On the Eve of History

This 19th of January we sit on the eve of a tumultuous time in our nation's history. Whether you voted for Barack Obama or not, are there really that many people out there who want to see him fail? With our nation's economy teetering on the brink and with the world responding in extraordinary ways (like China passing a several hundred billion dollar stimulus package) are there really all that many people who wish for Obama to fail?

Of course, for success to happen we all have a lot to consider, don't we? It's kind of like a question I heard posed on one of the New Programs, that is: "To what are we going to recover to?" It is a deceptively simple question, but at it's heart is something really important. That is, do we recover to the conspicuous consumption of the last decade or do we recover to something more proportional? Do we recover to a world where, like Warren Buffet, the wealthy live in homes like the rest of us or do we recover to a world where the wealthy flaunt their circumstances and decisions in a way that make the rest of us feel lusy?

I don't know where this will all end, but I do know that we all have a lot of soul searching to do. We all have to ask ourselves; on the eve of history, as our nation once again passes the torch of leadership peacefully--who is it that we are becoming; who is it that we want to be? Who are we and where are we headed as a people and as a nation?

The Beginning

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. -Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning, God. It doesn't get much simpler than that, and not much more profound. While we can debate the "Origin of Species" (Darwin) or the "Intelligent Design" (contemporary Christian fundamentalism) what really at stake in these first lines of the Bible is whether or not we acknowledge God as the primary actor in all creation.

It really is, or should be a humbling thought that despite our advances in technology and rhetoric that God still stands as Creator-Father-Gracious Parent over all matter and all beings. The details, which we so enjoy poking eyes out over may matter, but what stands at the beginning and runs throughout the witness of Scripture and Time is God and God's desires for God's creation and creatures. Maybe if we began with that thought at the beginning of our discussions, conversations and debates over the Beginning then we would have a different outcome; would we not?

And maybe if we began our day or our daily tasks or our first listening opportunities with those whom we love and those with whom we come in contact throughout the day with the words "In the beginning, God" stuck somewhere deep and ever-present in our mind and heart; maybe then all the interactions we have throughout the day would be full of more of the Shalom of God instead of all the rest. What do you think?

Happy Epiphany!

What, you don't know what Epiphany is? Well, in a nutshell, it is the holiday where we celebrate Jesus as King and God and Sacrifice, to quote the words to "We Three Kings" often misidentified as a Christmas Carol.

This day, always January 6th, is the day we commemorate the arrival of the "Wise Men from the East" who visit Jesus, the first gentiles in the Bible to "pay homage" to Jesus. They do so by bringing gifts of gold (to signify Jesus' royalty), frankincense (signifying his divine nature) and myrrh (foreshadowing Good Friday). And so when we sing of Jesus as King and God and Sacrifice we are really singing as well about the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

So how will you honor Jesus as King, today? How will you follow our Servant-King this day?

And how will you carve out time from your busy schedule of tasks and expectations and procrastinations to bend the knee (literally or figuratively) and worship to Jesus as God?

And how will you follow the example of Jesus as Sacrifice; who so willingly gave of himself for others? Whom do you need to sacrifice for, today?

Happy Epiphany one and all!

John 15:12-14 "Love"

12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:12-14

This is my commandment.... To Love One Another! What does that mean in the world in which we find ourselves? How is it that we, who follow Christ, are to respond to these words of our Savior in the midst of the geopolitical world in which we find ourselves?

Are Israel and Hamas bound to these words? Are Governor Blagoiavich and his appointee Mr. Burris bound to these words? Are President-Elect Obama and the financial wherewithal of this nation bound to these words? Are those of us who have wronged our spouses or children or family bound to these words? Are we who do not love as God has loved us bound to these words?

Is this not one of those New Testament passages that make us squirm as much as anything that we find in the Old Testament? I mean, at least for those who are uncomfortable with the Old Testament can claim that the blood and gore of the OT is much more "black and white" as the high standards to which God calls us in the New Testament, especially when we are commanded to LOVE others?!? Isn't that just Jesus' job?

Of course, we are asked to think about who it is that we are to love; especially when we remember that Jesus died for all of us, despite and in spite of who we are. So maybe, just maybe this passage is one of those that, when we follow it, will make us into the people whom God has created and called us to be. Just think on that a little while as you reread this daily-lectionary passage.

Dances with Wolves

I was pleased to see, as I made my way through the on-screen TV guide that the 1990 classic "Dances with Wolves" was on the Country Music Channel. I was relived because, as a pastor I don't get to spend a lot of time with family during the Christmas, New Years, Epiphany Holidays and when I saw that Kevin Costner's masterpiece was on TV it was like, Wow, I can watch a piece of this movie with MY SON.

I say that because, in 1990 when "Dances with Wolves" came to the big screen I wen to see it with my dad and here I am, sitting in my living room and my son can't wait to see what happens when Kevin Costner first meets the "Indians" on the plains and here I am choking up with the memory of seeing it with my dad.

I don't know what the overall critical response is to "Dances with Wolves" but it is a movie that I love, if for nothing else than the memory of going to see it when it first came out on the big-screen with my father and now I am able to share some of that fatherly memory with my son, Eric.

Praying for Peace

God of the ages,
we watch the images,
we hear the words,
we see the articles,
and our hearts break,
our souls ache,
our words falter.
We yearn to respond,
to reach out to Israelis and Palestinians,
all our sisters and brothers.
Show us ways to show our care.
Guide leaders of nations and people
to break the cycles of violence;
to seek the ways of peace;
to do justice; and
to walk humbly with you.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

This prayer is offered by the Presbyterian Church in response to the violence coming our of Israel/Gaza. I pray that all of you fervently offer this prayer on behalf of the soldiers of the I.D.F. (Israeli Defense Forces) and those whom they are engaging in battle. May all whom are touched by the violence facing Gaza/Israel be granted the "Peace of Christ" as we move into this New Year.

Conflict in the Land of the Prince of Peace

What are we to say, as people of faith, about the ongoing violence in Gaza? Are we to say that any democracy is right? Are we to say that Israel is always in the right? Are we to say that Arabs are always wrong? How are we to respond to the news coming our of the land where Jesus was born?

This is the perfect storm for America's media outlets, isn't it? After all, aren't the Israelites always in the right and the Arabs/Palestinians always in the wrong? But when you think about it, even if the terrorists (read Hamas/Hezbollah) have perpetrated wrongs, how is it that Israel, through their vastly superior military are responding in a proportional way? I mean, how many rockets fired into Israel would it take to equal the FORCE shown by the Israeli "Defense" Forces when they drop so many tonnage on Gaza?

When will the rest of the world ask both sides to withdraw? When will we all not wonder aloud about the disproportionate response to rockets fired with fighter jets and satellite guided bombs? Are not both sides responsible for unjustified deaths? Are not both sides guilty of over-reacting? When will we say "Enough is Enough" to both Israel and their enemies?