5:30 Coffee: March 2008

Friday, March 21, 2008

Holy Week Readings, Friday, March 21, 2008

John 18:1 – 19:42, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22

"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest... I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death..." (Psalm 22)

The cry of the Christ is so very often our cry, perhaps not with the same intensity of anguish, but with the same sense of lonliness. It seems that suffering is a lonely business. Even when we walk through it with someone we love, at the deepest points of suffering we are by our self with our questions... My God! Why have you forsaken me? Where are you? Food is like gravel in my mouth, I lay awake anxious at night and fret during the day... what is the answer? Where have you gone? Why have you left me in this dark night of the soul?

And yet within the anguish of the Christ, and our own... there is something calling from deep to deep... from the pits of our souls, out of the pits of our hell, to the reality of our God who is enthroned and able to save... even when we aren't relieved of our suffering. How many stories in scripture and our life experience does God enter into? How many times does he come and fill us with his peace, and comfort... in the midst of suffering... how many times does he bring from the crosses that we bear a new life and vitality? He hasn't left us to write our story alone...

Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them.But You, O LORD, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. (Psalm 22)

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Holy Week Readings, Thursday, March 20, 2008

John 13:1-17, 31b – 35, Exodus 12:1-42, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Holy Week Readings, Wednesday, March 19, 2008

John 13:21-32, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 70.

Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them. Isaiah 50:8-9

It’s so easy for us to take up an offense. We are a people who offend living in a culture of offense. We have a “right” not to be mistreated. We should get what’s coming to us - the good stuff. I just finished listening to short argument between two of my sons about who should get the next orange… “You’ve already had two, you shouldn’t get another one!” “It’s not fair!”

Jesus simply didn’t spend any time, or so it seems, worrying about getting “His due.” He never got his “due” which would have been reward and honor because by anyone’s account he was a great man who put others ahead of himself. The prophesy of Him says, “I gave my back to those who strike me, my cheek to those who pluck out my beard; I didn’t cover my face from humiliation and spitting… because God helps me.”

I wonder how I can keep this ever before my eyes when I’m not getting my way… or feeling particularly appreciated. Where were His “rights” in the beating… the plucking… the spitting? Who have we become?

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Holy Week Readings, Tuesday, March 18, 2008

John 12:20-36, Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 71:1-14.

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (Jn 12:23) “You are my servant, Israel, in Whom I will show my glory.” (Is. 49:3)

The glory of which Jesus speaks and of which Isaiah prophesied is a strange sort of glory indeed. Jesus, to be sure, is speaking of the crucifixion… it’s coming. He will be glorified. He’ll soon be wearing a crown… made of thorns; He’ll soon be wearing a royal robe… of mockery; He’ll soon bear a scepter… applied repeatedly to his back; He’ll soon be lifted up on a throne… made of rough sawn wood; He’ll soon be lifted up and spread His arms wide before His people… and be pinned by crude nails in that position.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Holy Week Readings, Monday, March 17, 2008

John 12:1-11, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 36:5-11.

There is no small irony here that Jesus is being prepared for burial by Mary while people crowd around to get a look at Lazarus. How often does the side show religious stuff keep us from what matters? I don't mean that Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead was in itself a side-show, it was a miracle and a wonder to be sure, but the people came "not only for Jesus' sake, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead."

I'm struck by all the layers of drama and confusion in the few short verses of the John text:

Mary loves and is anxious to honor Jesus.
Judas is spoiled by greed and thinking only about getting hold of the money already... and always I suspect, he can't get past the money and greed shaping his heart.
Jesus is looking toward and foreshadowing his coming death... which no one seems to hear in the hustle and bustle around the moment.
The Jewish people are just trying to figure this rabbi out.
The Jewish religious leaders are just trying to shut this rabbi up! They're willing even to commit murder ("but the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus to death also") in order to put a stop to this guy.
The Jewish leadership is intent on keeping leadership and cannot bear to see that "many of the Jews are going away and believing in Jesus."

Is everyone missing the point at the moment except Jesus for whom the cross looms large?

I guess I'm not much different from the crowds really. I want to honor Christ, but am pulled every which way from the pressures of my day to day existence. Pulled by the pressure of having the money to meet the obligations of clothing, housing, feeding, educating, and transporting three busy boys through life - maybe not falling into abject greed... but not immune from the pull of the dollar, anxious to "see God at work" in amazing ways and probably missing Him at work in a million ways; missing Jesus in the midst of serving Him; concerned about my own place in the world to the point that I sometimes begrudge others their place; being pulled at times to do what I shouldn't do to get what I probably don't need...

Come near Lord Jesus, and draw me to yourself.

Life and Ministry

I've been alive for 46 years... I know that's not much compared to some people, but it's enough that I realize I'm on the downhill side, probably, unless I live past 92! That would be interesting I think. Otherwise, however, I'm at a point of deep reflection... how will the rest be spent. I've been in the same spot for 20 years now, doing pretty much the same work, so it's time for serious evaluation.

There are two things that have challenged my thinking... one old, one new. First, the 9th stage of Eric Erikson's psycho-social development; "Integrity vs. Despair." It struck me twenty some years ago. Erikson basically says that there will be a time when you will begin to reflect on your life and you will conclude that it's been a life full of good decisions and directions, and work done well - if that's the case you'll come away with a sense of integrity; your life has had meaning and purpose. If on the other hand you look back and see that it's been filled with missed chances and squandered opportunities you'll have a sense of despair. I want my reflection to lead me to integrity!

Second, I had a class on 2 Timothy this summer at Regent College with Earl Palmer. He and I had lunch one day and it was just a great encouragement. He said to me, "Never think of yourself as old... I'm nearing 80 and I don't think of myself as old! You have lots of life ahead of you... your most productive years! Realize that you are young and God has alot of stuff for you to do!"

Looking forward!
John

Book Reviews

Are Women Human (Dorothy Sayers): This little book (about 80 pages at most) is a lot of fun, but also profound. It's actually a compilation of two essays - I think both lectures - which Sayers gave around 1938 to a women's group in London. They wanted her to talk about the importance of feminism – which she didn’t want to talk about specifically. She's very fun to read... very British... very to the point... very intelligent and articulate. I read it as preparation for the sermon series in 2 Timothy because I'm trying to think of Paul's treatment of women and this book was suggested to me by Earl Palmer (University Presbyterian - Seattle) at a class I recently took from him. Here, in my estimation, is the essence of Sayer's view, "Women should be doing everything they're gifted to do... but not in order to prove that they can do what men can do. There are fundamental differences between men and women; they're made for different things. If you have to choose between a woman or a man to do a certain task you should choose the one who is best at that task. It gives our lives meaning to do what we're good at... it honors God to do what we're made for. A woman shouldn't become a mechanic to prove that women can be mechanics... nor should she be kept from mechanics because she is a woman. Great treatment of the subject I thought. My view of Paul and women, incidentally, is that he thought very highly of them. He speaks specifically in a coupe places about them being silent, but then talks all over the place about their roles as prophets, teachers, deacons, and "outstanding among the apostles." I take his specific instructions about women and silence to be a specific address to a specific problem. Barth says, "There are no NT letters apart from the troubles of the NT church." He's right about that.
Searching for God Knows What (Donald Miller): Miller is great... his writing style is interesting and very conversational. A little too conversational at times for me. But I love to be challenged by what he's saying, both in this book, and "Blue like Jazz" which is also enjoyable, and challenges some ideas that we have about life, faith, and church. Miller makes me laugh at one moment, and then get very serious the next. Honestly, I howled with laughter during the first chapter, "Fine Wine: The Failure of Formulas." He gave me cause to think anew about Shakespeare’s Play, "Romeo and Juliet." I have to go back and reread it... it's been way too long. Here's a bit of a summary statement for the book, from chapter one: "I realized the gospel of Jesus, I mean the essence of God's message to mankind, wasn't a bunch of hoops we needed to jump through to get saved, and it wasn't a series of ideas we had to agree with either; rather, it was an invitation, an invitation to know God."
Before I Go: Letters to Our Children About What Really Matters (Peter Kreeft):Before I Go: Letters to Our Children about What Really Matters (Peter Kreeft): This is simply a delightful little book. I don't mean "little" in a way to demean it... rather it reads like a little book. There are 161 short letters, from a couple sentences to a couple pages of advice that Kreeft is leaving mostly for his children. Here is a quote from #23, Sacred Time: "Visit a church at least once a week and just spend five minutes in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, just adoring Him. He came a long way for this meeting: all the way from heaven. And He brought you a long way for this meeting: all the way from nothingness, out of which he created you. He thinks this meeting is that important. And you don't? Which one of the two of you do you think has it right?" I love the sacredness of Kreeft's Catholicism. I like his writing. This book is full of good stuff. It's been especially meaningful to me since I'm preaching through 2 Timothy which is Paul's "Last Words" -- literally.
Playing for Pizza (John Grisham): Nothing profound here, but it's an enjoyable read. Maybe I'd classify this as a "feel good" novel. It's not going to change the world, but it's a story with some redemption, victory, set mostly in Parma, Italy. There is some interesting information here about various parts of Italy. Story is an NFL Quarterback, Rick Dockery, who can't seem to make it in the NFL, and ends up playing in the Italian NFL, for the Parma Panthers. They're putting all their hopes on him to win the Italian Superbowl! In the end... Easy read about 260 pages.
Fish!: This is a great little book,sort of expensive for the size of the book, less than a hundred pages. This book is really helpful for getting refocused on how to be a positive influence in a "toxic energy dump."
Real Sex (Lauren Winner): I really like Winner's writing. Heard her speak at the National Pastor's Conference in '07... she's fun. I read another of her books, Mudhouse Sabbath, which I loved. I think you should read this very articulate and frank discussion of Sex within the faith framework. Read it.
Velvet Elvis (Rob Bell): Thought provoking look at the church, faith, and the journey. I'm not crazy about Bell's writing style, but readable, and challenging ideas. I'd recommend it. If the church doesn't stay relevant it will end up the like the "Velvet Elvis" painting Bell found in the basement of his house... obsolete.
His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman): I read the trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) as well as Lyra's Oxford. As advertised the books are hard on "the Church" but that's to be expected from Pullman's atheism. The books were a fun read, we're reading them to our boys now. Good opportunity for dialogue about important ideas. Lyra's Oxford was disappointing, and very short. Few observations: (1) "The Church" is probably a little too exercised about this series. (2) I think "killing God" is a little too strong a description of what happens. (3) I think it's very interesting, given Pullman's atheism, that there is so much metaphysical stuff in this series. (4) If you haven't read the books or seen the movie... see the movie first... they foul up everything in the movie which makes it difficult to enjoy if you've read the books. Trilogy books are around 250 pages. Fun, but definitely not The Lord of the Rings, or The Chronicles of Narnia... not close.
Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck): This is a classic that I'd never read until recently. It's a very interesting portrayal of friendship, caring, and loyalty. It's accessible, and about 90 pages. Glad I read it.

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