David, since you asked, here are a few of the notorious quotes from our beloved professor. There are many more, but here are a few.
Nothing is as new as what is old
To gather as a community we commit theology
Never neglect the use of strange funny words
There is much to recommend evangelical poverty and the best way to achieve it is the buy books.
I'll have to post some periodically.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Saved from SIlence
This is the title of a book I have been reading for Women, Voice, and Preaching this semester. It is about women finding their voice in preaching, but it speaks on other levels as well. The last chapter (if you can call it that) is called Coda and I think I have more written in the margins and underlined in the last few pages that in several parts of the book.
It starts off talking about the need for power and that in the technological age we have lost our voice. This makes me wonder how we go about maintaining power, gaining power, etc. Basically we do it by not allowing other voices to be heard. We have become a sound byte community and we talk in movie and TV clips rather than saying things for ourselves. The book contends that the church itself has lost it's voice.
Is the church about helping people find their authentic voice? HMMMMM would that be like, oh, I don't know, equipping the saints? I think the church has not only lost its voice, but has lost its very identity and its story. We ahve allowed ourselves to forget our story as it existed throughout the centuries and as it exists today.
Is the Christian story and more specifically the Presbyterian story about following Christ and living into the good news that is the saving power of Christ or is it about being the morality police? Is our story about a quest for earthly power or to live into the counter-cultural kingdom of God? Is it about looking at people and who God has made them to be, or is it about putting our own standards up first? God judges the heart, while we judge the outside of a person.
This book has raised questions within me and has helped me look at the importance of voice. How do we make sure we are not among those who oppress other voices? How do we become the voice, maybe the lone voice, speaking for those who cannot? How do we help raise their voice to get over the din of the world?
Wish I knew the answers, but then the questions would change.
Peace
It starts off talking about the need for power and that in the technological age we have lost our voice. This makes me wonder how we go about maintaining power, gaining power, etc. Basically we do it by not allowing other voices to be heard. We have become a sound byte community and we talk in movie and TV clips rather than saying things for ourselves. The book contends that the church itself has lost it's voice.
Is the church about helping people find their authentic voice? HMMMMM would that be like, oh, I don't know, equipping the saints? I think the church has not only lost its voice, but has lost its very identity and its story. We ahve allowed ourselves to forget our story as it existed throughout the centuries and as it exists today.
Is the Christian story and more specifically the Presbyterian story about following Christ and living into the good news that is the saving power of Christ or is it about being the morality police? Is our story about a quest for earthly power or to live into the counter-cultural kingdom of God? Is it about looking at people and who God has made them to be, or is it about putting our own standards up first? God judges the heart, while we judge the outside of a person.
This book has raised questions within me and has helped me look at the importance of voice. How do we make sure we are not among those who oppress other voices? How do we become the voice, maybe the lone voice, speaking for those who cannot? How do we help raise their voice to get over the din of the world?
Wish I knew the answers, but then the questions would change.
Peace
Thursday, September 21, 2006
I Love Reverend Fun Pictures
Is this picture reminiscent of our churches in general? Have we forgotten to "preach to the choir" and let things get out of control?
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Which Theologian are you?
Thanks to Ryan and David for taking this test. Well, I am a Calvinist, although not sure I am actually as strong a one as this indicates.
Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Letter or Spirit?
Ted Wardlaw preached for the opening worship service of the school year last night. He quoted Barbara Brown Taylor who speaks of turning ink into blood. This is a phrase I have come across while reading Jana Childers book "Performing the Word." Taylor makes the point that we get so caught up in the ink that we forget the blood that was shed on its behalf. We would rather sit and read the ink than get out and interact with those around us. Turning ink into blood is about putting into practice what is written in ink, giving the words life.
On that note it makes me wonder, are we, Presbyterians (or whoever actually), people of the letter of the law or the spirit of the law? Do we worry more about what is in writing or what is behind the writing? It makes me wonder if we need to spend less time worrying about the printed page and more time trying to live out what is written.
Taylor spoke to the fact that Christians behave the worst when they are defending God. It is as if in our finiteness that we could defend the infinite. How is it that we have decided that we are so righteous that we can defend God?
All this goes back to what I thought earlier in the summer that the PC(USA) particularly has become very pharisaical. We are the keepers of the holy traditions and the holy words. We are adamant about being clean on the outside, but not so much when it comes from the inside. Jesus called the Pharisees on that one. It is not what goes in that defiles us, it is what comes out of us that does.
Okay enough random thoughts for now....Peace.
On that note it makes me wonder, are we, Presbyterians (or whoever actually), people of the letter of the law or the spirit of the law? Do we worry more about what is in writing or what is behind the writing? It makes me wonder if we need to spend less time worrying about the printed page and more time trying to live out what is written.
Taylor spoke to the fact that Christians behave the worst when they are defending God. It is as if in our finiteness that we could defend the infinite. How is it that we have decided that we are so righteous that we can defend God?
All this goes back to what I thought earlier in the summer that the PC(USA) particularly has become very pharisaical. We are the keepers of the holy traditions and the holy words. We are adamant about being clean on the outside, but not so much when it comes from the inside. Jesus called the Pharisees on that one. It is not what goes in that defiles us, it is what comes out of us that does.
Okay enough random thoughts for now....Peace.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
A question of passion
Listening to the sermon this morning, and thinking about several worship services I have attended in the last several months what I have discovered is that I feel like most if not all lack passion. It is like we are going through the motions decently and in order as good Presbyterians should. We have become a denomination of pacifists that would rather not do anything.
This is actually evidenced by the zillions of letters to the editor of the Layman about the dozen or so conservative splinter groups, who have yet to do anything. I actually applaud Kird of the Hills in Tulsa for up and leaving. They have a conviction about what they are about and did something.
I don't think apostacy is going to kill the Presbyterian church, I think it is apathy. Very rarely have I sensed fire from those leading worship and even less from the congregation. How can we be on fire for God if we don't even have any fire within us. What good does it do to pass on an unlit torch?
As I have been reading preaching books this summer I have discovered more questions than I have answers for and I plan to pursue those questions with professors. In reflecting on GA and Montreat I have discovered that there is more arguement over politics than theology. When did the church let go of theology in favor of political power plays? Why have we let ourselves be more about worldly things than God's plan?
It is time for a new era of reformation. To be the church reformed and always being reformed. This reformation needs to take place in the hearts of the believers. Preachers need to preach with passion and conviction as well as sound theology and biblical study. Preachers need to connect with their congregations and be open and vulnerable with them. What is the passion of the preacher, how does that ignite the believer in the pew.
There is an old camp song...It only takes a spark to get a fire glowing, and soon all those around can warm around its glowing. That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it. You want to sing, its fresh like spring, you want to pass it on. May we all have the divine spark within us ignited that we may be on fire for God.
Peace
This is actually evidenced by the zillions of letters to the editor of the Layman about the dozen or so conservative splinter groups, who have yet to do anything. I actually applaud Kird of the Hills in Tulsa for up and leaving. They have a conviction about what they are about and did something.
I don't think apostacy is going to kill the Presbyterian church, I think it is apathy. Very rarely have I sensed fire from those leading worship and even less from the congregation. How can we be on fire for God if we don't even have any fire within us. What good does it do to pass on an unlit torch?
As I have been reading preaching books this summer I have discovered more questions than I have answers for and I plan to pursue those questions with professors. In reflecting on GA and Montreat I have discovered that there is more arguement over politics than theology. When did the church let go of theology in favor of political power plays? Why have we let ourselves be more about worldly things than God's plan?
It is time for a new era of reformation. To be the church reformed and always being reformed. This reformation needs to take place in the hearts of the believers. Preachers need to preach with passion and conviction as well as sound theology and biblical study. Preachers need to connect with their congregations and be open and vulnerable with them. What is the passion of the preacher, how does that ignite the believer in the pew.
There is an old camp song...It only takes a spark to get a fire glowing, and soon all those around can warm around its glowing. That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it. You want to sing, its fresh like spring, you want to pass it on. May we all have the divine spark within us ignited that we may be on fire for God.
Peace
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