Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Question the Myth of Progress




QUESTION the myth of PROGRESS

This picture shows Chief Raoni crying when he learned that the President of Brazil approved the Belo Monte dam project on the Xingu indigenous lands. Belo Monte will be bigger than the Panama Canal, flooding over 400,000 hectares of rainforest and indigenous lands. 40,000 indigenous and local people will be forced off their native lands in the name of progress and economic development.

Consider our language of progress and development, and its' affects. We commonly believe and accept that we as humanity are moving toward a world of great economic and technological control, and that this is invariably good. "Developed" nations call other nations "developing", which places them within our worldview. They are just a little behind us, trying to catch up. When they do, they will be as "progressive" and fortunate as we are. This myth persists in spite of the widening global gap between the rich and poor, and the evidence that increased industrialization continues to lower, not raise the standard of living for people all over the world.

Let us stop arrogantly pursuing this myth at the expense of the poor, the racially marginalized, our health both mental and physical, and our stewardship of the natural world. It's time to humbly reconsider a world based on the true values of justice, peace, and equality, even if at the expense of the values that can only be measured in numbers on paper.

Ephesians 1 - Key Verses, Matthew 7-11

Through the New Testament Reading - Matthew 7-11

Ephesians 1

Day 2 – Key Verses

Ephesians 1:17

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1:18-19a

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:19b-21

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised his from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Ephesians 1, Matthew 1-6

Through the New Testament Reading - Matthew 1-6

(see more notes on Ephesians 1)

Ephesians 1 (NIV 1984)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

++
++
++

My Reflection:

This is such an incredibly beautiful and poetic passage.

This is good news. God is good. Jesus is beautiful. We are in Christ.

This eruption of joy at the thought of the divine realities of the gospel is challenging to me. I want this wisdom and revelation that the writer prays for. I want to know the Spirit of God better.

"Incomparably great power for us who believe."

Wow. For us. What is the power like?

"That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

We have an inheritance of glorious riches.

We are adopted according to God's good pleasure.

God loves so much. This is beautiful.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Summer Reading Plan

Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon - May 29-Aug 21, 2011 - Look to the Cross

(plus - the whole New Testament in one Summer!)

Hello Friend,

It’s Summertime!

Let’s read some radical and awesome passages of scripture together.

Ephesians is some of the most beautiful and poetic words of gospel I have ever read.

Colossians is challenging in just how free it says we are.

Philemon is a beautiful story of redemption and reconciliation that reflects our story of freedom and adoption in Jesus.

We’re going very slowly through these books this time. Every week will be one chapter, but there will be five questions to help you consider and understand each chapter. Keep a journal, and take a few minutes each day to consider the question and record a response. Over the course of the week, meditation on each passage will grow our understanding and appreciation for scripture.

Keep your journal entries. Bring them to your smallgroup meeting, and be prepared to share with each other and be encouraged by each other’s journey as we get to know Jesus together.

For those who want to read more, I have also included five readings every week from the rest of the New Testament. If you complete all the readings, you will read the entire New Testament before the end of the Summer.

While we go through these passages each week and in our smallgroups, I will also be preaching a ten week series on community life in scripture. I’m pretty excited about this.

Bless you friends, as we discover the freedom, joy, and love of the covenant community of Jesus together.

-Shawn

+

May 29 - June 4 – Ephesians Chapter 1

Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
Matthew 1-6
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Matthew 7-11
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Matthew 12-14
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Matthew 15-19
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
Matthew 20-24

June 5 - June 11 – Ephesians Chapter 2


Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
Matthew 25-28
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Romans 1-5
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Romans 6-10
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Romans 11-16
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
1 Corinthians 1-7

June 12 - June 18 – Ephesians Chapter 3

Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
1 Corinthians 8-12
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
1 Corinthians 13-2 Corinthians 3
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
2 Corinthians 4-19
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
2 Corinthians 10-13
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
Galatians 1-6

June 19 - June 25 – Ephesians Chapter 4

Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
Mark 1-5
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Mark 6-8
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Mark 9-13
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Mark 14-16
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
Philippians 1-4

June 26 - July 2 – Ephesians Chapter 5


Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
1 Thessalonians 1-5
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
2 Thessalonians 1-1 Timothy 3
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
1 Timothy 4-2 Timothy 3
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
2 Timothy 4-Titus 3
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
James 1-5

July 3 – July 9 – Ephesians Chapter 6


Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
Luke 1-3
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Luke 4-6
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Luke 7-9
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Luke 10-12
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
Luke 13-16

July 10 – July 17 – Hebrews

Day 1 – Hebrews 1-3 - Journal a personal response, prayer, or summary.
Luke 17-18
Day 2 – Hebrews 4-6 - Journal a personal response, prayer, or summary.
Luke 19
Day 3 – Hebrews 7-9 - Journal a personal response, prayer, or summary.
Luke 20-21
Day 4 – Hebrews 10-11 - Journal a personal response, prayer, or summary.
Luke 22
Day 5 – Hebrews 12-13 - Journal a personal response, prayer, or summary.
Luke 23-24


July 18 – July 24 – Colossians Chapter 1


Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
Acts 1-4
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Acts 5-7
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Acts 8-10
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Acts 11-13
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
Acts 14-16

July 25 – July 31 – Colossians Chapter 2


Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
Acts 17-19
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Acts 20-22
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Acts 23-25
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Acts 26-28
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
1 Peter 1-5

August 1 – August 7 – Colossians Chapter 3

Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
2 Peter 1-Jude
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
John 1-3
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
John 4-6
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
John 7-9
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
John 10-12

August 8 – August 14 – Colossians Chapter 4


Day 1 – Read the chapter. Journal a personal response to or summary of the chapter.
John 13-15
Day 2 – Read the chapter. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
John 16-18
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
John 19-21
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
1 John 1-4
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole chapter. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
1 John 5-3 John

August 15 – August 21 – Philemon


Day 1 – Read Philemon. Journal a personal response to or summary of the book.
Revelation 1-3
Day 2 – Read Philemon. Identify one or two key verses, and write them out.
Revelation 4-9
Day 3 – Read yesterday’s key verses out loud. Journal why you chose them. Rewrite them.
Revelation 10-14
Day 4 – Read Day 2’s key verses out loud. Journal how they challenge you personally.
Revelation 15-18
Day 5 – Read the key verses again, and then the whole book. Journal a personal response or prayer that includes your measurable response to the passage.
Revelation 19-22

Friday, May 27, 2011

Slavery, Freedom, and Equality in the Bible - Philemon (NIV 1984)

The commentary text  which used to appear in the blog below has been rewritten and expended, and is now available here.

I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.




1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Empire. Slavery. Chains. Freedom. Colossians 4


A rewritten and expanded version of the blog which used to appear below is now available here.

I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.


Colossians 3:22-4:18 (NIV 1984)

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Colossians 4

1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Colossians 3 (NIV 1984)

I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.


Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Colossians. Grace. Community.

I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.

Colossians 2 (NIV 1984)

I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.


I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Colossians 1 (NIV 1984)

I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.


Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Monday, May 23, 2011

A cold, wet, inconvenient life

The house is full of guests this morning, both human and canine. Boots and bottles litter the floors. The air inside carries the essence of unwashed traveler. It is a scent I have come to know well. Though familiarity has increased my tolerance, the smell has not lost its' offense. To be alone this morning, I must be banished from the building to have my morning coffee and quiet outside.

I'm sitting on a brown plastic pressure molded chair on the front step of my house. The air on the breeze is cool. A light mist of rain is falling. The cloud filled sky is dark and grey. My nose is stuffy. Somewhere close there are birds singing. Further away they are squawking and cawing. Even further away they chirp. Everywhere is the dull background whooshes of traffic. I sit with a breakfast of fresh fruit, a hot coffee on one side of me, and my big, black, leather-bound Bible on the other.

The morning is dark. It is grey. It is cold and wet. The breeze is cutting through my hoodie and acquainting my neck, shoulders, and arms with its' unseasonable icy presence. My stopped nose somehow banishes my head from the rest of me, blunting my ability to sense clearly, commanding my brain to observe silently through its' eye windows. But this gloomy scene does not capture the freedom I feel in this moment.

I am alone, but I am not alone. Even as I step lightly around my own house to avoid the bodies and their rubbish that have joined my space, I do not feel invaded or put out. It is a joy to be surrounded by fellow humans who are living fully and being human. Our paths will cross only briefly, but I believe that all of us are enriched to know each other. It is a gift, this shared life. Instruments and backpacks tell stories of their travels and their songs and their camaraderie. I'm grateful that Kate found them and invited them to share with us for now. I wish they could stay longer. Their travels and loud voices and dirty clothes remind me that God is bigger than my family, my home, my church. I hope to send some of the Spirit of God with them. I hope that through them, our awareness of God's presence in our home will be enriched.

It is in life together that we are enriched. To live life with other humans so closely as to touch and smell and feel each other's uniqueness. To serve the Imago Dei in fellow travelers. To share the mark of the divine and recognize the heart and hands of our Saviour in strangers. Is there any gift more beautiful in this temporary existence?

To have to seek my own solitude this morning is not a burden. It is a treasure. It is these moments of my life that I have always felt most free, when community and humanity around me does not allow me to firmly know what might happen next, or when I might certainly have space to create my life exactly in my own image.

A memory. At a mountain camp I find myself sitting by a lake at sunrise. I hear loons sing in low voices and watch them play on the water. The air is cold, and my nose is stopped, just as it is this morning. Another watcher sits only 100 metres away. This is the furthest I will be from another human being all day. And I am happy.

Even the weather has its' comforts for me. Bright sun and dry air have never been the most pleasant for my nature. My happiest home was the beginning of my life, on the west coast. My family was not yet broken. I was secure. As a child I did not judge the quality of the day by the sun or rain or temperature. Trees were lush and animals of all kinds flourished. Cool air and rain were just part of my life and I seized every moment of it.

Wide sunny skies only became part of my normal experience when I was taken from my familiar bright green lush life to the dusty browns and yellows of Southern Alberta. My rainy city was traded for a windy little town. The bright diversity I'd always known was traded for a dull sameness. Everything was muted for me. Even the people had less colour and verve. There were fewer questions. There were too many answers. There was too much space. I missed the uncertainty and danger of the dark, grey, wet city.

So give me colourful people and real stories and adventures over space and privacy and a controlled life. Give me a cold bright crisp morning over a computer desk or an entertainment system surrounding my easy chair. Give me the adventure of an inconvenient life shared over the sameness and predictability offered by a convenient psuedo suburban gates-and-fences existence. Give me grey clouds and rain and and green trees and singing birds over a bright wide sky baking the life from the ground and the mind. Give me mountains or give me buildings that pierce the sky. I don't care to see blue heaven on every side of me. My time on earth is short. I can see heaven later. Let me see the beautiful natural creations of God in nature and humanity. Let me see beautiful humanity in culture and diversity now while I am able.

Give me heaven on earth.

Give me this cold, wet, inconvenient morning.

Give me the scent of unwashed traveler.

Give me my second coffee.

Good morning, God.

Adoption, Slavery, Freedom, Empire - Notes on Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon

Ephesians
NIV
KJV

I rewrote and expanded all my notes from Ephesians into a continuing series of blog entries from April 9-30, 2013. Click the image below to read this series.



Colossians
NIV
KJV

Philemon
NIV
KJV

 I have rewritten and expanded all my entries about Colossians and Philemon into a complete series on my new blog. The entries are ordered by chapter, as they were on this blog. Click the image below to read the series.



Sunday, May 22, 2011

Yes Nice - Horses Music Video



I love this song.

Well done Yes Nice. Our loss is Vancouver's gain.

I’m gonna wait ‘till judgment day
You say ice and I say up in flames
I’m gonna march around this town
Seven time with seven trumpet sounds
When the final trumpet blows his horn
Call on the Lord to come and take me home

Black, red, white and blue
Horses on the clouds are charging through
Whiter rider wheres a crown
Red makes war and black dries up the ground
When the pale blue rider draws his sword
You can’t stop the coming of the Lord

I’m gonna wait ‘till judgment day
You say ice and I say up in flames
I’m gonna march around this town
Seven time with seven trumpet sounds
When the final trumpet blows his horn
Call on the Lord to come and take me home

Black, red, white and blue
Horses on the clouds are charging through
Black, red, white and blue
Hold your breath the end is coming soon
All the nations at each other’s throats
You can’t fight the coming of the Lord

I’m gonna wait ‘till judgment day
You say ice and I say up in flames
I’m gonna march around this town
Seven time with seven trumpet sounds
When the final trumpet blows his horn
Call on the Lord to come and take me home

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Ephesians 6 (NIV 1984)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

(Read in King James Version)

++
++
++

My Notes:

We begin our journey by being seated in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Remaining seated in our position as dearly loved and forever adopted members of God's family in Christ, we also walk as children in this family of light. Having reflected the relationship we have with our father and our Saviour in every relationship in this world, we stand firm in the power of God in resistance against the ungodly authorities of this world and spiritual forces of evil.

Paul reminds us that every relationship we have in this world is an opportunity to reflect Jesus. In romance we reflect Jesus, who is both worthy of the highest repect and honour, and also submitted himself sacrificially for us in the most humble way. His love for us makes him the most lovely of all creatures, and we respond to him with great love. This respect, submission, honour, and reciprocal love in romance looks like Jesus on earth. God is Father and Son. Like Abraham of Isaac, God the Father required of his son the greatest of any humble submissive obedience. Though he would sweat blood at the thought of it, the Son obeyed. In his obedience he was glorified, and so were we. Our earthly family affords us the opportunity to reflect the family of God.

Finally, our Saviour has become our Master and Lord, the King of kings. Yet, though he was God, he made himself nothing, and became a servant among humanity. Like Jesus' example in washing his disciple's feet, we now serve each other, and the greatest among us is the servant of all. Jesus reminds us in Matthew that our loving treatment of the hungry, the naked, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned is received by Christ as our treatment of him. In every circumstance and in every relationship, whether humbly serving as an authority, an employee, or a slave, we do it all in Christ, the only and highest authority, the lowest and every slave. We submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. We take every opportunity in every relationship to see Jesus in each other, and be Jesus for each other. All glory is to him alone.

Finally, after having done all to walk as children of light, serving and loving one another in covenant community, shining the light of the gospel for everyone everywhere, we stand in resistance to the authorities of this world who would do otherwise. As agents of change in this lifetime, carrying the seed of the Kingdom of Heaven and the Spirit of God, we walk in the authority of the King of kings to live lives of love, grace, humility, and true justice. There is no authority on this earth that can oppose the authority which we represent. We stand firm against injustice. We stand firm against unrighteousness. We stand firm against oppression. We stand firm with peace, truth, and faith. We will refuse to allow the authorities of this earth to advance any agenda against the justice, grace, and love of God. We do not do this in our own power, but from the inner working of the Spirit, who equips us spiritually and practically to stand firm. We have the word of God, which reveals his plan for redemption and reconciliation. The world will not stop his work on earth. The devil will not stop his work on earth. We are strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. He has overcome the world.

This beautiful letter is written from prison, reminding us that in this life we do may not see a personal favourable outcome from a life of walking in love and standing in resistance against dark worldly authority. It was a shackled hand that penned the verse that we are seated in heavenly realms in Christ. It is the life and glory of Jesus that Ephesians reveals, not our own. It is because we are in him, seated by faith in his righteousness, that we are children of God. God's power to live his resurrection life through us is based on his infinite love and grace, and therefore it transcends any and all circumstances. Wherever we sit, by faith we sit in his righteousness. Wherever we walk, we walk as children of light. Wherever we stand, we wrestle against the dark authorities and the spiritual forces that oppose the grace and justice and love of God. However weak we may be, we are strong in his mighty power.

We fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or think or even imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Amen.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Ephesians 5 (NIV 1984)

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

(Read in King James Version)

++
++
++

My Notes:

This passage continues exactly where the previous chapter left off. Our behaviour as adopted children of God should reflect the character and nature of our Father. All of the behaviours that are illuminated in these passages profoundly affect the quality of community life. Paul is interested in how we treat each other, now that we all share life together.

It is important to remember that the first three chapters of Ephesians laid a strong foundation for our position in Christ being of him and not of ourselves. Like a adopted toddlers in a loving family, we are dearly loved and accepted and enjoyed by our new father. Nothing will take that away. No matter what we do, or who we become, we are loved, we are accepted, we are as good as righteous in his eyes, and nothing will break that ironclad contract. We sit with great confidence in the house of God, among our new family. However, like those new toddlers, we may carry baggage from the institutions and orphanages from which we came. The behaviours we learned while in the system will not harmonize with life in our new family with our new Father. This does not change our position in the family, or the love the Father gives. We are dearly loved children. Now that we have sat in the house of love, we must walk in that same love.

This adoption goes further than just a legal reality. In this spiritual reality, we are given the nature, the life, the very DNA of our new family. It is not only a legal name change that we experience, but a change in our very nature. God is light and love, and we are now children of light and love. By faith, we walk now as children of God on Earth, shining and giving love wherever we go, and glorifying God in the world by how we love each other.

Christ is our example of this love. In this family, he is our older brother. He offered himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. This is how we now live life in love together. Our love for each other puts the other first, denying even our own life for the sake of our brothers and sisters. And we do so not in our own strength, or for our own glory, or even for the benefit of our brother or sister alone. Though we are all deeply affected and moved by the love we receive from each other, it is God who is most pleased as he receives it as a fragrant offering and sacrifice. In this we are loving one another by faith through Christ, and for God. In the covenant community, we become Christ to one another as we receive and give the same sacrificial love that he gave to us.

In such a community we learn quickly what pleases the God, and it quickly becomes our nature to want to do so. This Christ-life of sacrifice and humility is a life of submission one to another. Christ submitted himself to God the Father, even to death. As he did, he considered us even more important than himself, which is our example. We each submit one to another out of reverence for Christ.

Every relationship that we have on this Earth is one where we may reflect the character and nature of God. In family especially, those who we experience most of our life with, we have a great opportunity to preach to each other the great story of Christ's redemptive work, and God the Father's adoption of us. In his life and death and resurrection, Jesus is the most loving husband, faithful brother, and humbly submitted and obedient son. As husbands, wives, and parents, we are each to reflect that same submission, faithfulness, and love in our lives together. We tell the story of Jesus to one another every day.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Ephesians 4 (NIV 1984)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

(Read in King James Version)

++
++
++

My Notes:

Followers of Jesus come from every walk of life and every corner of the world. As the Body of Christ has expanded, so also have all the possible expressions of worship and faith developed and changed. The faith of a Japanese businessman in a tiny highrise in the middle of Tokyo will be demonstrated in a wildly different way from an orphan child in Burundi or a single mom in Sweden.

Though we may think we understand and accept this today (most of the time), members of this newly emerging multiethnic and multicultural faith were being challenged with it all the time.

Imagine the first time that a new Gentile Jesus follower walked into the synagogue or little house worship gathering. Her hair is short. She has tattoos that she received during worship ceremonies in another god's temple. Her clothes are made of two types of material . . . Even the most kind and gracious of the proper religious folk must have been challenged by the presence of these strange and ignorant Gentiles.

In this passage we are reminded that family background, previous experience or inexperience, class, or education makes no difference to the call of God, or an individual's membership in Christ's body.

The consequences of the previous chapter require us to open our hearts, lives, and churches to people who might challenge us deeply. Paul was right in praying that we would be able to truly understand how huge God's love is. Once we do, we need to walk in that same love by demonstrating humility, gentleness, patience. When we open our lives to people that are radically different from us, it's our pride, our self-righteousness, and our lack of patience that is challenged.

Paul describes a church where people of all walks of life and all backgrounds are rubbing shoulders and being challenged by each other. The church today could be the same. When this is what the church becomes, this passage gives no opportunity for a hierarchy of faith. Speaking first to seasoned veterans of the faith, Paul challenges us not to hold seniority or position over those who may not express their faith or lifestyle in exactly the same way as we do. We all are serving the same God, the Father of Jesus Christ. By faith we have all been redeemed by the same Rabbi. Every one of us came to the cross broken. Every one of us lives only by the sustaining power of the same Spirit. Whether cultural, familial, or philosophical, all apparent differences are meaningless under the cross of Jesus.

It is to these seasoned religious folk that Paul gives his challenge to grow. He reminds us that we will grow and mature and change together as a covenant community. Every one of us has a place and a responsibilty in this growth. Every part does its' work to build the whole body in unity and love. We must humbly remember that all of these different members of our community are not only equal, but necessary. In Christ, we are interdependent. The tattooed and branded polyester wearing newcomer is as essential to our growth as the pastor.

For the newcomers to the community, we also have a responsibility to humility and unity. Regardless of how we may have lived before, we must put aside any patterns of selfish or hedonistic behaviour as we strive to live like Christ. Patience is required to be extended for new members to community, but not at the expense of the community. We are no longer alone, however so we may have lived before coming to Jesus. Painful as it may be, we do sacrifice our autonomy in covenant community. We are sustained by the Spirit of God together, not in isolation. Life in covenant community will allow us many opportunities to be angry at one another, or to covet each other's things and be tempted to steal. It is when we are confronted with these challenges of community that we are offered the best opportunity to look like Jesus by demonstrating forgiveness, grace, and self-control. Differences in background, culture, and worldview are highly valued and honoured in the Body of Christ, but selfish behaviour that would destroy the community is not tolerated, no matter what one's life may have been before. Though we are not required to conform to the image of the community, we are all equally required to conform to the image of Christ in his love and grace and humility.

In Jesus' covenant community, whether wizened with experience or newly received, we live as a reflection of Jesus to one another. We are kind and compassionate to one another. We have been forgiven, and we extend to everyone that same gracious forgiveness. It is from this root of Christlike forgiveness that the entire community remains alive in true faith and true demonstration of the Spirit of God.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

C.S. Lewis on Faith and Reason, Life Human and Life Divine

This is a beautiful passage from one of my favourite books - C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.

In this passage, C.S. Lewis considers Christianity in the light of the marriage of natural life (Bios) with supernatural life (Zoe), or the life and Spirit of God. It is also an excellent example of how C.S. Lewis illuminates his faith with reason and his reason with faith. It's a challenge I hope to also emulate. Many will also notice that C.S. Lewis makes space for evolution in his conception of man and salvation.

I found this entire passage both exciting and challenging. It's been a while since I've read Lewis, so it was a delight to be reminded of how he still challenges me to examine what I believe with reverence and careful thought. I hope that you will also not take it at face value, but wrestle with it and consider it for yourself.

+

Perhaps a modern man can understand the Christian idea [of transformation] best if he takes it in connection with Evolution. Everyone now knows … that man has evolved from lower types of life. Consequently, people often wonder, “What is the next step?” “When is the thing beyond man going to appear?” … [Some suppose a] “Superman” [will appear] with extra legs or arms … [P]opular guesses at the Next Step [envision] men developing great brains and getting greater mastery over nature … [But] I cannot help but think that the Next Step will be really new … I should expect the next stage not to be a stage in Evolution [as science studies it] at all. And I should not be surprised if, when the thing happened, very few people noticed that it was happening.

[T]he Christian view is precisely that the Next Step has already appeared. And it is really new. It is not a change from brainy men into brainier men: it is a change that goes off in a totally different direction—a change from being creatures of God to being sons of God. The first instance appeared in Palestine two thousand years ago. In a sense, the change is not “Evolution” at all, because it is not something arising out of the natural process of events but something coming into nature from outside. But that is what I should expect. We arrived at our idea of “Evolution” from studying the past. If there are real novelties in store then of course our idea, based on the past, will not really cover them …

At the earlier stages living organisms … had … no choice or very little choice about taking the new step … But the next step … of being turned from creatures into sons is voluntary … I have called Christ the “first instance” of the new man. But of course He is something much more than that … He is … the new man [who takes Bios up into Zoe] …

At the beginning I said there were Personalities in God. I will go further now. There are no real personalities anywhere else. Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self … But there must be a real giving up of the self. You must throw it away “blindly” so to speak … Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.

("Mere Christianity", pp. 218-227)

+

I found this C.S. Lewis quote on the biologos.org blog, an online presence of theistic evolutionists.

Ephesians 3 (NIV 1984)

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(Read in King James Version)


++
++
++

My Notes:

I think the radical nature of the opening passages of this chapter could be lost to many Christians. 2000 years in, the Jewish foundation and roots of our faith are often easily forgotten.

Long before Jesus came, the Jewish people had something very special. Their relationship with Yahweh was different than the rest of the world. Their books of law, their traditions, their festivals all pointed to their set-apart-ness. And they were. And the laws that governed the social functioning of the community showed that they were set apart in the best way. It was a beautiful community. At its' best, it reflected the character and nature of God.

When Paul, a Jew, says in verse six that Gentiles (non-Jewish pagans) can inherit salvation through Jesus Christ, he's dropped a bomb in the religious world much bigger than Rob Bell (or whoever the controversial Christian du jour may be for you). This likely hit the Jewish people harder than any conversations about Universalism would hit an Evangelical Christian today.

For thousands of years this ancient faith tied to a specific ethnicity has had the doors locked on how to meet with God. Paul is suggesting that those Asherah-pole worshipping, temple-prostitute using, homosexual bathhouse visiting, secular humanist Gentiles of all people could actually be made righteous in the eyes of God through the person of Jesus Christ. Through faith and repentance they could be made righteous, and adopted into the family of God as though they had been Israelites their whole lives. They did not have to take on one iota of Jewish cultural law or ever participate in a single Jewish festival to do so. If you pause and consider, this is actually just as potentially offensive today as it was then. Don't let that slip by.

This is, of course, usually considered to be good news for us Christians, many of us Gentile ourselves. From our perspective here in the twenty-first century, it's usually those secular humanists that we would expect to be offended by the gospel. But let's consider this from a first century perspective. For thousands of years, Jewish faith has stood (mostly) alone as a monotheistic religion. For most other faiths, many of them idol worshipers, there was always room for one more God. People traveled, and got to know other people who lived and believed and worshiped differently from them. As they got to know each other, doing business and sharing life, they'd get to know one another's gods and start participating in their religious practices. The Israelite people were different. It wasn't just rules of worship that set them apart from other cultures and peoples, it was every piece of their life and law. Rules about what they could and couldn't eat, rules of what they could and couldn't wear, laws regarding business and trade, all of these things would serve to set them apart very significantly from the nations around them. While everyone else was having a grand old time learning new recipes, enjoying the latest fashions, and trading idols with each other, the Jewish nation was sitting in the corner with long fuzzy beards and flatbread and parts of their body chopped off and refusing to play nice with others.

These specifics in the laws and culture of the Jewish people were part of what allowed their faith to endure. They loved God with all their hearts. They were created and chosen for a special purpose. They were a holy nation. They were a signpost of the kingdom of God. And every Jewish child grew up knowing that they were different, they were special, they were set apart. It was burned into the fibre of their being every day as they lived life completely counter to the world around them. This was a highly significant part of their cultural identity, and they loved it. They had good reason to love it. They had communion with Yahweh.

So 2000 years later, consider who looks like these set apart people today? From my view, I think that a lot of us North American Evangelical Christians would have been just perfectly comfortable with the deal that the Israelites had. We have a Christian version of everything. If we want to, we can listen to "Christian" music, that we purchase in a "Christian Book and Supply" store (what exactly are Christian "supplies" anyway?), where we can also get "Christian" novels and "Christian" self-help books, and even "Christian" clothing. We can subscribe to Christian magazines, listen to Christian radio, watch Christian sitcoms and television dramas. We can watch Christian movies. We can vote for Christian politicians. We can send our kids to Christian schools. After work, we can relax in a Christian coffee shop. When our toilet breaks, instead of the yellow pages we can grab our copy of the Shepherd's Guide and get ourselves a Christian plumber. We could even look through the guide for a good place to find employment, making sure we have a Christian boss. We make up rules about modesty and alcohol and hanging out in bars or arcades that make it just a tad more difficult for our kids to hang out with anyone but the youth group. For the more edgy among us, we can get our tattoos from a Christian at a Christian tattoo studiio.

Through all of this, we have made it possible to live as Christians in the world without ever having to have contact or connection with anyone outside of our isolated church communities. But was this what God intended?

When Paul says that the great mystery is that even Gentiles (of all people) can be included in the people of God, this changed the whole world for the Jewish people. Completely setting aside the personal offensiveness of the idea, consider the other practical consequences. If uncircumcised, shaven, pork-eating pagans could be part of God's family, how will God's family be visibly set apart from anyone else? And worse, if people of God can now live among and as Gentiles, what will protect the community from being affected or infected by the cultural and religious practices of others?

These are relevant and serious questions. Serious for first century religious Jewish Christians, relevant for twenty-first century religious North American Evangelicals.

It seems to me that in Christ, Paul doesn't seem to be so concerned about these questions anymore. Instead, Paul tells about a circumcision of the heart, a change that happens from within. John tells us in his epistles that children of God are known by their love for one another. This is the mark that sets us apart, so we don't need a mark in our skin anymore. Jesus touched lepers to heal them, and even touched the dead when he raised them to life. He taught his disciples to go and live among and love the poor, lonely, disadvantaged, and imprisoned. The truth is that this would have been very difficult to do while also living under this law that set them so apart from the rest of the world. It's just as difficult for us to do when we wrap ourselves in a protective blanket of Christianized popular culture. In the parable Jesus tells of the Samaritan, he directly challenged his disciples that the blessing God had called his people to be in the world meant that they would have to cross uncomfortably cultural barriers to do so. They would have to practice mercy and justice and faithfulness among those that were not their own.

On the cross, Jesus shouted "It is finished", and with his shout the curtain in the temple was torn. For thousands of years the Spirit of God dwelt among his people behind curtains, in tents and buildings. Jesus is God incarnate. He is Emmanuel. He is God with us. He put skin on and moved into the neighbourhood. With his resurrection, Jesus opened the door for God to dwell among his people within his people. We, the body of Christ, are the temple of God. The Holy Spirit lives inside you. This is what sets you apart. This is what makes you the salt of the earth and the light of the world. This brings the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth, for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. We live now among all nations as a blessing, as a seasoning, as a seed of justice and mercy and faithfulness.

This is the good news Paul is talking about at the beginning of this chapter. These are the consequences of this good news. We should really let this sink in. Paul has blasted the doors of salvation wide open. Followers of Jesus may not look a certain way anymore. There will be many ethnicities. There may not be one single language. There will be different worldviews and levels of education and ways of being human. If we're following a man-made religion, this might be kind of scary, It isn't something we can neatly package and control anymore. But if we believe that God is real, and living among us, and even in us, we have nothing to be afraid of. We can be free. And we can offer that freedom to others. We are free to live among all of the people of the world, to love them, serve them, know them, and be known by them. And we can share Jesus with them, not as a cultural or philosophical lifestyle choice, but as a person who is alive and active in the world. We don't need to try to make the world look like us. They may not. We introduce them to Jesus, and together we all look more like him. We don't need to be afraid of the world. Jesus has overcome the world. He is with us. Let us be agents of his love, even among those we might humanly believe to be the least likely candidates of that love.

+

v14 - For this reason . . .

This last half of the chapter is one of the most beloved passages in the New Testament. As you read it, do not forget to consider everything that has come before it. Paul is kneeling before the Father from whom all of his family derives its' name. He is so overwhelmed by the goodness of God to open his arms of love to the whole world that he erupts in worship to God for it. He is so happy to see the result of the cross being a gift of salvation offered to everyone. This is huge.

He wants us to be as fully blown away by the hugeness of God's love and grace as he has been. He quickly reminds us of why we do not need to worry about our separation from the world, because we have been strengthened in our inner being by the Holy Spirit, and Christ now dwells in our hearts by faith. God's love is so huge. And if we believe and receive the power of the Holy Spirit to comprehend it, he will expand us to truly begin to know the unknowable reaches of the transcendent love of an infinite God.

Finally, Paul challenges us to recognize that the freedom Christ bought for himself and for us by now dwelling in us as a church is the freedom to do through us even more than we could possibly ever hope or imagine. It is through us and in this world that he wants to make his presence known. It is here and now that his Kingdom of Justice and Peace and Love and Grace is being established. Everywhere. Always. And bigger than we could ask for or imagine.

This is an outward focused life. This is a life of power and affect. Let's knock down the walls we've built, cultural, religious, and imagined, between ourselves and the world God loves and wants to love through us. Let's get to know some new people, some naked people, some hungry people, some criminals. Let's remove our expectations from them. Let's remove our expectations from God. Let's do more in love and grace than we ever imagined we could.

And let God be glorified always and everywhere.

Amen.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Ephesians 2 (NIV 1984)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

(Read in King James Version)

++
++
++

My Notes:

It is not the deadness of our transgressions that is the subject, but the great love and riches of mercy of God who makes us alive. This is good news. This is grace.

He seated us with Jesus in the heavenly realms at the resurrection. When Jesus was raised from the dead, we were as well. This is the good news. As dead in transgressions as we were, Christ became. He died. He died a sinner. But he rose again, and all death that was once ours was also shed when we rose with him. This is grace because it was done for us while we were yet sinners. We were loved while in a state of unloveliness.

But he made us lovely.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called children of God.

It is no longer correct to view oneself as depraved or sick or unworthy. You are not perverse. You are exactly as God intends you to be. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He has redeemed you and seated you in the kingdom of Heaven. He has called you his own. He has loved you, and it is the love within his eternal being that makes this sure.

Nothing that you can do, nowhere you can go, nothing you can say will reduce this love. It is not of yourself. It is of God. He loves you.

He loves you.

A being so infinitely powerful and mighty and transcendent as a Creator loves you. No matter how changing or uncertain you may be, he is not. There is no shifting shadow in the Father of lights. He remains the same, and how he remains is in love with you.

It does not matter where you came from. Some come to the cross with a background of near-perfect religious morality. Some come to the cross without any prior knowledge of faith. Both are redeemed.

The previous covenant required obedience and genealogy. Before Christ, the people of God were a specifically chosen nation, set apart by strict laws that identified them as different and holy. All of this has been fulfilled in the perfect Jewish man, Jesus Christ. He lived every piece of the story of God's people, and his resurrected life offered is now offered to all.

In Christ we are grafted into the family of God. Our adoption in Christ nullifies anything that would previously separate us. Anything in our background that we've done or has been done to us is void. Our family and heritage, such as it is, will not make us worthy or unworthy of the love of God. His love consumes it all. His adoption is entirely in himself. We have nothing to bring, and everything to gain.

We are not strangers to anyone in this new body of Christ, this new family of God. Born into resurrection life, we are all made family.

And it is within this family, alive on Earth, that God himself dwells and through it he makes himself known to the world.

Monday, May 16, 2011

..:The Legend of the Outlaw John Bergen:..

He came to my door on a Sunday morning. He was dressed in black. His long sleeved Western collared shirt was sharply embroidered with black across his collarbones.

The wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were set deep. The pain and the joy, the conviction and humility shone from his sharp eyes. His handshake was firm. His voice was gravel.

It was later that I learned it was in a fight that his voicebox was damaged. He'd prayed for healing, but it hadn't yet come.

Seventy-three years old he was, but something supernatural or unnatural must have been sustaining this man. He didn't look a day over sixty.

Over coffee he told his stories.

He grew up in the prairies of Western Canada.

He started running from the law when he was just a boy. The RCMP came to his town, looking for the one who'd been causing vandalism and property damage. They never found him.

Years later he'd approach the redcoats.

"They say the Mountie always gets his man. Well. You never got me."

He was to much for his mother. When the neighbour asked for him to be their farm help, she willingly let him go.

A son on the run.

The farmers were God fearing folk. They were Bible preaching folk.

"On that farm is where my life began."

It was this family that taught him about a God of forgiveness and mercy, of justice, but justice fulfilled.

He'd grow up to be a preacher. For twenty-five years he taught that story of justice fulfilled. Of mercy and forgiveness.

It takes a man to have a soft heart. It takes a man to give it to God. Vengeance is only his to repay.

He preaches his message to hippies and radicals in the states. He was a man who used his hands and got himself dirty when it needed to be done. He was fixing his roof when one of those hippies stood at the bottom of the ladder and asked him,

"Preacher, would you marry my girlfriend and me?"

"Now, why would you ask me to do that?"

"Well, because you're the only preacher that I know...that I know."

He said it just like that.

"After that, those hippies just kept on gettin married. And I kept on marrying them. They kept on coming to me, and i kept on being their preacher. Didn't matter to me that they were running from the draft. Let 'em run. They ran from the draft and into the arms of God."

"Twenty-five years in church ministry will give a man plenty if opportunities to have to forgive. There's nothing like being a pastor to learn to let people go to the hands of God. People will hurt you. Bad. That's when you get to look like Jesus."

"Man will seek revenge. God's man has a heart of flesh."

He and his wife wanted to adopt a child. They waited six years.

"Six years is a long time to be pregnant."

The child they adopted was their first big test in practicing what he'd been preaching. She was trouble. She broke their hearts. She ended up on the streets of Calgary and then in jail. This is where they learned further what forgiveness means when a heart is broken.

A daughter on the run.

Their daughter is serving God now.

He was nearing the end of his life, thinking about his Autumn years, but he knew his job was far from done. He was at the age of retirement, but he had too much left to do.

He made a deal with God. Twenty years he asked for.

"Keep me alive for twenty more years, and I'll give them to change the world."

With twenty years promised and nothing to lose, he knew he could go to the darkest and most dangerous places to tell his tale of justice fulfilled, of mercy and forgiveness and power.

Kenya.

He went to the mountains. He went to the forest. He stood before people who'd run in terror at the attacks of madmen. He told them to forgive.

They'd seen family members tortured, and children kidnapped by their enemies. He told them to forgive.

He'd made a promise to God. Twenty years he'd tell the message. It wasn't up to him to prove it was true.

"I figured that they must have thought I was crazy. I'm some crazy white old man telling them about forgiveness in a tribal society of war and rape. But I knew who I was. I knew who God was. I wasn't here to look good or make friends. I was here to tell the truth. I had twenty years."

The day after he preached forgiveness to the forest tribe, the mountain tribe came down and surrendered themselves willingly.

"Our forgiveness released them to the hand of God. He set their hearts on fire. They're all in jail now. Or dead."

He figured that he and his wife would live there for the rest of their days. His promised twenty years would be spent preaching a hard truth in a hard land.

He didn't know that he'd get an opportunity to practice what he preached.

The Summer day was the same as any other. It ended the same as any other. He drew his wife's bath. He went outside to check the property.

He was white and old and owned his own home. This alone was enough reason to kill him. Five gang members surprised him in the dark. They had clubs and machetes and hearts of hatred and demonized minds.

It takes one swing of a machete to take a limb if a man. He was chopped fifteen times that night on his legs alone. He was sure he would die unless there was supernatural intervention. He cried "Jesus, help me", before he became unconscious.

This was when his voice box was damaged.

"They actually got one of their blades right through my skull. It's pretty gross when you think about it. No brain damage though. You can disagree with that if you want. I don't care."

His jaw was broken in several places. Both arms were broken below the wrists.

They left him for dead.

They beat and raped his wife who they found in the bathtub.

They took what they could and left in his car. But they drove it into a tree, so they left on foot.

They were arrested in a bar not to far away. They had gotten themselves blackout drunk on the money they'd stolen, and were bragging about how they'd killed a white man. The off duty police in the bar arrested them and took them in right there.

Meanwhile, his wife came outside in a sheet, and found him, sure he was dead. When she discovered he wasn't, she tried to lift him to the car that lay under the tree. A woman her age and size couldn't lift him in her state. He regained consciousness long enough to feel the angels carry him to the car.

She drove through the city in the dark, never missing a turn. In the passenger seat, he drifted between conscious and unconscious, alive and dead. He lifted his broken arms and begged to die.

"Take me home. Take me home. Don't close the gates. I can't take the pain anymore."

"Imagine the confusion in heaven. I'd just asked for twenty more years less than a year before."

"He wouldn't let me die. I should have died. But we had a deal. Twenty years, he said. I had more to do."

He began quoting scripture. Matthew 5 he said out loud like a command. Jesus' words told him he must forgive. He must bless his enemies.

Ephesians 3:21-22
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

He preached to himself. His wife preached it with him as she drove.

At the hospital, the staff kept saying they were shocked that they were both alive. The doctor lost count of the stitches. He said later that he just kept going until he was done, stitching longer than a living person should ever need and survive.

Not a single tendon in his legs was severed. He would still walk.

He said that it was later after the bandages came off that he decided to count his scars.

"I figured one day as I was getting dressed that it was time to see just how much damage they'd done to me. Well, they tried to damage me. And they failed. Because the devil is a loser."

"I counted nine scars on just my one leg. Six on my other. And that's just my legs."

It was in the hospital that he and his wife first talked about forgiveness. They prayed they'd be given the opportunity.

They were given the opportunity to practice what they preached. They were given the opportunity to preach justice fulfilled to these men.

During the trial, one of the men broke out of his bounds and threw a chair at John's wife while she gave her testimony. He was the worst of them, she said.

But years later, when the trial was over, John had his opportunity. He phoned his wife from the jail before going in to see five of the men. She told him that she was so happy he was there. She prayed for him.

He entered the cell and five men in chains sat on the floor before him. They were even more helpless and vulnerable than he had been that Summer night.

In that cell, he preached his most important sermon. He told the men of a God of mercy. A God of forgiveness. A God of justice fulfilled. He told them of how he'd run from the law. He told them of adoption and grace.

He told them of his promise. Twenty years alive meant he could go to the darkest and most dangerous places. He was God's man. He wasn't there to look good or make friends. He was there to tell the truth. He looked them square in the eye, and he told them he forgave them.

Five men in chains gave their lives to Jesus that day on that concrete floor.

"I didn't know what I was going to experience when I went in there, into that cell. I didn't know until after that one of the men had talked to the guard about me before I arrived. He told him they'd been praying. They'd been praying to my God for forgiveness. He told the guard that when he heard that I was coming to see them, he knew my God was real and had answered their prayers."

He was promised twenty more years, and five impossible lives were saved in the first five. He's got fifteen left. He's going back to the darkest places. He wants to help the children orphaned by war and disease.

He's going to keep preaching mercy and forgiveness. And justice fulfilled. Because it's up to God to take vengeance. God's man has a soft heart, and he leaves vengeance to his maker.