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October 22, 2007
And So It Begins: Four From a Warm Sunday Afternoon in Autumn
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October 20, 2007
Burning Hearts
Both of these were taken at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis one outside and one in. I made a brief visit there yesterday afternoon, but more from that visit later. Did you know that it is the biggest collection mosaics in the world? The detail of the Sacred Heart is from the icon mentioned in the Wikipedia article, and is quite different in coloration and style from the rest of the basilica, which is more Byzantine (I think) and gaudy (though a less perjorative adjective may be in order). Even the Basillica itself has several different styles and colorations in it, depending on when and by whom the mosaics were made. I like the early work best, done by an Italian artist if I remember correctly, which is more muted and consists of what I describe as "darker pastels," if that is not an oxymoron. However, some of the more golden, shiny work of the rest of the basilica, can be truly glorious, to properly use and overused word. OK, pedantic talking over, on to two thousand more eloquent words than mine.
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October 19, 2007
New Catapult - Dressing Up
A new issue of Catapult magazine is out, bursting at the seams (Pun Entirely Intented) with interesting articles. Can I just tell you how much I wanted to write an article for this issue on "Dressing Up?" In fact, two Sundays ago, I had a collection of lines and concepts I wanted to write about all jostling for attention. Sadly, I knew that I really could not choose to become "with article," as generally when I am writing one I will work on little else until it is done. Sigh.
At any rate, I am rather comforted by the fine selection of articles that the issue has, some covering some of the same ground I would have done. First, Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma's editiorial, thoughtfully well written as always, considers the gains and losses of our culture of casualness.
If it’s merely brand snobbery that we’re abandoning in a more casual culture, that’s no great loss. But I don’t feel a sense of sadness on account of missed opportunities to show off expensive clothing or flaunt beauty competitively. In fact, I think part of the problem is that people in the U.S. and Canada are generally too wealthy; we’ve lost our sense of dressing up for a special occasion. Why take the time to make an elegant dress for summer weddings when one can just throw on one of several dresses from the Old Navy clearance rack? We’re so overwhelmed with stuff that we can’t conceptualize bringing out the same special outfit year after year for Christmas Eve. Instant pop cultural Halloween costumes are widely available and so inexpensive that it’s not worth the time to create something from scratch. And suits and ties have come to represent tailored prisons, as opposed to a gesture of respect and celebration.
In the communal article "Dressed Up Memories," Jeremy Huggins and Dennis Haack have wonderful reflections. I also enjoyed "Dressing Up" and "The secret lives of dresses, Vol. 1," a story told by a dress.
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October 18, 2007
Mycology
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Are You Blue? Consider III
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October 17, 2007
Give Thanks for the Rain...
...for its inconvenience, that reminds us of us our creaturliness, as we scurry for cover
...for its abundance, that tops off our water tables, which are the envy of a thristy world
...for its cleansing, that washes body and soul, if we will but hold our breath and plunge into its coldness
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October 16, 2007
Consider II
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October 14, 2007
Consider
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Forgetting What Lies Behind
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By a Spider's Web
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October 11, 2007
Only 74 Shopping Days Till Christmas
It's never too early to get that shopping started, particularly if the presents are going overseas. Might I commend to you this site (here's the print version of the same) and this one. Happy shopping.
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Living in the Tension
Even though my day has been incredibly busy and I have miles to go before I sleep. How does one conjugate "sleep" in Greek? My day was extraordinary enough, though, that I feel compelled to mark it with a blog post. It was full of many types of richnesses and contrarieties that created a tension which made me stand up and pay attention.
The first part of my day consisted of lectures on preaching which I was required to attend for my seminary studies. The phrase “required to attend,” though, belies the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the first sermon in worship this morning and the three additional lecture-sermons throughout the day. Immediately afterwards, I called my brother and told him how much that Stafford Carson reminded me of some of the visiting preachers that would come to preach to the missionary community in the mountains of Pakistan during the summers. It was like water to my soul. I am not entirely sure I can articulate it properly, but the combination of a thoroughly grace-centered message with a consideration of how preaching is to transform lives, yes, even to convict people of specific sin, to have the Holy Spirit do surgery in their hearts was invigorating, and to me that, in and of itself, was instructive. Why do I feel such a lack of such preaching and emphases in my sense of the American church?
The rest of the day was a rich meal of learning from I Thessalonians 2 and 3 and Luke 24 how to preach messages that transform through the power of the Holy Spirit, preached by preacher/pastors who have let the Word and Spirit transform their hearts and lives, who work hard at preparing sermons and caring for their congregations and families. It was an amazing combination of wisdom about preaching and pastoring, which, well, obviously left a mark on me.
The most amazing moment of the day for me, though, was when a student asked Rev. Carson what he as an Irish Christian saw as some of the major weaknesses of the American church. After a very gracious caveat about seeing the weaknesses of another culture more readily than one’s owns, Dr. Carson said that in America that evangelical Christians have still not solved the race problem. After a long pause of absolute silence from the audience, he began to say “Well, perhaps I’ve gotten it wrong” and then corrected himself, applying his own injunction given to us earlier to not let a congregation muzzle one from preaching a difficult sermon the congregation does not want to hear. The moment was absolutely stunning. The silence of the audience said it all.
It made me appreciate that while I am not always happy with the state of affairs at my own church, New City Fellowship, in one way or another, and while I may grumble that I don’t get my own wishes down the line in the order of worship, that the enterprise is worth undertaking. This is a conversation for elsewhere, but the New City model of doing church and the concept of racial reconciliation, which once seemed to be held up as an ideal in the PCA, now seems out favor and the new emphasis is largely toward training black pastors to lead black congregations. I cannot resolve all the ins and outs of this here, I am neither qualified nor knowledgeable enough to do so, nor am I blindly defending the New City model, but I think that in some way perhaps some ground has been lost with this shift.
In the first sermon of the day, which was on Psalm 110, Dr. Carson said that Christ is, indeed, currently reigning over the world as King, even though it may not seem so at times, and that this should inform how we approach every sphere of life, including preaching. He referenced Habakkuk 2:14 that “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” And that very nicely introduces the second part of my day.
For house church tonight, it was planned that we were to visit some newly arrived refugee families that were being ministered to by the ministry of Worku Geremew, a dear friend of mine from house church. And I have to tell you that I did not really want to go, not tonight nor when we were discussing the plans earlier. But go I did, even with the need to study the aforementioned Greek pressing upon me. And I was blessed, as I knew in my heart of hearts that I would be, but also challenged to consider the tension presented in this post.
How could I put the two parts of my day together in a meaningful whole? How could I relish a rich theological feast in the daytime that seemed to have little bearing on ministering to the very basic physical and emotional and spiritual needs of two newly arrived families from Africa? One family had not even had the most basic need of salvation met in their own lives as yet.
I do not mean to set these two in false antithesis, because they are not, nor do I mean grade the importance of each emphasis, I cannot, because each is as important as the other. And the ministry to an African family on a fundamental level is no different than ministry to any other family. I suppose I am simply highlighting a fault line that runs down the middle of me, and might I, perhaps not so humbly, suggest should run right down the middle of more of us. Quite honestly I am far more inclined to try to resolve the tension by simply sinking into the emphases from the first part of the day, to cater to the spiritual health of people in the West with a high level of specificity and care and theological reflection, and for what it is worth that is the area to which I feel called, and yet, and yet I am coming to believe that I cannot, must not, ignore the Church of Jesus Christ as it is spread across the world and consider its concerns. I cannot ignore issues of injustice and wealth, if only for the simple reason that my Christian brothers and sisters across the world possess great needs which the American church, and I as a part of it, are uniquely qualified to meet, not because we are better than them or any thing like, but simply because we have an abundance of resources, physical and spiritual, and to whom much is given, much is required. We cannot simply ignore the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ if we are to follow the whole counsel of Scripture.
Perhaps this is not so great a tension for others. It is for me. And in response, I must not, and I believe the church must not, seek an easily resolution. We should neither pit good theological instruction against practical acts of service and seeking justice, nor assume that any part of Chirst's church can do with out embracing both emphases. I do not believe that relief of tension that I experienced today can be had if we are to live biblically, in the now and the not yet of the Kingdom of Christ, which will one day cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
And, now, back to the Greek.
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October 10, 2007
Four From Last Autumn
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October 5, 2007
Catapult Magazine - New City Edition
Not really, but kind of. Well, it has been a while since I posted a Catapult notice. That has something to do with the busy-ness of starting a Masters of Divintiy program and something to do with being in a bit of a creative lull, particularly when it comes to writing non-fiction pieces. Nonetheless, I am very excited about the current issue of Catapult as it has three pieces by folks from my church with contributions from 5 separate authors.
Be sure to check out Jill Blanche's lovely reflection on football and fall in small town Iowa.
I share a haiku piece with three of my friends from church which arose from the haiku contest held on on this blog. Heidi Harbin provided a lovely illustration for the piece.
I have a photo in the issue of which I am particularly proud, even though it is a bit macabre, and simply involved being at the right place at the right time.
I have not read all the articles in the issue, but there is a good article on funerals in Egypt, which reminded me about how Pakistani's grieve (some of which I find more helpful and some less helpful than American practice) and a simple but poignant reflection on the death of a pet and another on buying apples and caring for a neighbor.
Finally, I have had some photographs in Catapult which I have not consistently highlighted on the blog as many of them appeared here first. Check out the second part of my contributor page if interested.
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October 1, 2007
Jesus Shall Reign...
...where'er the sun, does his successive journeys run. I love this hymn, even if verse three and a few others (FYI, the link has sound) do suffer a bit from the taint of colonialism.
I think the version we sang today in church changed the second line of verse 8 to "Grateful honors to their king," but I like the original much better:
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen!
"Peculiar honors." It makes me think of Narnian beasts bringing praise to Aslan or Gerard Manley Hopkins' "Pied Beauty."
Other favorite verses from "Jesus Shall Reign":
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His Name.
"Early blessings on His Name." Lovely.
Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
"Death and the curse are known no more." I cannot wait to sing "Joy to the World" (sound), which is also coincidently, or perhaps not so coincidently, by Isaac Watts. There are not many things I hate, but that curse is surely one of them. Why can't we sing Christmas songs at times other than Christmas, at least one here and there? Some of them have got killer theology.
As rain on meadows newly mown,
So shall He send his influence down:
His grace on fainting souls distills,
Like heav’nly dew on thirsty hills.
Now that is truly a dew worth doing.
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