Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Look what came in the mailbox II
Normally, I don't like proof texting (using scripture out of context to make a point), however this was cute and thought provoking.Interview of Jesus about the Church
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Grace is it Cheap or Costly
Right now, I'm working through 40 Days with Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It's taking more than 40 days, because I haven't been able to do the devotion ever day, and that's okay. His comments are deep and thought provoking. Taking my time means I don't pull a brain muscle.
For the last two days, the topic has been cheap grace. I'm wondering if the church in the days since the Reformation has made grace so cheap and easy, that it is no longer a treasure? When the pastor announces the forgiveness of sins during worship, do you feel something? Or is it a "yeah, whatever, I can get this at anytime." feeling?
Grace has a cost. The Grace we receive cost Jesus his very life. The Grace we receive expects something of us. Cheap grace doesn't expect a transformation, doesn't expect repentance, doesn't expect anything of you. God's Grace not only expects repentance and transformation, it gives you the ability to make the change.
I forgot whether it was during training for prison chaplaincy or for a seminary class, but on a video a man convicted of sexual abuse said, "Don't be too quick to forgive me." I recall thinking, he seemed to ask for a chance to live with his guilt, to truly feel the pain and understand what he had done.
During my ministry, I've met with many people in county jails and state prisons. One individual stole money and forged checks from his parents and friends. When I met with him behind bars, we got to talking about the 7th commandment: You shall not steal. For the next several months, we talked about his crime, what "made him do it", and the like. After a while, he was hungry to hear God's word of forgiveness. He realized the pain inflicted on others because he was feeling the pinch. He took the courageous step of writing a letter to his mom, friends, and others. He apologized without asking for their forgiveness. He knew he could never do enough to balance the wrong he committed. Now, by living with his sin and feeling racked with guilt was he able to really hear God's good news of grace and be transformed. No longer cocky, a humility came upon him that has not left. He found his higher power in Christ Jesus.
Ponder the cost of Grace. Ponder what Jesus paid and how much God loves you. This is what makes grace so grand. God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved. You have been saved for a reason; please don't cheapen God's grace.
For the last two days, the topic has been cheap grace. I'm wondering if the church in the days since the Reformation has made grace so cheap and easy, that it is no longer a treasure? When the pastor announces the forgiveness of sins during worship, do you feel something? Or is it a "yeah, whatever, I can get this at anytime." feeling?
Grace has a cost. The Grace we receive cost Jesus his very life. The Grace we receive expects something of us. Cheap grace doesn't expect a transformation, doesn't expect repentance, doesn't expect anything of you. God's Grace not only expects repentance and transformation, it gives you the ability to make the change.
I forgot whether it was during training for prison chaplaincy or for a seminary class, but on a video a man convicted of sexual abuse said, "Don't be too quick to forgive me." I recall thinking, he seemed to ask for a chance to live with his guilt, to truly feel the pain and understand what he had done.
During my ministry, I've met with many people in county jails and state prisons. One individual stole money and forged checks from his parents and friends. When I met with him behind bars, we got to talking about the 7th commandment: You shall not steal. For the next several months, we talked about his crime, what "made him do it", and the like. After a while, he was hungry to hear God's word of forgiveness. He realized the pain inflicted on others because he was feeling the pinch. He took the courageous step of writing a letter to his mom, friends, and others. He apologized without asking for their forgiveness. He knew he could never do enough to balance the wrong he committed. Now, by living with his sin and feeling racked with guilt was he able to really hear God's good news of grace and be transformed. No longer cocky, a humility came upon him that has not left. He found his higher power in Christ Jesus.
Ponder the cost of Grace. Ponder what Jesus paid and how much God loves you. This is what makes grace so grand. God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved. You have been saved for a reason; please don't cheapen God's grace.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
What's in a title?
For a few years, I've been interested in the differences between titles of clergy mostly pastor vs minister. For some the titles are interchangeable for protestant clergy. I've always chaffed from one title more than the other and lately I've pondered if what people call me is a "tell" of what they expect of me in my role.
So I went to Merriam-Websters online dictionary to learn the origins of the words. Here's what I learned:
Pastor: Etymology Middle English pastour, from Anglo-French, from Latin pastor herdsman,
Minister: Etymology: Middle English ministre, from Anglo-French, from Latin minister servant
The job description for clergy in the parish requires both leading and serving. With all the issues before the church, does it matter if the ordained leader is seen primarily as the shepherd rather than servant or vice versa?
Personally, I prefer the title pastor. The herdsman had goals and visions for the flock. We need to go here for water, graze here for food. The goals and visions ensured the needs of the flock were met.
Minister is a servant who tends to the wants and the needs of others. A minister might speak and make a request, but the master could always say, Your request is noted, and ignored.
I am called to do both duties, I think seeing myself primarily as Pastor frees me to take the long view of events, encourage others to share in the ministry of meeting needs, and be an advocate for justice.
So I went to Merriam-Websters online dictionary to learn the origins of the words. Here's what I learned:
Pastor: Etymology Middle English pastour, from Anglo-French, from Latin pastor herdsman,
Minister: Etymology: Middle English ministre, from Anglo-French, from Latin minister servant
The job description for clergy in the parish requires both leading and serving. With all the issues before the church, does it matter if the ordained leader is seen primarily as the shepherd rather than servant or vice versa?
Personally, I prefer the title pastor. The herdsman had goals and visions for the flock. We need to go here for water, graze here for food. The goals and visions ensured the needs of the flock were met.
Minister is a servant who tends to the wants and the needs of others. A minister might speak and make a request, but the master could always say, Your request is noted, and ignored.
I am called to do both duties, I think seeing myself primarily as Pastor frees me to take the long view of events, encourage others to share in the ministry of meeting needs, and be an advocate for justice.
Friday, November 13, 2009
A story that just came to me
Literally, this appeared in my "in box" on my eMail account. During a time, when the news is telling us doom and gloom, we can remember God provided for his people in the past and will do so today.
August Francke was born in 1663 in Leipzig, Germany. He attended Leipzig University and began a college Bible study. In 1687, while preparing for a study on John 20:31, he experienced the "new birth." In 1692, he took a position at the University of Halle and became a minister at a local church. In 1695, he opened up an orphanage and school in Halle.
Soon after, money for the orphanage had been used up and the home's manager brought Francke a collection of bills. Francke had to confess that he had no money to pay for them. He was about to fall on his knees for the purpose of asking God to remember the cause of these needy orphans, when he remembered that he had to write an important message. Returning to pray for funds, a knock came at the door and an amount of $1000 was delivered, more than enough to pay the bills.
Francke was then reminded of the promise in Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call I will answer." Grateful to the Lord, he went to his bedroom to praise and thank the Lord for His overflowing provision.
Be bold in asking for God to provide daily bread for those in need.
August Francke was born in 1663 in Leipzig, Germany. He attended Leipzig University and began a college Bible study. In 1687, while preparing for a study on John 20:31, he experienced the "new birth." In 1692, he took a position at the University of Halle and became a minister at a local church. In 1695, he opened up an orphanage and school in Halle.
Soon after, money for the orphanage had been used up and the home's manager brought Francke a collection of bills. Francke had to confess that he had no money to pay for them. He was about to fall on his knees for the purpose of asking God to remember the cause of these needy orphans, when he remembered that he had to write an important message. Returning to pray for funds, a knock came at the door and an amount of $1000 was delivered, more than enough to pay the bills.
Francke was then reminded of the promise in Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call I will answer." Grateful to the Lord, he went to his bedroom to praise and thank the Lord for His overflowing provision.
Be bold in asking for God to provide daily bread for those in need.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thoughts on Prayer
I'm working on reading a bunch of things I didn't get to in seminary, the "eschatological reading list" as one professor called it. Right now, I'm reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
Prayer offered in early morning is decisive for the day. The wasted time we are ashamed of, the temptations we succumb to, the weakness and discouragement in our work, the disorder and lack of discipline in our thinking and in our dealings with other people--all these very frequently have their cause in our neglect of morning prayer. The ordering and scheduling of our time will become more secure when it comes from prayer.
This rich quote invites us to reorder are day. Sure, we could skip morning prayer in favor of some extra time to sleep, surf the web, watch tv, etc. However doing this takes it's toll on our discipline in all areas of life. The invitation is simply, when you desire things to be different, start with prayer. Take time for prayer as you get out of bed in the morning, take time to read some scripture (perhaps a psalm) and hear God speak to you, take time to listen as God pulls us to do the divine will. Perhaps that last one is most important. To be silent, know God's presence and listen to the voice of the Almighty, whether loud and booming, or still and small.
If you aren't sure how do morning prayer, I recommend subscribing to the Moravian Daily Texts (go to www.moravian.org/daily_texts) This is a free service that will send daily scripture readings to your eMail box.
The other recommendation is purchasing a book from the "40-Day Journey with _________" series available at www.augsburgfortress.org/store/itemseries_noimage.jsp?clsid=188809
Schedule an appoint between yourself and God daily, let me know how the journey goes.
Prayer offered in early morning is decisive for the day. The wasted time we are ashamed of, the temptations we succumb to, the weakness and discouragement in our work, the disorder and lack of discipline in our thinking and in our dealings with other people--all these very frequently have their cause in our neglect of morning prayer. The ordering and scheduling of our time will become more secure when it comes from prayer.
This rich quote invites us to reorder are day. Sure, we could skip morning prayer in favor of some extra time to sleep, surf the web, watch tv, etc. However doing this takes it's toll on our discipline in all areas of life. The invitation is simply, when you desire things to be different, start with prayer. Take time for prayer as you get out of bed in the morning, take time to read some scripture (perhaps a psalm) and hear God speak to you, take time to listen as God pulls us to do the divine will. Perhaps that last one is most important. To be silent, know God's presence and listen to the voice of the Almighty, whether loud and booming, or still and small.
If you aren't sure how do morning prayer, I recommend subscribing to the Moravian Daily Texts (go to www.moravian.org/daily_texts) This is a free service that will send daily scripture readings to your eMail box.
The other recommendation is purchasing a book from the "40-Day Journey with _________" series available at www.augsburgfortress.org/store/itemseries_noimage.jsp?clsid=188809
Schedule an appoint between yourself and God daily, let me know how the journey goes.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
More thoughts on Mark 10:35-45
This past Sunday, we heard a familiar gospel in Mark 10:35-45. The quick summary:
On the way to Jerusalem the disciples ask Jesus to grant them seats of honor. Jesus responds by announcing that he and his followers will “rule” through self-giving service.
I still appreciate the way the Oakridge Boys portray this, you can view this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpJoyp6BEYk.
On the way to Jerusalem the disciples ask Jesus to grant them seats of honor. Jesus responds by announcing that he and his followers will “rule” through self-giving service.
I still appreciate the way the Oakridge Boys portray this, you can view this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpJoyp6BEYk.
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