Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The son of a carpenter
Sunday, October 10, 2010
ritual significance
This Too Shall Pass
A Woman went to her pastor and said, "My prayer life is horrible! I feel so distracted, and unfocused. I can't remember who or what I promised to pray for through out the day, and worst of all I often fall asleep. It's just horrible!"
"Don't fret sister, this too shall pass," the pastor said matter-of-factly.
A month later, She came back to her pastor, "My prayer life is wonderful! I feel so aware, so connected, so alive! It's just wonderful!'
"Don't fret sister, this too shall pass," the pastor said matter-of-factly.
***
Commentary
In life we often pass through phases of connectedness to the divine.
These phases have been called spiritual deserts, spiritual winters, seasons of dryness, being on fire, baptized in the spirit, ect...
Many pastors, writers, and theologians have devoted much energy to helping people through the down and dry phases while ignoring that the place they desire to move their charges "back to" is simply an equal part of the ebb and flow of our human brokenness.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The humble convert and the self righteous elders
"F@#%ing A!"
The Pastor paused for an uncomfortable minute and then finished his prayer. The elders of the church immediately began to chide the man for speaking "You interrupted the sacred prayer on the holy morning, and whats worse you used foul and improper language."
From his pulpit the pastor joined in, "Young man that is not acceptable language to address the Lord of all creation. We have sacred ways handed down to us by our forefathers from their forefathers that tell us exactly what and how a man may address the divine."
The man sat trembling with fear and embarrassment. Then when he could take it no longer God sent an angel among them.
"Fear F@#%ing not" began the angel "The Lord your God wishes that his people stop chastising this simple man, his sincere curse moved us more than the many pious wordy prayers you have memorized and continue to utter over and over all the years you have been meeting together."
*** I wrote this parable under the influence of the story found in Luke 18. Here Jesus points out that God prefers a humble sinner to a self righteous Pharisee.
And Mark 7 where Jesus quotes Isaiah and says "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' For you ignore God's specific laws and substitute your own traditions."
And "Fear not" is something angels tend to say when they first come on the scene.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The American Beatitudes
Now when he saw the television cameras, he sat down and began to teach them saying:
Blessed are those who believe the right things, for theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are healthy, for they will live long.
Blessed are the proud, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for money, for they will drive the markets.
Blessed are the unforgiving, for they will get even.
Blessed are the sly and sneaky, for they will get ahead.
Blessed are the war-hawks, for they will be called patriots.
Blessed are those who rent billboards and make signs to protest immoral people, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people complement you, praise you, and idolize you saying all kinds of great things about you because of the work of your publicist. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward!
***
This parable is an adaptation, some would say a gross distortion, of Jesus beatitudes. I wanted to show the shocking difference between what we say we believe and what we actually do.
If you are unfamiliar with Jesus beatitudes Check this out:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=5&v=1&t=NIV#top
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
One chilly fall day in an average town on Sunday
One chilly fall day in an average town on Sunday.
The parking lot of the building where the church met was filling up quickly. Church members were whispering among themselves as they walked into building. For outside leaning up against the outer wall of the building was a man looking as if he were asleep or passed out more likely.
The man had on a old stained coat that was mostly in shreds, his beard was extremely long and dirty, his long unkempt hair stuck out from under his hat. One of his boots had no laces and the other had duct tape wrapped around the toes to hold it together.
Judging by the smell, which was evident even at a distance the good folks could tell the man was homeless and and had probably passed out sometime during the night. This being known since many of the folks had attended the Saturday prayer meeting in which the pastor had led them in praying that God bless them with revival so that they could bring Jesus to their city.
Many of the congregation gathered in the vestibule to fellowship for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man lying outside. People snickered and sneered, some spoke in low voices asking why the police had not been successful in cleaning up the neighborhood.
When all of the people dressed in their Sunday best had gone in and began singing, Jesus got up from the place where he had been laying next to the building and with his with his head down and a tear in his eye went out to find the church.
***
I was under the influence of the following texts when I wrote this parable:
Mat 8 in which Jesus says "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head."
Mat 25 in which Jesus says "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
And the idea introduced by mother Teresa that the poor and suffering are just "Jesus in his most distressing disguise."
Which one will you feed?
They were near a cage containing two lions. One of the Lions appeared to be larger and much better cared for. As the zoo attendants came to bring the lions their meal the rabbi called the girl's attention to what was taking place.
Both Lions approached the food at the same time. Then there was a terrible roar from the larger lion followed by swiping of claws and a gnashing of teeth. The smaller weaker lion was knocked away from the food and the larger lion ate her fill.
The student turned to her Rabbi to question him but he silenced her.
"This same struggle goes on in each of us, we want joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, generosity, and faith. Yet we also harbor anger, envy, greed, arrogance, resentment, pride, and ego." he wispered.
The student pondered this then asked "Which lion will win?"
"The one you feed will always be stronger."
"Then if I feed the one there is no hope for the other?"
"Nether will ever kill the other so there is always hope."