New start

I'm thinking about my New Year's resolutions. But I can't decide whether or not to give up my french-fry-covered hot dogs. What do you think?

Start the day...

Start the day with this prayer from Thomas Merton:


All the good that you will do will come not from you but from the fact that you have allowed yourself, in the obedience of faith, to be used by God's love. Think of this more and gradually you will be free from the need to prove yourself, and you can be open to the power that will work through you without your knowing it.

Fruitcakes

i didn't see any fruitcakes this year
but perhaps you did
if so, what do you do with them?
here are some hints:
Use your holiday fruitcake to make handy crafts

Christmas Bush

Admiring the Christmas trees displayed in his neighbor's windows, a child asks his father, "Daddy, can we have a Hanukkah Tree?"

"What? No, of course not." says his father.

"Why not?" asks the child again.

Bewildered, his father replies, "Because the last time we had dealings with a lighted bush we spent 40 years in the wilderness."

kinder, gentler

I think Obama is initiating an era of kinder, gentler politics. He has invited Rick Warren to have the invocation at the Inauguration even though Obama and Warren do not agree on some controversial issues. The new President is reaching out to people with different points of view. Perhaps it is Christ who is motivating him to do that.

We need to be kind to those who are different. Tolerance doesn't mean that 'anything goes.' It means the ability to treat each other with respect. That's what we need. We don't need hostile portrayal of others like this quote I read today:

The two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change.
- Seth MacFarlane

This is not necessary.

Pews

The custodian of a church quit, and the pastor of the church asked the organist if she would be able also to clean the church sanctuary.

The organist thought before replying,” Do you mean that I now have to mind my keys and pews?”

Shoes

Did you see the video of the reporter throwing his shoes at President Bush? They explained that in the Middle Eastern culture throwing shoes or hitting someone with a shoe is a way of expressing displeasure. Remember the gospel passage where Jesus tells his disciples to go to the villages and preach and heal...and if the villagers wouldn't accept them, to shake the dust off of their sandals? Same thing. Shaking their shoes would express their displeasure at the villagers' unwelcome attitude.

I'm sorry Americans are learning about this custom. We may have to post ushers around the pulpit to catch the shoes. However, shoes are better than eggs or tomatoes.

I'm a soul-winner, not a sole-winner.

However, shoes are important. Paul writes: "As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace." (Eph. 6.15, NRSV)

One thing I don't understand: Why in the world do women wear those high heel shoes?

Opposition

Back to Matthew 11.12...
I've found some help. Eugene Boring, writing in the New Interpreter's Bible Commentary (Abingdon, 1995, Vol. VIII), says that this is "one of the most difficult and most disputed texts in Matthew." Davis and Allison in the CECC list seven varieties of modern interpretation of this passage. One issue is whether the Greek term biazetai is in the middle voice as the NIV renders it) or the passive voice (as the NRSV renders it).

NIV: 'the kingdom of heaven suffers violence'
NRSV: 'the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence'

The related question is whether the next similar term (biastai) later in the sentence refers to 'forceful' believers in the positive sense, or to 'violent' opponents to the kingdom. Professor Boring writes: "It is, perhaps, best to regard this as another expression of the Matthean conviction that the non-violent eschatological kingdom represented by the advent of Jesus the meek king has met violent opposition from representatives of the opposing kingdom. The advent of God's kingdom as represented by John and Jesus provokes violent opposition."

So, the NRSV translation may give the better interpretation of the passage.

Jesus stirs up trouble. He doesn't cause trouble. He doesn't come with violence. But the gospel is a threat to the powerful, and they respond to Jesus' meekness with violence to secure their stuff.

To follow Jesus is to be walking into dangerous areas.

The forceful Kingdom

I've begun using a new guide for prayer. It's called Sacred Space -- a guide to daily prayer written by some Jesuits in Ireland. For each week there is a meditation and structure for prayer. Then each day has a Scripture reading.

Recently the reading was from Matthew 11. I read it slowly and meditatively. But one verse stumped me. Verse 12: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (NKJV)

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence (?)
The violent take it by force (?)

Some translations say that the kingdom of heaven is advancing forcefully and powerfully. Some say that there is an attempt to cause God's kingdom to come through violence (such as the Zealots of Jesus' time). Some commentators say this refers to the Jewish opposition to the gospel. Others say it means that the Kingdom itself is breaking into the world with great power. Others say that the 'kingdom' is Jesus Christ himself, and he suffers violence in the crucifixion.

The second phrase may simply mean that people are trying really hard to get into the kingdom. According to St. John Chrysostom (an early Church Father), the violent who take the kingdom by force are those who have such earnest desire for Christ that they let nothing stand between themselves and faith in him.

Does this make sense? Just a few verses later Jesus tells us to learn from him -- because he is gentle and humble in heart. What kind of "violence" is this that is related to the Kingdom of heaven?

Prayer: Lord, sometimes I don't understand the Scriptures. I study; I read what others say; I ponder; I pray for understanding; I meditate on it. Lord, keep me focused on the parts of Scripture that are clear. You love us even though we are sinful. You accept us. You expect us to center our lives on you and your will. You demand that we take care of each other and build bridges between people and nations. You tell us to feed the hungry and be fair. You show us the radical grace and mercy of God. Perhaps that's all I need to know.

meeting

I go to lots of meetings. Just this week I was at a joint meeting of the Merger Groups of Memorial and Westminster; the Finance Committee; the Nominating Committee; and our Merger Group meeting by itself. I usually attend 7 or the 9 Session Committees; plus sometimes the Board of Deacons meeting and Trustees Meeting. Things can get accomplished in meetings; or we can spin our wheels and waste time.

I just read The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith. I once took a crash course in economics, so I should understand crashes, but I don't. There were many pages in Galbraith's book that I didn't understand. But I appreciated the account of President Hoover's action in November of 1929. He called some meetings.

Galbraith writes: "This is the rite of the meeting which is called not to do business but to do no business." He goes on to say that meetings are called for various reasons. They are held to seek companionship; or to create the impression that business is being done. Or they are justified by the "exchange-of-ideas." Salesmen (sic) and sales executives meet for "spiritual" reasons: the warmth of comradeship, the interplay of personality, the stimulation of alcohol, and the inspiration of oratory. The no-business meetings of the great business executives depend for their illusion of importance on something quite different: a solemn sense of assembled power. Galbraith says, "The no-business meeting was an almost perfect instrument for the situation in which President hoover found himself in the autumn of 1929."

The more authoritarian a church structure is, the fewer meetings that are necessary. Presbyterians meet a lot because we are a representative democracy. We have to have lots of meetings. We don't trust anyone enough to allow them to make decisions by themselves.

I wonder what would happen if we had a three month moratorium on meetings of the church (besides worship). My fear would be that people would get so used to not attending meetings that they wouldn't start back again.

One of the most significant meetings in church history took place in Jerusalem. It's described in Acts 15.

Perhaps we should try to do something fun in every meeting.

naive nativity

[our cats -- Oliver & Tillich]

There is a picturesque description of sin in Psalm 7. Verse 14 says, "Those who are pregnant with evil conceive trouble and give birth to disillusionment" (TNIV).

The context implies that the 'evil' is violence (v. 9). So--don't mess around with violence or violent people. If you do, you'll get into trouble, and be the proud parent of a bouncing baby boy named Disillusionment.

The illusion of control by violence is one Jesus didn't buy into. Jesus told us to bless our enemies rather than whack them. Jesus could have resorted to violence, but he didn't. Some of his disciples carried knives.

Now, national security is another matter. Jesus never ran for office. He couldn't get elected. The President has to believe in bombs and missiles. Nations don't play by the same rules as individuals. Violence is part of a responsible national security policy. Violence is necessary. On the international level non-violence is the illusion.

There is no such thing as a Christian nation. If there was, it wouldn't last long.

Two deaths

On December 10, 1968 two men died: the German theologian, Karl Barth, and the Catholic monk, Thomas Merton. Both of these men have affected my life. I studied the theology of Barth in college and seminary. He was a leader of the Confessing Church in Germany during Hitler's rise to power. He was the author of The Declaration of Barmen, which is in the Presbyterian Book of Confessions. Barth began a revolution in Western theology when he wrote his commentary on Romans back in 1919. As a leading 'Neo-orthodox' theologian, he brought the Protestant Church back to a focus on a Christological approach to Christian thought. Barth's emphasis on the Word of God as the only definitive source of divine revelation was sorely needed in Nazi Germany. He and Emil Brunner went at it in regard to 'natural theology.' Brunner wrote that natural theology has its place. But Barth responded "Nein." In later decades, and within a different context, Barth's theology became viewed as too narrow. But Barth continues to pack a punch with many students of Scripture. Karl Barth has been a good dialogue partner throughout my ministerial career--challenging me to understand the role of Christ's words and life in our understanding of God's truth and grace.
Thomas Merton has also been a helpful dialogue partner. Reading his journals gave me a personal glimpse into the spiritual journey of a prayerful and thoughtful person. As a Trappist monk, Merton lived in silence and practiced contemplation within the monastery just south of Bardstown, Kentucky. But as a writer he communicated with the outside world and influenced scads of people. His writings gave me an appreciation of the Catholic sacramental view of the world. His disclosure of his own internal wrestlings with doctrine and theological concepts helped me look at my own wrestling match with God.

Barth and Merton occupied two very different theological worlds. Yet both taught me to rely on nothing but the grace of God.

Rest in peace.

Mouw

Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary, always presents a balanced point of view about Biblical subjects. He is a Presbyterian, and Fuller is a centrist evangelical seminary. This blog about the Catholic Church shows his balance.

A Bee or Not a Bee

Two bees ran into each other. The first bee asked the other how things were going.

"Really bad," said the second bee. "The weather has been really wet and damp and there aren't any flowers or pollen, so I can't make any honey."

"No problem," said the first bee. "Just fly down five blocks and turn left. Keep going until you see all the cars. There's a Bar Mitzvah going on and there are all kinds of fresh flowers and fruit."

"Thanks for the tip," said the second bee, and he flew away.

A few hours later, the two bees ran into each other again. The first bee asked, "How'd it go?""Great!" said the second bee. "It was everything you said it would be."

"Uh, what's that thing on your head?" asked the first bee.

"That's my yarmulke," said the second bee. "I didn't want them to think I was a wasp."

rehearsal

It was unusual. Rehearsing a rehearsal. A colleague of mine had asked me to
help her out. She had committed herself to perform a wedding, then found out that she would be out of town the night before--the night of the rehearsal. So, she asked me to do the rehearsal for her. I agreed.

Today I went over to the church and she ran me through the service the way she does it, with the variations decided on by the wedding party. This was the first time I had ever rehearsed a rehearsal. Luckily we both use the Book of Common Worship for the wedding service.

Most people do not realize how many little details have to be worked out for a wedding service. The fee a minister gets for a wedding isn't just for the service itself (which usually ends up taking most of a Saturday afternoon). The fee includes many telephone calls or emails, the preparation of the service itself, paper work for the government, counseling of the couple, a Friday evening for the rehearsal, coordination with others--organist, custodian, sound person, etc. It ends up being many hours juggling many details.

Paul calls the union of marriage "a profound mystery" (Eph. 5.32) The anonymous author of the letter to the Hebrews says, "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure." (Heb. 13.4) John, in the book of Revelation, describes the Second Coming of Christ by saying, "For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready." (19.7) Every time we celebrate the Lord's Supper we are rehearsing the Wedding Banquet of the Lamb.

concert

A former parishioner (in fact, an Elder) gave Pat and me tickets to a concert last week. He was one of the singers. It was held in a UCC church in downtown Dayton. I had never been there before. The sanctuary reminded me of the church I grew up in. My home church had 900 people in Sunday School; and about 1200 in worship (two services). And like this church it had a large balcony, and the whole sanctuary was rounded. For the concert this old church was almost full. People of all ages gathered on a cold winter night to hear voices sing both sacred and secular Christmas music.

One song was particularly poignant. It was about a person wanting to attend Christmas Eve services, but was afraid that he wouldn't be accepted. Finally he found a church that welcomed him.

This was the first time I had ever heard the Dayton Gay Men's Chorus. They were very good.

(I kept waiting for them to sing the Christmas Carol that says: "Now we don our gay apparrel...Fa la la, la la la, la la la." But they never did.)

letter

Dear folks,

I feel miserable cause I have to keep writing for money. I feel ashamed and unhappy. I have to ask for another hundred, but every cell in my body rebels. I beg on bended knee that you forgive me.

Your son, Marvin

P.S. I felt so terrible I ran after the mailman who picked this up at the box at the corner. I wanted to take this letter and burn it. I prayed to God that I could get it back, but I was too late.

A few days later, he received a letter from his father:

Dear Son,

Good news! Your prayers were answered. Your letter never came!


This joke was reprinted from "Laugh Yourself Healthy" by Charles and Frances Hunter, with

The dead horse

[photo made in Xenia]


Someone said that in the course of life a small number of people will like you, a small number will dislike you, and the vast majority won't care one way or the other.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh once said, that our health and our regard for ourselves will be compromised "if day after day you do the opposite of what you desire, you say the opposite of what you believe, you allow yourself to be pushed and pulled where you do not want to go. The most exhausting thing in my life is being insincere."

Here's a bit of wisdom: "When your horse dies, get off!"

Garrison Keillor said on A Prairie Home Companion, "Give up your good Christian life and follow Christ."

Alan Watts wrote: "Rigid people feel some basic disgust with wiggles. They want to get things straight. But who can straighten our water?"

Gregg Levoy, writing about how we need to face our problems and fears head on, says, "You've got to be willing to boogie with the boogeyman."

(All of the above quotes are from Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life by Gregg Levoy)


Lord, give us the courage to boogey.... Make us less rigid... Help us to follow you--really follow you... Give us the courage to be sincere and authentic, not just playing a role... Let us give up living to be liked... Get us off the dead horse. Amen.

Race

I've had time to go back to Obama's speech on Race.
It's a courageous and wise speech.
Use it as an Advent meditation:

Obama Race Speech: Read The Full Text

Awake

The first Sunday reading for Advent is about Christ's second coming and tells us to 'watch' and 'stay awake.'

My problem has been getting to sleep, waking up. But the Advent call is to Wake Up!

What does that mean to you and me in our daily lives? How do we stay spiritually awake? I suppose it means that we have to keep our eyes open and pay attention. Did you see the Spirit at work today? Or were you asleep? Did you hear the voice of God today? Or were you asleep? Did you notice the angels today? Or were you asleep? Did Jesus have to to 'shake you' today to get you awake?

Perhaps Advent is a season to let God shake us.