hypocritical alliance with good against evil and for its judgmentalism toward those it concludes are evil. But, tragically, as a corporate body it rarely is known as being distinctive because of its radical love. In contrast to Jesus' prayer, the world is not compelled to believe in the triune God on the grounds that his love is undeniably present among Jesus' disciples."
Gregory A. Boyd, Repenting of Religion: Turning from Judgment to the Love of God (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004), 46.
"If anything, the church today is largely known for its petty divisiveness along denominational, doctrinal, social, and even racial lines. On the whole, it is perceived as being less loving and less accepting than most other communities. It is often known for its self-proclaimed and often hypocritical alliance with good against evil and for its judgmentalism toward those it concludes are evil. But, tragically, as a corporate body it rarely is known as being distinctive because of its radical love. In contrast to Jesus' prayer, the world is not compelled to believe in the triune God on the grounds that his love is undeniably present among Jesus' disciples."
Gregory A. Boyd, Repenting of Religion: Turning from Judgment to the Love of God (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004), 46.
whatever you don't, don't for the glory of God
I skipped church today. This I haven't done in quite some time, although I have missed church because of travel and emergencies. But today, I intentionally woke up and did not go to church.
You have to understand that this is a big confession for me. Not because I feel that I've done something horribly wrong of which I now must repent. This is indicative of something deeper, indeed greater, than not going to an old brick building filled with semi-comatose people who stand-up, sit-down, fight-fight-fight at all the right moments in a somewhat synchronized unision.
No, my adoration for the church has always been present. I gladly admit that I am one of those wierdos who looks forward to church activities with much anticipation. Now the reality must be faced that the church did not view me in reciprical fashion. At least, the powers that exist in this local church do not regard me this way. The result of such a relationship is that I woke up this past Thursday morning (December 2) without a job and a compromised position with the church. Not for any theological reason, not for disagreements with the church body. For having one person not like me.
One.
I am told that this is a unanimous decision made by the church leadership. If anyone believes that, raise your hand.
I didn't think so.
I wanted to be with my friends and family this morning. I had every intention of being present for the services. However, in the best interest of these individuals, my former fellow-staffers, and the stability of the church itself, I rolled over and drifted back to sleep.
It has never occurred to me that one might best serve the church by making the decision not to be there. Many pastors do not preach this or present it as sound doctrine. But it has become apparent to me that such is the desire of a very real and present hidden agenda held by those whose self-interest outweighs their God-given responsibilities.
OK, so I'll stay home. I think my ego can handle that.
You have to understand that this is a big confession for me. Not because I feel that I've done something horribly wrong of which I now must repent. This is indicative of something deeper, indeed greater, than not going to an old brick building filled with semi-comatose people who stand-up, sit-down, fight-fight-fight at all the right moments in a somewhat synchronized unision.
No, my adoration for the church has always been present. I gladly admit that I am one of those wierdos who looks forward to church activities with much anticipation. Now the reality must be faced that the church did not view me in reciprical fashion. At least, the powers that exist in this local church do not regard me this way. The result of such a relationship is that I woke up this past Thursday morning (December 2) without a job and a compromised position with the church. Not for any theological reason, not for disagreements with the church body. For having one person not like me.
One.
I am told that this is a unanimous decision made by the church leadership. If anyone believes that, raise your hand.
I didn't think so.
I wanted to be with my friends and family this morning. I had every intention of being present for the services. However, in the best interest of these individuals, my former fellow-staffers, and the stability of the church itself, I rolled over and drifted back to sleep.
It has never occurred to me that one might best serve the church by making the decision not to be there. Many pastors do not preach this or present it as sound doctrine. But it has become apparent to me that such is the desire of a very real and present hidden agenda held by those whose self-interest outweighs their God-given responsibilities.
OK, so I'll stay home. I think my ego can handle that.
Saturday, December 4
why not?
I guess there's never a better time to begin a blog than December 4. And why not, now that I have an abundant amount of time on my hands...
I have been thinking about doing a personal blog for a little while, but always had other committments and obligations that kept me from seriously doing it. It's funny, though - I have often envisaged numerous items that were worthy to write on, but now I can't seem to think of anything interesting at all. Thus, we find ourselves in the midst of random writings.
Hopefully, that will change.
December really isn't characterized as a time for new beginnings. But, then again, we don't always have a choice in these matters. Do we?
I have been thinking about doing a personal blog for a little while, but always had other committments and obligations that kept me from seriously doing it. It's funny, though - I have often envisaged numerous items that were worthy to write on, but now I can't seem to think of anything interesting at all. Thus, we find ourselves in the midst of random writings.
Hopefully, that will change.
December really isn't characterized as a time for new beginnings. But, then again, we don't always have a choice in these matters. Do we?
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