In my morning prayers this past week I was reading through the last chapters of Leviticus. Chapter 25 has always been one of my favorites, with its detailed description of the Year of Jubilee. This was a "sabbath of sabbaths," the great 50th year following the sabbath of sabbath years (7 x 7). The emphasis of this Jubilee seems to be the return of everything back to how God intended it. Land is returned, relationships are restored, etc. It is a literal enactment, though perhaps only a taste, of the final Day of the Lord where God will be all in all.
The Jubilee Year got me to thinking about forgiveness. In Matthew 18:21-22 Saint Peter asks our Lord Jesus how often he should do this forgiveness thing. Some translations give Jesus' answer as: "77 times." I once heard someone say: "Anyone who has been married for more than a year has already hit that number!" A better translation is the more difficult 70 times 7, pointing us not just to 490 times (still keeping track!) but to an impossibly perfect number. If seven is the number of perfection, then 70 times 7 points us to perfection squared... and then some. In other words, something like the Year of Jubilee. Perhaps even a Jubilee of Jubilees.
The emphasis seems to be not just on "keep forgiving" (although that is certainly the point too), but on forgiveness as the main thing, the central thing, forgiveness as a way of life, forgiveness as God's intentions for the whole creation. In choosing to forgive, we choose not just a set number of times (How many times as a parent have I begun my threats with "Next time..."?), but to enter into a pattern, a way of life, a Jubilee year that points us toward God and to God's final plan for the fullness of time.
In other words, when we forgive like God forgives, we walk on holy ground, we glimpse and taste the Divine.
Want to read more? See the verses that follow: Matthew 18:23-35.
2009-07-13
2009-07-10
Forgiveness
Preaching Conference
The preaching conference (Poets, Prophets, Preachers) I attended early this week was outstanding. The only downside, I suspect, is that expectations are automatically raised when you go to one of these events. :) Perhaps by the grace of the Holy Spirit I'll be able to deliver.
Church at Cherry's
Join us for "Church at Cherry's," a series of theology discussions at Cherry's pub in town, hosted by Pastor Jim Miller and me. We begin this Tuesday with a discussion of the End Times. We'll continue on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of July and August (all at 7 pm).
Forgiveness
This week I'd like us to begin to think about and practice forgiveness.
Sometimes the best thing I can do as a pastor is direct you to someone who teaches/preaches better than I do on a given subject. So... rather than give you a long series of written reflections on the topic, I suggest you listen to Pastor Rob Bell's June series on the subject of forgiveness. I think he does an outstanding job. Simply go to the the Mars Hill Teaching Page and click on each of the titles (also listed below) to listen to the audio. You can also subscribe to the podcast via iTunes if you are into that kind of thing.
06.28.09: It Stops Here! - Rob Bell
06.21.09: Tortured By Books - Rob Bell
06.14.09: Drop the Jawbone - Rob Bell
May the Forgiving God who loves you and restores you in Jesus Christ begin to work that forgiving love in you.
The preaching conference (Poets, Prophets, Preachers) I attended early this week was outstanding. The only downside, I suspect, is that expectations are automatically raised when you go to one of these events. :) Perhaps by the grace of the Holy Spirit I'll be able to deliver.
Church at Cherry's
Join us for "Church at Cherry's," a series of theology discussions at Cherry's pub in town, hosted by Pastor Jim Miller and me. We begin this Tuesday with a discussion of the End Times. We'll continue on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of July and August (all at 7 pm).
Forgiveness
This week I'd like us to begin to think about and practice forgiveness.
Sometimes the best thing I can do as a pastor is direct you to someone who teaches/preaches better than I do on a given subject. So... rather than give you a long series of written reflections on the topic, I suggest you listen to Pastor Rob Bell's June series on the subject of forgiveness. I think he does an outstanding job. Simply go to the the Mars Hill Teaching Page and click on each of the titles (also listed below) to listen to the audio. You can also subscribe to the podcast via iTunes if you are into that kind of thing.
06.28.09: It Stops Here! - Rob Bell
06.21.09: Tortured By Books - Rob Bell
06.14.09: Drop the Jawbone - Rob Bell
May the Forgiving God who loves you and restores you in Jesus Christ begin to work that forgiving love in you.
2009-06-15
Children
This week is Vacation Bible School for us, so I'd like to consider children as our topic for this week.
Our culture is a bit neurotic when it comes to children. On the one hand, we try to protect them and indulge them, often in ways that are completely over the top. On the other hand, we still want them to be "seen and not heard" and present a most unwelcome posture toward them in certain places and spaces.
But rather than consider what we think about children, what does God think about children?
Children Show Us the Unity of God
Did you ever wonder about the deeper meaning of the Scripture that says that "the two shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5)? We often call to mind the physical coming together of a husband and wife in marital intercourse, but the "one flesh" also points us to the fruit of this act: children, literally the "one flesh in person" from the two. A child gets literally half of her DNA from her father and half from her mother.
The same word is used in this "one-ness" that is the fruit of marriage and the oneness that is internal to God. In John 10:30 and 17:11, Jesus says that he and the Father are "one," using the same word. In a wonderful and beautiful way, children in their very being, show us the "oneness" of God. And, of course, as human creatures we all bear God's image (Genesis 1:26-27).
Children Show Us Faithful Dependence
Children are utterly dependent on their parents and other caregivers. They remind us that it is God who gives us our daily bread, our breath of life, that we live only by God's gracious care and provision.
Children Show Us How to Be Present
Have you ever noticed how children--especially small children--get from point A to B? Answer: With lots of little stops along the way: pick the flower, watch the squirrel, laugh at the breeze.
Children Show Forth the Resurrection
Some of the first Christians also saw in children a foreshadowing, a "type" of the Resurrection. For children usually outlive their parents, they "continue" the live of their parents in their own lives. They "live beyond death," our death. And in this way they are literally hope incarnate. In their very being they show forth and remind us of the promise we have in Christ for Resurrection, for new life!
Jesus' words to the children, of course, are a word of welcome: Let the little children come to me! (Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16).
Terms: "Children" vs. "Kids"
One final word about what we call our children...
A Mennonite pamphlet I read raised this issue and I think it is worth consideration, because how we name others shows, to a large extent, how we regard them. Do we call children "children" or do we call them "kids"?
I would venture to guess that most of us refer to children as "kids." I have tried to make it a personal discipline to use the word "children" instead--at least as often as I remember to. I find it to be, on the whole, more honoring to children. "Kids" carries with it at least a slightly negative tone, as in "kids these days," where the word "children" conveys a mix of innocence and vulnerability.
May we tend to our children, who are God's children, in a way that is honoring to our Creator. And may we see in them the life that God intends for us all.
Our culture is a bit neurotic when it comes to children. On the one hand, we try to protect them and indulge them, often in ways that are completely over the top. On the other hand, we still want them to be "seen and not heard" and present a most unwelcome posture toward them in certain places and spaces.
But rather than consider what we think about children, what does God think about children?
Children Show Us the Unity of God
Did you ever wonder about the deeper meaning of the Scripture that says that "the two shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5)? We often call to mind the physical coming together of a husband and wife in marital intercourse, but the "one flesh" also points us to the fruit of this act: children, literally the "one flesh in person" from the two. A child gets literally half of her DNA from her father and half from her mother.
The same word is used in this "one-ness" that is the fruit of marriage and the oneness that is internal to God. In John 10:30 and 17:11, Jesus says that he and the Father are "one," using the same word. In a wonderful and beautiful way, children in their very being, show us the "oneness" of God. And, of course, as human creatures we all bear God's image (Genesis 1:26-27).
Children Show Us Faithful Dependence
Children are utterly dependent on their parents and other caregivers. They remind us that it is God who gives us our daily bread, our breath of life, that we live only by God's gracious care and provision.
Children Show Us How to Be Present
Have you ever noticed how children--especially small children--get from point A to B? Answer: With lots of little stops along the way: pick the flower, watch the squirrel, laugh at the breeze.
Children Show Forth the Resurrection
Some of the first Christians also saw in children a foreshadowing, a "type" of the Resurrection. For children usually outlive their parents, they "continue" the live of their parents in their own lives. They "live beyond death," our death. And in this way they are literally hope incarnate. In their very being they show forth and remind us of the promise we have in Christ for Resurrection, for new life!
Jesus' words to the children, of course, are a word of welcome: Let the little children come to me! (Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16).
Terms: "Children" vs. "Kids"
One final word about what we call our children...
A Mennonite pamphlet I read raised this issue and I think it is worth consideration, because how we name others shows, to a large extent, how we regard them. Do we call children "children" or do we call them "kids"?
I would venture to guess that most of us refer to children as "kids." I have tried to make it a personal discipline to use the word "children" instead--at least as often as I remember to. I find it to be, on the whole, more honoring to children. "Kids" carries with it at least a slightly negative tone, as in "kids these days," where the word "children" conveys a mix of innocence and vulnerability.
May we tend to our children, who are God's children, in a way that is honoring to our Creator. And may we see in them the life that God intends for us all.
2009-06-10
The Lectionary
By the way, our website is back up and running, virus clean! So browse on!
The Lectionary
Just where do we get the Sunday readings? And why? The Lutheran Church, along with Roman Catholics and many Protestant denominations, all follow the Revised Common Lectionary or something very close to it.This three-year cycle of readings is meant to expose us to a broad sweep of the Holy Scriptures.
[It has actually been proven that Christians that attend churches that use some form of a Lectionary get a broader exposure to more of the Bible in worship than those that attend churches where the Pastor selects the Scripture each Sunday. However, the other side of this argument is that in many non-lectionary churches, members participate more extensively in Bible study and Sunday school, an area in which we as Lutherans could stand to grow.]
From the earliest days, Christians followed a pattern of readings, a pattern we inherited from our Jewish forebears. The Revised Common Lectionary was developed to meet the desires of many Christians (and God: see John 17) to be "one" with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
But how does the lectionary work? And what will we be hearing for the next several months?
The lectionary is divided up into three years. We are in Year B, the year of Mark (Year A is Matthew, Year C is Luke), so most of the Gospel readings are drawn from St. Mark's Gospel, although we will occasionally hear from John's Gospel since Mark's is the shortest gospel.
To understand how the readings fit together, think of a periscope and how it uses several mirrors bouncing light so that the person in the submarine can see what is on the surface. The first thing that is "reflected" is the Gospel. The Old Testament reading (which we confess proclaims Christ as much as the New Testament does) "reflects" the Gospel reading, echoing and reflecting backs its central themes. Then the Psalm "sings back" or reflects the Old Testament reading. The Epistle (New Testament letter) reading is the odd man out. Usually, the Epistle reading follows a continuous pattern of reading through parts of a New Testament letter over several weeks or months.
The Light, of course, that is reflected in the whole Bible (Luke 24:44) is Christ our God.
So... from now until the end of November, the Gospel readings will be drawn from St. Mark's Gospel, primarily chapters 4-13 (we got chapters 1-3 during Advent and Christmas and 14-16 during Lent and Easter, coinciding with these seasons). We get a treat this year with readings from the 6th chapter of St. John's Gospel for 5 weeks this summer (7/26-8/23). This is the famous "Bread of Life" discourse and speaks deeply about Holy Communion and how Jesus is, quite literally our Bread. The Old Testament readings will reflect the Gospel themes and then the Psalms will "sing back" to us those same themes, reflecting and amplifying both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel. It's Jesus, three times amplified!
In the New Testament letters, we will hear from 2 Corinthians (6/14-7/5), a wonderful letter to a troubled Church. Next we will be treated to Ephesians (7/12-8/23), a wonderful letter about what it means to be the church. Finally, the letter of James (8/30-9/27) and the letter to the Hebrews will round out the year (10/4-11/15).
The lectionary can be confusing, but I prefer to think of it like a rich banquet, a "three year banquet" as a book I recently read suggests. Come and feast!
Online and Adult Education
I am hoping to post sermons online from the last several weeks. I have a backlog of those and some Sunday school teachings. In the meantime, I'd like to invite you to try to the new calendar feature on our website and to consider attending one of our summer Sunday school courses for adults. We will study "Poverty and the Poor in the Bible" from June 14 - July 5 and the book of Ephesians from July 12 - August 23.
The Lectionary
Just where do we get the Sunday readings? And why? The Lutheran Church, along with Roman Catholics and many Protestant denominations, all follow the Revised Common Lectionary or something very close to it.This three-year cycle of readings is meant to expose us to a broad sweep of the Holy Scriptures.
[It has actually been proven that Christians that attend churches that use some form of a Lectionary get a broader exposure to more of the Bible in worship than those that attend churches where the Pastor selects the Scripture each Sunday. However, the other side of this argument is that in many non-lectionary churches, members participate more extensively in Bible study and Sunday school, an area in which we as Lutherans could stand to grow.]
From the earliest days, Christians followed a pattern of readings, a pattern we inherited from our Jewish forebears. The Revised Common Lectionary was developed to meet the desires of many Christians (and God: see John 17) to be "one" with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
But how does the lectionary work? And what will we be hearing for the next several months?
The lectionary is divided up into three years. We are in Year B, the year of Mark (Year A is Matthew, Year C is Luke), so most of the Gospel readings are drawn from St. Mark's Gospel, although we will occasionally hear from John's Gospel since Mark's is the shortest gospel.
To understand how the readings fit together, think of a periscope and how it uses several mirrors bouncing light so that the person in the submarine can see what is on the surface. The first thing that is "reflected" is the Gospel. The Old Testament reading (which we confess proclaims Christ as much as the New Testament does) "reflects" the Gospel reading, echoing and reflecting backs its central themes. Then the Psalm "sings back" or reflects the Old Testament reading. The Epistle (New Testament letter) reading is the odd man out. Usually, the Epistle reading follows a continuous pattern of reading through parts of a New Testament letter over several weeks or months.
The Light, of course, that is reflected in the whole Bible (Luke 24:44) is Christ our God.
So... from now until the end of November, the Gospel readings will be drawn from St. Mark's Gospel, primarily chapters 4-13 (we got chapters 1-3 during Advent and Christmas and 14-16 during Lent and Easter, coinciding with these seasons). We get a treat this year with readings from the 6th chapter of St. John's Gospel for 5 weeks this summer (7/26-8/23). This is the famous "Bread of Life" discourse and speaks deeply about Holy Communion and how Jesus is, quite literally our Bread. The Old Testament readings will reflect the Gospel themes and then the Psalms will "sing back" to us those same themes, reflecting and amplifying both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel. It's Jesus, three times amplified!
In the New Testament letters, we will hear from 2 Corinthians (6/14-7/5), a wonderful letter to a troubled Church. Next we will be treated to Ephesians (7/12-8/23), a wonderful letter about what it means to be the church. Finally, the letter of James (8/30-9/27) and the letter to the Hebrews will round out the year (10/4-11/15).
The lectionary can be confusing, but I prefer to think of it like a rich banquet, a "three year banquet" as a book I recently read suggests. Come and feast!
Online and Adult Education
I am hoping to post sermons online from the last several weeks. I have a backlog of those and some Sunday school teachings. In the meantime, I'd like to invite you to try to the new calendar feature on our website and to consider attending one of our summer Sunday school courses for adults. We will study "Poverty and the Poor in the Bible" from June 14 - July 5 and the book of Ephesians from July 12 - August 23.
2009-06-03
Baptism, Weeds, Word, Prayer
It has been a few weeks since I have last posted any devotional reflections. I just returned from vacation, a wonderful chance for sabbath rest and renewal for body and spirit.
There are two related topics I'd like to wrestle with this morning: regular confession and daily immersion in God's Word and prayer.
Confession and Weeds
Weeds humble me. No matter how I try to stay ahead of them, they always seem to get ahead of me. Add a week's vacation and some rain and sunshine in the mix and they quickly get out of control. But even when I'm home, if I let them grow too long, they seem to grow "wicked fast," as my Boston friends say.
One of the podcasts I listen to equated "staying ahead of the weeds" with regular practices of soul tending. Weeds are a wonderful metaphor for the sins that--if not dealt with properly and regularly--quickly grow out of control. Struggling with sin is our daily task. By the power of the Spirit, we are to be about the regular work of rooting out sins regularly, daily (sometimes more often), before they grow quickly out of control.
There are several ways to practice regular confession/weeding:
1.) Praying the Jesus prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner) regularly, especially as you notice a sin or evil thought creeping and growing within you. It is helpful to accompany this with the sign of cross, which helps our whole body pray.
2.) Practicing confession and speaking words of forgiveness within your family regularly. Rather than "I'm sorry" being met with "That's OK," why not say instead: "I forgive you." The group Ambassadors of Reconciliation offers a pamphlet entitled "Announcing God's Grace through Confession and Forgiveness" that I find very helpful for use in the home.
3.) Participating regularly in the rite of confession and forgiveness at the beginning of Sunday worship.
4.) Participating in individual confession and forgiveness. A neglected practice among Lutherans is the order for private confession and forgiveness. If you have a green Lutheran Book of Worship it is on pp. 196-197 and in our new hymnal it is on pp. 243-244.
Word and Prayer: Car Maintenance
For us as Christians, our daily bread is Jesus Christ himself. We receive him weekly in the Meal of Holy Communion. On a daily basis, we encounter him in the practices of daily Scripture reading and daily prayer. It doesn't so much matter which Scripture readings you are reading daily, but that we are reading Scripture and praying daily. (From the Church's earliest days, the Psalms have been a regular part of daily prayer.) Some online resources are the Moravian Daily Texts and their new venture, the "daily chapter." One of the "all in one" resources I use is the For All the Saints series. I like it because each day contains three Scripture readings, a writing from one of the saints and two prayers--all in one resource. We are currently in Volume II, which will take us through the end of November this year.
I don't know what your daily "Word and Prayer" journey is like, but I would put these practices under the category of "preventative maintenance." I think of it like regular oil changes for my car. One of the most destructive things you can do to a car is not change the oil for a year. But with regular car care and maintenance of the "little things" like oil, tire pressure, air filters, wiper blades, etc. a car lasts longer and is able to weather extremes of temperature and use. Surely we are more complicated and valuable than our vehicles. And yet, I'm wondering if our neglect of our own "daily maintenance" is not much more destructive than skipping an oil change.
And let's not forget the grace. The Psalms consistently speak of the Law and instructions of the Lord as delight. Scripture is described as sweeter than honey. As our Communion prayer begins, "It is indeed right, our duty and our joy..." There is great delight in these things, delight that far exceeds the satisfaction of a freshly-weeded yard or a car that makes it to 200,000 miles.
May God give us grace to do these thing, that God may be glorified in us. Peace we with you this week.
There are two related topics I'd like to wrestle with this morning: regular confession and daily immersion in God's Word and prayer.
Confession and Weeds
Weeds humble me. No matter how I try to stay ahead of them, they always seem to get ahead of me. Add a week's vacation and some rain and sunshine in the mix and they quickly get out of control. But even when I'm home, if I let them grow too long, they seem to grow "wicked fast," as my Boston friends say.
One of the podcasts I listen to equated "staying ahead of the weeds" with regular practices of soul tending. Weeds are a wonderful metaphor for the sins that--if not dealt with properly and regularly--quickly grow out of control. Struggling with sin is our daily task. By the power of the Spirit, we are to be about the regular work of rooting out sins regularly, daily (sometimes more often), before they grow quickly out of control.
There are several ways to practice regular confession/weeding:
1.) Praying the Jesus prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner) regularly, especially as you notice a sin or evil thought creeping and growing within you. It is helpful to accompany this with the sign of cross, which helps our whole body pray.
2.) Practicing confession and speaking words of forgiveness within your family regularly. Rather than "I'm sorry" being met with "That's OK," why not say instead: "I forgive you." The group Ambassadors of Reconciliation offers a pamphlet entitled "Announcing God's Grace through Confession and Forgiveness" that I find very helpful for use in the home.
3.) Participating regularly in the rite of confession and forgiveness at the beginning of Sunday worship.
4.) Participating in individual confession and forgiveness. A neglected practice among Lutherans is the order for private confession and forgiveness. If you have a green Lutheran Book of Worship it is on pp. 196-197 and in our new hymnal it is on pp. 243-244.
Word and Prayer: Car Maintenance
For us as Christians, our daily bread is Jesus Christ himself. We receive him weekly in the Meal of Holy Communion. On a daily basis, we encounter him in the practices of daily Scripture reading and daily prayer. It doesn't so much matter which Scripture readings you are reading daily, but that we are reading Scripture and praying daily. (From the Church's earliest days, the Psalms have been a regular part of daily prayer.) Some online resources are the Moravian Daily Texts and their new venture, the "daily chapter." One of the "all in one" resources I use is the For All the Saints series. I like it because each day contains three Scripture readings, a writing from one of the saints and two prayers--all in one resource. We are currently in Volume II, which will take us through the end of November this year.
I don't know what your daily "Word and Prayer" journey is like, but I would put these practices under the category of "preventative maintenance." I think of it like regular oil changes for my car. One of the most destructive things you can do to a car is not change the oil for a year. But with regular car care and maintenance of the "little things" like oil, tire pressure, air filters, wiper blades, etc. a car lasts longer and is able to weather extremes of temperature and use. Surely we are more complicated and valuable than our vehicles. And yet, I'm wondering if our neglect of our own "daily maintenance" is not much more destructive than skipping an oil change.
And let's not forget the grace. The Psalms consistently speak of the Law and instructions of the Lord as delight. Scripture is described as sweeter than honey. As our Communion prayer begins, "It is indeed right, our duty and our joy..." There is great delight in these things, delight that far exceeds the satisfaction of a freshly-weeded yard or a car that makes it to 200,000 miles.
May God give us grace to do these thing, that God may be glorified in us. Peace we with you this week.
2009-05-11
Technology and Faith Formation
New Technology
I celebrated a small milestone last week: I figured out how to podcast and am listed on iTunes.
[For those of you wondering what the heck "podcasting" is, think of it as having your own "on demand" radio station through the internet. Another way I describe it is "radio on demand." Through a service such as iTunes you can subscribe to broadcasts (called podcasts) and download them to your home computer and/or portable audio device (such as an iPod) to play at your own convenience.]
The thing is, I'm not sure if all of this new technology is a necessarily good thing... or a bad thing.
First, let me back up a minute. Sometimes technology itself is bashed, when in fact it is usually new technology we are cautious of, perhaps even afraid of. I mean, the telephone--heck, even the newspaper--is a form of technology. The flood of technology that has come with the internet is not altogether different from the flood of technology that came on the heels of the printing press in the time of the Christian Reformers of the 16th Century.
Digital Divide
The first thought that comes to mind when we embrace (or consider) a new technology is: "Who is left out?" The obvious answer in most current discussions is "anyone who does not have a computer or internet access." The so-called "digital divide" has been thoroughly discussed in many circles, but it does raise a special problem for Christians who worship the God who is deeply concerned about the poor, the orphan and the widow. That is, what does it mean to embrace a new technology that is inaccessible to the very ones we are called to care for? I don't have any easy answers to this dilemma, but I think the question needs to remain front and center for us as Christians.
Radio Renaissance
What is also interesting to me is how much the spoken word has remained central, even as new technologies emerge. The pre-television medium of radio seems to be on the rise again: witness satellite radio, podcasting and the latest invention: Pandora, personalized internet radio.
However, there is a huge difference between the radio programs of the first half of the 20th Century and the first few years of the 21st. While radio used to be a communal medium that brought people together with common "texts" (programs), it is now highly individualized and choice oriented, driving the deep formation of a consumer/transactional culture. Said another way: Radio is no longer about "what we listen to together" but "what I want to hear."
Still, there is a great gift in this radio renaissance. It underlines the power of the spoken word. From ancient times, stories were told to convey meaning, to give life. The Bible was a spoken word before it was a written text. Writing will never fully replace preaching... in fact, the opposite movement seems to be occurring. In a technologically-rich world over saturated with images and text, the spoken word, the "heard word" is the word we crave.
New Technology and Faith Formation
Finally, what concerns me most about the embrace (or shunning) of new technology is what it means for our formation as people who desire to walk in the Way of Christ. Many Christian writers, including Stanley Hauerwas (if I am remembering correctly), have argued that when we are not intentionally being formed as Christians, we are still being formed--but it is by a story other than the Christian story. In other words, there is always formation going on, but it may not be the kind we need or that God intends for us.
I don't think this means that we should all shut off the electricity, get cabins in the woods and buy typewriters. But it does involve a considerable amount of prayer and discernment, perhaps much more so than we are used to. It involves asking questions deeper than, "How many cell phone does our family need?" and instead asking things like, "Should I have a cell phone at all? And how will it change me and form me if I get one? What will that mean for me, my family, my brothers and sisters in Christ?" (Shane Hipps contributes to this conversation in his book Flickering Pixels. I have not read it yet but hope to soon.).
So even as I look forward to and embrace many of the new forms of technology I wonder and pray about how these technologies will form me and all of us who bear the name of Christ in this world.
I celebrated a small milestone last week: I figured out how to podcast and am listed on iTunes.
[For those of you wondering what the heck "podcasting" is, think of it as having your own "on demand" radio station through the internet. Another way I describe it is "radio on demand." Through a service such as iTunes you can subscribe to broadcasts (called podcasts) and download them to your home computer and/or portable audio device (such as an iPod) to play at your own convenience.]
The thing is, I'm not sure if all of this new technology is a necessarily good thing... or a bad thing.
First, let me back up a minute. Sometimes technology itself is bashed, when in fact it is usually new technology we are cautious of, perhaps even afraid of. I mean, the telephone--heck, even the newspaper--is a form of technology. The flood of technology that has come with the internet is not altogether different from the flood of technology that came on the heels of the printing press in the time of the Christian Reformers of the 16th Century.
Digital Divide
The first thought that comes to mind when we embrace (or consider) a new technology is: "Who is left out?" The obvious answer in most current discussions is "anyone who does not have a computer or internet access." The so-called "digital divide" has been thoroughly discussed in many circles, but it does raise a special problem for Christians who worship the God who is deeply concerned about the poor, the orphan and the widow. That is, what does it mean to embrace a new technology that is inaccessible to the very ones we are called to care for? I don't have any easy answers to this dilemma, but I think the question needs to remain front and center for us as Christians.
Radio Renaissance
What is also interesting to me is how much the spoken word has remained central, even as new technologies emerge. The pre-television medium of radio seems to be on the rise again: witness satellite radio, podcasting and the latest invention: Pandora, personalized internet radio.
However, there is a huge difference between the radio programs of the first half of the 20th Century and the first few years of the 21st. While radio used to be a communal medium that brought people together with common "texts" (programs), it is now highly individualized and choice oriented, driving the deep formation of a consumer/transactional culture. Said another way: Radio is no longer about "what we listen to together" but "what I want to hear."
Still, there is a great gift in this radio renaissance. It underlines the power of the spoken word. From ancient times, stories were told to convey meaning, to give life. The Bible was a spoken word before it was a written text. Writing will never fully replace preaching... in fact, the opposite movement seems to be occurring. In a technologically-rich world over saturated with images and text, the spoken word, the "heard word" is the word we crave.
New Technology and Faith Formation
Finally, what concerns me most about the embrace (or shunning) of new technology is what it means for our formation as people who desire to walk in the Way of Christ. Many Christian writers, including Stanley Hauerwas (if I am remembering correctly), have argued that when we are not intentionally being formed as Christians, we are still being formed--but it is by a story other than the Christian story. In other words, there is always formation going on, but it may not be the kind we need or that God intends for us.
I don't think this means that we should all shut off the electricity, get cabins in the woods and buy typewriters. But it does involve a considerable amount of prayer and discernment, perhaps much more so than we are used to. It involves asking questions deeper than, "How many cell phone does our family need?" and instead asking things like, "Should I have a cell phone at all? And how will it change me and form me if I get one? What will that mean for me, my family, my brothers and sisters in Christ?" (Shane Hipps contributes to this conversation in his book Flickering Pixels. I have not read it yet but hope to soon.).
So even as I look forward to and embrace many of the new forms of technology I wonder and pray about how these technologies will form me and all of us who bear the name of Christ in this world.
2009-05-04
Travel, Song, Faith Formation
Mars Hill to Valparaiso and Back
It has been several weeks since I have sent out these weekly devotions. Two weeks ago I was on continuing education road trip of sorts: first to hear Pastor Rob Bell at Mars Hill Church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. His "Drops Like Stars" speaking tour looks to be promising, as he tackles the relationship of suffering and creativity. If you are interested in his December 10 show in Columbus, please let me know.
After Mars Hill, we went to Valparaiso University in NW Indiana for the Institute of Liturgical Studies. The theme this year was the Three Days, focusing on the three-part, three-day Holy Week service of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Great Vigil of Easter.
While both venues were very different in scope and content, it was good to be around insightful and faithful people deeply concerned about the church and about walking the way of Jesus.
Daily Dose of Luther
A colleague of mine in Defiance often opens his Facebook day with a daily dose of Luther. I will follow suit (sort of) this morning.
I'm reading his volume on hymns. Luther's editors write: "The hymns of the nineteenth century that form the bulk of today's hymnals were written according to the artistic canons of Romanticism. They use beautifully polished phrases and dance or march rhythms to creation a certain mood or to give an ornate expression to personal religious feelings. But Luther's hymns were not meantot create a mood, but create a message. They were a confession of faith, not personal feelings" (p. 197). That is, Luther's hymns were by and large raw and real, less concerned with the beauty of language and more concerned with the heart of the message. In this spirit, I think John Bell of the Iona Community follows Luther's intentions.
Faith: One Step at a Time
I have just begun reading David Allen's Getting Things Done. It is more in the genre of business productivity, but I am intrigued by his premise and how it might relate to faith formation. He suggests, as I understand it, breaking down projects into goals and doing "the next step" to move forward to completing (hence the title).
Here's the faith connection for me: What if we began with this approach to our faith formation? I think so often we have these nebulous goals (I want to learn to pray for fully. I want to be more familiar with Scripture. I want to learn the virtue of patience.) but they remain simply that: goals. Allen, as I understand it, suggests breaking these down into simple tasks that move us forward: What can I do today to move toward this goal?
Perhaps if your goal is praying more fully, one first step might be learning the great prayers of Scripture. Or visiting a monastery and learning what it means to pray from the monks. Or finding a person who prays well and learning from them. Or simply setting aside specific times during the day to practice different prayer forms.
As I think is the case with faith formation most of the time: baby steps, baby steps... but steps nonetheless.
Book Recommendation
Speaking of prayer, I picked up David Adam's The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer over a year ago and have recently rediscovered it. If you are looking for a daily prayer book, I would highly recommend it. It contains prayers services for morning, noon, evening and night for each of the seven days of the week. It would be ideal for home devotions, personal prayer or in a group setting.
Online
You may want to check out our website if you have not for a while. You can now listen to sermons, download adult Sunday school teachings, print sermon reflection sheets, and see which readings are coming up on Sundays. We even have a link to our stained glass windows (an ongoing project) that coincides with our children's sermon series.
As far as the website goes, I am hoping to move in the direction of broader content management. (In plain English: each group within the the church would be able to update its own part of the website: women, puppets, youth, etc.)
While the plastic and steel sign that graces our Front Street entrance is an important tool, I am increasingly convinced that a congregation's web site is its "public face" and and "virtual sign" for many people.
Help Wanted
If you have experience with mixing digital audio and would like to help create some brief introductions for some of our audio files (sermons, adult Sunday school, perhaps even our weekly radio broadcast), let me know.
Also, if you have graphic design expertise, I have a project idea for a logo that incorporates our congregation's name.
It has been several weeks since I have sent out these weekly devotions. Two weeks ago I was on continuing education road trip of sorts: first to hear Pastor Rob Bell at Mars Hill Church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. His "Drops Like Stars" speaking tour looks to be promising, as he tackles the relationship of suffering and creativity. If you are interested in his December 10 show in Columbus, please let me know.
After Mars Hill, we went to Valparaiso University in NW Indiana for the Institute of Liturgical Studies. The theme this year was the Three Days, focusing on the three-part, three-day Holy Week service of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Great Vigil of Easter.
While both venues were very different in scope and content, it was good to be around insightful and faithful people deeply concerned about the church and about walking the way of Jesus.
Daily Dose of Luther
A colleague of mine in Defiance often opens his Facebook day with a daily dose of Luther. I will follow suit (sort of) this morning.
I'm reading his volume on hymns. Luther's editors write: "The hymns of the nineteenth century that form the bulk of today's hymnals were written according to the artistic canons of Romanticism. They use beautifully polished phrases and dance or march rhythms to creation a certain mood or to give an ornate expression to personal religious feelings. But Luther's hymns were not meantot create a mood, but create a message. They were a confession of faith, not personal feelings" (p. 197). That is, Luther's hymns were by and large raw and real, less concerned with the beauty of language and more concerned with the heart of the message. In this spirit, I think John Bell of the Iona Community follows Luther's intentions.
Faith: One Step at a Time
I have just begun reading David Allen's Getting Things Done. It is more in the genre of business productivity, but I am intrigued by his premise and how it might relate to faith formation. He suggests, as I understand it, breaking down projects into goals and doing "the next step" to move forward to completing (hence the title).
Here's the faith connection for me: What if we began with this approach to our faith formation? I think so often we have these nebulous goals (I want to learn to pray for fully. I want to be more familiar with Scripture. I want to learn the virtue of patience.) but they remain simply that: goals. Allen, as I understand it, suggests breaking these down into simple tasks that move us forward: What can I do today to move toward this goal?
Perhaps if your goal is praying more fully, one first step might be learning the great prayers of Scripture. Or visiting a monastery and learning what it means to pray from the monks. Or finding a person who prays well and learning from them. Or simply setting aside specific times during the day to practice different prayer forms.
As I think is the case with faith formation most of the time: baby steps, baby steps... but steps nonetheless.
Book Recommendation
Speaking of prayer, I picked up David Adam's The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer over a year ago and have recently rediscovered it. If you are looking for a daily prayer book, I would highly recommend it. It contains prayers services for morning, noon, evening and night for each of the seven days of the week. It would be ideal for home devotions, personal prayer or in a group setting.
Online
You may want to check out our website if you have not for a while. You can now listen to sermons, download adult Sunday school teachings, print sermon reflection sheets, and see which readings are coming up on Sundays. We even have a link to our stained glass windows (an ongoing project) that coincides with our children's sermon series.
As far as the website goes, I am hoping to move in the direction of broader content management. (In plain English: each group within the the church would be able to update its own part of the website: women, puppets, youth, etc.)
While the plastic and steel sign that graces our Front Street entrance is an important tool, I am increasingly convinced that a congregation's web site is its "public face" and and "virtual sign" for many people.
Help Wanted
If you have experience with mixing digital audio and would like to help create some brief introductions for some of our audio files (sermons, adult Sunday school, perhaps even our weekly radio broadcast), let me know.
Also, if you have graphic design expertise, I have a project idea for a logo that incorporates our congregation's name.
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