Apr 19, 2010
list of seven churches for Paul's letters
reference list: Colosse - Corinth - Ephesus - Galatia - Phillipi - Rome - Thessalonika
Apr 12, 2010
jewels of living from essay series, "This, I Believe"
Many of the world's religions teach the importance of caring for each other, whether it's tending to a close family member or showing compassion for a complete stranger. Click the links below to read how these essayists explore the simple acts of kindness that can enrich our own humanity.
...and from the original essay project in the 1950s (re-created from people in 2005):
fifty thoughtful and inspiring statements of belief by
Harry S. Truman | Helen Keller | Jackie Robinson | Margaret Mead | James Michener
Eleanor Roosevelt ...among others
Harry S. Truman | Helen Keller | Jackie Robinson | Margaret Mead | James Michener
Eleanor Roosevelt ...among others
Apr 6, 2010
dis-Grace vs Grace; Social Justice
Consider the terms disgrace; disgraced; disgraceful. While the root is Grace, somehow there is an imbalance. Grace is about goodness and unconditional love that cannot be earned or compelled. Disgrace is just a Worldly issue of shame or guilt in the eyes of one's peers or even in front of strangers, where the ideal or expected propriety is deliberately or inadvertantly violated. So while grace may touch both worldly and spiritual chords, dis-grace is purely a worldly matter.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Intent is (almost) Everything: what is in your heart is connected to what comes out of your mouth. Yet intention is not enough since "The Road to Hell [or perdition] is paved with good [but beknighted or misguided] intentions."
Social justice, yes; but legislated, no. Once "love your neighbor as yourself" becomes compulsory and on an institutional scale, then it becomes faceless (no-longer a personal act for Doing God's Will) and the interpersonal accountability of social contact (contract) is broken. So let's make our social life better, but not by government-designed programs, except as a last resort when no heart-derived outreach and social justice is forthcoming locally.
Entitlement receiving or obligatory giving differs from voluntary giving or receiving (birthday; Christmas; greeting card company calendar event); cf. murder 1st-2nd-3rd degree v. manslaughter (victim is equally dead in either case, but deed differs by intent).
Dangers of extreme Left or Rightwing political position or religious group: by taking a position then the process of engaging with the Living Word is foreclosed and the individual or the organization is working under its own direction, rather than to remain open to the Will of God. Compare also how the Living Word is sapped of life when church life is routinized or institutionalized (rationalized for maximum efficiency or convenience). The Board & Committee structure create a status quo stability. By contrast the Ministry Team approach puts decisions and consequences into the hands of those present who are engaged (instead of a consumer model of picking and choosing what one finds appealing, now you are the author of the actions and results - a producer model).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Intent is (almost) Everything: what is in your heart is connected to what comes out of your mouth. Yet intention is not enough since "The Road to Hell [or perdition] is paved with good [but beknighted or misguided] intentions."
Social justice, yes; but legislated, no. Once "love your neighbor as yourself" becomes compulsory and on an institutional scale, then it becomes faceless (no-longer a personal act for Doing God's Will) and the interpersonal accountability of social contact (contract) is broken. So let's make our social life better, but not by government-designed programs, except as a last resort when no heart-derived outreach and social justice is forthcoming locally.
Entitlement receiving or obligatory giving differs from voluntary giving or receiving (birthday; Christmas; greeting card company calendar event); cf. murder 1st-2nd-3rd degree v. manslaughter (victim is equally dead in either case, but deed differs by intent).
Dangers of extreme Left or Rightwing political position or religious group: by taking a position then the process of engaging with the Living Word is foreclosed and the individual or the organization is working under its own direction, rather than to remain open to the Will of God. Compare also how the Living Word is sapped of life when church life is routinized or institutionalized (rationalized for maximum efficiency or convenience). The Board & Committee structure create a status quo stability. By contrast the Ministry Team approach puts decisions and consequences into the hands of those present who are engaged (instead of a consumer model of picking and choosing what one finds appealing, now you are the author of the actions and results - a producer model).
Mar 23, 2010
questions for themed reading of Bible
When wrestling with God's word and our response to The World, our group looked at instances of the Holy Spirit during the end of 2009.
Here is a run-down of topics people suggested for the next and future gatherings.
<> fear: when faced with something we don't want; want to do; want to know (surprise)
<> social justice: Do My Work in the World, ...(may) Thy Kingdom Come
<> active part of society, community, public forums
<> marriage: examples that characterize the many faces of relationship; the work to do
<> prayer: how to, typology, examples, translating into our times/terms
<> evil's function and structure - why so much Satan in NT rather than Old
<> hell on $5 a day (instances of this topos)
OTHER IDEAS
<> core Christianity: holding up Congregationalism and other denominations against the basics
<> great missionary episodes past and present (stories passed down; histories; people, places, things)
<> care and feeding of your Christian self: an "owner's manual" for scheduled maintenance over the lifetime of your earthly self, kind of a set of object lessons or case studies wherein a problem comes up and the person responds well or not so well. By swimming in the pool of stories and role models, it instructs us about options when faced with hardship or joy, and ordinary times in-between. Many of us around the table live moment to moment, sometimes self-aware about making what we think is a Christian response, but I suspect few of us make a 90 day plan or 2 year plan for growth goals in our relationship to God and one another. So to scrutinize the landmarks one can use to guide one's purposeful growth should make for rich discussion.
Here is a run-down of topics people suggested for the next and future gatherings.
<> fear: when faced with something we don't want; want to do; want to know (surprise)
<> social justice: Do My Work in the World, ...(may) Thy Kingdom Come
<> active part of society, community, public forums
<> marriage: examples that characterize the many faces of relationship; the work to do
<> prayer: how to, typology, examples, translating into our times/terms
<> evil's function and structure - why so much Satan in NT rather than Old
<> hell on $5 a day (instances of this topos)
OTHER IDEAS
<> core Christianity: holding up Congregationalism and other denominations against the basics
<> great missionary episodes past and present (stories passed down; histories; people, places, things)
<> care and feeding of your Christian self: an "owner's manual" for scheduled maintenance over the lifetime of your earthly self, kind of a set of object lessons or case studies wherein a problem comes up and the person responds well or not so well. By swimming in the pool of stories and role models, it instructs us about options when faced with hardship or joy, and ordinary times in-between. Many of us around the table live moment to moment, sometimes self-aware about making what we think is a Christian response, but I suspect few of us make a 90 day plan or 2 year plan for growth goals in our relationship to God and one another. So to scrutinize the landmarks one can use to guide one's purposeful growth should make for rich discussion.
Jan 19, 2010
Holy Spirit
Reflections for continuing in the guided groups of readings during the Tuesday morning Bible Study to reveal something of the nature and character of the OT God and NT Father - Son - Holy Spirit:
1. The Christ refers to himself as "fulfilled Jew," still within the Chosen People, but carrying out the intent or spirit of the Laws (OT covenant between God and the people) to underline to key message: love your God, love your neighbor as yourself. So the OT lessons about serving and loving God still apply under the New Covenant, but the focus is not maintaining or manipulating Laws, but instead in deed and in heart acting in good faith and from love/charitas.
2. Mere mortals seek to define, delineate, delimit things analytically; but also to establish an emotional response to God. So the distinction of God's various forms and functions is an exercise we are preoccupied with. Yet perhaps for God, there is little sense in making distinctions between the three and one.
3. Looking at the logistical details of the Chosen People multiplying to fill the define boundaries of the Promised Land, there is a kind of organizational logic or efficiency in shifting over the course of the Bible from the portable Tabernacle (God's presence signaled by a pilar of cloud during the day and fire by night), to the permanent installation of the First Temple (Solomon's genius), then fragmentation after the Temple was destroyed by the Romans after the 70 A.D. uprising which led to local "cells" (the synogogue scale of worship), and then the promise of Jesus to reside individually in each person's heart, authorizing each follower to act on behalf of God to do His work.
1. The Christ refers to himself as "fulfilled Jew," still within the Chosen People, but carrying out the intent or spirit of the Laws (OT covenant between God and the people) to underline to key message: love your God, love your neighbor as yourself. So the OT lessons about serving and loving God still apply under the New Covenant, but the focus is not maintaining or manipulating Laws, but instead in deed and in heart acting in good faith and from love/charitas.
2. Mere mortals seek to define, delineate, delimit things analytically; but also to establish an emotional response to God. So the distinction of God's various forms and functions is an exercise we are preoccupied with. Yet perhaps for God, there is little sense in making distinctions between the three and one.
3. Looking at the logistical details of the Chosen People multiplying to fill the define boundaries of the Promised Land, there is a kind of organizational logic or efficiency in shifting over the course of the Bible from the portable Tabernacle (God's presence signaled by a pilar of cloud during the day and fire by night), to the permanent installation of the First Temple (Solomon's genius), then fragmentation after the Temple was destroyed by the Romans after the 70 A.D. uprising which led to local "cells" (the synogogue scale of worship), and then the promise of Jesus to reside individually in each person's heart, authorizing each follower to act on behalf of God to do His work.
Jan 18, 2010
reading Bible in 90 Days (program/materials)
12 weeks from the series "Bible in 90 Days," www.biblein90days.org/support or email, zreview@zondervan.com
Reading cover to cover the New International Version, NIV, about 12 pages per day for 88 days; including lectures on DVD that accompany the materials.
Abbreviations: OT, NT (old testment, new testament)
Week 1: Genesis tells of God making a place where he will dwell (Adam/Eve aren't the main point). Ten Commandments in Exodus reveals something about the lawgiver: "I am Holy; you are meant to be holy, too."
[read: Genesis, Exodus]
Week 2: As transliterated LORD instead of lord, the translation sets this usage apart as a name; not just a title or formality. But modern US citizens are not used to thinking of another person or deity as hierarchical sincethe social pattern is flatter: no one is supposed to be more valuable than another. Exceptions or examples of hierarchy might include words like "boss" or the formal pyramid of military life.
[read: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy]
Week 3: dvd points out- narrative parts of the OT reveal something about the kind of God we have, just as exchanging personal stories help others to define you. So we need to look beyond the instruction or entertainment value of these stories and use these to get to know our God.
[read Joshua, Judges, Ruth, begin 1 Samuel]
Week 4: Prophets appear and call kings to account of the Lord. Prophets are not so much future tellers as accountability experts: some kings help establish God's relationships/wisdom, while others hinder or obstruct that process.
[read 2 Samuel, Kings 1 & 2]
Week 5: In contrast to the master theme of doom and exile in Kings, the replay in Chronicles is the theme of hope.
[read Chronicles 1 & 2, Ezra, Nehemiah]
Week 6: Job's trials show us not to ask "WHY me, why this" (about cause/effect and fairness), but instead to ask "WHAT FOR this" (future purpose; wisdom unfolding or revealed). Psalms are either LAMENTING, or PRAISING.
[read Esther, Job, Psalms to #89]
Week 7: "Wisdom Books" say the foundation for wisdom is Fear of the Lord (putting you in your small place in the universe and filled with awe). There are some important differences when describing Understanding (wide-angle, big-picture view of all the parts working together), Wisdom (applying knowledge to a specific situation), and Discernment (recognize value or dangers)
[read Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs]
Week 8:
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Reading cover to cover the New International Version, NIV, about 12 pages per day for 88 days; including lectures on DVD that accompany the materials.
Abbreviations: OT, NT (old testment, new testament)
Week 1: Genesis tells of God making a place where he will dwell (Adam/Eve aren't the main point). Ten Commandments in Exodus reveals something about the lawgiver: "I am Holy; you are meant to be holy, too."
[read: Genesis, Exodus]
Week 2: As transliterated LORD instead of lord, the translation sets this usage apart as a name; not just a title or formality. But modern US citizens are not used to thinking of another person or deity as hierarchical sincethe social pattern is flatter: no one is supposed to be more valuable than another. Exceptions or examples of hierarchy might include words like "boss" or the formal pyramid of military life.
[read: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy]
Week 3: dvd points out- narrative parts of the OT reveal something about the kind of God we have, just as exchanging personal stories help others to define you. So we need to look beyond the instruction or entertainment value of these stories and use these to get to know our God.
[read Joshua, Judges, Ruth, begin 1 Samuel]
Week 4: Prophets appear and call kings to account of the Lord. Prophets are not so much future tellers as accountability experts: some kings help establish God's relationships/wisdom, while others hinder or obstruct that process.
[read 2 Samuel, Kings 1 & 2]
Week 5: In contrast to the master theme of doom and exile in Kings, the replay in Chronicles is the theme of hope.
[read Chronicles 1 & 2, Ezra, Nehemiah]
Week 6: Job's trials show us not to ask "WHY me, why this" (about cause/effect and fairness), but instead to ask "WHAT FOR this" (future purpose; wisdom unfolding or revealed). Psalms are either LAMENTING, or PRAISING.
[read Esther, Job, Psalms to #89]
Week 7: "Wisdom Books" say the foundation for wisdom is Fear of the Lord (putting you in your small place in the universe and filled with awe). There are some important differences when describing Understanding (wide-angle, big-picture view of all the parts working together), Wisdom (applying knowledge to a specific situation), and Discernment (recognize value or dangers)
[read Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs]
Week 8:
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Dec 26, 2009
December notes, Men's Bible Study
Tues. Men's Bible Study, 12.22.2009
*What to do when disillusioned or loss of taste for the Jesus & God story?
-Stay in the game: show up; routines
-Go back to the raw wonder
-Doubt is flipside of Belief; fear not
-
-
-
*Must one read to access the message of the church? Or is spoken word sufficient? Before mass literacy and printing of household Bibles, were those people missing part of the fullness of the Jesus story and the books that came before him?
*To know and love God it seems that we should follow ALL paths that can teach us, including writings not included in the current editions of the Bible such as minor prophets, but also the writing and thinking of Islam and Judaism.
*How to skim off the custom and clutter from the essential message(s)?-strip what is modern/unneeded-use the "WWJD?" seeing tool
-compare other denominations for underlying shared bedrock-personalize: own scale & options
-
-
*What to do when disillusioned or loss of taste for the Jesus & God story?
-Stay in the game: show up; routines
-Go back to the raw wonder
-Doubt is flipside of Belief; fear not
-
-
-
*Must one read to access the message of the church? Or is spoken word sufficient? Before mass literacy and printing of household Bibles, were those people missing part of the fullness of the Jesus story and the books that came before him?
*To know and love God it seems that we should follow ALL paths that can teach us, including writings not included in the current editions of the Bible such as minor prophets, but also the writing and thinking of Islam and Judaism.
*How to skim off the custom and clutter from the essential message(s)?-strip what is modern/unneeded-use the "WWJD?" seeing tool
-compare other denominations for underlying shared bedrock-personalize: own scale & options
-
-
May 5, 2009
church >people >God >church
Thinking about church-going and Bible reading, it occurs to me that while I find meaning in the printed words, it is the periodic worshipping with familiar faces and names that is even more meaningful to me. Abstracting from that I imagine that the institution and the outline that church building, order of service and programming all give to one's week and annual cycle is a "means," while it is the people thereby brought into relationship with each other that is the ends. Going further, though, you can say that those relationships with fellow sojourners of this life is, in turn, a means through which each of us gets into relationship with God; it allows us each in the ways we know best to make "Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven." So the institution is about the people, because working with and knowing the people IS expressing God's love.
The convolution of church is about people, but people is about God, and God is about church seems to return to the starting place; not gaining any ground. But still this exercise helps me to hold the parts of the equation up to the light to see what they are.
The convolution of church is about people, but people is about God, and God is about church seems to return to the starting place; not gaining any ground. But still this exercise helps me to hold the parts of the equation up to the light to see what they are.
Apr 7, 2009
hearing versus only listening to the Bible
"leaps of association"
Thinking about the Palm Sunday vesper service a few days ago here in urban Japan, I had the curious feeling of vaguely being able to follow the Order of Service and to recognize some of the phrases of familiar Bible passages. But later I got to thinking: I wonder how well the Aramaic worldview transfers to the Japanese language in general, and to the 21st century Japanese lives in particular? The next moment I began to wonder the same about English: just because the sentences seem crystal clear as written, perhaps we are missing something important. Then a few days later it dawned on me: the way language is wrapped in social habits and ways of seeing things works something like the following.
As with books, movies and song lyrics, so also perhaps with the Bible: we tend to identify with certain parts. We tend to hear the parts that reinforce what we already hold true, whether it is the "Good" parts (for Americans that might be scenes that demonstrate when a person is strong, independent and with a confident optimism about outcomes; for Japanese that might be the parts that demonstrate group solidarity, awareness of hierarchy and propriety), or it is the "Bad" parts that we accept as things not to condone or strive for (for Americans that might be damaging property or rights; for Japanese that might be inconveniencing others). So it seems our minds sift the episodes and parables of the Bible for the parts that "make sense" to our existing language/society. By extension we are culturally blind to the parts that seem inscrutable, nonsensical or strange and foreign to us.
If all this is true, then here is a powerful reformative exercise for one and all - in study groups tasked with separate incidents to grapple with, or as lone pilgrims wrestling with a set of "exercises." Start by sifting out all the parts that get quickly passed over, or seem plain odd or aberrant. Those represent one region of unknown terrain for which we have no clue or tools to begin to make sense of. Then form a subset of parts that are not exactly recognizable to our modern, culturally rooted minds, but we kind of understand the intent and consequence involved. These are the middle ground where our footing is not fully firm, but neither are we adrift: visually you can think of a marsh or wetland (not quicksand, mind you). After working through these sort-of-odd bits, then maybe it is possible to step a little further away from the warm dry land that we normally tread and work through the inconvenient parts that just don't resonate with us, and that we can't readily identify in.
Nov 8, 2008
French wedding photo, 2008 stone sanctuary
Looking at this photo from a the August wedding of friend's youngest child raised several questions in my mind. There is the stone church many centuries old; there are the nieces and nephews of the extended family, along with other children growing swiftly each on his or her own trajectory; there are the bright colors and festive hats worn by grown women, as well as the flowers and the Persian rug laid over the cool stone floor.
1. Is church experience mainly about the building and procedures lending continuity and persistence to the institution? How best to reconcile the core message of Christianity (love thy God; love thy neighbor as thyself) with the physical facts of maintaining the physical and social institution/infrastructure of the Religion? Do the material facts support or distract from these uppermost aims?
2. The transience of the wedding ceremony: at this frozen moment in time all is clear and happy, but the viccitudes of time, aging and death as well as birth contrast sharply with the appearance of unchangeability of the stone architecture.
1. Is church experience mainly about the building and procedures lending continuity and persistence to the institution? How best to reconcile the core message of Christianity (love thy God; love thy neighbor as thyself) with the physical facts of maintaining the physical and social institution/infrastructure of the Religion? Do the material facts support or distract from these uppermost aims?
2. The transience of the wedding ceremony: at this frozen moment in time all is clear and happy, but the viccitudes of time, aging and death as well as birth contrast sharply with the appearance of unchangeability of the stone architecture.
Feb 5, 2008
sermon reflections 3 Feb 2008
MWOlson's sermon, "God Butts In" and examples of grace:
-Word roots (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) for grace?
-Old Testament instances of the word or concept? cf. 'blessing' (something that a person in power has the discretion to bestow)
-Related words (English): graceful, graceless, disgrace, (no) saving grace
-Related words (non-English): muchas gracias (Spanish for "many thanks given"), merci (French for "thanks bestowed")
-Related concepts: mercy, karitas (charity or Christian love), blessing
-Dynamic shifts in core and the connotated meanings as evidenced in key (English) texts of AD 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2000?
-Expressions of grace compared for Father, for Son, for Holy Ghost (does grace pertain to each)?
-Grace evidenced for Big Figures: Moses, Isaiah, Paul, Jesus?
-Old Testament vs. New Testament instances of grace?
-Grace examples or references in Psalms? Proverbs? (Jewish) Laws?
-Word roots (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) for grace?
-Old Testament instances of the word or concept? cf. 'blessing' (something that a person in power has the discretion to bestow)
-Related words (English): graceful, graceless, disgrace, (no) saving grace
-Related words (non-English): muchas gracias (Spanish for "many thanks given"), merci (French for "thanks bestowed")
-Related concepts: mercy, karitas (charity or Christian love), blessing
-Dynamic shifts in core and the connotated meanings as evidenced in key (English) texts of AD 400, 800, 1200, 1600, 2000?
-Expressions of grace compared for Father, for Son, for Holy Ghost (does grace pertain to each)?
-Grace evidenced for Big Figures: Moses, Isaiah, Paul, Jesus?
-Old Testament vs. New Testament instances of grace?
-Grace examples or references in Psalms? Proverbs? (Jewish) Laws?
bill moyers amazing grace (1990)
Amazing Grace With Bill Moyers Television show
http://tv.yahoo.com/amazing-grace-with-bill-moyers/show/2033
This unique program presents adaptations of an enduring hymn, from country music to gospel to folk, in one of PBS' highest-rated programs ever. Judy Collins sings in Columbia's St. Paul's Chapel, then recalls how "Amazing Grace" carried her past alcoholism. Jessye Norman sends "Amazing Grace" soaring across Manhattan Center footlights.
Watch video - 1 min 56 sec - www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3KpoQaJ8Ok
http://tv.yahoo.com/amazing-grace-with-bill-moyers/show/2033
This unique program presents adaptations of an enduring hymn, from country music to gospel to folk, in one of PBS' highest-rated programs ever. Judy Collins sings in Columbia's St. Paul's Chapel, then recalls how "Amazing Grace" carried her past alcoholism. Jessye Norman sends "Amazing Grace" soaring across Manhattan Center footlights.
Watch video - 1 min 56 sec - www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3KpoQaJ8Ok
pbs tv 2007, Bill Moyers on Amish grace
October 5, 2007 (http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/profile4.html)
October 2 marked the one-year anniversary of the shootings in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania that left five girls dead and five wounded. Non-Amish observers have expressed surprise at the community's quickness to forgive the murderer — a sentiment the community reiterated in an anniversary statement, a statement which also stressed the community's wish for privacy: "The Amish do not wish publicity for doing what Jesus taught and want to make sure that glory is given to God for that witness...forgiveness is a journey... you need help from your community and from God...to make and hold on to a decision to not become a hostage to hostility. It is understood that hostility destroys community." -- read the full statement, (PDF) http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/statement.pdf
TRANSCRIPT, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/transcript4.html
VIDEO, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/watch4.html
October 2 marked the one-year anniversary of the shootings in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania that left five girls dead and five wounded. Non-Amish observers have expressed surprise at the community's quickness to forgive the murderer — a sentiment the community reiterated in an anniversary statement, a statement which also stressed the community's wish for privacy: "The Amish do not wish publicity for doing what Jesus taught and want to make sure that glory is given to God for that witness...forgiveness is a journey... you need help from your community and from God...to make and hold on to a decision to not become a hostage to hostility. It is understood that hostility destroys community." -- read the full statement, (PDF) http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/statement.pdf
TRANSCRIPT, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/transcript4.html
VIDEO, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10052007/watch4.html
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