A lot of different emotions today:
sadness:for a church family whose grand son is in the hospital
eagerness:for the church fish fry tomorrow.
excitement: to play poker with the guys tomorrow night.
Despite all of these, I am really trying to clear my head today. I am doing some communion calls today, and need to be present with them, just as I am present with these emotions.
Gracious God, grant me reminders to keep me aware of you, the presence to notice them, and the strength of will to follow them.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Am I a Father, or am I a Child
I recently shared with a good friend of mine the existance of this blog. He was shoked that I wrote under the name Father Jason with good reason. In seminary I enunciated many a tirade against the idolatrous nature of "high" church, or I should say the idolatrous behaviors of "high" church fanatics. Fortunately, Bob, being my roomate in seminary, bore these tirades with grace. It is not surprising he is surprised to see me an a chasible and going by Father Jason, those being long time symbols of "high" chruch.
Here's my thing with the "low" church "high" church argument...Everybody is wrong! The answer is not to find the right way to do church and everyone must do it that way. The answer is to find God and worship God detached from all distractions. Therefore if having the Priest wear a chasible brings you closer to God that's fine. However, if you cannot worship God without a chasible wearing priest then you've moved into the realm of idolatry of stuff. Simply put...Use stuff! Do not worship stuff!
God's Peace
Jason+
Here's my thing with the "low" church "high" church argument...Everybody is wrong! The answer is not to find the right way to do church and everyone must do it that way. The answer is to find God and worship God detached from all distractions. Therefore if having the Priest wear a chasible brings you closer to God that's fine. However, if you cannot worship God without a chasible wearing priest then you've moved into the realm of idolatry of stuff. Simply put...Use stuff! Do not worship stuff!
God's Peace
Jason+
Friday, April 21, 2006
Sermon Easter II, Year B for 19 April 2006
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit…”
I speak with you in the Name of God, the speaker, the word, and the breath. Amen!
Everybody take a breath!
Not bad, but you can do better. Work with me a little bit. [Do breathing exercise.]
Thank you for participating.
I imagine by this point you might be wondering what has gotten into this preacher’s head? Why in the world is he trying to teach us how to breathe? I subjected you to this practice because breathing is a uniting force. More than anything other action on the planet, we all breathe. It doesn’t matter if you are black or white, Eurasian or Afro-Cuban, a law abiding tax payer or a flaming liberal, a school teacher or a lawyer, a barber, a senator, or a saint. We all breathe. I spent many a year in wind bands and symphonies and as any good music director will tell you, an ensemble that breathes together plays together. When we breathe together we are united together.
Breathing is also a uniting force on a personal level. The Buddhist Monk, peace activist, and dabbler in Christian Spirituality Tich Naht Hahn writes of breathing,
“Breathing in and out is very important, and it is enjoyable. Our breathing is the link between our body and our mind. Sometimes our mind is thinking of one thing and our body is doing another, and mind and body are not unified. By concentrating on our breathing, “In” and “Out,” we bring body and mind back together, and become whole again.”
I don’t know about you, but my mind and body are often doing two different things. Anything I can do to focus myself would indeed be enjoyable. Furthermore, I am elated to find out that something as inexpensive as breathing is helpful. Now, you might be thinking at this moment, this eastern philosophy, Buddhist mumbo jumbo is interesting and all preacher, but we’re Christians; so what do this have to do with Jesus?
Well, here it is. Breathing is a uniting force both corporately and individually because it re-members our creation. See, in our Gospel today Jesus breathes on the disciples. We should recall at this point that no matter what the disciples were they were Jewish. They grew up hearing and memorizing their ancient stories, and when Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit they could not help but think of Genesis, of the creation. They could not help but think of that great story where God forms Ah-dam, the first human, out of the dirt of the earth and breathes on him, breathes into him the breath of life.
Jesus did not give that breath to the disciples thoughtlessly. Jesus did not give that breath unintentionally. Jesus breathed into them in order for them to be the image of God to this creation. See, they had fallen from that image. The powers that be, the adversary, Satan, the devil, society, the world, fear, shame—whatever word you want to use to describe the fallen forces of this creation—had formed the disciples away from God’s intention. These disciples who had walked, talked, eaten, and rejoiced with Christ for years deserted him on the night he was arrested. These disciples had been sent out to heal and preach the God News of the Kingdom of God in the Name of Jesus, but that night Peter would not even admit he knew this man. The disciples of Jesus are dismembered from what they were created to be, separated from the image of God in Christ Jesus.
The breath of God, the Holy Spirit given through Christ re-members them, unites them with who they were created to be. These fearful, cowardly, sinful disciples are changed by the breath of God. They go from cowering in a locked room to traveling the known word sharing the gospel. They go from refusing to admit they even know this man to preaching Jesus Christ Crucified and risen from the dead in the temple. They go from unable to deal with their own grief and disillusionment, to healing the sick and raising the dead. They go from sinners to saints and their transformation happens in a breath.
God does not give us that breath thoughtlessly. God does not give us that breath unintentionally. God breathes into us in order for us to be the image of God to this creation. We have fallen from that image. But today we stand ready for transformation. Today we stand ready to breathe in Christ who will change us. Today we stand ready to breathe out Christ who will change the world.
Breathing in,
we receive Christ.
Breathing out,
we share Christ.
Amen!
I speak with you in the Name of God, the speaker, the word, and the breath. Amen!
Everybody take a breath!
Not bad, but you can do better. Work with me a little bit. [Do breathing exercise.]
Thank you for participating.
I imagine by this point you might be wondering what has gotten into this preacher’s head? Why in the world is he trying to teach us how to breathe? I subjected you to this practice because breathing is a uniting force. More than anything other action on the planet, we all breathe. It doesn’t matter if you are black or white, Eurasian or Afro-Cuban, a law abiding tax payer or a flaming liberal, a school teacher or a lawyer, a barber, a senator, or a saint. We all breathe. I spent many a year in wind bands and symphonies and as any good music director will tell you, an ensemble that breathes together plays together. When we breathe together we are united together.
Breathing is also a uniting force on a personal level. The Buddhist Monk, peace activist, and dabbler in Christian Spirituality Tich Naht Hahn writes of breathing,
“Breathing in and out is very important, and it is enjoyable. Our breathing is the link between our body and our mind. Sometimes our mind is thinking of one thing and our body is doing another, and mind and body are not unified. By concentrating on our breathing, “In” and “Out,” we bring body and mind back together, and become whole again.”
I don’t know about you, but my mind and body are often doing two different things. Anything I can do to focus myself would indeed be enjoyable. Furthermore, I am elated to find out that something as inexpensive as breathing is helpful. Now, you might be thinking at this moment, this eastern philosophy, Buddhist mumbo jumbo is interesting and all preacher, but we’re Christians; so what do this have to do with Jesus?
Well, here it is. Breathing is a uniting force both corporately and individually because it re-members our creation. See, in our Gospel today Jesus breathes on the disciples. We should recall at this point that no matter what the disciples were they were Jewish. They grew up hearing and memorizing their ancient stories, and when Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit they could not help but think of Genesis, of the creation. They could not help but think of that great story where God forms Ah-dam, the first human, out of the dirt of the earth and breathes on him, breathes into him the breath of life.
Jesus did not give that breath to the disciples thoughtlessly. Jesus did not give that breath unintentionally. Jesus breathed into them in order for them to be the image of God to this creation. See, they had fallen from that image. The powers that be, the adversary, Satan, the devil, society, the world, fear, shame—whatever word you want to use to describe the fallen forces of this creation—had formed the disciples away from God’s intention. These disciples who had walked, talked, eaten, and rejoiced with Christ for years deserted him on the night he was arrested. These disciples had been sent out to heal and preach the God News of the Kingdom of God in the Name of Jesus, but that night Peter would not even admit he knew this man. The disciples of Jesus are dismembered from what they were created to be, separated from the image of God in Christ Jesus.
The breath of God, the Holy Spirit given through Christ re-members them, unites them with who they were created to be. These fearful, cowardly, sinful disciples are changed by the breath of God. They go from cowering in a locked room to traveling the known word sharing the gospel. They go from refusing to admit they even know this man to preaching Jesus Christ Crucified and risen from the dead in the temple. They go from unable to deal with their own grief and disillusionment, to healing the sick and raising the dead. They go from sinners to saints and their transformation happens in a breath.
God does not give us that breath thoughtlessly. God does not give us that breath unintentionally. God breathes into us in order for us to be the image of God to this creation. We have fallen from that image. But today we stand ready for transformation. Today we stand ready to breathe in Christ who will change us. Today we stand ready to breathe out Christ who will change the world.
Breathing in,
we receive Christ.
Breathing out,
we share Christ.
Amen!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Good Friday
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
I speak with you as one guilty and in need of the God who forgives all. Amen!
This sermon was a lot harder to write then yesterday’s Maundy Thursday sermon. I guess I’m much more comfortable with Christ’s new commandment to love one another. I guess that I’m more comfortable preaching about how we should go and do. I’m more comfortable preaching how we should all love as Christ’s loves us all.
But today is opposite!
Today we aren’t to go and do, but rather sit and reflect.
We just heard yet again the passion story, and there is a lot of debate about who exactly kills Jesus in the story. Was it the Jewish leadership? Was it Rome?
Well here’s the answer: in today’s story—in every day’s story—I kill Jesus. In today’s story—in every day’s story—you kill Jesus.
See, it goes like this. God is love. Jesus is God incarnate, the love that is God made flesh and living in the world. Today, we remember the crucifixion; we remember the rejection of that love. Every time we reject the love of God, we crucify Christ. Every time we do not respect God’s creation as a gracious act of love, we crucify Christ. Every time we treat anyone as less then Christ himself, we crucify Christ. Every time we rule our nation in ways that oppress other people, we crucify Christ. Every time we fail to heal the sick, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, or free the captives, we crucify Christ. Simply put, every time we fail to Love God, our neighbors, or ourselves, we crucify Christ.
If this were any other day, this is the point in the sermon where I would talk about Jesus’ saving grace and forgiveness, the love that covers all our sins. But not today! Our Gospel stops with the crucifixion because today we are left with nothing but the cross. Today we are called to sit and remember yet again the ways we crucify Christ. Today is Friday and we can only hope that Sunday is coming!
I speak with you as one guilty and in need of the God who forgives all. Amen!
This sermon was a lot harder to write then yesterday’s Maundy Thursday sermon. I guess I’m much more comfortable with Christ’s new commandment to love one another. I guess that I’m more comfortable preaching about how we should go and do. I’m more comfortable preaching how we should all love as Christ’s loves us all.
But today is opposite!
Today we aren’t to go and do, but rather sit and reflect.
We just heard yet again the passion story, and there is a lot of debate about who exactly kills Jesus in the story. Was it the Jewish leadership? Was it Rome?
Well here’s the answer: in today’s story—in every day’s story—I kill Jesus. In today’s story—in every day’s story—you kill Jesus.
See, it goes like this. God is love. Jesus is God incarnate, the love that is God made flesh and living in the world. Today, we remember the crucifixion; we remember the rejection of that love. Every time we reject the love of God, we crucify Christ. Every time we do not respect God’s creation as a gracious act of love, we crucify Christ. Every time we treat anyone as less then Christ himself, we crucify Christ. Every time we rule our nation in ways that oppress other people, we crucify Christ. Every time we fail to heal the sick, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, or free the captives, we crucify Christ. Simply put, every time we fail to Love God, our neighbors, or ourselves, we crucify Christ.
If this were any other day, this is the point in the sermon where I would talk about Jesus’ saving grace and forgiveness, the love that covers all our sins. But not today! Our Gospel stops with the crucifixion because today we are left with nothing but the cross. Today we are called to sit and remember yet again the ways we crucify Christ. Today is Friday and we can only hope that Sunday is coming!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
“This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.” (Exodus 12:14a)
This verse is the last line of the Old Testament reading for Maundy Thursday and sums up the account of God’s establishment of the feast of Passover. The ancient Hebrews were called to remember that God had chosen them, called to remember God freeing them.
In the epistle reading allotted for this day (1st Corinthians 11:23-26) we are called to remember the Passover that Christ established for us that we commonly call Eucharist, Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Paul writes, “...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
These words are familiar to us because we pray them in some form or another in each of our Eucharistic prayers every time we commune together. Indeed familiarity and remembrance are their purpose. Just as the ancient Hebrews were to eat the Passover meal hurriedly, dressed and packed for a journey to remember God freeing them from Egypt to go to the Promised Land, in the Eucharist we are called to remember Christ’s sacrifice to free us to go and do.
But go where and do what? To what purpose did Christ free us?
The answer comes from our Gospel reading for Maundy Thursday, the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet(John 13:1-5). The reading ends, “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet; for I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.”
This is a new commandment. Indeed Commandment is what the word Maundy means, and why we call this day Maundy Thursday. Christ frees us from sin in order that we may love one another. In Christ there is no need for success, power, achievement, or winning. By Christ’s resurrection, we are freed from the pressures of these fallen forces, these idols of opulence. Living into to Christ’s redemption we serve those deemed unworthy. This Easter, as we remember the freedom Christ gave us, we are challenged to give freedom to others.
This verse is the last line of the Old Testament reading for Maundy Thursday and sums up the account of God’s establishment of the feast of Passover. The ancient Hebrews were called to remember that God had chosen them, called to remember God freeing them.
In the epistle reading allotted for this day (1st Corinthians 11:23-26) we are called to remember the Passover that Christ established for us that we commonly call Eucharist, Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Paul writes, “...the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
These words are familiar to us because we pray them in some form or another in each of our Eucharistic prayers every time we commune together. Indeed familiarity and remembrance are their purpose. Just as the ancient Hebrews were to eat the Passover meal hurriedly, dressed and packed for a journey to remember God freeing them from Egypt to go to the Promised Land, in the Eucharist we are called to remember Christ’s sacrifice to free us to go and do.
But go where and do what? To what purpose did Christ free us?
The answer comes from our Gospel reading for Maundy Thursday, the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet(John 13:1-5). The reading ends, “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet; for I have set you an example that you also should do as I have done to you.”
This is a new commandment. Indeed Commandment is what the word Maundy means, and why we call this day Maundy Thursday. Christ frees us from sin in order that we may love one another. In Christ there is no need for success, power, achievement, or winning. By Christ’s resurrection, we are freed from the pressures of these fallen forces, these idols of opulence. Living into to Christ’s redemption we serve those deemed unworthy. This Easter, as we remember the freedom Christ gave us, we are challenged to give freedom to others.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Judas
There has been a lot of talk recently about Judas, and today being Holy Wednesday the reading is about Judas. I don't know if history has played Judas in a bad light or not. Maybe he betrayed Jesus for money. Maybe he acted on orders from Christ himself. But this much I know with every fiber of my being: The saving grace of God was open to Judas as much as it is open to me now. Be it heaven of hell for Judas is not the point. The point is that Jesus--love incarnate--loved Judas, loves me, and loves you. Period. End. Full Stop!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Friday, March 31, 2006
Its a Friday
Well, it has been a busy week. I worked majorly hard getting the retreat together for this weekend and then had to cancel it. It just wasn't going to be a positive experience for all involved. Though I think we made the right decision, I am still dealing with the disappointment.
Next week, I'm on vacation in Nashville. I still think I'm crazy taking vacation time this close to Easter, but Jodie and I need to get away and it is her Spring Break.
Jodie and I are doing a lot of discerning right now. As close as I can get to an answer about what comes next for me is this: Don't say yes to anything yet; do not say no to anything yet; consider everything.
Next week, I'm on vacation in Nashville. I still think I'm crazy taking vacation time this close to Easter, but Jodie and I need to get away and it is her Spring Break.
Jodie and I are doing a lot of discerning right now. As close as I can get to an answer about what comes next for me is this: Don't say yes to anything yet; do not say no to anything yet; consider everything.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
MathCounts
I'm with Jodie today in Lincoln at a MathCounts competition. She has one student from her school competing; a good kid, with a constant smile and steel trap for a brain. His dad, who is here as well, possess exceptional coolness. He, Jodie, and I had a great converstation in the spectators lounge, and it was a great oppurtunity to practice my peer ministry questioning and listening skills.
I find these skills enable me to be more interested in other people than myself. Since I spend plenty of time with myself as it is, I am finding other people a whole lot more interesting. Furthermore, you learn some amazing things and get to hear even more amazing stories. This father today was telling me all about getting into the underground support area of the Brooklyn Bridge with his work as a structural engineer. How COOL is that!
Be that as it may, later today I have to finish the sermon for tomorrow! I love preaching, but I am much more interested in listening to people then speaking at the moment. I have to look at this a chance to further depend on the Holy Spirit. Wish me luck!
I find these skills enable me to be more interested in other people than myself. Since I spend plenty of time with myself as it is, I am finding other people a whole lot more interesting. Furthermore, you learn some amazing things and get to hear even more amazing stories. This father today was telling me all about getting into the underground support area of the Brooklyn Bridge with his work as a structural engineer. How COOL is that!
Be that as it may, later today I have to finish the sermon for tomorrow! I love preaching, but I am much more interested in listening to people then speaking at the moment. I have to look at this a chance to further depend on the Holy Spirit. Wish me luck!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Energy
In my last post I mentioned the retreat, which again was great. It was hard this week to come back to my desk and make flyers. A lot of my time is spent on desktop publishing, and I must admit I don't always bring the best attitude to it. I have to make decisions about where to place my energy. But I know it is important. I can't do the fun stuff--like listening to people as they journey towards God or instigate interaction with the divine--if I don't get the people into the room. They won't know to come to the room if I don't invite them. So today I sucked it up and got the flyers done. I will keep inviting and hopefully the people will come! Sooner or later though I do need to write a sermon or there won't be anything for them to hear when they come to the room.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Good Weekend
So, we did our first peer ministry training with some youth of the diocese this past weekend. I felt going in that we would hear something really cool, and was not disappointed. God spoke through the prayers of the youth. Listening to the simple elegance and deep profoundity of their petitions, I was humbled and honored to be in the presence of Grace. It is amazing to ask , and even more amazing to listen.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Wisdom
The other night we had our apartment blessed. A home blessing is one of the funky little services that makes being an Episcopalian really cool. Anyway, after the blessing and dinner we had a bible study. Actually bible study is not accurate. We engaged the gospel. From listening to the Word of God read aloud, we asked what words or phrases stuck out for us; where in our lives did the Gospel speak to us; and what was God calling us to do in and from the Gospel text? Many may recognize these as the traditional questions from the African Bible study. Sparked by these questions in relation to the Gospel, there was wonderful sharing by all present. I love my congregation and fell deeper in love with them that night. I caught myself sitting with a zen like half smile thinking, "Isn't this what church is supposed to be...a place where we bring our whole but broken selves in contact with God in hopes of leaving a little more integrated, in hopes of leaving with a little more hope and direction." It was a good night in the way creation is good, in the way God intended us to be good. Last year I had an epiphany about what my call as priest was to do. I feel called to instigate interaction with divine. That happened the other night. It was good for my soul, my spirit, my salvation, and I look forward to it happening again.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Snow, Snow, Snow
It's snowing today! I have a love hate relationship with snow. When I was growing up in the south, it snowed mainly once a year or so, if that much. We lived in fairly rural areas; so we would just hole up in the house for a day or two and wait for it to melt. I have very fond memories of snow days playing Monopoly and working kigsaw puzzles with my family. For the past seven years or so I have been living in places that get much more snow and do not stop for anything less the 24 inches of snow. Snow just isn't as much fun in the city with its inevetable turn to sludge and slippery driving conditions. I like living in the city, but when it snows I long for open spaces and time to just watch it snow or the sunset or rise on the snow.
Alas, that is not the case. Furthermore we need more snow this year in Nebraska, because though I am in the city, much of the state is farmland much in need of moisture. By the grace of God, knowing the need for this snow will be the balm my grouchy attitude needs as I drive home today.
Alas, that is not the case. Furthermore we need more snow this year in Nebraska, because though I am in the city, much of the state is farmland much in need of moisture. By the grace of God, knowing the need for this snow will be the balm my grouchy attitude needs as I drive home today.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Building Community
I've spent a big portion of today working on announcements for different events. I graduated from seminary 10 months ago, and I thought that I learned a lot about communicating the Gospel while I was there--at least my preaching is better. However, people don't recieve information, especially about upcoming events I want them to attend, form the pulpit, and I deffinitely did not learn how to use microsoft publisher in seminary, though it is fastly becoming a major tool of my ministry.
For a long time I have been lamenting the churches unwillingness to use every tool available to spread the Gospel--lamenting that it is too tied to old forms of communication. Well, I'm ordained now, and consequently more a part of the church establishment then ever before. So I guess I should get off my butt and blog more!
God Loves You!
For a long time I have been lamenting the churches unwillingness to use every tool available to spread the Gospel--lamenting that it is too tied to old forms of communication. Well, I'm ordained now, and consequently more a part of the church establishment then ever before. So I guess I should get off my butt and blog more!
God Loves You!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Diocesan Staff
So I'm in a diocesan staff meeting and it might produce a blog of each diocesan staff person. Slowly but surely we will get this church into the late 1990s.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
New Year
I took a break from blogging while I was on vacation for the Holidays. We got back into town Sunday night, and I was fortunate to watch a very interesting 60 Minutes. They presented two stories that that caused me to ponder. First, they interviewed the winner of the XPrize. For those of you that haven't heard of the XPrize, it was a contest with a 10 million dollar prize for a private company to produce an aircraft that could fly to space twice in two weeks. The manufacturer is now modifying the ship to take tourists into space. Affordable space travel is his goal, and he is confident he and his team can make it happen in the next 25 years! Expensive personal space travel is even nearer with flights in his aircraft scheduled to begin in 2008!
The second story was about biologist from Cambridge that predicts medical advancements within the next 25 years that will produce infinite longevity. In his opinion, which he backs with careful scientific reasoning, is that soon all illness, even aging, will be made chronic and treatable. He thinks within the next generation we will be literally able to chose when we die.
Now leaving the moral questions aside--though eventually we will have to face that vast multitude of ethical questions arising from both stories--what struck me was the visionary nature of both interview subjects. They both had the ability to not be limited by current perceptions of what can and cannot be done. Both were able to gather people around them that when presented with what most would say an impossible problem are able to figure out an answer.
I believe this visionary spirit is necessary in our congregations! We who believe that all things are possible through Christ should never say "we can't". The question which we should be asking, which through prayer should be lived out with Christ, is "how?" I believe that if we are truly doing something for the sake of the Kingdom of God, then failure is not an option because God's grace is made perfect in our weakness. If we don't "suceed" in any way that we can understand in this life, God forgives, God loves, God says give me what you got and I'll make it work! There should be nothing stopping us from ministering to all, inviting all, welcoming all. We are allowed to be bold, we are not allowed to whine. We are allowed to be creative, we are not allowed to be stagnant! It's time to get to work. It's time to pray, sing, preach, worship, feed, listen, care, and love this world in the way God intended, the way Christ modeled, the way that saves our souls!
The second story was about biologist from Cambridge that predicts medical advancements within the next 25 years that will produce infinite longevity. In his opinion, which he backs with careful scientific reasoning, is that soon all illness, even aging, will be made chronic and treatable. He thinks within the next generation we will be literally able to chose when we die.
Now leaving the moral questions aside--though eventually we will have to face that vast multitude of ethical questions arising from both stories--what struck me was the visionary nature of both interview subjects. They both had the ability to not be limited by current perceptions of what can and cannot be done. Both were able to gather people around them that when presented with what most would say an impossible problem are able to figure out an answer.
I believe this visionary spirit is necessary in our congregations! We who believe that all things are possible through Christ should never say "we can't". The question which we should be asking, which through prayer should be lived out with Christ, is "how?" I believe that if we are truly doing something for the sake of the Kingdom of God, then failure is not an option because God's grace is made perfect in our weakness. If we don't "suceed" in any way that we can understand in this life, God forgives, God loves, God says give me what you got and I'll make it work! There should be nothing stopping us from ministering to all, inviting all, welcoming all. We are allowed to be bold, we are not allowed to whine. We are allowed to be creative, we are not allowed to be stagnant! It's time to get to work. It's time to pray, sing, preach, worship, feed, listen, care, and love this world in the way God intended, the way Christ modeled, the way that saves our souls!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Working on a Sermon
I like to preach. It's one of the reasons I followed the call in the first place. A big part of my faith is reflection: reflection on life, on faith, on scripture...hence this blog. Since I was ordained to the transitional diaconate this past June, I have been fortunate to preach more often. This has been a blessing and a curse; a blessing because I enjoy preaching, a curse because I find I'm saying the same thing over and over again. I've heard that this is true of all preachers . Even Archbishop Desmond Tutu, arguably one of the best preachers alive, says he only has one sermon, but the last two sermons I've done haven't been all that great (in my opinion).
So today was sermon writing day for Christmas. I'm preaching on Christmas morning, which this year even though its on a Sunday since its Christmas gets Christmas readings: John 1:1-14, the incarnation. I think I did a good job. You'll have to judge for yourself. I'll post it sooner or later. But the message is simple, and infact is Tutu's only sermon: God Loves You!
So today was sermon writing day for Christmas. I'm preaching on Christmas morning, which this year even though its on a Sunday since its Christmas gets Christmas readings: John 1:1-14, the incarnation. I think I did a good job. You'll have to judge for yourself. I'll post it sooner or later. But the message is simple, and infact is Tutu's only sermon: God Loves You!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Heaven?
So, last night I watched most of the Barbara Walters special, "Heaven: Where is it? How Do We Get There?" The interviews were interesting enough, but I felt a wee bit nausous as the show went on. She interviewed several different Christian leaders as well as a couple Muslims, Jews, and the Dali Lama. I must confess that I was left quesy by the statements of the people from the Abrahamic tradition (Christians, Jews, Muslims). Thier views of heaven, or at least what heaven will look like, came across to me as quite self-indulgent. The most common statement was that you could eat all that you wanted and not gain a pound. Whether this is true of heaven or not, it seems to say more about our society than about heaven.
See, the biblical promises of a lands of milk, honey, and mansions of cedar were made to people who had to struggle to survive much harder than vast majority of Americans. Don't get me wrong! There are Americans who don't know where their next meal is coming from, but by and large most of us live in unprecedented oppulance never before seen in history. So, whereas the ancients were promised a land where they would no longer have to struggle intensly just live another day, we want a heaven with a never ending supply of non-caloric chocolate cake.
Since this self-indulgent view of heaven unsettles my stomach, then you might be wondering just what my personal views of heaven are. I do believe that our existence does not end with physical death. Given the biblical conversation about the "next life", this is not a profound statement on my part. However, the reason for the next life, I believe, is not to promise us an eternaty of self-gratification. I believe we are promised a continued existence so that we can be freed to love now in this life on this earth. See, Jesus died becuase he was human. All humans die, but he died the way he died because he loved people. He loved the way we were created to love but have always failed to do. He loved people that weren't supposed to be loved, and that always makes the powers that be nervous. Eventually, he was killed for that love, but that is not the end of the story. Jesus was resurrected to show to us two things: it doesn't end here, and what we do now does affect what comes next.
Jesus was resurrected to free us to love. If there was no resurrection, no new creation, no next life, than why not seek for ourselves all that we can get out this life regardless of what we might do others around us. But if there is another life and it is connected to this one in some way then what we do here matters.
Jesus proclaimed that the most important things we could do on this planet were to love God with heart, mind, and spirit and to love our neighbors as ourselves. No where in that statement is a command to increase our property holdings or investment portfolio. Possessions will not be carried into the next life. But the resurrected Jesus does love; therefore our love is carried over into the next life. So what is important now, what is an investement in our ultimate retirement, is not physical wealth; rather it is the love for others and the ultimate other God.
We are nearing Christmas, and I hope to yet again see the Christ child so that I can continue to learn how to love better, to shed more of my self-indulgance so that I can live better here and in the great beyond.
See, the biblical promises of a lands of milk, honey, and mansions of cedar were made to people who had to struggle to survive much harder than vast majority of Americans. Don't get me wrong! There are Americans who don't know where their next meal is coming from, but by and large most of us live in unprecedented oppulance never before seen in history. So, whereas the ancients were promised a land where they would no longer have to struggle intensly just live another day, we want a heaven with a never ending supply of non-caloric chocolate cake.
Since this self-indulgent view of heaven unsettles my stomach, then you might be wondering just what my personal views of heaven are. I do believe that our existence does not end with physical death. Given the biblical conversation about the "next life", this is not a profound statement on my part. However, the reason for the next life, I believe, is not to promise us an eternaty of self-gratification. I believe we are promised a continued existence so that we can be freed to love now in this life on this earth. See, Jesus died becuase he was human. All humans die, but he died the way he died because he loved people. He loved the way we were created to love but have always failed to do. He loved people that weren't supposed to be loved, and that always makes the powers that be nervous. Eventually, he was killed for that love, but that is not the end of the story. Jesus was resurrected to show to us two things: it doesn't end here, and what we do now does affect what comes next.
Jesus was resurrected to free us to love. If there was no resurrection, no new creation, no next life, than why not seek for ourselves all that we can get out this life regardless of what we might do others around us. But if there is another life and it is connected to this one in some way then what we do here matters.
Jesus proclaimed that the most important things we could do on this planet were to love God with heart, mind, and spirit and to love our neighbors as ourselves. No where in that statement is a command to increase our property holdings or investment portfolio. Possessions will not be carried into the next life. But the resurrected Jesus does love; therefore our love is carried over into the next life. So what is important now, what is an investement in our ultimate retirement, is not physical wealth; rather it is the love for others and the ultimate other God.
We are nearing Christmas, and I hope to yet again see the Christ child so that I can continue to learn how to love better, to shed more of my self-indulgance so that I can live better here and in the great beyond.
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