Spiritual Language Games … Consequences and Sovereignty

Growing up the son of an electrical engineer meant an early introduction to circuit breakers. Most of my relatives would call my father for help with an electrical issue. He could determine a short in a circuit, install a new plug or switch and tackle even more demanding electrical tasks. Recently he was telling us how my grandfather would check a fuse. He would take out the fuse, lick his finger and place it where the fuse should go. Everything about that description frightened me. My grandfather did not die from electric shock.

Sitting with our students at camp recently brought these experiences rushing back. The band set the tone. Not long after the first song the lead singer’s guitar went silent as did his mic. Immediately I suspected a circuit breaker had been tripped - too many amps being drawn on a given circuit. After a few moments this was confirmed when the house lights were turned off and sound was restored. These things happen. How many times have you overloaded a circuit breaker?

The confusing thing to me came in the explanation of the events. Quickly the lead singer, and the speaker who followed, noted Satan was working to create a distraction. Now I am willing to acknowledge the tripped breaker may be used by Satan to distract others but to suggest Satan caused the incident forces interesting propositions.

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Finding Normal Against the Backdrop of Incidentalomas

Watchman Nee wrote only one person on earth lived the “normal Christian life.” Many would not quibble with Nee except to note Jesus’ divinity and unique relationship with God certainly “bound” him to the very life lived. Nee as much as affirms the same when he wrote,

What is the normal Christian life? We do well at the outset to ponder this question. The object of these studies is to show that it is something very different from the life of the average Christian. Indeed a consideration of the written Word of God—of the Sermon on the Mount for example—should lead us to ask whether such a life has ever in act been lived upon the earth, save only by the Son of God Himself. But in that last saving clause lies immediately the answer to our question.

Dallas Willard suggests the way to follow Jesus is to live life as Jesus would were he us. More compelling than WWJD. Jack Caputo explored the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” as a deconstructive hermeneutic of the Kingdom of God turning on “would” in the question generated from Sheldon’s In His Steps. Recently, Pete Rollins’ new book looks to pose the question “What would Judas do?” as a means of faithfulness to God.

Thomas Goetz, Deputy editor for Wired Magzine, wrote a piece titled, “Finding Normal” for the May 2008 issue. In this fascinating piece Goetz suggests the shift to predictive medicine results in some to undergo unnecessary treatment with damaging side effects. Read the story »

Beautiful Idols

A friend and I were strolling the streets of Barcelona back in February. Our conversation turned to just how we may identify people. I will tip my hand quickly to say I fear the practice of categorization simplifies our lives. We really have no need to get to know someone. Once we can, by our ruler, measure someone we may then determine their worth to us. We either choose to engage them on deeper levels or we dismiss them. And, everyone knows our goal is simpler lives. Let’s not take the time with people - takes to much out of us.

Slowly I am making my way through Pete Gall’s My Beautiful Idol. It is not a difficult read. Rather, about the time I think I have time to make great strides through the book I encounter people. My vocation will not allow a quick dismissal. I cannot categorize those who come by as having value or merit based on some hidden ruler. Imagine the mental conversation. “Now Joe sure is getting on my nerves. I have spent hours with him and he just does not seem t listen. I am going to have to turn this one off. What a waste of time.” (Yes, fictional character.) Life would be simpler if we could dismiss those who did not benefit us in some way. Read the story »

Glimpse of the Relief for the World

Early this morning I boarded the treadmill. The on board computer offers a variety of ways to measure progress. One readout I watch is “distance.” My goal is at least 2 miles of cardio. The other display I watch is “time.” I like to get my two miles, walking and jogging, in about 30 minutes. Since my workouts have been irregular Monday mornings present something of a “shock.” My body pays careful attention to the time knowing relief is in sight.

The promise of Messiah offered hopeful encouragement for people given to watch for his coming. Relief would soon come. Jesus’ sojourn brought relief to a variety of human suffering. Some found release from the pain of illness, disease and broken bodies. Others were set free from oppression be it demonic or cultural. People came from all around to find relief. The King had come and gave a sign and foretaste of life in the Kingdom of God.

Sin is insidious. Its effects are felt, as Scot McKnight notes, in all of our relationships - self, others, God, and the world. Sins personal and systemic keep us all in need of relief from the its presence.

Kester Brewin offered a poem to signal indicators of the kind of relief brought in the Resurrection of Jesus. The reference may be to the giving up of Jesus by the earth which could not hold him, but the implications reach far and wide. Thanks Kester for the thoughts.

It wasn’t so much that
the stones couldn’t hold him.
More that they refused to.

All had been silent, struck dumb by deathly silence, but
“All down here is petrified but him” they cried out,
as he said they would.
“He could no more be made fossil relic by us than
the sun that melts and sublimates”

Don’t think it was some angel.
That morning,
the earth opened itself,
and gave him back.

Happy Easter.

Reading with Fitch and Holsclaw

Recently I committed to review several books for TheOoze.com. I intended to get about four books over the course of a year. I received Pete Gall’s My Beautiful Idol and wrote a couple of posts. Not long after I received about five books. I will get to them slowly. Not only do I have my usual reading for sermon preparation and study - not to mention those the new reads from the always recommending David Phillips. I am reading a friend’s DMin project as his “reader.” I will be reading quite a bit over the next few months helping him get to the end of that journey. As if that was not enough …

Today begins an online adventure, could be construed by some as a nightmare. I became familiar with David Fitch on the recommendation of his book The Great Giveaway. My brother Paul wrote a series of posts reviewing Fitch’s book. (You will need to scroll through these posts as they are not linked in one post - shame on Paul.) And, since some think Paul and I are joined at the hip, if not the brain, you would find much of my own response to the book there as we talked a great deal about the book during his read. (Email him about the “wonder twins” association from some years ago.) One of the many blog feeds in my Bloglines account noted an online course David would run this summer with Geoff Holsclaw titled, “Readings In Postmodern Theology.”

I queried David about the course as we had exchanged emails over ETREK and possibilities at Northern Seminary. He sent along the early version of the syllabus and I was hooked. I ordered the books and began reading. When Paul, a philosophy minor in college, referred to the reading as dense, I knew I had bit off a bit.

The reading will be challenging but lines up with my reading of a few authors who attempt to appropriate some of the benefits of postmodern philosophy for theology like James K.A. Smith, Pete Rollins andJack Caputo.

As I have time, I will try to post some of my reflections on the reading. What have you read that might be helpful? What are your thoughts on the idea of reading postmodern theology?

Over the top …

As far back as I can remember our family took a vacation just outside Branson, MO. Those were the days when you could drive through town in a few minutes. The Baldknobbers and maybe the Presley’s served as the only shows in town. That was the early 1960’s.

My “Big Pa” was the fisherman. Up and out early, quiet on the boat, and the patience to make any fish shout uncle and bite the hook. We fished and fished and fished some more. The object of our outings - Rainbow Trout. No swimming in Lake Taneycomo - at least not for the faint of heart.

Our family made this trip until I went to college. Busy schedules and tuition took charge. Then, in about 1990 my parents thought it a good idea to re-institute the “Family Vacation.” No, this was and is no National Lampoon. The girls were young and Mom thought it would be fun to take the kids. For nearly ten years we made this annual trek. On one trip I was dubbed “speed fillet” by Scott who looked on as we cleaned countless fish.

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