I can not encourage you strongly enough to go to Steve Berg's blog Grow Mercy.
It is choca-block full of amazing insights into the meaning of Christ's sacrifice.
It will astound you, unnerve you, and turn you, and turn you around till you at last come
out right.
Or maybe not but, Hey, it might
So give Steve a visit today at
http://growmercy.org/
It will be time, and intellectual and spiritual energy well spent.
I guarantee it.
(If you want your time back, you can look me up in eternity for the refund. I'll be two blocks East of the Pearly Gates.)
If I need one last point to make the sale
Steve has a post called, pssst, come closer, its called
'The Bible's Sex Issue'
It's a dilly.
I'll see you over at Steve's place.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
An Emergent Commentary
Here is a commentary on the book of Amos translated for 2006 I found on the Resonate internet chat space.
I heartily endorse its message.
Willzhead writes a targum from Amos..
Amos, For Our Times
Reading the book of Amos, specifically 5:18-27, inspired the followingpiece.
I wondered what God might say to the contemporary AmericanChurch. This is one suggestion:_____ God, Speaking To the American Church:
You spend too much time thinking about and wishing for the end of theworld. Why are you so anxious to bring about God's judgment? And what kinds of people have you become, thinking the world will end tomorrow?
In your arrogance and laziness you have forgotten why I placed you here.You have endless conferences and seminars on how to do church, but you have forgotten to be the church, a people who faithfully live as analternative community, pointing all people toward Me through lovingservice.
You have grown rich exploiting the poor. You bring a tiny pittance ofthat money back to Me and say, "God, you have been so good to us." But your money smells like crap in My nostrils. It sickens Me and I don't want it. Give it back to the poor from which it came.
You grow more food than you need by destroying the very soil I gave you to tend. You sit down to a sumptuous buffet and say, "Look how God hasblessed us." I have not blessed you. I have left you to your own destruction.
There will come a day when the womb of the earth will no longer produceand the poor will rise up and pledge never to sew a cheap garment again.You will grow hungry and your shopping malls will close. Then you wil lturn to Me and cry, "God, why have you rejected us?" And I will say, "I have not rejected you. I have been here all along, waiting for your return."
So turn your face toward Me now. Seek after Me. Live out My commands. Do you want to be people after My own heart? Then care for the poor, the needy, the marginalized, those for whom My heart has always beat loudly.
Cease your endless Bible studies, searching for the answer to righteous living. Commit yourselves to following what I already told you to do. Don't believe you are pursuing Me if you are not seeking to do justice. Care for the planet. You have become so worried about who might also advocate this course of action that you forgot it was one of My first commandments to you. Tend well what I have given you. Seek the welfare of your community. As people in exile, your future and the future of the place you live are one and the same.
So make yourworld more whole, that you might be more holy. And live in love. I had hoped you would get that message when My Son joined humanity and demonstrated sacrificial love in action. But you are so worried about His return that you forget why He came. Be a people shaped by the model of Jesus, not just the prospect of escaping theworld I have asked you to help heal.
I heartily endorse its message.
Willzhead writes a targum from Amos..
Amos, For Our Times
Reading the book of Amos, specifically 5:18-27, inspired the followingpiece.
I wondered what God might say to the contemporary AmericanChurch. This is one suggestion:_____ God, Speaking To the American Church:
You spend too much time thinking about and wishing for the end of theworld. Why are you so anxious to bring about God's judgment? And what kinds of people have you become, thinking the world will end tomorrow?
In your arrogance and laziness you have forgotten why I placed you here.You have endless conferences and seminars on how to do church, but you have forgotten to be the church, a people who faithfully live as analternative community, pointing all people toward Me through lovingservice.
You have grown rich exploiting the poor. You bring a tiny pittance ofthat money back to Me and say, "God, you have been so good to us." But your money smells like crap in My nostrils. It sickens Me and I don't want it. Give it back to the poor from which it came.
You grow more food than you need by destroying the very soil I gave you to tend. You sit down to a sumptuous buffet and say, "Look how God hasblessed us." I have not blessed you. I have left you to your own destruction.
There will come a day when the womb of the earth will no longer produceand the poor will rise up and pledge never to sew a cheap garment again.You will grow hungry and your shopping malls will close. Then you wil lturn to Me and cry, "God, why have you rejected us?" And I will say, "I have not rejected you. I have been here all along, waiting for your return."
So turn your face toward Me now. Seek after Me. Live out My commands. Do you want to be people after My own heart? Then care for the poor, the needy, the marginalized, those for whom My heart has always beat loudly.
Cease your endless Bible studies, searching for the answer to righteous living. Commit yourselves to following what I already told you to do. Don't believe you are pursuing Me if you are not seeking to do justice. Care for the planet. You have become so worried about who might also advocate this course of action that you forgot it was one of My first commandments to you. Tend well what I have given you. Seek the welfare of your community. As people in exile, your future and the future of the place you live are one and the same.
So make yourworld more whole, that you might be more holy. And live in love. I had hoped you would get that message when My Son joined humanity and demonstrated sacrificial love in action. But you are so worried about His return that you forget why He came. Be a people shaped by the model of Jesus, not just the prospect of escaping theworld I have asked you to help heal.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Brown Pants (in honour of Talk Like a Pirate Day)
Once upon a time, long ago, there lived a sailor named Captain Bravo. He was a manly man's man, who showed no fear when facing his enemies.
One day, while sailing the Seven Seas, his lookout spotted a pirate ship, and the crew became frantic.Captain Bravo bellowed, "Bring me my red shirt!" The first mate quickly retrieved the captain's red shirt, and while wearing the brightly colored frock, the Captain led his crew into battle and defeated the pirates.
That evening, all the men sat around on the deck recounting the day's triumph. One of them asked the Captain, "Sir, why did you call for your red shirt before battle?"The captain replied, "If I am wounded in the attack, the shirt will not show my blood. Thus, you men will continue to fight, unafraid."All of the men sat in and marveled at the courage of such a manly man's man.
As dawn came the next morning, the lookout spotted not one, not two, but TEN pirate ships approaching. The crew stared in worshipful silence at the captain and waited for his usual orders.Captain Bravo gazed with steely eyes upon the vast armada arrayed against his ship, and without fear, turned and calmly shouted,
"Get me my brown pants!"
Monday, September 18, 2006
Eye of Faith
Speaking of the eye of faith. Some have called this Hubble telescope picture the 'Eye of God'.
There is a lot of excess colour, design and beauty in the universe. And beauty that is often inaccessible to the human eye.
Why is that?
Beauty may be a path that leads to a personal and artistic creator. We need to appreciate it wherever we find it. C.S. Lewis spoke in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy about the role aesthetics played in his conversion. Someday I may tell you about my testimony which might be called, 'Saved by a Duck'. (It has to do with fragrant spring air, abeautiful pond full of Gold Fish, a ray of golden sunlight, and a Mallard's head.)
LH
There is a lot of excess colour, design and beauty in the universe. And beauty that is often inaccessible to the human eye.
Why is that?
Beauty may be a path that leads to a personal and artistic creator. We need to appreciate it wherever we find it. C.S. Lewis spoke in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy about the role aesthetics played in his conversion. Someday I may tell you about my testimony which might be called, 'Saved by a Duck'. (It has to do with fragrant spring air, abeautiful pond full of Gold Fish, a ray of golden sunlight, and a Mallard's head.)
LH
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Apparently the friend I mentioned in an earlier post has decided
My friend has decided that belief is not possible. It is very sad to witness this development. To find unending fault with the church, theologians, preachers, evangelists, poorly worked out theologies, the bad consequences caused by domineering personalities making their interpretation of scripture more important than the human being who is asking us honest, hard questions is perfectly understandable. Heck I am the biggest fault finder I know ....... but for this person to lose sight of and faith in Jesus is indeed a great sorrow. One thing I can not conclude and will not let any casual reader of this post conclude is that this person has not reached their conclusion of unbelief in a way that was not fairminded, honest, intelligent and compassionate.
Unbelievers can be of the highest character(as this person is) and to question their motives and attack their reasoning without actually understanding their honest and exhaustive struggle to know the truth actually rebounds to the dishonour of our faith.
It seems that the question of why certain promises attributed to Jesus in the gospels have not been fulfilled, specifically the question of why there are no verified reports of restored missing limbs was the final stake in my friend's heart of faith.
If Jesus said; 'when two or three agree in prayer for anything it will be done for you', or; 'if you ask anything in my name and I will do it for you', then why so many unanswered prayers, why no restored missing limbs? The conclusion this person came to was that Jesus' words, as recorded in scripture, are not true, ergo Jesus is not the Son of God and the religion based on his teachings is false.
The questions honest unbelievers ask are haunting and difficult. Why suffering? Why so little difference between suffering as a consequence of bad behaviour and suffering that is random and undeserved? Why are not the words of Jesus in the Bible actually verified in the lives of devout and serious believer's? If those words are true and verified in believers' lives, then why haven't devout and serious believer's been asking and getting new limbs for amputees', or relief for infants who suffer from diseases and woundings, neglect and unspeakable abuses at the hands of twisted and evil adults, and twisted and evil genes? Why doesn't God intervene?
If all it takes is a good believing prayer, then why aren't Christians making those prayers?
If not for the person of Jesus
I have encountered in scripture,
in the life of my mother,
and in my own spirit
I would stand with my unbelieving friend
and declare my own state of apostasy.
Faith is not easy or self evident. I suggest we have patience for those who struggle to believe but can not. They are not all willfully blind as we sometimes say. Seeing the invisible is no mean feat and can only be accomplished when the gift of new eyes has been given and received.
If someone you know is a person of integrity and unbelief don't question their motives, just ask for your heart to be open to them and for their eyes to be opened to what you believe you have witnessed with eyes that see the invisible.
Unbelievers can be of the highest character(as this person is) and to question their motives and attack their reasoning without actually understanding their honest and exhaustive struggle to know the truth actually rebounds to the dishonour of our faith.
It seems that the question of why certain promises attributed to Jesus in the gospels have not been fulfilled, specifically the question of why there are no verified reports of restored missing limbs was the final stake in my friend's heart of faith.
If Jesus said; 'when two or three agree in prayer for anything it will be done for you', or; 'if you ask anything in my name and I will do it for you', then why so many unanswered prayers, why no restored missing limbs? The conclusion this person came to was that Jesus' words, as recorded in scripture, are not true, ergo Jesus is not the Son of God and the religion based on his teachings is false.
The questions honest unbelievers ask are haunting and difficult. Why suffering? Why so little difference between suffering as a consequence of bad behaviour and suffering that is random and undeserved? Why are not the words of Jesus in the Bible actually verified in the lives of devout and serious believer's? If those words are true and verified in believers' lives, then why haven't devout and serious believer's been asking and getting new limbs for amputees', or relief for infants who suffer from diseases and woundings, neglect and unspeakable abuses at the hands of twisted and evil adults, and twisted and evil genes? Why doesn't God intervene?
If all it takes is a good believing prayer, then why aren't Christians making those prayers?
If not for the person of Jesus
I have encountered in scripture,
in the life of my mother,
and in my own spirit
I would stand with my unbelieving friend
and declare my own state of apostasy.
Faith is not easy or self evident. I suggest we have patience for those who struggle to believe but can not. They are not all willfully blind as we sometimes say. Seeing the invisible is no mean feat and can only be accomplished when the gift of new eyes has been given and received.
If someone you know is a person of integrity and unbelief don't question their motives, just ask for your heart to be open to them and for their eyes to be opened to what you believe you have witnessed with eyes that see the invisible.
LH
Monday, September 04, 2006
Labour Day Special
This goes out to my friends who have honestly laboured to understand the Christian Faith.. Some have concluded that they can no longer believe, others are honestly questioning aspects of the Christianity but are holding on to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith, and some are blissfully unaware that there are any legitimate questions . Most of the unaware are wonderful Christians who live their faith in a genuine way and treat people as precious to God and themselves.
But some others have a more disagreeable mindset. They may have fallen victim to manipulative teachers and now pass on the distortions and deceptions they have been taught. You may have heard them say something like this, 'God said it (meaning, the jots and tittles of Bible. If any of these jots or tittles contradict the spirit and teachings of Christ, well they can live with that and you'd better too), I believe it (meaning, a highschool dropout told them what it means and they said if Christians don't believe it like the dropout taught it then they're going to be kindling for the devil's fireplace), so that settles it (their personal salvation is on the line here. Don't bother them with facts or sound reasoning because they and God can beat up any dissenters and they firmly believe that reality bows before them and their interpretations of those difficult jots and tittles) .
I love those who do not understand but still believe and I sympathize with those whose commitment to integrity and reason tell them they can not accept the Christian story as they understand it at this time.
But I am deeply troubled by those who in willful and perhaps malevolent ignorance declare that their thoughts are God's thoughts and their ways are God's ways and anyone who questions that is a spawn of Hell deserving extreme everlasting unpleasantness.
If you are one of those 'my way or the Hiway' Christian teachers, I say unto you, Try a little honest labour. To those who honestly wrestle with the scriptures, their personal experiences, and the world as it is coming to be understood by rational enquiry, I say unto you, your labour is not in vain. To those who have not found reason to remain in the faith I invite you to continue to wrestle and to be open to a new information and experiences. Perhaps the evidence of religious experience may become available to you and make the balance between faith and doubt move towards a different conclusion than you hold today.
In honour of this Labour Day I give you some materials to labour upon.
Job 9:29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?Job 9:28-30
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Isaiah 49:4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Psalm 127:1-3
1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Isaiah 65:23
23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Galatians 4:11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:10 10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Philippians 2:16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
May you someday hear the great WorkMan of creation say; "Well done my good and faithful labourer."
But some others have a more disagreeable mindset. They may have fallen victim to manipulative teachers and now pass on the distortions and deceptions they have been taught. You may have heard them say something like this, 'God said it (meaning, the jots and tittles of Bible. If any of these jots or tittles contradict the spirit and teachings of Christ, well they can live with that and you'd better too), I believe it (meaning, a highschool dropout told them what it means and they said if Christians don't believe it like the dropout taught it then they're going to be kindling for the devil's fireplace), so that settles it (their personal salvation is on the line here. Don't bother them with facts or sound reasoning because they and God can beat up any dissenters and they firmly believe that reality bows before them and their interpretations of those difficult jots and tittles) .
I love those who do not understand but still believe and I sympathize with those whose commitment to integrity and reason tell them they can not accept the Christian story as they understand it at this time.
But I am deeply troubled by those who in willful and perhaps malevolent ignorance declare that their thoughts are God's thoughts and their ways are God's ways and anyone who questions that is a spawn of Hell deserving extreme everlasting unpleasantness.
If you are one of those 'my way or the Hiway' Christian teachers, I say unto you, Try a little honest labour. To those who honestly wrestle with the scriptures, their personal experiences, and the world as it is coming to be understood by rational enquiry, I say unto you, your labour is not in vain. To those who have not found reason to remain in the faith I invite you to continue to wrestle and to be open to a new information and experiences. Perhaps the evidence of religious experience may become available to you and make the balance between faith and doubt move towards a different conclusion than you hold today.
In honour of this Labour Day I give you some materials to labour upon.
Job 9:29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?Job 9:28-30
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Isaiah 49:4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Psalm 127:1-3
1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Isaiah 65:23
23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Galatians 4:11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:10 10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Philippians 2:16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
May you someday hear the great WorkMan of creation say; "Well done my good and faithful labourer."
LH
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