d a n i e l J s t o r y

What I've Been Up To

2009-07-25T21:01:00.003Z

It has been a few weeks since I last blogged. Since that time I've been fairly busy with things such as...getting settled into the new building...getting the house ready for out of country guests...welcoming our third child into the world (another beautiful girl)...studying the Old Testament in preparation for teaching later in the autumn...getting ill and getting better...plus eating and sleeping.

In the world of babies, our newest little girl is called Naomi Grace. She was born on 14th July and weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces. She is healthy and beautiful and, amazingly, sleeping very well at night. We're so blessed.

The Office

2009-06-24T21:21:00.002Z

I have officially moved out of my first ever proper office and into my second ever proper office (and yes I am going to starting blogging again as if I haven't neglected it for the past century...oh wait). Anyway, I did have an office at Highland Church in West Milton, OH when I was there for a year, but it didn't even have internet access and I was barely there so that doesn't really count in my mind.

My first proper office was at 30 Regent Place, Rugby, England. It was a dear old place (emphasis on 'old'). A room that was far too large for my needs and my ego, but very much appreciated nonetheless. My desk sat on the far end (it was kind of a long, skinny room) near one of two windows. A couple of bookcases were nearby, a semi-circle table was along the wall midway and three filing cabinets were at the other end near the door. Oh, and I can't forget...the other window. (Don't you feel like you're actually there with such literary picture painting?)

I spent many an hour there studying, designing, planning, sermon preparing, praying, emailing, phoning, chatting, counseling, etc. It was my office as our family went from two to four. It was my office for my first real job. And though this post is a tad silly, I did genuinely appreciate it.

In almost every way (apart from space) my new office is newer and nicer and very much a gift from God just at the right time (as is the whole of the building it is in). But I feel I must not let this moment pass without bidding farewell to the faithful friend that was my first-proper-office.

Thanks God...for making me thankful.

Parenting: The Unexamined Factor

2009-04-05T14:48:00.003Z

Yes! The people most responsible for the behaviour and development of kids are...their parents. So says Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. I caught the title "'Parents to blame' for problems in UK schools" on guardian.co.uk this week and I could not help but read. Comments on the article seemed to be in favour of the notion.

This is, of course, in response to growing difficultly in UK school systems with anti-social behaviour, etc. I have no statistical support to give here, but from experience I can affirm the notion that more and more kids seem to be unhinged from a healthy relationship with authority and social relating. But my point here is not to detail "how bad things are" with the youth of our generation (we are by no means the first to deal with rebellious children). I am more interested in why kids go the way they go...whether positvely or negatively.

I have thought for some time now that disproportionate attention is given to the tweaking and re-engineering of educational structures, classroom procedures and teacher and school regulations. When things are not going well...when kids seem uninterested, unable to relate well with teachers and fellow classmates...when bullying is on the rise...we often want a reform of the educational and classroom system. I'm not suggesting that educational approaches should not be scrutinized and improved upon over time. What I am suggesting is that we often skip over the most obvious factor in child behaviour and development.

I cannot ignore the church in this area. I sense that much pressure is put on our children and youth workers to entertain and engage with kids that are increasingly inattentive. When things don't seem to be going so well, it is a newer, more dynamic curriculum or leader we call for. Rarely do we ask if more emphases should be placed on discipling parents in their parenting. I believe this is an enormously underdeveloped area in Christian formation in churches.

(In case you haven't guessed by my semi-rant) I am a firm believer that the fundamental avenue for heathly child development is parent and family dynamics. I feel I cannot state that strongly enough. The role of a father and mother in a child's life could not be more significant and has infinitely more impact on development and growth than any school, teacher, or system could ever have. If parents increasingly seek to delegate their responsibilities to teachers and schools, it would not be surprising that negative results occur.

It cannot be overlooked the fundamental importance of family in scripture. That in the very existence of God the relationship of Father and Son is so prominent shows that the parent/child dynamic is not a human construct, nor is it a marginal factor. As we start to re/embrace the responsibility of parenthood and family relationships as integral to the life of discipleship, I believe we can expect the work of the Spirit to form the image of the Father/Son relationship in our lives as well. I realize that many parents (including my own) have lived faithfully to Lord in raising children. Nevertheless, I believe that the pressures and trends of the broader culture require a re-addressing of these things in our time. As a young parent myself, it inspires in me a sense of holy soberiety.

Dissertation, here I come.

2009-02-26T21:29:00.003Z

So I am starting the dissertation for my Masters in Applied Theology. I was interested in looking at the Spirit in Job, but decided that it would not exactly lend itself well to the application bit. Instead I have chosen to do 20,000 words on work/vocation in Genesis 1-5, how it has impacted in other areas of scripture and history and what resource it can supply to contemporary considerations.

I am excited and ready to dig in, though I know it will be quite a lot of work. I am amazed at how little work has been done at an academic level to look at a theology of work and particularly looking at a biblical theology of work. The New Testament's hot spot is Thessalonians, which I did consider. In the end, though, I felt that looking at Genesis would provide a more substantial, foundational input to the topic, as well as the fact that much less work has been done on it compared with Thessalonians.

I will likely post some of my findings and updates on progress on here and/or Dust and Light as we go along. The plan to finish by the end of the summer.

A post at Dust & Light

2009-02-10T16:29:00.002Z

Believe it or not, I've actually posted on Dust & Light. It is a reflection on the nature and origins of work based on Genesis 1-2.

Just to remind you, Dust & Light is a collaborative blog set up by myself, Aaron Rathbu(r)n and Simon Ravenscroft. It has thus far been one of those good ideas that has not really taken shape. Here's hoping that it begins to now. To help things along, head on over and leave a comment.

I Preach

2009-01-25T21:25:00.002Z

In addition to blogging, I also preach once or twice a month here in Rugby. It's out of the ordinary for me, but I thought I'd post a link to my most recent sermon. It's entitled "Hidden Treasure and Expensive Pearls" and you can get it here.

Joy in the Journey...

2009-01-18T16:22:00.002Z

Here was my question: why is that we seem to enjoy the process of making something more than the final product?

Here's a summary of the responses I've gotten: 1) its the artist in me...God is a creative 2) as finite creatures, we will never truly 'arrive' as we continually discover our infinite God 3) its the apostolic desire to initiate new things and spread outward 4) boredom...getting bored with one project, dropping it and starting another 5) the journey is necessary to fully appreciate the destination 6) it mirrors God's progressive revelation.

Excellent thoughts. Listing them out makes me think what a worthwhile question this was to ask. So my comments are thus: Probably all of these have bearing on the subject. God certainly is creative and, being images bearers, we are also creative beings (though not quite in the same way as God...As Harold Best puts it, God is the only true abstract artist in that when He created He was not copying anything).

I am really struck by Simon's idea of never truly arriving as finite beings before an infinite God. It reminds me of the description of heaven in C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce. To the best of my recollection, heaven is depicted as a journey upward from the plains to the mountains in the light of an ever-increasing sunrise. This communicates the notion of discovery, journey and expectation...three dynamics that the human race has always hungered for. Wouldn't it be fitting that these desires are found ultimately in a humble relationship with our Creator?

Nevertheless, I can't help but wonder if we are stopping short here. Perhaps it is not that heaven is perpetual discovery, but rather a full and sustained celebration of the ultimate discovery (although perhaps one could argue that these are one in the same concept). I wonder if because, at the moment, all we know is the journey, we are unable to conceive of anything better than anticipation and searching.

Follow me here. If we, even now, have the drive to taste of the fullness of the glory of God, but are not yet able to fully satisfy that thirst, it would surely make sense that any destination (whether the completion of a website design, good book, or otherwise) would come as something of a letdown; a letdown that, rather than encouraging satisfaction and celebration, drives us back to the search, back to process, back to the journey. This would then explain my joy in the creative process, almost more than the creation itself (since moving toward something gives the impression of progress more than arriving at an undestination).

I'd better leave it at that for now. There are more of the points that certainly deserve comment in my next post. But for now, let me repeat my theory: since no destination, for the moment, is truly satisfying, the journey for us carries more feeling of promise than the arrival. But when we know fully even as we are fully known (1 Cor. 13:12), perhaps the destination will be so overwhelming that the prospect of journey will pale in comparison. But for now, we journey.

What think ye?

A Question...

2008-12-30T23:36:00.002Z

Why is it that we so often seem to get greater enjoyment from the process than from the finished product?

Case in Point: I enjoy web design. I'm a little rusty, but I'm catching up. I still enjoy it. But the thing is, I much prefer to work on a new design than to sit back and enjoy a finished website. I work. I finish a site. Then...I want to make another one. Sometimes I start into a design (which I actually like) and before I even finish I am on to a new idea.

Maybe its the perfectionist streak in me. Or maybe there is something more profound.

It seems that I (or at least characters in films I've seen) have been told that its as much about the journey as the destination. I have sometimes thought that this notion is actually antithetic to the gospel (i.e. if the destination is Jesus then it is all about the destination). But maybe there is something more grand in all of it than I have yet stumbled on to. I suspect maybe there is.

Any thoughts?

Reinventing

2008-12-23T22:20:00.002Z

So I've decided to start blogging again. I plan to simplify my thoughts (perhaps that is inconceivable to some of you). I'll save most of my heavier stuff for the Dust and Light blog. Here I hope simply to post thoughts and updates about my life for the benefit of those who'd like to keep up.

So before I sign off, let me say one more thing...Making caramel corn is sticky business.

Respecting Those Who Don't Believe

2008-11-03T15:17:00.003Z

This post is the first of a few in which I want to consider some nuances of gospel mission in the western world of the 21st century. I am intrigued by the above video clip for a number of reasons, but I want to focus on one in particular. Dr. Keller begins by saying that a missional church (or what he is defining as a missional church) has respect for people who don't believe, understands what its like not to believe and this respect and understanding permeates all that they do.

Something in me really resonates with this viewpoint. While I do not believe we should be so inclusive that we no longer make distinctions between those who believe and those who do not, I do think that many times we unnecessarily cut people off from hearing the gospel simply by being insensitive to them or (more often) even merely the world view they represent. For instance, should I say (or insinuate) that someone is stupid for not believing that there is a God who created this amazing and complex universe, or should I respect their view even whilst I am (humbly) confronting it with the the alternative Christian view of which I am convinced? I believe the latter is certainly what Jesus and the apostles modeled for us.

Insensitive jokes, caricatures, and disrespect of those who do not believe is scandalously anti the gospel of grace. Respecting someone is not necessarily agreeing with their viewpoint nor does it have to involve diluting or concealing the gospel message. It is simply a matter of loving all people.

This post is a bit of thinking (or rather typing) out loud. Anyone have any thoughts to crack open the subject?

Pope: Religion has a place in politics

2008-09-12T19:52:00.010Z

I came across an article on CNN's website regarding the Pope's recent visit to France (see full article). I was immediately grabbed by the title concerning religion and politics. Here is a selection from the article:

The pontiff said it was "fundamental on the one hand, to insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion in order to preserve both the religious freedom of citizens and the responsibility of the State towards them."
But he added that societies must also be "more aware of the irreplaceable role of religion for the formation of consciences and the contribution which it can bring to -- among other things -- the creation of a basic ethical consensus within society."

Upon first analysis, I believe this is well put. When most people champion the seperation of church and state principle, they are generally reacting to the unwanted prospect of the Pope's first statement. In other words, people do not what to be told by the state what they should and should not believe. Nevertheless what most do not readily admit is that there is indeed plenty of faith floating around in politics and the so-called public realm in general.

I like the Pope's second statement, but I would take it a bit further. He seems to be suggesting that the secular/political realm should draw more from the richness of religious ideas in the forming of laws to guide society. I would say that more recognition should be given to the faith-nature of all political views and of secularism in general. This, I must admit, is sounding the call of what I understand of Radical Orthodoxy, a sensibility to which I often ellude.

So, what am I saying? Perhaps if it is more widely recognized that all political idealogies are based on some sort of belief system and could, in that sense, be referred to as faiths in themselves, the door could be opened a bit more for dialogue between those in the political realm and those associated with what are already recognized as faiths. The faith-filled secularists need to stop faulting others for being faith-filled. The pot should stop calling the kettle black.

It has generally bugged me the number of times it is insisted by candidates in the US elections that their faith will not be brought into their governance. All I have to say is, oh brother! Though you claim to enter the political realm naked of any of your faith clothing, you are indeed, after all, still full clothed (the opposite of the story of the emporers new clothes).

Agape and Grace

2008-09-05T22:56:00.003Z

I've been thinking recently about love and grace and how they relate. The primary New Testament word for love is agape. To describe it conceptually we usually emphasize sacrifice, unconditionality, and selflessness. This is over against eros love which is primarily sensual and /or erotic. At its worst, eros is made to take over the main definition of love and, when it occupies this central place, twists itself into selfish, emotional, sensually driven desire. Eros spirituality, as David Wells rightly puts it, is the prevailing notion of love in our culture and even in the whole of this age. It is connected very much to the Garden incident when our first parents placed personal desire first at the prospect of being like God. The sensory nature of the fruit itself is illustrative of the superficiality of eros. Paradise is lost to the cravings of the stomach, though it surely represented deeper dangers.

Agape on the other hand is entirely different. It can, as I've noted, be defined conceptually, but is properly understood only as it relates to a particular event (the cross) and a particular Person (God in Christ). And this is where grace comes very much into the picture. Those who experience agape know grace like no other can know. In Christ, God sacrificed His very self for those who had not and could not earn His affection. "For by grace you have been saved..." (Ephesians 2:8). In utter helplessness we, who willed ourselves into the poverty of a life consumed with eros, receive the free gift of salvation. We are helpless to save ourselves and equally helpless to resist the love of God in Christ. We cannot brag that we have saved ourselves, nor can we brag that we have refused the aid of another. This sort of experience is one that breaks, but it is a sweet breaking as one where all defense comes down and we simply collapse into the arms of our Comforter.

Agape is thus incredibly transforming. That is certainly the expectation of the New Testament writers: "We love because he first loved us," says John. When all grounds for bragging, righteousness, and dignity are based solely in the free gift of Another and decidedly not in ourselves, we dare not trampling even the lowest of the low. When all that we have we have received, we give with joy that we have anything to give at all. This, of course, is not always the daily reality, but it is the upward call of Christ.

These are only a few (quite late night) reflections. I have been captured recently by how important it is to see all things as gift rather than merely as a given or, worse yet, an earning. Agape and grace are rich realities in Christ with which I, personally, and the church, communally, must season all that we are and do. S.D.G.

Eucharist in Action

2008-07-20T17:32:00.002Z

I'm sure if you are reading this blog now you are aware of my recent studies on the Eucharist practice of the early church. I first did some masters work on it, then some blogging about it, and then some preaching/teaching on it both here in the UK and in the states when I was there. This Sunday was my first back at New Life Church and I had the privilege of leading in a celebration of the Eucharist and I must say that I was amazingly blessed by the experience.

I have been scheming about practical ways of implementing some of things I have been learning in my studies. In particular I have been looking for ways of encouraging the communal aspect of the Eucharist where celebrating it as a full meal is not really an option. So today I had the thought of take one of the octagonal tables we have in our meeting room and moving it to the front/center with the bread and wine placed on all sides. The idea was to have the congregation come forward (orderly, but not too orderly) to receive the elements and, as there was room, come around the table. This way as they took the bread and wine they were also given the chance to look others in the eye, reminding them that they are joined not just to Christ, but to each other. (It should be noted that we were a small enough group that one table was sufficient. The same idea could be implemented for a larger group by having more than one table in different parts of the room.)

Furthermore, I encouraged the group to see this not just as a time to focus on Christ, but also as a time of fellowship in the presence of Christ. Along that line I suggested that it could be a time to greet one another and chat, or to pray with one another, especially offering prayer for those who may have particular needs.

I could see it all in my head beforehand, but I was a little unsure as to whether or not I would be able to sufficiently communicate the idea to the people. But let me tell you, it all happen just as I had envisioned (I'm sure that God had something to do with the thinking beforehand and the implementing!). People were coming forward in stages, smallish groups were forming around the room as people prayed together, others seemed to be saying hello and catching up. Some people were not actually able to get up to approach the table (my wife included since she was taking care of our two small children) so various ones took it upon themselves to go and bring back bread and wine for them. I was leading the music band so was able to join them around the table when we put down our instruments and then prayed for them. There was a very cool buzz around the room as if to suggest we were taking part in something very holy and still had the audacity to enjoy it.

Overall it was an overwhelming experience. It was beautifully focused on Christ not just in the taking of the bread and wine, but in the way it was taken, with respect, consideration and love for each other. I don't mean to idealize it too much really, but there was something very special about it for me. I'm writing this partly just to share my joy, but also for any who would want to know of a practical way of celebrating the Eucharist that seems to embrace the richness of the biblical witness. No doubt there are many other ways that also do this, but this is the closest I have experienced it yet.

My father-in-law and I were scheming about such things when we were together in the states. He leads a small church in Indiana that is in the process of rethinking many of the ways they do things. I hope that this might shed a bit of further light on our discussion. It also makes me think of those talks we had, late (but not too late) at night over good cups of decaf hazelnut coffee. Good times. Thank you, Lord, for all Your means of grace.

Instant Replay Upon Our Return

2008-07-17T14:58:00.004Z

We're back in the UK. Its been a month and I have unashamedly neglected this blog, but now I'm back. Sorry to those who had hoped to read about our holiday here on the blog as it transpired. Instead, I give you a point by point (remember, I'm a preacher) review of the time we had. In case you don't want to read any further, we had a great time...very relaxing...wonderful weather...great time with family and friends. Now to the break down...

The journey. Most of you know that we have two lovely daughters that are both under the age of three. The airline wouldn't allow us to check them, so it was carry-on all the way. They, in fact, did swimmingly (or perhaps I should say flyingly). Both ways they hardly cried at all, slept a good amount of time, and actually seemed to have a good time. Thanks to all who prayed specifically for our flying. We definitely felt His blessing.

Family time. Most all of our immediate and extended family (on both sides) live in north-central Indiana. We spent the first two weeks with my parents and the last two with Karlie's. They live about 10 minutes away from each other though, so we got to see all of them over the whole time. My brother, now living in West Virginia, spent a couple of weeks with us also. Karlie's brother and his family live near by and we spent a good amount of time at their house as well (Mic especially loved playing with her cousins, swimming in their pool, and jumping on their trampoline). On a sad note, I learned just a few days before we left for the states that my grandpa (my dad's dad) past away. He was 89, knew Jesus, lived a full life and died very peacefully so we were all sad but very thankful. But all around, our time with family was wonderful and we are already missing them.

Church. We always enjoy getting to catch up with people in other churches we have been a part of in the past. We were there for four Sundays and were with the following churches: Landmark Baptist Church (my childhood church where my parents and grandma still are members), The Mission (the church in Ohio where I did a pastoral internship the first year we were married...I preached a message on the Eucharist when we visited), and Covenant Christian Fellowship (church K and I were part of before we were married and where her parents and brother's family are members...her dad is the lead elder...I shared the same Eucharist teaching with them, split over two weeks).

Other fun stuff. We got to relax a lot while home, which consisted largely of chilling in the air conditioning, watching films, playing games, taking walks, etc. We also got to do a lot of fun stuff that was a bit more active. For instance, we spent a day at Cedar Point with my family. CP is one of the largest roller coaster theme parks in the world. We also got to spend some time around Indianapolis (Indiana's capital, about 1 million people, very nice and lots to do). We also went with Karlie's side of the family to a new local water park. The kids and adults loved it. There was this really tall tube slide that emptied you into a funnel which slid you around and around until you dropped out the bottom into a deep pool of water. Sounds pretty fun, eh? I did it once, but Karlie did it about 10 times! On the musical side, we got to see my little brother in concert (check out his music at davidstoryonline.com). I even had the privilege of playing guitar on a few songs with him. And lastly, but not leastly, we got to take a quick road trip down to Memphis, Tennessee (quick as in 8 hours one way) to see some of our long lost friends from BCW.

Food. For those interested, we did stuff ourselves with as much American food as we could. We visited our favorite Italian restaurant, Olive Garden, had perhaps the best steaks we've had at a nice place in downtown Indianapolis, and ate at most of our favorite local places. I had a gazillion cheeseburgers and many chocolate milkshakes. We even ate at a place called The Pub on the Greene which was based explicitly on a British pub model. It must have had nearly a hundred beers on tap, including my favourite, Old Speckled Hen (which, unfortunately, they served way too cold). After all of that, I now am happy to take a long break from eating out.

It was an all-around great trip. We feel very refreshed coming back and that is always what you want after a holiday. We are sad to leave family and friends, but excited to be back in the motherland to be part of what God is accomplishing here. I'll write more soon about some of my thoughts and impressions about what God has for me in the coming months.

Stand Up For Kids

2008-06-06T14:36:00.002Z

This is just a quick post to let all of my faithful readers know about an awesome organization in the states called Stand Up For Kids. They do very down to earth work with homeless kids right in the cities of the USA. As one of their staff put it, homeless kids are not like the crazy old homeless man who pushes a shopping cart down the street while talking to himself. Actually most homeless kids look just like any other kid which means they're pretty much invisible to most of us. But they are there.

Stand is at work in over thirty states (soon to be including my home state of Indiana). Check out their website for more info at standupforkids.org.

Eucharist Audio and Other Stuff...

2008-05-17T14:22:00.003Z

Hello to everyone who may read my blog. It has been a few weeks since I've posted so I thought I'd just get on and give a quick update on what has been happening.

1) I still plan to finish off my Eucharist series sometime within the next month. But for those who are interested, I recently preached a much abbreviated message on the topic which you can listen to here. It covers in brief some of my main points. Also, for those interested, I finally got the mark for the essay which I handed in for masters work...I did well. Yeah!

2) I am busy at the moment with the continuation of my masters. I was away last week at Regents Theological College in Nantwich, England doing a module on Pauline Pneumatology (that is, a study of Paul's understanding of the Spirit). This coming week I am back doing a module titled Communicating the Gospel in Contemporary society. After those two weeks I will be diving into my next essay which will be for the latter of the two modules. I am allowed to pick my own essay title so I think I will do something related to post-modernity but hopefully also quite based in a scripture text. I'll let you know after this week what I've chosen.

3) Further to these masters modules, I have had to do some prior reading for both of them to get me ready. For the Gospel in Contemporary Society I read, among other things, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and a response entitled The Dawkins Delusion by Alister McGrath. In a nut shell, Dawkins' book was not so much an insult to my faith, but more an insult to my intelligence. There are even many atheists who have ridiculed it for its dogmatism, emotionalism, and lack of critical depth. I'm glad I read it though.

4) Also, this past week I took advantage of the Regents library and spent a portion of my evenings working through a book called Introducing Radical Orthodoxy by James K A Smith. I won't go into it too much now (probably in a future post), but it basically describes a small, but growing movement of thought which seeks to respond to the trends of culture which are often labeled post-modern. RO contends that most of what usually goes under this heading is not so much post-modern as it is hyper-modern...taking the fundamental beliefs of modernity to their logical ends. It was a very good read and I hope to do much more reading in this area.

5) Finally, one reason I have slowed down a bit on my blog is that myself and two other friends (both of whom tend to think and write very similar to me) are brainstorming about combining our blogging efforts. Instead of our three separate blogs, we would merge them into one and continue to write and discuss topics associated with theology, culture, Christian practice and the like. But never fear, not only will you still be able to keep up with my musings through this new blog, I will probably continue with this blog, but probably gear it a bit more toward more personal, lighthearted and devotional reflections.

Well, that's about it for now.

Eucharist Part 2: Remembrance of a Richer Sort

2008-04-20T20:06:00.004Z

My experience tells me that this is the dominating notion amongst evangelicals concerning what the Eucharist is really all about: remembering Christ’s death. This focus can likely be traced back to the words of Christ Himself at the Last Supper, though we must consult with Paul and then Luke to learn of it. Mentioned once by Luke (Luke 22:19) and twice by Paul (1 Cor. 11:24-25) is the well known phrase, “Do this in remembrance of me.” If my memory serves me correctly, this was carved into the large wooden communion table at the front of the Baptist church that I grew up attending. But what, I now ask, are we supposed to “do” and further still, what effect are we to expect this remembering to have?

Though some have suggested reciting the Last Supper account (as Paul does in 1 Cor. 11:23-26) is the thing we are to “do,” it seems much more probable that Jesus was simply instructing them to “do” the meal. For us today it is simply the bread and wine, but it could be easily argued that Jesus’ instruction was to observe the full meal (note the often overlooked “after supper” remark in 1 Cor. 11:25), but reinterpreted to focus on the imagery of His body and blood. Either way, for now we are concerned to note that Paul and Luke both seem to be presenting an extremely early Eucharist tradition of remembering the death of the Lord, specifically His body and His blood.

But now I ask, what is the meaning of remembrance? Our modern conception is usually that of a simple mental recollection of a past event or piece of information. This, I would argue, is the usual explanation of most evangelical and charismatic Christians of the act of remembrance in the Eucharist. Through the act of bread and wine we mentally recall the death of Christ. Notice that this approach suggests that whatever is recalled (i.e. the cross) stays very much in the past. But does the word “remembrance” let us get away with such a tidy past/present distinction?

The Jewish understanding of remembrance, however, seems to have been richer than a simple mental exercise. According to McCormick, it could better be described as a “bringing up into the present the effects of something done in the past.”[1] This conception could be seen in God’s hearing of the Israelites’ groaning in Egypt and remembering of His covenant with Abraham (Exodus 2:24). As the LORD says in Exodus 6:5, “…I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.” YHWH’s remembering was not limited to a mental exercise, but brought the effects of the Abrahamic Covenant into the present through actions of deliverance. In other words, to be biblically remembered by the LORD is for Him act on your behalf. Similarly, for God’s people to biblically remember His commands is for them to actually do them in the present. Could this richer form of remembrance have any bearing on our celebration of the Eucharist?

I believe yes. In some of the earliest post-canonical Eucharists (Justin Martyr, 66; Apostolic Tradition 4:11-13), it is already clear that there was believed to be some present benefit from participation. I must be clear that these documents (and certainly the New Testament) do not suggest the idea that salvation is to be found in observing the Eucharist (as was later developed within Catholicism), but they do suggest that there is spiritual blessing to be received. This would seem to fit well with the above mentioned understanding of remembrance. Could it not be that as we remember the Lord’s death in this way, we are positioned to receive a fresh blessing of the benefits of salvation (though the salvation itself has been accomplished once, for all in the event of the cross)? As we recall the past event of the cross, it does not stay in the past, but its effects, through the Holy Spirit, are applied in a fresh way to our present condition. This is not to imply that we are insufficiently saved or that Christ’s sacrifice is somehow incomplete. It is simply to say that we may receive ongoing grace through remembrance of the cross in the Eucharist.

In concluding this section, let me point out that this richer form of remembering Christ’s death attaches a unique importance to the Eucharist. Its observance is not only a command of the Lord, but also presents actual spiritual blessing that is not meant to be substituted for another means. In reaction to the Catholic belief that salvation is to be found in the sacraments (Eucharist included), evangelicals, I believe, have swung too far in the other direction to the stance that there is no sacramental quality at all in the Eucharist (many use the designation “ordinance” rather than “sacrament”). This minimalistic view, according to some, has contributed, in part, to the marginalization of the Eucharist in modern evangelical/charismatic worship. For instance, it could be reasoned that spiritual blessing could be received through extended congregational singing or "ministry time" just as easily as participation in the Eucharist. My contention is that, though spiritual blessing may be found in many expressions of worship and obedience, the Eucharist has and should have a unique place in the life and worship of the church.

[1] Quoted in Biddy, Wesley Scott, "Re-envisioning the Pentecostal Understanding of the Eucharist." Pneuma, (2006) 234.

kingdom living is radical

2008-04-15T15:53:00.003Z

For those interested in the continuation of my Eucharist series: never fear, the next edition is almost complete and will be posted soon. In the mean time, here are more of my thoughts on the lifestyle of the Kingdom of God.

The word ‘radical’ is today often associated with terrorists or the extreme Christian right and with all of that baggage, its generally negative vibe is no surprise. But the word itself is not bad at all and simply means to go to the root or origin of something. So, for example, I’ve just been radical with the word ‘radical’ by not simply taking the popular notions of its meaning, but digging down to find the accurate, dictionary definition of the word. And this digging down to the root of things is another major aspect of Kingdom living as presented in the Sermon.

In the Sermon we are told that it is not enough to simply avoid murdering anyone, but that we must also not harbor anger. In the area of sexuality, it is not enough to simply avoid adultery, but we must also not even look at a woman with lustful intent. Again with marriage, we are not merely to abide by the looseness of what the law permits about divorce, but to have the higher standard of the kingdom in the seriousness of marriage commitment. These are all instances where Jesus takes a known law and radicalizes or internalizes it.

So what is He really getting at? He seems to be saying that it’s not about show, but about substance. It is not merely who you say you are, but who you really are. The inward stuff counts and it could easily be argued that it is what really counts. At least one reason for this is just what Jesus says in 7:17 about the telltale signs of a false prophet, “…every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” In other words, the reality is that whatever you truly are in your heart will eventually and always come out in your actions. The Pharisees’ attempt to cheat this principle is what caused Jesus to come down so hard on them by saying they were like a cup that was shiny on the outside, but dirty on the inside. They were totally hypocritical; putting on an act. This, Jesus says, is simply not possible. It may be possible to fool people for a time or even for your whole life. It may even be possible to fool yourself. But God is not fooled for a moment and He sees the heart even before He sees the fruit that comes from it. But either way, this disconnect is ultimately an impossibility to live with.

And this is really a very merciful thing that Jesus is doing, because He lets us know that every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. If we follow the argument back, He is saying that those who are not truly changed in their hearts will not be able to live changed lives either and their end is not at all happy. The opposite, however, would also be true. But the real emphasis is the heart. Actions are important, as I will soon discuss, but they are the wrong starting point. Jesus is saying you can’t win on a technicality (i.e. I haven't technically murdered anyone today) when your heart’s intention all along was sinful (i.e. But are you harbouring anger?).

This means that Kingdom people are not shallow people. Their good deeds are not a show. They are very interested in asking questions of themselves about motives, inward thoughts, etc. They are self-examiners (in a right sense) and they are far quicker to find faults in themselves than those that are in others. In other words, they are whole people; their outside corresponding to their inside. This is the radical life of the Kingdom.

The distiveness of kingdom living...

2008-04-08T14:10:00.004Z

I've recently been doing some studying and preaching on the Kingdom of God and specifically on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. So, given my current busyness, I will shamelessly copy and paste some of my recent writing concerning some key characteristics of Kingdom living as drawn from Matthew 5-7.

The first characteristic of Kingdom living I will include here is its distinctiveness. The word distinct simply means that something is different in nature or quality and because of this is clear to the senses, unmistakable, or obvious. Jesus is clear on this point of the kingdom when He tells His followers that they are like a city on a hill which cannot be hidden. It doesn’t get much more distinct than that. Those who live a kingdom life are simply out there (in the sense that they are there for the world to see).

But being distinct in a generic sense is not any more commendable than blending in. It is not itself a virtue. There are plenty of people in the world who are different to cultural norms in one way or another and could therefore be described as distinct, but that does not even remotely guarantee that they are living Kingdom lives. In fact, often times, just the opposite is true.

Within the kingdom of God, however, distinctness comes due specifically to the fact that your life is in step with God’s life and is therefore out of step with the patterns of the world. We are distinct because we are submitted to the rule of Jesus when the dominant spirit of this age is not. It is important here to note that it is not that we are abnormal while the rest of the world goes on doing all of the normal things and living life in the normal way. In fact it is just the opposite. This universe was originally designed to flow with the life of God. It is, therefore, those who are actually living out this original design that are the normal ones. It is those who rebel against the very thing they were made for that are abnormal. To say it another way, though we may be flowing against the grain of a fallen world system that is in rebellion against God, we are actually flowing with the even greater current of the good and awesome rule of our Creator (which, by the way, will long out last this evil age).

With this in mind, I can also ask the intriguing question, should a local church be visible or invisible? I think most of us would immediately say visible, and rightly so. But in what way should this be? Often it has been thought that a large building with a flashy sign will do the trick. Or perhaps extensive programs, large events, and loud music will do. Maybe even a touch of advertising will make the church visible. Though all of these things have a visibility factor to them (and are in themselves mostly reasonable options to explore), I do not believe they are what Jesus has in mind when He compares His disciples to a city set on a hill. Rather, it is the kingdom life that makes them distinct; lives that are lived in submission to His rule and that reflect his righteousness and glory. According to the Sermon, kingdom distinctiveness is tied to things like loving your enemies, rejoicing in persecution, not harboring anger, keeping your thought life sexually pure, keeping your word, giving with right motives, not hording earthly possessions…and so on. In a world that more often than not operates in the opposite of these values, kingdom people are different because they live these things out of heart obedience to Jesus.

Lastly, this distinctive lifestyle, Jesus says, will illicit at least two types of responses (often from the same person I would add): giving glory to the Father and persecution. Either people will find their hearts respond with wonder and awe and a tendency toward worship of God or people will turn on you with any and every manner of evil…or both. Either way, Jesus encourages us to keep on going. And in the case of persecution, we are even told that we are blessed and that we should rejoice in the knowledge that we are obtaining an eternal reward.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-22T19:53:00.004Z

Every Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I always think about a line from a Caedmon's Call song:

Its been a long Saturday between Your death and the rising day when no one wrote a word and wondered is this the end. But You were down there in the well, saving those that fell, bringing them to the mountain again.

And then I've also been thinking about the old hymn "Christ the Lord is Risen Today":

Love's redeeming work is done...fought the fight, the battle won...death in vain forbids Him rise...Christ hath opened paradise.

Thank you very, very much, Jesus, for submitting to the Father's perfect will, becoming a human, humbling yourself to the point of death on a cross, taking all of my sin and my shame, defeating Satan, sin, and death, rising on the the third day and opening the eyes of my heart to see and believe and actually take part in that death and resurrection.

Happy Easter!

Who knows where Shropshire is?

2008-03-14T14:41:00.002Z

This weekend, K and I (along with Ava) will be headed to a Lifelink young adults conference called Life 08. It will be held at Cloverly Hall, a Christian conference centre out in the open spaces of Shropshire. For those who don't know, this is somewhere in the midwest of England, just near the border of Wales and just a bit south from Chester.

We've been to this conference the past two years (two years ago it was called the Gathering). It has always been a great time both for corporate worship, teaching, and just hanging out with cool people that you generally only get to see once or twice a year. Should be fun this year too. In the past I have taught seminars (Worship as a Lifestyle the first year and Christian Worldview last year), but this year I am without responsibility. So I hope to just relax, learn, and dig into a few books I have recently been working on.

Along those lines, may I suggest one book in particular: The Reason for God by Tim Keller. I've only read the first three chapters, but it is already very good. It is definitely a more intellectually/apologetic approach to Christianity which is very helpful (though it may not be the full picture). Tim is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan (redeemer.com) which is an interesting phenomenon: a large and growing mega-church in the heart of a community of secularists and skeptics that is highly traditional in its modes of worship and lacking the flashiness one might expect from such a place. How do they do it? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Perhaps I'll post more about Keller's book as well as the conference I am about to go to after I have experienced more of both.

Why Church X Shouldn’t Give Up Their Weekly Communal Meal

2008-03-01T22:55:00.002Z

In the rural Midwest of America there is a small charismatic church that is struggling. Through various circumstances they are dealing with some difficult decisions regarding their future together. The strain of the times is noticeable not least in the context of their weekly communal meal. For nearly all of their ten year existence they have met on Sundays at 4pm and concluded their time together with a fellowship meal. Even when they reached around 120, the practical detail of the meal did not stop them. Now fellowship is strained and so are the meal times. Should they continue? If people don’t seem to want to be there, it might seem most simple to close this long chapter and move in another direction. But perhaps more is at stake. Perhaps this point of struggle could also be the context for turning things around by the grace of God.

The importance of the meal begins to take shape when one places along side it a much wider and more particularized challenge across western evangelicalism, namely the decline of the Lord’s Supper in the worship practice of local churches. My recent study of the Eucharist in the early church has drawn my attention to the disparity between their practice and ours. The earliest Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper weekly; we celebrate it more akin to monthly. For them it was a central feature of the worship gathering; for us it is often limited to a few short moments, usually dwarfed by the much greater focus of music. For them it included a wide and rich range of theological emphases; for us it is usually focused strictly on remembering Christ’s death. For them it was a full meal; for us it is a pinch of bread and a sip of wine. I could continue, but suffice it say that there is a difference. And I throw my voice into the mix of many theologians and church leaders who feel the need to re-centre the Eucharist in our worship practice today.

Toward this aim, I’d like to explore three extremely important theological features of the Eucharist which we find in the early church and then show how this re-centering project collides squarely with the communal meal about which Church X is deliberating. I hope to show that the Eucharist is incomparable both for its ability to teach and build into us the essential elements of the Christian faith and for the reality of spiritual grace and strength it administers (yes, that is sacramental language you detect). Finally, what other scholars are not saying, which I will, is that the Eucharist practiced as a full meal is perhaps the most promising means of re-centering and reemphasizing its richness.

Eucharist (Part 2) will be posted soon.

Marching toward March...

2008-02-23T21:47:00.002Z

This is just a quick blog to say hello and to let you know that I'm just cycling through my regularly scheduled blogging lull. February has been good, but has gone by pretty quickly. Karlie's mom visited for two weeks and so we were blessed, but slightly out of our normal routine for that chunk of time. Things have been generally a bit quieter which has been excellent given how crazy January was.

As for teaching/writing that is upcoming: Still working on my Eucharist article and will definitely post it here when it is finished...I will be lecturing one morning on Exodus at BCW in early March with Numbers, OT Geography, and Joshua soon after...in a few weeks I'll be preaching at New Life on a Kingdom view of money (Matthew 6)...much further down the line, I will be doing some teaching at a couple different conferences on the topic of the supremacy of Christ in a postmodern context.

I'll post thoughts from as much of that as possible here on my blog and also some at newlifechurchrugby.com. Sermon audio can also be downloaded for free there. Lastly, if anyone has any bright ideas or insightful thoughts on any of the above mentioned subjects, please do share.

Jesus Was Not American...

2008-02-13T20:56:00.003Z

Recent book and blog reading have got me thinking very much about culture and Christianity. To what extent and in what way should Christianity engage with culture? I believe this question is extremely important and one that is and should be ongoing. The question that I want to pose in this blog is simply, how did Jesus engage with culture? That seems to be about the best place to start (and end for that matter) in this discussion. I will give my initial thoughts which I fully admit barely even crack open this particular matter.

The very name Jesus (a common Jewish male name) indicates a God who does not withdraw from human culture, but radically engages with it. The nature of that engagement is perhaps what is more up in the air, but the very fact that God became man means that He took on culture. God was born at a particular time in history, in a particularly small slice of land in the Middle East, to a particular mother, and grew up into adulthood in a particular culture. He was not Chinese. He was Jewish. He was not African. He was Jewish. He was not American (really?). He was Jewish. He did not come as a man from no country. He picked one.

This very fact leads me to make the starting point of any discussion on Christianity and culture Jesus Himself. And it means that the question is not if Christianity should engage culture, but how. And the general answer to that question would seemed to be Jesus-style. This seems to me an exceedingly worthy area of study and a great way to prevent ourselves from focusing too exclusively on contemporary considerations, an error which would seem to be getting the cart before the horse.

Knock, knock, knock...

2008-02-11T22:31:00.000Z

Prayer is a most amazing thing. We, little created human beings, communicate and make requests to God, the Almighty Creator of all things, and He actually listens and responds. That doesn't make sense to me, but it is the way the Bible says it is so I believe it.

There are a number of things about prayer that we know plainly from scripture. Luke 11 is not an exhaustive list, but it does highlight several important aspects: shameless persistence like a friend who will not cease knocking on your door until you're annoyed enough to open it, belief that God will give good and right answers to our prayers as even a sinful father would his children, crying out for God's name to be set apart as holy, the kingdom to come, provision for the day, forgiveness from God which must be asked for in the context of our own practicing of forgiveness towards others, and not to be led into temptation. Wow, there was more there than I thought.

One of the things that gets me about prayer and about a lot of other things is the ambiguity of living in the overlap of the ages. This present evil ages has been intruded upon by the age to come when the Kingdom will be here in its fullness. So there is some tension. God's will is here, but it is also still on its way. This is what we are told to pray for by Jesus in Luke 11. So when prayers don't get answered the way we expect them to, there could be a lot of explanations (for example, are we holding unforgiveness in our hearts towards others?). But sometimes the explanations run out and we're left with the rumblings of why.

This tension of the kingdom I just talked about is actually a great source of comfort and faith to me in a situation like that. Even though I don't understand what has happened or why my prayers have not been answered the way I thought they should, I trust that God is good, His will is good, and prayer still works. The Kingdom is here and its on its way and as we pray in this Kingdom we must realize that sometimes the tension of the times means we must live with some pain, some difficulty, and yes, some unanswered questions. But I still affirm the beauty, power, and amazing importance of persistent, God believing prayer.

PS All of this has been churned out just following an intense home group discussion of the matter. Thanks to everyone in my group for engaging on the issue of prayer, but even more importantly for practicing it in your lives and in our group.

Is Boyd a Pietist?

2008-02-09T19:38:00.000Z

As you may know, I am something of a fan of Greg Boyd, mostly for his book Myth of a Christian Nation. I certainly do not agree with all of his theology (see past blogs), but I do appreciate his passion and much of what he has to say.

Recently a friend pointed me to an article at ChristianityToday.com in which James K. A. Smith critiqued the above mentioned book. His central conclusion is that Boyd, while rightly rejection the Constantian triumphalism that has marred so much of Western Christianity, has landed on the opposite extreme of pietism in which Christians are encouraged to withdraw from particular areas of society that are too corrupt (i.e. politics).

I think that Smith brings out an excellent point in the need for balance between the two extremes. His questioning of Boyd's arguments seems partly founded, but a bit simplistic in some respects. For instance, his questioning of Boyd's position that earthly government can merely control outward behavior versus the inward transformation of the Holy Spirit does not do justice to Boyd's point. Ultimately no outside force (i.e. rule or law) can effect true change in anyone. It is core to the gospel message that God would replace our hearts of stone for hearts of flesh. This would seem to be the jewel in Boyd's assertion. Smith's objection that outward law structures are still needed to bring out inward change is accurate, but seems to miss the point that Christians' ultimate hope for the transformation of society should not be passing right laws, but proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel.

This is one small section of the article. I encourage you to check it out here as well as check out Greg Boy's book. I think both guys are bringing some excellent and very engaging material. In the end, Boyd's message may well swing a bit to the extreme in some ways, but I give him the benefit of the doubt in light of the extremity of the American Christianity's infatuation with political power. At the same time, I full agree with Smith that one must be very careful not to pull out of bringing kingdom influence in government and politics. As is so often the case, the Spirit-led way here would seem to hold these things in tension and find a path that is truly supernatural.

Inspired to BLOG again...

2008-01-31T20:33:00.001Z

Well its been a little while once again, but I have been inspired by my friend Le Chach whose recent flurry of emails discussing various theological issues has got me thinking BLOG again. It could also be that I have finally handed in my most recent masters essay on the Eucharist in the early church. That is a major weight off my shoulders. I will probably attempt to rewrite some of it in a less academic-style article or blog. As a sneak preview, I am entertaining the title, Why Church X Should Not Give Up On Their Weekly Communal Meal. We'll see if it ever sees the light of day.

But the end of the essay does not mean there is now time to spare. There is a New Life leaders meeting on Saturday, I'm preaching on Sunday, and then I'm down at BCW lecturing on Daniel (that's the OT book, not two days of autobiography) for Monday and Tuesday. After that its over to Letchworth Garden City for a regional Lifelink elders meeting. Ah, the life of a pastor/teacher/husband/father. It does sound crazy busy when I list it all out like that, but actually I quite enjoy my life. Its good to be busy with things you love and feel the calling of God for. Plus, not every week is like that. I might be typing a different tune if it were.

For those who want to know, I'll be speaking a message on Sunday that is (for now at least) titled Who is Jesus and What is the Kingdom? This will be the intro message for the preaching series we are beginning on Matthew. I'm really excited about it. Sunday's preach has not totally come together yet, but I'm trusting God that it will. One little tid bit for ya: David Pawson says that Matthew could be seen as simply a discipleship manual. This seems about right given that it is so concerned with communicating the very practical, kingdom teaching of Jesus (more so than the other gospels). I've been thinking recently that one the best ways to sum up the Christian life on a personal level or as a mission statement for a whole church is simply to talk about being and making disciples of Jesus. Very biblical. Very simple. Yet very profound. For this and other reasons I'm am very psyched about Matthew.

Also, for those who read this blog from somewhere else in the world other than Rugby, England (which is perhaps everyone), it looks as though New Life Church is near to having its own building. No contracts have been signed, but things are looking good. We could know something within the next few days. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Lastly, Le Chach (the dude who inspired me to BLOG again) has recently started his own blog which is titled Theology and Culture and can be found at http://theologyandculture.wordpress.com. Should be good so definitely check it out. Later.

A Pauline Christmas Special...

2007-12-29T20:35:00.000Z

A late Merry Christmas to my faithful reader(s)! Hope you've had a good time this week and enjoy ringing in the New Year.

I've been reflecting on Philippians 2 for a message I am preaching this Sunday and I must say that it has really opened my eyes to the depth of insight Paul had around the incarnation. In fact, I started out thinking I'd teach mainly on the doctrine of sanctification, but the passage just grabbed me and took me in a different direction (well of course I mean the Holy Spirit who inspired it to be written).

To sum it all up, I figure based on this passage that if Paul were asked what the true spirit of Christmas was, he'd probably say humility. I know that 'giving' is often the spiritual answer to the question (i.e. God gave His only Son). That's pretty close, but I think it doesn't go far enough. Its one thing giving a gift, even a very valuable one. It is quite another to be the gift, that is, to give yourself. God knew what it was like to do both.

It is this humility that is displayed so powerfully in the incarnation and ultimately the crucifixion. And, believe it or not, this is what we are told to imitate. Now we cannot, of course, do exactly what Jesus did...first of all, we are not God and secondly we cannot die for the sin of humanity. But we can replicate Incarnation-style humility before God and toward each other. That is precisely what Paul is suggesting the Philippian believers do. "Have this mind among yourself, which is yours in Christ..."

This sort of laying ourselves down for the sake of others is elaborated on and textured through many different appeals Paul makes. For instance, they and we are asked to think of others more highly than we think of ourselves...to do nothing out of selfish ambition...to do all things without grumbling or questioning...to look after others interests, not just our own. And the list goes on.

But to me, one of the most amazing insights this passage eludes to is the power of this type of humble, Christlike living. It is said that those who live this way will shine like lights amidst a crooked and perverse generation. In other words, this sort of right-way-up living stands out big time when everyone else is living the opposite.

Finally, and this is the kicker, this kind of humble life is the exact opposite to the pride of the Fall. Notice here that it says Jesus did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, as opposed to Adam who did grasp the fruit at the very prospect of being like God. What Adam couldn't turn down, to his own detriment and to the detriment of the whole human race, Jesus did turn down. He didn't grasp what was rightfully His. He humbled himself and became a tiny, little, created being called a human. He was born in a cave to an unmarried teenage mother and into a working class family who lived in the wrong part of the country. This is the original Incarnation-style Humility.

And so we are called to live out this same Incarnation-style humility. To continue what the baby born in a cave started. To live out the reversal of the Fall. That is a pretty cool Christmas message if you ask me. Thanks, Paul. And thank you, Jesus.

Eucharist Part 2

2007-12-21T23:41:00.000Z

DID YOU KNOW...it is not entirely clear that the Last Supper was a Passover meal? It is occasionally mentioned that the Last Supper was more than simply just a loaf of bread and a glass of wine. That much is for sure. It was definitely a full meal during which Jesus introduced the symbols of His body and blood and said "Do this in remembrance of me."

It is often the case that people talk about the meal as a Passover meal and elaborate on the rich imagery of the Old Covenant foreshadowing and New Covenant fulfillment. But it is not often mentioned that the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) say it was a Passover meal while John says it was the evening before the Passover. Contradiction. Or so it seems. So which one was it?

Well that is a question about which many scholarly (and no doubt not-so-scholarly) words have been written. I will not go into the detail of it, but I will add in two thoughts that are most helpful to me.

First, it seems more likely that the Synoptic Gospels would preserve a more accurate historical picture, while John's account is heavily textured with his unique picture of Jesus. For John, chronological detail comes second to theological and spiritual matters. With this in mind, it is interesting to note that when one follows John's account, Jesus is crucified at the exact same time as the Passover lambs are being slaughtered in the temple. Chronology aside, this seems like a pretty clear theological truth he is wanting to communicate. So whether you slice it the Synoptic way or John's way, Jesus' death is clearly associated with the Passover.

And secondly, when it comes to looking at the Eucharist, whether or not the Last Supper was a Passover Seder does not really seem to matter. What has been preserved for us is the truth of the bread and the cup (which, incidentally, could easily fit into any Jewish ritual meal). In practice, we can rest our case there.

Eucharist Part 1

2007-12-19T21:03:00.000Z

I thought I'd add in a few blogs on my current study on the Eucharist in the Early Church. For now I'll put them in the form of 'did you know' to keep them short and sweet. So, I'll keep it simple for my first one...

DID YOU KNOW...the word 'eucharist' means thanksgiving? Very early on in church manuals (i.e. the Didache) it became something of a technical term for celebrating the Lord's Supper. We often focus, and rightly so, on the aspect of remembering the Lord's death, but if we're not careful this focus on its own could potentially become a bit morbid and depressing. I can think of more than a few communion services I've attended where I thought I might get kicked out if I cracked a smile.

That is why 'Eucharist' is my favorite title for the Christian ritual meal. It reminds me that the whole thing is to be characterized by thanksgiving. We are not to be morbidly remembering, but joyfully celebrating the ongoing effects of Jesus' death and resurrection. I don't know about you, but I'd rather do it with a smile than a frown.

A baby of no reputation...

2007-12-17T22:41:00.000Z

I know its been a while between blogs, but let's pretend it hasn't and I'll dive right into this one. It is, of course, that season once again. Christmas is right on our door step. We'll be spending this Christmas here in the UK. On the day we will be with some friends in the church for a while plus spending an hour or two serving food at a soup kitchen here in Rugby. I think it will be good.

I've been challenged this year especially about the vast difference there seems to be between the true story of God being born in a barn and all of us trampling each other to go into debt by purchasing things for people who don't need the things we're purchasing. I can't say I've got all this down (the abstaining from consumerism that is), but my eyes are starting to open to some of the practical ways one can attempt to live out the life of Jesus at Christmas time rather than being blindly sucked into the spirit the age.

So here are a couple of links. First, I've come across a growing movement called The Advent Conspiracy. Its basically a small, but growing number of churches that are seeking to encourage buying less junk for people who don't need it and giving more generously to people who really do need it. Check out the website site here: www.adventconspiracy.org.

So in that spirit, I also wanted to mention a project that our church is currently involved in. We, along with lots of other churches, are seeking to raise £120,000 to build an orphanage in Zimbabwe. Perhaps if you're looking for a specific project you could be generous to this Christmas this could be the one. Check out www.seedgiftsofhope.com for more info on it.

I will blog again...

2007-12-06T21:39:00.000Z

Its been so long that my reader has probably all but given up hope. To my one and only fan...please come back. I will blog again.

So what have I been busy with since my last blog? The following: being a husband and a dad...elding (I think that is what a church elder is supposed to be doing)...enjoying the company of my dad, mom and brother who were visiting here in Rugby...going with my fam and these fine people to Athens, Greece for three days (what fun)...making airport runs...driving Dave crazy with my website order...traveling to Regents Theological College to use their library for my masters research...having coffee at Starbucks with a young old friend...driving in the rain...and that about brings us up to the present moment which finds me currently (you guessed it) blogging.

And now to elaborate on a selection of these items.

Greece: It was tiring, but a lot of fun. We had pretty good weather, especially on the middle day we were there. We were staying about a 10 minute walk from the Acropolis and spent most of our time just walking around that whole area. Sadly my visit to Mars Hill did not result in an autographed copy of Velvet Elvis. The cussing pastor was out as well. Still a very good trip.

Family: It was great to have the whole family visiting. A lot of fun and I missed them very much.

Regents: For those who want to know, my master study is going pretty well so far. My first essay, titled "Spirit Motifs in Numbers 11," was a great success. I'm currently working on an essay titled "The Eucharist in the Early Church." It is a lot of work, but I am really enjoying it. If anyone is interested in reading any of this, just let me know.

Until next time.

Who's for Penal Substitution?

2007-11-01T21:09:00.000Z

...not Greg Boyd apparently. In one of his recent blogs he talks about his participation in a conference on "The Non-Violent Atonement." In it he affirms that Christ died in our place and that we are reconciled to God only by His blood, but questions the idea of penal substitution, that is that Jesus' death appeased God's wrath against our sin.

Click here to read his full blog. Here is a small excerpt: "Where is the justice in God killing his innocent Son because of what we humans did? Does Jesus reveal God's love for us, or placate God's wrath towards us? And doesn't this way of thinking presuppose that you can attain a good, loving result through violence? Does the end justify the violent means?"

Now, let me be the first to say that I have benefited greatly from much of Greg's teaching (particularly his book The Myth of a Christian Nation). But here is a point where I think I must differ. I could discuss this in greater depth, but for the sake of brevity I will only make three counter points. First, the concept of justice simply means rightness...would it be right for God to kill His Son because of our sin? Because all justice and righteousness is measured not by some objective rule book, but based on the character and therefore actions of God, then I think that justice and righteousness is simply whatever God wants it to be. That is not to say that God is fickle and arbitrary. It is simply to say that what we might perceive as injustice may be exactly what God says is the right thing to do. He is the ultimate measure of what is just.

Secondly, it seems that Greg's dichotomy of Jesus as revealer of God's love or placater of God's wrath is unwarranted. Could not Jesus reveal God's love precisely by taking God's wrath? Surely this is the ultimate expression of love.

And lastly, Greg's aversion to violence in any form at any time seems to me to be simplistic in this particular instance. The most loving and ultimately non-violent thing for God to do would be to pour out His violent wrath upon sin and all that is contrary to His beautiful kingdom...and since humankind is sinful, that includes us. A kingdom in which sin, in any form, goes unaccounted for, is tainted and impure. God's wrath and Jesus' substitutionary taking of that wrath in His death is God's absolutely astounding way of saving sinners while maintaining the holiness of His Kingdom. This is beautiful.

If Greg were to respond I'm sure he'd have a load of good counter-counter points...and I would love to consider them. But for now I'm sticking with my conviction and with good old reformed tradition.

Life in the Fast Lane: reflections on bowling and dumb luck

2007-10-26T20:58:00.000Z

There are many things in life that are a mystery to me. Not least is ten pin bowling. I try. I try again. I take myself seriously. I don't take myself seriously. Heavy balls. Light balls. In between balls. The slow approach. The fast approach. Drinking a Pepsi in between turns. Not drinking a Pepsi in between turns. Eyes open. Eyes closed. Eyes on the prize.

Doesn't seem to matter. I have good games. Then I have bad games. And there really seems to be no pattern to it. My best game I think was about 186. My worst...well, who knows really. But I got a mere 85 for one of my games tonight.

Anyway, I'm not nearly as bitter about it as it may seem. I just wanted to get it off my chest. Vanity, vanity, all is vanity says this bowler. Anyone else have any repressed frustrations about this game? I give you permission to vent and/or boast in my comments here (anything to get a stinking comment:).

I probably could wrench a theological message out of this blog, but I'm a bit too tired. You can add that to the comments section as well if you like. Until next time...happy bowling.

Music in the church...

2007-10-14T14:00:00.000Z

I led music this morning and we did a new song (actually its an old one) called Ride On King Jesus. The verses were written some time in the 70s, but the chorus is a traditional spiritual. It is a really nice song. It also happens to be a very different style to what we normally do. For example, the line "No one can a-hinder Thee" is a main feature of the lyrics. Fairly different to what Mr. Hughes is coming out with these days.

But I think it went over well. The song is really a Palm Sunday song and toward the end today the kids were marching around in a line waving flags as we sang. It was all spontaneous and felt a little bit like we were really there, welcoming King Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem.

It has also made me think lately about music and church and why I often don't have fun with that particular combination. Today was fun. Perhaps it was doing something out of the ordinary. Perhaps it was doing a song that made us all not take ourselves so seriously. Sometimes I think we take us so seriously that we have little room left to take God very seriously. Maybe if we smiled (or even laughed) a bit more in our worship/music times we'd be in a lot better place to be real with God.

Sadly, it is usually the case that church gatherings contain music I simply put up with. It has to be outside of those gatherings that I can get into some music that really excites me. I have to wonder if it should or must be this way. Maybe we could one day worship to the style of U2, Caedmon's Call, Counting Crows, or P.O.D. Perhaps one day we'll be as experimental as a Sigur Ros.

We'll see. Either way I still love Jesus.

Still alive...

2007-10-02T20:54:00.000Z

For those of you who don't see my face or hear my voice on a regular basis...I am still alive. My heart is still beating. I'm still drinking milkshakes. I guess my lack of blogging is due to a combination of adjusting to having a new baby around, church stuff speeding up, and me never being a very consistent blogger in the first place. So, sorry.

Its getting a bit late here now, so I won't say much more tonight. I am planning to do some studying in the area of discipleship and what exactly Jesus was talking about when he told us to go and make disciples of all nations. Perhaps I'll post some of my discoveries here for your comment.

Until then, enjoy the life God has granted you. Even the struggle. And take note of the world around you (remember to worship the Creator, not the creation). The midlands of England, where we are located, is a beautiful area of rolling hills, trees, rivers, and motorways. It's nice. Praise God! He's nicer still.

Psalms, Proverbs and learning to complain...

2007-09-12T13:43:00.000Z

On Sunday I’ll be introducing a new teaching series at New Life on Psalms & Proverbs. It is an exciting prospect to dive into two Old Testament books so often read, yet so little taught. There is so much depth and width to this portion of scripture. There is no way we will cover it exhaustively. But we will allow God to direct us along the way to key passages that will be significant for us in understanding God, our response to Him, and how that all fits together in our current context.

One area I am particularly looking forward to addressing is the psalms of lament. This may sound as if I’m a glutton for pain, but actually I think it is more a hunger to be real with God. Don’t get me wrong. The psalms of praise express something very real as well, but I fear that if we don’t allow ourselves to be real in the hard times, how can we be sure we’re being authentic when we’re praising in the good times.

The important thing about the psalms is that they show us how to express our hearts to God, whatever the situation may be. So in the moments that I feel pain, doubt, abandonment, or shame, God is aiding me to express those things to Him, rather than bottling them up or pretending they’re not there. And the surprising thing about the lament psalms is that almost every single one of them (and there are a lot) end with praise. Its like the writer knows he’s going through hell at the moment, but he still peers through the black to remember the good God He is praying to.

I have to say that some of the most honest prayers I’ve prayed to God have been unpolished, unprepared, desperate cries that sometimes have surprised even me. In those moments we may find a part of our soul that we didn’t know was there. But the great thing is that it doesn’t surprise God. All our curses and complaints don’t make God blush. He’s big enough. Plus He’s heard it all before…more times than we could know.

It is this big God that has delivered to us a hymnbook (that is the Psalms) that is over half laments. It seems He knew that people of the new creation living in the midst of this groaning world would find a lot of use for these expressions. So I am looking forward to growing personally and as a church family in our worship of God through lament. It is not that we should purposely put on a sad face even when we’re happy. It is just that we should know that when we have occasion to complain, it is also an occasion to expressively worship.

My two little girls...

2007-09-05T13:22:00.000Z

I am a dad again. Our newest arrival, daughter Ava, came on 30 August at 11:15am. She was 7 pounds 13 ounces. Very beautiful. Very sleepy. Its great to have her here now after waiting 10 days past the due date.

So I've not been blogging much as I have been busy with family and the new arrangements. Then again, I don't blog much normally any way. Oh well.

One non-baby thing I have been doing is watching the God's Warriors CNN special on YouTube (I've posted some videos on my sidebar). It is an intriguing three part look at the extreme and fundamentalist streams of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. For some it may come across as somewhat controversial. As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed it...particularly Greg Boyd's segment entitled 'The Heretic' in which he counters those Christian leaders who pour much of their hope and energy into the political process.

Has anyone else seen any of the special? If not, take a look on YouTube (its free) and tell me what you think.

// Dan

What is Worship?

2007-08-21T10:07:00.000Z

I've been thinking about this one the last few years. As a musician and "worship leader" I must admit that I and others throw around words far too carelessly when it comes to worship. The word itself can mean many different things. You could be talking about a life lived in devotion to God. You could be talking about a church service (i.e. Sunday worship). You could be talking about the music portion of that church service. You could even be talking about the slower and more reflective portion of the music portion of the church service (as opposed to the happy-clappy bit sometimes referred to as praise). It all kind of does the head in.

I personally think we far too quickly overlook many areas of life that could be worship to God. For example: enjoying an ice cream cone on a hot summer day, listening to good quality music, picking up rubbish in a park, giving some cold hard cash to the poor, and the list could go on.

I am thinking that part of the problem is that somehow corporate music expression has hijacked the word 'worship' and won't hardly let it see the light of day in any other sphere of life. Not very fair if you ask me. One practical step I've taking against this is to rename our church's 'worship team' the 'music team.' Its actually caught on pretty well. This, by the way, is not demoting the music team to non-worship status. It is simply addressing the imbalance.

What think ye all?

Laying low...

2007-08-13T16:14:00.000Z

Things I'm doing now...laying low, waiting for my next child to arrive, enjoying the company of my mother-in-law (do I jest, or do I not...who could tell?), thinking deeper about the coming season of the church and what it will look like for us to become more missional, working on some website designs, playing with my daughter, drinking milkshakes, occasionally checking facebook but not actually doing anything on it, reading some books, finishing my current masters essay on Numbers 11, blogging, loving my wife, listening to sermons, praying and reading the bible, etc.

That's what my life looks like at the moment. Its a good life. No, a great life. I've just read my brother's blog about his own great life. It does sound pretty great too. Thank God for diversity. He is so very good to us all. Here's to resting in Him.

So, hey you, the blog-reader, what are you up to?

Rest...

2007-08-05T19:28:00.000Z

I'm just contemplating the passage in Matthew 11 where Jesus says come and I will give you rest (literally, come and I will rest you). I heard a good sermon on it today. It strikes me how often I can be doing life out of a sense of trying to earn something, rather than living out of a sense of rest in the work of Christ.

This can have profound effect, right down to our physical well-being. Stress is a chronic problem in the fast paced West and perhaps even more so in ministry (as I am discovering). I heard Mark Driscoll recently say that a pastor could not meditate enough on the imputation of the righteousness of God. In other words, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are not worth something because we preach a good sermon, have good attendence, or make people around us happy. We are worthy because of Jesus. Letting this sink into our lives on a daily basis will keep our focus where it needs to be.

I've also been looking at a book by John Piper called Future Grace where he talks about the 'debtors ethic.' This is where gratitude gets distorted and we begin to think that because you've done something nice for me, I now have to pay you back by doing something nice for you. This mentality is rampant, says Piper, when it comes to why we're told we should be living in obedience to God. "After all that God has done for you, how could you not lay down your life for Him?" So might say many a preacher or Christian writer. Gratitude is a good and right thing, but it can all too easily become a dangerous mutation where we serve God because we feel we owe Him something.

To break free from this kind of thinking is difficult, but I am coming to think it is essential if I really want to live and minister in the fullness of what God has for me and for all of us. If I stop telling myself I owe something to God or to the people of my church, my fear is that I'll get lazy or stop caring. But actually, as long as I'm living that way I'm just loving God and the people around me out of paranoia that I haven't done enough. If I let go, I think it will be then that I can really begin to love people just because they're people and God just because He is so amazingly who He is.

So, I'm trying to take more moments where I am just appreciating the grass between my toes, a cold milkshake, a good book, a beautiful wife and daughter, and friendships with people who are different than me, rather than trying to figure out what I should be doing, thinking, or speaking.

So this is how I am letting Jesus rest me. Any of you resonate, or as a hip pastor recently said in his sermon, are you tracking with me? Does any of this translate into how we as Christians should approach politics? I think maybe. How often do we feel that we should be thinking or voting a particular way?

// Dan

YouTube debates...

2007-07-29T15:03:00.000Z

Did anyone catch any of the CNN/YouTube democratic debate? I didn't see it live, but I did watch most of the clips on YouTube. It is very interesting to look back into American politics after having lived in the UK for nearly 4 years now. President Bush was re-elected while I was here in the UK and at the time I didn't pay too much attention to it. But now I'm kind of thinking that I need to be more attentive to what is going on and do my best to cast my vote in the upcoming election.

But all of this stirs up in me the tension of kingdom and human government. A good book to check out on this subject is Greg Boyd's The Myth of a Christian Nation. I've not actually read the book, but I have listened to the sermon series it was based on. The idea is that the kingdom comes through followers of Jesus serving, sacrificing, and loving the world the way Jesus did. Human government, however, possesses the sword, that is the power to enforces laws. This tension is what Boyd calls power under (the kingdom) versus power over (human government).

A very complex issue no doubt, but the question really is how should believers and more particularly church communities view and interact with human government? Boyd would say that we do a huge diservice to our faith by fusing it with politics (i.e. by thinking our highest calling is to elect the right (probably Republican) canidate or by thinking that the kingdom will come if we force people to live righteous by passing the right laws). I think he has a point. I don't believe we should seek to legislate righteousness. Nevertheless, should we not seek to guide our lawmakers along the lines of the values of the kingdom simply for the good of people's lives?

Would anyone dare to enter this discussion?

Missional?

2007-07-22T19:36:00.000Z

This seems to be the best word to describe what I and my church (and probably many churches) are searching for. For me it does better than 'evangelism,' which unfortunately conjures up not so good thoughts of preaching on the street and knocking on doors.

Rather, what I am challenged about is living my life and structuring the life of the church in a way that causes us to live faithfully to the mission of Jesus. This means embracing the big message of the good news of the kingdom, living that out in 1001 ways, articulating it to those who will hear, and doing all this in the power of the Holy Spirit.

All that sounds as if I have it all figured out...I don't. Perhaps my biggest fear is that I just won't. Won't change. Won't step up to the challenge of being Jesus' witness to my generation. Summer will become autumn, then winter, and then 20 years later I'm still more worried about what worship songs to pick out for Sunday than I am about my next door neighbor on Monday.

Still I believe Paul had something when he said he was forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead. I'm sure that many a great deed has never been done due to mulling over past failure. Let me here take my cyber-stand and say, I believe that I don't have to be the same person tomorrow that I was today.

I just met a new neighbor who just moved in a couple days ago. Perhaps I'll see if he wants to come around for a beer this week.

Lowercase People...

2007-07-16T21:40:00.000Z

A pretty cool site is lowercasepeople.com. Lots of words (I've not read many...yet), art, & music. I've not explored it too much, but I get the feeling they're doing something pretty good...and rather up my alley.

If you check it out before me, tell me what you think of it. Dan

Hope08

2007-06-29T11:14:00.000Z

I just popped open a box full of brochures and other random material on Hope08 and it made me think about how cool and exciting and blogworthy it was. So here I am.

There is this nation wide initiative going on in the UK to make 2008 a year of mission. Tons of different churches and organizations from all different denominations and streams are already getting involved (including our church). The idea is to serve communities all around the country, for churches to do that in partnership, and to couple the service with sharing the good news of Jesus. Sounds pretty cool.

What gets me excited about this is the idea of so many people working together. I just hope and pray that it is as big or bigger than we're painting it to be right now. Anyway, enough from me about it. Go check out the site if you want...www.hope08.com.

Holiday equals Vacation

2007-06-24T15:41:00.000Z

We just got back from a week long holiday in Devon, a beautiful region in the southwest of England. A 'holiday' for my people across the pond is of course the same as vacation. So we were chilling out in a very nice cottage (which was about 5 times the size of our house) just a few miles from the coast near a port town called Dartmouth. The theme of the week was perfectly timed weather...lots of rain, but thankfully dry when we needed it to be.

So we're back and running again. I have various things to accomplish this week administratively as well as looking to move forward with some creative/vision ideas I have. I'd like to share a bit more about those in future posts.

I'm attending a book club tonight. We'll be looking at the first half of Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. So in honour of that affair I've decided to add the above humorous photo from Donald's very own flickr.com account. I don't think its for real, but I thought it was amusing.

Reflections on the Emmaus Road story...

2007-06-13T12:41:00.000Z

There’s a great song by Jason Upton called Emmaus Road. It does a brilliant job of articulating in a very different way what those two guys must have been feeling as they walked away from Jerusalem on resurrection Sunday. With a series of questions the writer drives home the point that what these guys were going through was probably not too different to many of our experiences: “Have you ever said goodbye to a hero? Have you ever had to lay away your dreams? Have you ever been so lonely that a strangers your best friend? Have you ever been so angry that you can’t see what you’ve got right in front of you?”

These guys were probably close followers of Jesus, but not part of the twelve. No doubt they’d been around to see and hear quite a lot of what Jesus had done…things like the feeding of the 5,000, the raising of Lazarus, or the Palm Sunday entry. They say themselves that they were among those who hoped that it would be Jesus who would redeem Israel. In other words, they thought they’d found the Messiah. But they were also obviously there when things seemed to start to unravel. The betrayal, the rigged trial, the beating and mocking, and finally the crucifixion…probably a very surreal few hours to live through. Their hopes had come to an abrupt end…one than could not be undone. The reports of His resurrection that morning and the empty tomb only seemed to perplex them, like aggravating a sore wound.

Where we pick up the story, they are walking to a village called Emmaus…away from Jerusalem. It is possible that they were heading back home after the long Shabbat weekend. But it seems strange that they would be leaving at this crucial point. Apparently they were unaware or perhaps did not believe what Jesus had said about dying and rising again on the third day. Despite His predictions, you can almost hear them dealing with their grief: It was nice while it lasted, but now its back to real life. Were they walking away from it all?

I love the fact that in what seemed to them their bleakest moment, it was actually their most triumphant moment. Their rabbi had not only taught them a few good lessons, He had now conquered sin and death. They just didn’t know it yet. They were wrestling with things, kicking around in the dirt, and Jesus Himself came along and started kicking the dirt with them. They just couldn’t seem Him yet.

Jesus is great. He didn’t rush things. He didn’t come down on them, at least not right away. And this is particularly amazing because this was a pretty special day for Him. Conquering death and all…securing salvation for all of humankind for all of history…it was pretty major stuff. I think if it was me I might have arranged for some sort of press conference or a t-shirt printing or maybe a quick chat with the high priest. Certainly I’d want to be in a visible part of the city. But Jesus wasn’t into that sort of stuff. On His big day He chooses to spend a good portion of it walking on a dirty road toward a small village with two obscure disciples who had given up on Him. Simply astounding.

His interaction with them is so intriguing. He actually asked questions. He didn’t announce His victory and silence their doubts. He gave them room to vent, to have a go at Him. He knew how to draw them out. It is amazing to me that Jesus should be such a good question-asker. Of all the people in the universe, He’s the one who would have the most worth while things to say. He’s the one everyone else should be shutting up for. Yet He is concerned to draw us out and lead us to the truth not through lecturing all the time, but through the gritty reality of conversation…the give and take of questions. I’d venture to say that every last one of us could learn something from this example.

But in the end what these guys needed was a reality check. And that’s what they got. I’ve read a definition for ‘disillusion’ (which is what these guys where suffering with) that says, “freeing from false belief or illusions; to undeceive.” The band Skillet wrote a lyric in a song called More Faithful that goes, “All things I thought that I used to know are falling down again. Our disillusionment is how we grow.” Their hopes had been shattered and the Road to Emmaus that day could have just as easily been called the Road of Disillusionment.

I think most people get pretty negative feelings with this word. Disillusionment is not a fun thing…when our ideals have crumbled and all the great things we thought were going to happen have falling through. Yet, something in the root of this concept strikes me as fundamentally good. When you free some one from an illusion, however painful that process may be, you are actually leading them into reality. To be sure, a lot of us live in some degree of a dream world, largely because we don’t want to face the pain and brokenness of the world we live in, and I understand that. But for us Christians, we believe in a greater reality…one in which God is King and He is at work bringing this world back to where it should be. This is a reality that it would be good to be introduced to.

For our two friends, part of their dream world was in their own conception of Jesus. It seems they saw Him as a prophet, perhaps reluctant to call Him Messiah after His death. It also seems they were focused on Him being a national deliverer, one who would help them throw off the control of the Romans and secure a truly Jewish state once again. But more disturbing still was that it seemed they only saw Him as a victorious leader, not one who had come to serve and even lay down His life. Their hopes about Jesus seemed to be not really who Jesus was.

So their illusion was a different sort of Jesus…perhaps one with a javelin and a Jewish flag wrapped around Him. It was this figure and these hopes that had fallen to pieces over those few hours in Jerusalem. Their illusion was shattered. What they didn’t realize just yet was that they were really mourning the loss of a figure that never really existed. The real Jesus went to the cross, died, and rose again. Their dream Jesus, the Jewish deliver, also went to the cross and died, but there was no resurrection for Him. He wasn’t real.

On this Road of Disillusionment, in the midst of their distress, none other than the real, risen Jesus walks up. And they didn’t even recognize Him at first. Maybe they were too angry. Maybe there was some kind of divine concealment going on. But I have to believe there is some symbolism in it. They were blind to the real Jesus on the road just as they had been blind to the real Jesus all along. But all of that was about to change. He talked. He listened. He gave them what must have been one of the greatest Old Testament lessons ever given. And as He gave thanks and broke the bread it all came together. They knew it was Him. And probably for the first time that saw beyond their own constructions to the reality of who Jesus really was.

It must have been a pretty staggering moment. Somehow I feel I can totally relate when it says that they talked about how His words were doing something to their hearts, even before they knew it was Him. They were probably just about to jump out of their skin from the excitement and the passion of all of it. It’s no surprise to me that they left immediately to go tell the rest of the disciples. They couldn’t contain it. They were changed.

I think about all of the dumb things I’ve believed over the years. I used to think I could be Superman when I grew up. That illusion didn’t last too long. In more recent years, I can remember at one point really needing a job and being so sure I could get in with this place I’d work at before. They had liked me so much they begged me to stay when I had to leave. I was so sure I had it under control and then they broke it to me that they didn’t have a place. It was three months before my wedding, I was pretty much broke, and I lived in a city that didn’t have many job prospects. My illusion was that I was in control, but I wasn’t. Disillusionment wasn’t fun then, but it did make me turn to God out of sheer desperation. I didn’t realize it at the time, but God was working into me a gut level recognition of the reality that He is control.

Sometimes we can be disillusioned with people. A friend that we’re so sure will always be there for us stabs us in the back and then hits the road. But it’s not always that people do terrible things. Sometimes it’s just that we’ve idealized someone…saw them as perfect. When they do something that is not so perfect, as people tend to do, our illusion is shattered. This is another great example of how disillusionment is fundamentally a good thing in the context of the Christian worldview. When we put too much trust and confidence in someone other than God, it is not a safe thing. The power or security or love we think will flow from them really won’t. No matter how great they are, they are human. When our illusions are shattered we’re in the right place to begin to believe something true…that God is the source of all that we are hungry for.

This process of becoming ‘undeceived’ is not easy, but it is right. It is right that God should allow us at times to feel pain in order that we may stop leaning on a house of cards. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” it says in Proverbs. It is all so we can begin to put our trust in the One who is really worthy of it. So may all of our Emmaus Roads and all our bleakest moments of doubt be graced by the presence of a Stranger who makes our hearts burn and eventually opens our eyes.

Back...

2007-05-24T20:07:00.000Z

Well, I'm back from another thrilling week at Regents. This weeks module was Pentecostal Spirituality, taking a look at the spiritual tradition of the pentecostal/charismatic movement. It was very interesting in that it made me take a look in the mirror and critic my own church and the way we do things. I think I have a lot of processing to do about it though.

Back into life now. I'm glad tonight that I believe in God the Father and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, and in the Holy Spirit...and in one holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, and life with out end. "I did not make it...it is making me."

Jump...

2007-05-16T20:36:00.000Z

I feel as though I'm finally jumping into the deep and cold swimming pool that is my masters. I will now be treading water for the next 2 and half years :) That makes it sound like a bad thing though, doesn't it? Actually I'm quite excited. Just not overly looking forward to the increased workload. But there you have it.

As for my first essay, ya ready? ...The Role of the Spirit in Numbers 11. I will be looking particularly at the role of the Spirit in the transfer of leadership. Sounds groovy, eh?

Just think...in a few months time you could be reading 6000 words on the above topic, right here on this blog. We'll see. Nighty night time.

Studying, preaching, and getting up at 5am...

2007-05-11T14:39:00.000Z

The title says it all. I've been pretty crammed this week with getting ready for the modules I will be taking for my masters in the coming two weeks. I have had to read three books and write reviews on each one...and of course have left it to this week to do all the writing.

Thankfully the reading was all pretty much done before this week due to my getting up early Mon-Fri and reading, usually from 6-7, but a few days from 5-7. Some of you may not think that all too special, but getting up that early on a consistant basis is saying a lot for me.

The other thing this week has been prep for my message on Sunday. I'm tackling the passage on husbands and wives, parents and children, slaves and masters in Ephesians. I've been really excited by the idea of an eschatological community which is what I've titled the message.

So a quick preview would be this: the church is a people birthed by the Holy Spirit and shaped according to the quality of life of the Age to Come. The shalom that will prevade all creation when Jesus returns (that is holistic peace and well-being) is now present in a limited sense in the church. So the way we relate to one another should not be dominated by the spirit of this age, but by the beauty and fulfillment of the life of the kingdom of God.

Whew...try that on for size in a marriage class. It may seem a bit heavy, but I am convinced that this is the truth we must always call ourselves back to. We are not to conform to this world, but to be transformed according to God's rule and will for our lives and the life of all creation. Now I'm preaching again...sorry. Come on Sunday or listen to the mp3 afterwards.

Challenged to Act

2007-05-02T14:07:00.000Z

I've just noticed a new business venture called Tom's Shoes which gives away one pair of shoes among the poor of the world for every one pair of shoes purchased. What a cool thing. Even a Jesus type thing to do. I seem to recall something about serving the least of these is like serving Jesus Himself. Check out the link in my linkages list.

This is both an inspiration and a challenge to me. Often I think and talk about expressing my Christianity by serving the poor and sacrificing for the helpless. Yet most often this talk stops far short of action. What a terrible thing.

I am reminded of the joy and life that has coursed through me in the past when I sacrificed, gave something away, served when no one was looking. What a beautiful expression of love to Jesus and to the world. I want to be there far more often. I can think of one specific thing I can set in place over the next week that will push me more into the arena of giving to the poor. If only I can think of something specific to do yet today.

For the weekend...

2007-04-13T22:23:00.000Z

So Karlie is away for the weekend and its me and Mic. We're doing very well so far, but do feel a bit lonely here. I just got finished watching V for Vendeta with Ben who came to keep me company for a while this evening. That was cool.

I'm thinking we'll have a chilled out day tomorrow (me and M that is). If the weather's nice, I'll probably try to do some gardening in the morning (how British does that sound:). And mowing is a must, so hopefully no rain. I'm leading music on Sunday so I also need to think/pray about that.

On that note (pun intended), I have for some time felt pretty fatigued with leading worship. Perhaps it is just the whole thing of monotony coupled with the pressure to please. But I feel the Spirit of God stiring in me and part of that is a new hope and hunger in the area of leading. I hope that the things I'm sensing that I can't explain really lead to something. To God be the glory.

Resurrection Sunday

2007-04-08T18:31:00.000Z

Wow. I'm tired. But its been a good day. An enjoyable, but crazily hectic church gathering. It was geared toward the kids, so between that and the abnormal amount of technology we were attempting to employ, it was full of surprises. But I have to believe that God takes special delight in our messiness when its all to do with Him.

All afternoon we were with the McGuigan's and Scotlands for a nice BBQ. Great weather and great friends. As a card carrying introvert, I am now looking forward to quiet evening in.

Yet I can't help but think today about the treasure of relationships. I suppose the original Easter was all about restoring relationships. Today and everyday we get to enjoy the good of what Jesus accomplished. La chiam!

My beautiful generation...

2007-04-04T14:45:00.000Z

These were my thoughts on 5 March:

Having spent the weekend with a group of 18 to 30 year olds at a Lifelink conference called LIFE 2007, I sit with a great degree of excitement, anticipation, and burden for the future. I believe, now more than ever, that God will do great things in this generation. Much of what needs to be done is still ahead of us. It will not be an easy road. But I am confident that God is pursuing the future with passion and actively including us in that pursuit.
So how can I respond now, back in the daily routine of life? What I desire is to persevere in faith and passion and be a communicator of it. That is I’d like this vision for the future to rub off on people around me so we really throw our weight in it together.

I want to make time to hear God and continually pray the prayer of humility: God, I know that You resist the proud, but give grace to the humble. I humble myself now under Your mighty hand, knowing that You will lift me up at the right time.

And then I’d like to take hold of the few issues which the Holy Spirit decides should be seen to and do the work with all my heart and might. I pray that my efforts will not be diffused into a thousand little projects, but rather be focused into the handful of places that will make a lasting impact and move the whole thing forward.

friday night is slowing down

2007-01-26T22:06:00.000Z

It's getting late and I've been messing around with my colour scheme for too long. I do hope I can get this thing off the ground. Thoughts are good. Writing them out is a good discipline. So why not let the whole world read it? That's the funny/disconcerting view I've always had of blogs. My somewhat more hopeful aims for this are more along the lines of making some new friends, keeping up with some olds ones, and propelling my own contemplation along. We'll see I guess. Blessings to you all this night.

Hello hello

2006-05-30T13:09:00.000Z

Here's my crack at a blog. Its probably more for me than anyone else. But here it is anyway. I hope that maybe people back at home in the states will appreciate reading about what is going on. No more time to write now though.