“Community is “a deep form of togetherness and love found when we embark on a common mission of discovery, when we encounter danger together and have to find each other in the process in order to survive” — Alan Hirsh, The Forgotten Ways, 240. I used this quote in a blog I wrote for the seminary about community life on a commuter campus.
I was working on some assigned reading last week and I turned to google to define a word I was not familiar with. Now two google features are involved in the above picture. First, you can type “define:” and a word to search for definitions. Second, google will suggest the top results people searched for. Therefore, the picture above are the top word results people are looking up. These can say some interesting things about our culture and world today. Each of these are revealing, but the one that captured me was “love” and “ethics.” With the broad use of both these words today it is no wonder people need stock definitions of these words. Ethics have become more situational, meaning that you determine what is right based on what seems best to you in that time and place. And love, wow! Just look at a Lady GaGa song set to see how she defines love. It is no wonder we are confused.
If anything, this list points to a reality in which people are searching for definitions. This is a postmodern world, where many things are always in flux. But, people still want a base to work from. We need solid definitions of love and ethics which we can operate from in different situations. I hope as a pastor I can help to define the words of our day in light of the Bible, so the congregation (and I) can live into these words in our life and work. Maybe we can make an impact on the culture!
Books for Spring 10 Classes
Looking forward to the lineup for Spring semester at Asbury Seminary Florida. First five books from the left are for Public Theology: Engaging the World (online). The next two are the major texts for Exegesis of Psalms. The next book is a reference for Theology and Practice of Preaching. The last book on the right…essential for each class!
“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence” — from biologist John Logsdon in an interview on NPR this mornign talking about the bdelloid rotifer. Very interesting story about the mating habits, or lack there of, in this worm. However, the quote reminded me that just because I do not see God working in me, the world, or others at times does not mean that He is absent. Just because I am at work and I do not see anyone else here, does not mean no one else exists. The truth is, the rest of the of the staff is busy working…unseen. Encouraging reminder that we worship a God who is always at work, despite our perspective.
Chittister’s work is written from her years of living life through the liturgical calendar. Her perspective is distinctly catholic, but presented in a manner that welcomes a protestant, like myself, to join in. She writes for the everyday person. After all, liturgy is “the work of the people,” and The Liturgical Year aims to engage the everyday follower of Jesus to follow His everyday life. Chittister presents a summary view of the calendar, dedicating a few pages to each movement. Though the approach is broad, one cannot help but linger over the depth of experience in her words. Here is a glimpse into the life of one who has found an ever closer walk with Jesus through the disciple. Even the most non-liturgical reader cannot help but walk away with a desire to “taste and see” how the Lord might work through acts of remembrance. In a world that runs from one thing to the next, with little time for serious reflection, Chittister’s work provides another way. The Liturgical Year is a call to probe the depths of God and not settle for quick, surface level answers. The offer is to find our ever changing life rooted in the unchanging example of Jesus’ life.
I had the opportunity this past weekend to preach at Aloma UMC in Winter Park. I was following a Christmas/Advent theme, and my topic was the “Gift of Love.” I worked from Matthew 1:18-25. Below is a blog form of the message.
Background
This passage fits nicely with Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus from Mary’s point of view. There is no contradiction in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, instead, we are looking at the same event through a different window. In Luke 1:56 we find that Mary spent the first 3 months of her pregnancy with Elizabeth. In the 4th month she returned to Bethlehem, and Joseph. According to Google, women will begin to show the “baby bump” somewhere between month 3 and 5. Whether Joseph noticed Mary or if she told him of the baby, we do not know. We are told that somehow, Joseph found out.
Matthew tells us that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but they had not yet come together in a physical way (v.18). Then, in v.19 we find out Joseph is called Mary’s husband. Our modern understanding of marriage does not do justice to the story. In Jewish culture a woman and man would be married but still live separate for the first year. At the end of the year, the groom and his entourage would walk to the bride’s house, where the whole wedding party would travel back to the groom’s house, or his parent’s house, for the wedding feast. After the meal, the marriage would be consummated. Therefore, it is safe to say they were married, but had not yet consummated. The response of Joseph even confirms he is not the father.
The fact that Mary was found to be pregnant before coming together with her husband would have cast serious social and religious stigma on her. Joseph understood the predicament, but wanted to be faithful to the law of God. His decision to divorce her quietly is a last ditch attempt to give Mary some shred of dignity and hope of a decent life. Mary was facing a life of begging and prostitution had Joseph revealed her pregnancy.
BUT, after making his decision, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel tells him not to be afraid, the child is from the Holy Spirit, and he should take Mary as his wife. Joseph would have a lot to fear in staying with Mary. Fear of social outcast, remarks and glares at the market, loss of business, and religious separation from the community. But the name to be given to the baby would have given him great hope, “give him the name Jesus, God with us.” The angel was assuring Joseph they had the blessing of God with them.
This baby would in fact save the people of Israel, and the world. Not from Roman rulership, high taxes or injustices. The primary mission of Jesus would be to save us from our sin, that ultimate issue at core of every person. God with thinking big picture.
This story is about the Gift of Love, Jesus Christ, who brakes into everyday and ordinary lives in miraculous ways.
A Look at the Newspaper.
Last week, Pastor Andy talked about Joy, and wrapped a present with the top headlines of the day; financial disaster, health care reform, celebrity scandal, job loss, etc. These things rob our joy. But these headlines are everywhere and become everyday and ordinary parts of our lives. So I conducted an experiment. I bought a copy of the Orlando Sentinel because I believe that God actually does break into ordinary life in miraculous ways, so I wanted to see how God was at work. Out of about 100-150 articles, I found 4 stories of God at work, here are 3:
Headlines
These stories were not on the front page. They were small stories, stuck in the back of the newspaper. None of these will make a list of “top stories of 2009.” However, I guarantee these are leading headlines in the lives of the people involved! The birth event of Jesus was not a big story to most of Israel, the city of Bethlehem was not a leading place. But, the ordinary event of Jesus’ birth was the gift of love breaking into a world which needed it. Jesus came to share the love of God to everyday people living in ordinary lives. Newspapers will not catch many of these stories, but a careful eye can see how God is working in the lives of individuals and communities to transform them. First, to deal with our sin, and then to bring abundant life.
Question: How has the love of God broken into your ordinary life this Advent/Christmas season?
Be on the lookout, and Merry Christmas!
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“Unmanaged time flows toward my weaknesses” — Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World
“The Spirit is like seeing a friend at a party and saying to him, “Oh, I didn’t even know you were here.” and He responds with a smile, “Yea, I’m hosting the party.” — Dr. Thomas Buchan
“The Methodist movement started on a college campus.” — Will Willimon. Studying the Bible as Wesleyans. Podcast.
Willimon was not directly talking about campus ministry, he was preaching on the success which started the Methodist movement and carries it to today. It was at the University of Oxford, where John Wesley was preparing for the priesthood, where the Methodist movement started. Wesley noticed the common people were not welcome in the Anglican Church. His work grew out of his great love for his fellow country men and women. It is interesting to note that Wesley was not interested in starting a new denomination. He died as a Anglican priest, Methodism sprang up later. Wesley aimed to build up the established church, not tear it down.
The college campus needs to be (re)realized as a key place of revitalization of our denominations. College students have a keen sense of idealism, motivation, and enthusiasm to reform the church. They want to see their denominations be God’s agent in the world. Unfortunately, many denominations are reporting a staggering downturn in the number of young people entering ordained ministry. One of several reasons is the lack of voice young adults are allowed. Think about it, do you continue to share your ideas with someone who brushes you off/shoots you down every time? Yea, me neither. I am encouraged by the work of denominations, especially my state conference who is making efforts to create space for youth and young adults to voice their thoughts. Allowing open dialogue between churches and college campuses will foster a powerful combination of idealism and life experience. The combination will prompt change, with the knowledge of how to carry it out. The acceptance of the voices of college students as critics of the church will dissuade them from jumping the denomination ship. This is one way we provide our denominations a steady source of strong leaders for generations to come.