:: inamirrordimly :: A theology and culture blog with the Bible in one tab and a news feed in the other.

People need space and time before they are willing to talk about what’s most important to them. Perhaps even more than that, they need security. Of course a sense of security can only be cultivated over time and with space.

This is particularly true when it comes to spiritual conversations. As a Christian, I see myself as a bit of an exception with reservations. My love for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is on the tip of my tongue. It’s something that I could talk about at the tip of a hat. But there are other topics that I would not delve into without some assurance of goodwill and understanding on the part of the listener. So while I may easily talk about how often I pray and what good comes of it, I may hesitate on a topic such as attending church.

The error many Christians commit is they assume everyone wants to talk on the same level about God as they would among themselves. The bottom line is that some folks have vague beliefs, but may not want to discuss them until they have a feeling of security, just as I’m not quite comfortable with my beliefs about attending church. Before pressing into a spiritual conversation with someone, a necessary step is ensuring that the other person feels comfortable. The topic is too important to recklessly jump into a fragile domain.

It’s a gift to be open with others. When someone is open they also place a burden and responsiblity on the listener to respond with charity and to protect the information that is shared. No matter how off center they may be, it’s generally a bad idea to attack another person’s beliefs. Ask thoughtful questions and raise gentle objections? Certainly. But never, ever violate the trust. Never attack someone’s spiritual thoughts.

They have a value that someone has attached to them, and stealing them away with clever arguments and rebuttals will only cause trouble and a breech of trust. If a person spends his/her time defending poorly conceived beliefs, how will they ever find the time to pick up what is real?

Over the past week I have been reading through the Gospel of Mark and more than ever I am impressed with the fragmentary nature of this book. The narrative is a loosely woven together collection of stories about Jesus filled with his essential teachings and punchlines.

While I’m not a big fan of the various theories that abound about the “Q” source with it’s store of pithy sayings, etc., I really do have the sense that Mark was interested in providing his readers with the crucial events of Jesus’ ministry in as little space as possible. It’s the abridged version of Jesus’ ministry.

Since there are always new things to notice every time you reread a book, here are some observations:

1. This is not propaganda for Christianity. If anything helps me believe in the authenticity and sincerity of this book, it’s the stories where the followers of Jesus look like faithless fools. If you remember that line from Jesus Christ superstar, the apostles say something about retiring and writing the Gospels so people will remember them when they die.

Let’s see, they can’t drive out a demon after Jesus is transfigured, they aren’t very nice to children, they don’t believe Jesus can multiply the bread and fish after he’d already done it once, two ask for power immediately after Jesus predicted his own death, one betrays Jesus, one denies Jesus, and the rest run for their lives when the chips are down. It’s not all bad for the apostles, but surely they could have done a better job of promoting themselves.

2. Jesus is one curious fellow. In order to heal some blind people, he spits in mud and rubs it on their eyes. Others just get spit in the eyes. Others just hear the word and they’re all set. Now if I’m the mud and spit guy, I’m following Jesus, and I meet another blind guy, I would seemingly know exactly what happens next. I’d go off looking for a bit of mud to spit in, point it out to Jesus, and let him at it.

Of course Jesus defies formulas, never allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to be confined. Perhaps he only does what the person requires in order to believe. Maybe one man’s faith required spit and mud, while one person had such faith that only a word was necessary.

3. Faith comes up over and over again. It’s easy to sometimes read the teachings of Paul back into the Gospels, if you know what I mean, but in this case faith jumps out of each story over and over again.

After so many spectacular displays of power, Jesus strikes down a fig tree without fruit and then uses it as a lesson about praying with faith. It’s almost an anti-climax, and yet it fits in with the flow of the story. Jesus is always teaching, always building up his followers so that they believe in him, the one who sent him, and the one who is being sent.

A link to pictures of Beirut.

The pictures of the destroyed buildings in Beirut are just a faint glimpse into the horrors experienced by the residents of Beirut. Many of those fortunate enough to escape without injury have lost their possessions and are at the mercy of those around them. It’s a horribly sad situation.

I find it impossible to sit so far away from the events and make any judgments on what is best for either side. Nevertheless, this approach to matters seems excessive. I can only think that there have to be better ways of dealing with terrorists than all-out war. The terrorists use civilinians as pawns, while the Israelis disregard the Lebanese people caught in the middle. Dropping leaflets does not cut it after you’ve destroyed the infrastructure.

As a Christian, I believe that the way to healing involves suffering, loss, and selflessness. That has never been a popular policy for nations, the US in particular, or for individuals. With neither side standing down, I can only pray for an immediate cease-fire.

<%image(20060720-LakeGeorge 2006 North.jpg|350|262|lakegeorgenorth)%>This picture was taken from Black Mountain, showing the Northern end of Lake George.

I just arrived home from our vacation up at Lake George, NY. I use the first person singular because Julie and her family are still up there, while I had to return to work. I’m having a pity party right now with the rabbits, but they’re lousy company unless you have a bag of carrots next to you. They’re off doing their own thing since the bag is empty, so now I’m left to the blog.

We actually had our best weather yet at the Lake. Clear skies almost every day of the week and temperatures in the 80’s. Sun and high temperatures are what you need when you have a big, cold lake nearby.

Vacation is a curious time. As someone who thrives on routine, I do best on vacation with some semblance of a routine. So before leaving I actually though this through.

I decided that the Divine Hours prayer book needs to sit on the shelf for a little while. I began my day with a mug of coffee, 2-3 mini-donuts, and 2 chapters from the Gospel of Mark. I let my scripture reading guide the prayer time that followed. Then I had breakfast with the family, tucked my latest book, To Rule the Waves, under my arm, and set off for the dock that rests in the lake a very short walk away from our cabin. The day would then become a combination of reading, swimming, loafing, and eating until evening arrived and the board games would begin.

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<%image(20060720-sherman3.gif|227|174|sherman)%>OK, now I may have seen it all. Focus on the Family has cooked up some hair-brained web site called “No-Moo-Lies” that somehow equates the following:

dogs and barking
with
people and heterosexuality

Sherman the dog makes it easy for all of us . . .

The site is done in a fairly insulting manner. In fact, it’s so bad that I could see people making a site like this to mock Christians. Yes, it’s that bad. The cute, barking dog and the patronizing moderator are used to convey a message about voting to ban gay partnerships/marriage. There have to be better ways to bring up sensitive topics. I really hope that people will realize that this site is not representative of all Christians . . . please don’t think it is . . .

And the worst part is that they actually have a few points about homosexuality in general that are worth discussing, but the context of the site makes intelligent conversation untenable. Perhaps groups such as Exodus International can do a better job of discussing the nature of homosexuality than some floppy-eared dog.

Of course, the site did succeed in prompting me to blog about it, but I’m sure that was just an accident. Dang, I’m such a sucker.

via

After a nice little night at SVAC working the opening reception for Rosita Marlborough, the Dutchess of Marlborough, I’m home getting ready to leave tommorrow morning for Lake George. The last trip was a little bit of work mixed with a little relaxing. This time it’s full-throttle vacation. (On a side note, Rosita is a wonderful lady, full of spunk and spirit. Her paintings are pretty sharp on her web page, but enthralling in person.)

We love Arlington, VT and hate to leave it usually, but the lure of the Lake on a hot weekend has won out. I’m not sure if I’ll be blogging or not next week. We’ll see how the wireless connection is at Julie’s grandmother’s cabin. Yeah, we’re roughing it.

As I’ve mentioned before, we have two rabbits, Eva and Bailey, and are taking care of another one for a friend this summer. If you’ve ever wondered what’s involved with having rabbits as far as care is concerned, I’ve pasted below my notes for those who are caring for our little furry friends. You may get the feel for how quirky each rabbit’s personality really is. Enjoy!
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I’m hoping this is some sort of prank . . .

Read about it here.

If it’s true, then Emergent may officially have denominational status.

Over at the blog “In His Courts,” Makesha has some great thoughts on the unity of power and love. How many times have we prayed for God’s power to intervene or for there to be miracles, and missed out on the part where actions without love are just disorderly noise.

Here’s the punch line after citing a portion of Ephesians 3:

“I think it’s extremely significant how often power and love are linked and how much this segment of scripture is referring to the power in the context of the unified body.”

The same could be said about truth. While the scriptures talk more about the joining of Spirit and truth, it’s a common experience that truth in the hands of people who do not share in the love of God can be divisive in the church.

Three cheers for the Wittenburg Door’s Stupify Me . . .

Click here and then scroll down until you see what I mean.

The other day I received a letter from Biblical Seminary, the place where I labored four long years on my MDiv, about a new certificate program with classes on the doctoral level for advanced missional leadership. The certificate is 15 credits and can be put toward a doctorate in ministry. The course information is here and here.

The first class offered for the certificate is The Church and Our Cultures: Entering the Missional Conversation with Dr. John Franke.

It’s a tempting program because the literature has all of the buzz words:
missional
emerging
culture
postmodern
engage
conversation
community

Of course it is missing:
explore
coffee

I hope it’s a successful program for Biblical. They are really trying to do what few other schools are doing. I especially like what Franke is doing because he’s a scholar who is grounded in reverence for the Holy Spirit and in the church. That’s the kind of theologian we’re going to need in the future.

Will I participate? I don’t think so. Only if they’ll give me a scholarship. Also, some of this stuff is getting a little old sometimes. Perhaps I need to use it a bit more before I’m willing to read more books on the emerging church and missional living. It still feels like we’re shoving around the same pack of ideas as if they were new. I need to sit with what I’ve eaten and let it digest first. Then maybe I’ll come back for seconds.

Sometimes my Mom reads this blog. Just in case she stops by today, I wanted to wish her a happy birthday. Too bad it’s going to rain all day.

On a side note, today’s date is 7-11, which has to be one of the easiest dates to remember because of the chain store “7-11″ that is dotted all over Philly.

Thank you 7-11 for helping me remember my mom’s birthday. Your coffee is sludge, your hot dogs are inedible, and your pretzels are either stale or soggy, but gosh darn it, you always helped me remember.

Nevertheless, I’ll still go to Wawa every time. No hard feelings I hope.

After praying for my step-mom last night (she’s having another tumor removed today and prayers for her are appreciated) I began to think about our cultural expectations of suffering and pain. For the most part we assume that we are entitled to good health. Our culture is obsessed with looking thin, fit, and in the prime of life between 18 and 30 years old.

When suffering afflicts us or someone we know, we generally act as if this unnatural or even wrong. Some have abandoned God when placed in such a situation. But is suffering unusual? Is it not a normal part of life in a broken world? Can we truly confine pain, suffering, and death within the walls of hospitals and nursing homes?

While reading the prison letters of Dietrich Bonhoeffer the other day, I was once again confronted with the place that suffering holds in our lives. It cannot be avoided. Bonhoeffer embraced his sufferings and in that dark place, he found God.

That is where the cross becomes so important. If there wasn’t a God who was willing to suffer with us, to promise his comforting presence, and to offer the hope of resurrection and new life some day, then we would do well to become hedonists and let as many good times roll as we can. The Bible never sugar-coats life. The Psalms, for instance, are full of complaints, laments, and pleas for help.

We create the expectations for smooth sailing. We are the ones who expect health and prosperity. Our greatest failure is the inability to recognize what health and prosperity look like even in the midst of suffering.

Jeff Goodell recently visited the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT to plug his latest book, Big Coal : The Dirty Secret Behind America’s Energy Future. It’s a timely book for our times because I think we are in a quandry of sorts about our energy sources. It’s a topic that touches on the future of the environment and on morality. You can read about his visit to the Northshire at the Rutland Herald.

First of all, people have to dig out the coal. It’s a hazardous job that typically falls on the shoulders of people who are not affluent. They work on hazardous conditions that are not always up to code.

Secondly, the mining itself can sometimes damage the land and lead to erosion.

Third, the burning of coal is polluting the air and depleting the ozone layer. In fact, it may well be that our lights are being powered by either coal or nuclear power right now, both of which leave us with a mess that we will never be able to clean up completely (should we ever want to). It makes me think of a book I saw called: Better Off : Flipping the Switch on Technology. It’s the story of two people who went off electricity for a whole year and had a good time of it.

I’m not ready to go to that extreme, but reading about people who did such a thing motivates me to use energy efficient bulbs and to hit the sack early. Why not get up early when the suns up? It never occurred to me until we were up one evening when the power was out. We had candles everywhere and I thought to myself, heck, people have been living this way for thousands of years. They probably just went to bed instead of messing with this candle business.

Vermont has been leading the charge with energy efficient bulbs partially because our energy companies can’t produce enough power. The other reason is that everyone and their uncle hates the Yankee Nuclear Power plant in Brattleboro. It’s nice to raise efficiency awareness. We’ve cut our bill in half since joining in the efficiency program.

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I know of two worlds.

One is learned, organized, and methodical. It prizes training, study, discipleship, and order. Leaders are clearly defined and usually delegate fairly well, though some become controlling. All in all, the leaders understand management and the dynamics of people. The church in this world is a calm pleasant place to be. Though dull and uninspiring at times, it will function orderly and efficiently, regularly dispensing Biblical teaching.

The other world that I have known of late is passionate and spirit-filled. It burns with the intimacy of the Father, the joy of the Son, and the power of the Spirit. Leaders only move forward unless the Spirit of God is upon them, and they crave this anointing. Their churches may be unpredictable and unusual, but there is a genuine hunger for God and on many occassions God shows up in very tangible ways. Though they love the Bible, they also prize the power of prayer, which they are sometimes tempted to abuse. Their faith his bold and rich. One cannot be in their presence without sensing something or someone manificently wonderful.

Both worlds have their flaws and these flaws are accentuated when the two worlds are furthest apart. The learned, organized world tends to leave out the Spirit of God and minimize the level of real intimacy that can be experienced with the triniune God. The spiritual, intimate world can make doctrinal errors and abuse people. Neither are experts in their areas of strength, but I have seen their weaknesses in devastating clarity. I only lament that the two worlds do not intersect with one another more often.

The organized world rests on its learning and leadership, while the spiritual rests on prophecies and anointings. One is capable of ignoring the Spirit, the other is equally capable of ignoring people and the need for order and a grasp of interpersonal dynamics. I have sat in too many seminary classes where prayer was almost scoffed at, while I have seen even more people wounded by seemingly apostolic leaders with the anointing who steamroll everyone in their path for the sake of God’s call on their lives.

I don’t know how to bring the two worlds together, but I would like to take the first step. I would like to be the friend who tells them that they they need each other. They’re a good match. There may be fireworks at first, but after some initial skirmishes, there is a chance for something true, deep, and meaningful to develop. They have much to give one another and the world.

While rattling down Pudding Island Road away from the family cabins on the point at northern Lake George, I was filled with gratitude. Gratitude that we really love where we live. There’s something wonderful about living in a beautiful place. I know that you miss out on important things like variety and diversity when tucked away in the mountains, but I can’t help thinking that living in a place that you consider beautiful is essential. Even if that means living around sky scrapers or a suburban development, if you enjoy how your area “looks,” then I can’t imagine you’ll have much more to figure out besides some kind of income.

Our family’s little spot at the lake is one of the most scenic places in the East, in my opinion, but our home in the middle of the Green and Taconic Mountains makes leaving a bit easier. We have a lot to look forward to, especially if the Battenkill River and the Dorset Quarry ever decide to warm up. Of course the one thing you can’t do as well at home is relax. The family cabins at Lake George are designed for maximum relaxation. There is no better place to read a book, write a little, swim, or just putter around.

This latest trip up to the lake was a chance to have a little pre-vacation and to work on the cabin a little. We spent part of two days this past weekend scraping off old paint from the exterior of our family’s cabin (that is, my wife’s grandmother’s side of the family) and then primed and painted it. To my utter consternation, we didn’t take before and after pictures. The wood was almost completely bare after a little bit of scraping. It was quite a rewarding job.

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