For our Wednesday service, I have been focusing on the Apostle's Creed for Today that is by Justo Gonzalez one of my favorite theologians. We are taking each phrase and looking at not only the historical perspective but what they may have to say to us in the 21st century. I have found that reflecting on this creed during Lent as been extremely insightful and I hope have caused those who have attended to examine themselves. Tonight we will be talking about I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord.
I thought I would share a definition of creed from Crazy Talk. Creed not to be confused with the boxer who pummeled Rocky Balboa, a personal statement of belief, written by someone else, for use in pummeling heretics.
Related to the Latin word credo, which means "I believe," a creed can refer either on one's personal beliefs or to an official summary of Christian beliefs, often available in pseudopoetic form. The Apostle's, the Nicene, and the Athanasian creeds were hammered out in the early ecumenical councils of the church. While they do give voice to official teachings of the faith, the church is not at its best when it persecutes people who believe things counter to the creeds.
I believe that important aspect of creeds are that they have been developed through tradition as people had time to reflect on scripture but are not found directly in scripture. Most creeds arose to deal with heretical beliefs. They are important to reflect on in our lives today with the understanding that, at least for me, scripture takes precedent to the man-made, God inspired creeds.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Love
As we prepare for Valentine's day, I thought I would share an entry from Crazy Talk by Rolf Jacobson. I have been out of town for three days this week and just now have time to reflect on this topic of Love.
Love verb: Not a thing that is blind but the act of actually seeing the needs of others and of putting their needs higher than yourself or your needs.
"You can't love your car. Or your house. OR your rubber ducky. Your car/house/ducky may be nicer than any of ours, but if you 'love' them, you're really just loving what you have--thus, you are just being devoted to your own self, your own pleasure, and your own happiness. If you think you love your car, you need a whack upside the head and a serious reevaluation of priorities.
Love is not a sentiment or an emotion. It is not something you feel but action you take on behalf of others. And love certainly isn't blind. Love stares the suffering and the needs of neighbor--and even the enemy!--hard in the face. And then does something about them.
If you have a problem with this, you might have a problem with God. We are only able to love because God first loved us (see 1 John 3:16). God's very nature is love, since God's actions of creation, redemption, and sanctification are continuous acts of love. Seeing as the world doesn't stop existing for people who are jerks, we can know that God's love is unconditional (110)."
How true that is. So this Valentine's day, I would ask how are you doing love?
Love verb: Not a thing that is blind but the act of actually seeing the needs of others and of putting their needs higher than yourself or your needs.
"You can't love your car. Or your house. OR your rubber ducky. Your car/house/ducky may be nicer than any of ours, but if you 'love' them, you're really just loving what you have--thus, you are just being devoted to your own self, your own pleasure, and your own happiness. If you think you love your car, you need a whack upside the head and a serious reevaluation of priorities.
Love is not a sentiment or an emotion. It is not something you feel but action you take on behalf of others. And love certainly isn't blind. Love stares the suffering and the needs of neighbor--and even the enemy!--hard in the face. And then does something about them.
If you have a problem with this, you might have a problem with God. We are only able to love because God first loved us (see 1 John 3:16). God's very nature is love, since God's actions of creation, redemption, and sanctification are continuous acts of love. Seeing as the world doesn't stop existing for people who are jerks, we can know that God's love is unconditional (110)."
How true that is. So this Valentine's day, I would ask how are you doing love?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday quips and quotes
I wanted to use this day as a day to offer some quips and quotes from differing sources. Somehow I got away from the scriptures but today will use this time to offer some food to reflect on when it comes to call. I will be preaching about call based on the Isaiah and Luke scriptures. I have had time to reflect on what it means to be called and to follow one's Christian vocation. I wanted to share a definition that I found in a book titled "Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms by Rolf Jacobson.
"Vocation-The thing you do that was given to you to do in the way you do for the benefit of those you are doing it for.
Got that? Vocation--not to be confused with vacation (taking a break from things) or vacuation (getting stuff out of your system)--is the the thing(s) you are called by God to do with gifts and talents God has given you, to which you commit your passion and excitement and energy for the sake of God's creation.
The word comes from a Latin term, vocare, meaning "calling"--which implies a caller: God. God calls more than just pastors. God calls each of us, gives us many gifts, and gives us a lift up by means of the Spirit. actually, we all have more than one vocation. Our Christian vocations include our jobs, our roles as family members, our roles as friends, neighbors, as citizens, and so on. Vocation is all about loving the neighbor and serving in God's name (179)."
The question we need to answer is not whether or not we are called as we all are, but rather are we willing to act on our call.
"Vocation-The thing you do that was given to you to do in the way you do for the benefit of those you are doing it for.
Got that? Vocation--not to be confused with vacation (taking a break from things) or vacuation (getting stuff out of your system)--is the the thing(s) you are called by God to do with gifts and talents God has given you, to which you commit your passion and excitement and energy for the sake of God's creation.
The word comes from a Latin term, vocare, meaning "calling"--which implies a caller: God. God calls more than just pastors. God calls each of us, gives us many gifts, and gives us a lift up by means of the Spirit. actually, we all have more than one vocation. Our Christian vocations include our jobs, our roles as family members, our roles as friends, neighbors, as citizens, and so on. Vocation is all about loving the neighbor and serving in God's name (179)."
The question we need to answer is not whether or not we are called as we all are, but rather are we willing to act on our call.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Tuesday musings
I wanted to reflect on the Isaiah text but first I have been thinking about my blog and why I am doing this. I have found that being able to write down my thoughts not only about scripture which helps my sermon but also helps me to reflect on other ideas about differing thoughts. Whether others can share with what I am stating, I would hope so. In that vein, I am going to do some reflecting on scripture during the week and on Saturdays share some quips or other random thoughts.
Let's talk about the Isaiah text. To start we need to put the text in context. First Isaiah is a priest who is doing his priestly duties. Judah had experienced the death of their king on earth Uzziah. Uzziah was a king that started out doing God's will but ended up not following through. How long after his death that this event occurred we do not know. What we can tell is that Isaiah the priest is not in the least expecting to encounter God. And even whether or not he was in the temple can not be determined though in my reading I find interesting that he was in the temple. The first thing that strikes me is that we can go about in our work in the church or in worship and if we are not willing to be aware of the presence of God we go home having done our duty. So what would it be like to have God break through our expectations.
Isaiah had a vision that so overwhelmed him that time stood still. I know that there have been occasions in my life that time seemed to stand still. Many reported that 9/11 was such an event. I have found that Haiti is a moment for me as I watch the devastation and the number of miracles that have occurred. I pray for those who have died and those who have had loved ones die. I see that presence of God in the outpouring of people's responses. In tragedies it is easier to see God's work but what about in the day to day living? Does it take a tragedy to respond to God's call. Isaiah points out that it can be in both where God can call us.
The call of God originates by our creator. Our response to God is our choice. Isaiah in having this vision realizes to the extent that he is unworthy for responding to this call even though he is a priest and comes from the priestly clan the Levites. He reminds us all that none of us are worthy of God's call but God continues to call to us. What we can do we do only though the grace of God. His response comes from the awareness of God's power and the need of those around him. He is willing to do this for the glory of God even though many will not respond to his message and in fact will chastise him for his prophetic message. Jesus also was chastized for his message of Love and caring for others. Even today many people who profess belief in Christ and scripture continue to preach hate, measure success by our possessions, and focus more on their rights than to reach in love to their neighbors.
Where the hope and grace is, comes about during tragedies which break through harden hearts. Where the need of others is so overwhelming that one cannot but help respond. My prayer is that we do not forget that we are all brothers and sisters together and need to care for each other long after this tragedy becomes back page news. Then we are responding to the call of our Lord and Creator.
Let's talk about the Isaiah text. To start we need to put the text in context. First Isaiah is a priest who is doing his priestly duties. Judah had experienced the death of their king on earth Uzziah. Uzziah was a king that started out doing God's will but ended up not following through. How long after his death that this event occurred we do not know. What we can tell is that Isaiah the priest is not in the least expecting to encounter God. And even whether or not he was in the temple can not be determined though in my reading I find interesting that he was in the temple. The first thing that strikes me is that we can go about in our work in the church or in worship and if we are not willing to be aware of the presence of God we go home having done our duty. So what would it be like to have God break through our expectations.
Isaiah had a vision that so overwhelmed him that time stood still. I know that there have been occasions in my life that time seemed to stand still. Many reported that 9/11 was such an event. I have found that Haiti is a moment for me as I watch the devastation and the number of miracles that have occurred. I pray for those who have died and those who have had loved ones die. I see that presence of God in the outpouring of people's responses. In tragedies it is easier to see God's work but what about in the day to day living? Does it take a tragedy to respond to God's call. Isaiah points out that it can be in both where God can call us.
The call of God originates by our creator. Our response to God is our choice. Isaiah in having this vision realizes to the extent that he is unworthy for responding to this call even though he is a priest and comes from the priestly clan the Levites. He reminds us all that none of us are worthy of God's call but God continues to call to us. What we can do we do only though the grace of God. His response comes from the awareness of God's power and the need of those around him. He is willing to do this for the glory of God even though many will not respond to his message and in fact will chastise him for his prophetic message. Jesus also was chastized for his message of Love and caring for others. Even today many people who profess belief in Christ and scripture continue to preach hate, measure success by our possessions, and focus more on their rights than to reach in love to their neighbors.
Where the hope and grace is, comes about during tragedies which break through harden hearts. Where the need of others is so overwhelming that one cannot but help respond. My prayer is that we do not forget that we are all brothers and sisters together and need to care for each other long after this tragedy becomes back page news. Then we are responding to the call of our Lord and Creator.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday morning reflections
Today is the first of February and would you believe it is snowing. Not much but given the amount of snow we have received in the last two months even a dusting seems to be a lot. Tonight is the orientation meeting for our Bible study which we will be doing throught Lent. The study we will be doing is titled 24 Hours that Changed the World done by Adam Hamilton. I am looking forward to the study and the time we have to share with one another. It is important in my daily time to make room to be in God's word. I have found that when I make the effort my day seems to go better. I pray that those who read this have found some ways in their lives to experience that peace that comes to us from God.
Speaking of putting ourselves into the Word, I wanted to share with you from the study guide of The Upper Room Disciplines. The lectionary selections deal with the idea of call and doing God's purpose. The first is Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13). One of the key verses is the statement and awareness that Isaiah was a man of unclean lips. The question to reflect on would be when God comes to you how do you self-identify?
The second reading is Psalm 138. Take some time to reflect on how God's purpose been fulfilled in you? 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 is the story of Paul's passing on his legacy. What legacy do you want to pass on to those who follow you? the last reading is Luke 5:1-11. What would it take to cause you to leave all that you know and follow Christ?
I would encourage everyone to take time to read each passage with fresh eyes rather than skimming the verses. As you read, reflect on where is God calling you and how are you going to respond.
Speaking of putting ourselves into the Word, I wanted to share with you from the study guide of The Upper Room Disciplines. The lectionary selections deal with the idea of call and doing God's purpose. The first is Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13). One of the key verses is the statement and awareness that Isaiah was a man of unclean lips. The question to reflect on would be when God comes to you how do you self-identify?
The second reading is Psalm 138. Take some time to reflect on how God's purpose been fulfilled in you? 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 is the story of Paul's passing on his legacy. What legacy do you want to pass on to those who follow you? the last reading is Luke 5:1-11. What would it take to cause you to leave all that you know and follow Christ?
I would encourage everyone to take time to read each passage with fresh eyes rather than skimming the verses. As you read, reflect on where is God calling you and how are you going to respond.
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