As I read through all the readings for Lent 1 I'm realizing something; I'm not ready for Lent to come. With this quarter came a new class schedule, a new worship schedule, a new work schedule for my wife, a new lunch routine, and a lot of new stress. I'm still trying to see the light of Christ that is the Season after Epiphany and now I'm about to be asked to dive into Lent, into penatence. I've mentioned a few times that I'm not ready for God to speak to me, and this day is no exception. While the readings for Lent 1 are all extremely joyful, it still means I'm about to look at myself very closely and I've got enough to do.
I'm up to my neck in the water and the liturgical year is about to add some more to the pool. I guess I'll just look for that rainbow.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Oh Crap! (BCP)
A voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
Some of you have heard this story before, so you will have to forgive me for over using it. It was February of 2002 and I was at the Jubilee Conference, sitting in a break-out group for Christian college students studying business. The guy is making some good points (all of which I don't remember - I was preparing to propose to Cassie in mere hours) and then he asks us to find a partner. I sit down with somebody and the leader asks us to think silently for 2 minutes about a question before discussion with our partner.
A voice came from heaven, "Why are you studying business? Is it to further God's kingdom in some way, or to get money and buy stuff?"
And the Spirit immediately drove me out into the wilderness. The only thing I can remember running through my head at that time was "Oh Crap!" You see for 22 years "get money and buy stuff" had been an acceptable answer. Even though I was a Christian, I had at the core of me materialism and the goal of crushing fingers on the corporate ladder. I spent the next two hours sitting on a cold bench near Pittsburgh's Point Park trying to make sense of it all.
Jesus has been there. Mark tells of Jesus hearing the words of God (maybe for the first time - see Dogma), and immediately being driven into the wilderness. Jesus knows the confusion that comes from hearing the voice of God. Jesus knows the temptations that come when the opportunity to run away is out there. Jesus has been there before and Jesus made it through. Jesus through his Holy Spirit helped me make it through that time of great anxiety.
Some of you have heard this story before, so you will have to forgive me for over using it. It was February of 2002 and I was at the Jubilee Conference, sitting in a break-out group for Christian college students studying business. The guy is making some good points (all of which I don't remember - I was preparing to propose to Cassie in mere hours) and then he asks us to find a partner. I sit down with somebody and the leader asks us to think silently for 2 minutes about a question before discussion with our partner.
A voice came from heaven, "Why are you studying business? Is it to further God's kingdom in some way, or to get money and buy stuff?"
And the Spirit immediately drove me out into the wilderness. The only thing I can remember running through my head at that time was "Oh Crap!" You see for 22 years "get money and buy stuff" had been an acceptable answer. Even though I was a Christian, I had at the core of me materialism and the goal of crushing fingers on the corporate ladder. I spent the next two hours sitting on a cold bench near Pittsburgh's Point Park trying to make sense of it all.
Jesus has been there. Mark tells of Jesus hearing the words of God (maybe for the first time - see Dogma), and immediately being driven into the wilderness. Jesus knows the confusion that comes from hearing the voice of God. Jesus knows the temptations that come when the opportunity to run away is out there. Jesus has been there before and Jesus made it through. Jesus through his Holy Spirit helped me make it through that time of great anxiety.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
BCP- Christ as the Ark
I am smitten with the image in 1st Peter. It is simply a stunning image. The very act of Christ's death and resurrection which becomes the very ark which transports us. We like Noah get the opportunity to get on board. Our baptism not as something that cleanses us but more like our passage ticket. This is so much better than two coins on our eyes for the ferryman at the river Styx...this is the invitation to enter into the kingdom now!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
ET Phone Home (BCP)
This weekend Cassie and I were among the volunteer leaders for the youth ministry ski trip at my field education site. We had a blast skiing, snowtubing, and hanging out with the kids. On Saturday night we watched that deep theological classic, ET: Extra Terrestrial through the haze of a fireplace that didn't draw up the chimney well. Between the burning in our eyes and the haze of smoke we were all reminded of that film which gave Stephen Spielberg his big break. On Sunday, we reflected on that deep theological classic, and really had our eyes opened to the latent Judeo-Christian themes running through it. Our final question delt with the final scene as ET's ship takes off and flies away. Do you remember what is seen in the ships trail? A rainbow. We talked at length about what rainbows mean in the Bible. We even argued about who the rainbow served as a reminder to. Does God really need a reminder of his covenant with Noah? I really don't have much to ponder on theologically here, but I just realized that the OT reading for Lent1 includes that passage from Genesis. Maybe for the first time in my life I'll preach on the Old Testament on March 5. For as eight were saved by water in the days of Noah, so too are we saved through death and rebirth in the waters of baptism.
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