i will try, i will wait.
i will love, rather than bitter-ate.
i will trust, rather than stalemate.
i will hope, in the midst of MUCH uncertainty.
i will listen, in the midst of many voices.
i will try to be more patient, and put aside selfishness.
I will pursue YOU.
will someone pursue me
Friday, March 27, 2009
words
"Wrods used as the Prophet used them are not just words, they are words plus-words that bring into being what they say. They are words in the lineage of Genesis. This is what the Prophet did: he gave voice to the voice that spoke, and it came to be. People who were blind to God looked, people who were deaf to God listened. Through the preaching of the Prophet, people who to all appearances were a no-people again became a people of God. They are still are, we among them, living out this people of God identity, continuously sustained and deepened by preaching that is designated by the Prophet as gospel (good tidings)." Eugene Peterson
I have been spending time reflecting upon the way that Jesus used words in the way he interacted with people. I sometimes wonder how much he thought about he words he said, did he sit back and think, well, these are the words that will bring healing?
I do believe in the magnitude of God that His capability is such to bring healing, restoration and vision to the people that Jesus interacted with, regardless of the exact wording that Jesus used when he spoke to people. Yet, a part of me wonders and thinks that Jesus often times was intentional about what he told people. and that often times it was something that they were eager to hear. what it would be like to be less flippant with my words.
I claim to a be a disciple of Christ, yet sometimes when i think about my vocabulary and the things that I talk about, i have to sit back.
do I mean what I say?
do I live what I say?
Do I believe in what I am saying?
How is what I am saying affect others?
Do I believe that words can alter the reality of how we view reality and the Kingdom of God?
I have been spending time reflecting upon the way that Jesus used words in the way he interacted with people. I sometimes wonder how much he thought about he words he said, did he sit back and think, well, these are the words that will bring healing?
I do believe in the magnitude of God that His capability is such to bring healing, restoration and vision to the people that Jesus interacted with, regardless of the exact wording that Jesus used when he spoke to people. Yet, a part of me wonders and thinks that Jesus often times was intentional about what he told people. and that often times it was something that they were eager to hear. what it would be like to be less flippant with my words.
I claim to a be a disciple of Christ, yet sometimes when i think about my vocabulary and the things that I talk about, i have to sit back.
do I mean what I say?
do I live what I say?
Do I believe in what I am saying?
How is what I am saying affect others?
Do I believe that words can alter the reality of how we view reality and the Kingdom of God?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
attributes of God
in a recent conversation I was struck with thinking about how vast God is. God's being is more infinite than I can comprehend.
although I think that my comprehension is in fact limited, (due to the fact that as a human, my wee little mind can't handle all that i wonder about) these are the attributes which I think are worth pointing out.
God is compassionate, slow to anger, abiding in steadfast love.
These were some qualities which John of Damascus in the 7th century used to describe God.
in relation to Time: without beginning, uncreated, unbegotten…
God's relation to Space: infinite, uncircumscribed, boundless, infinite power
God's relation to Matter: simple, uncompounded, incorporeal, without flux
God's relation to Quality: passionless, unchangeable, unalterable, unseen
one of the qualities which I don't agree with is unchangeable.
I think that God's quality is unchangeable in that in the midst of all that is happening in the world, God's being is capable of holding it all, all the prayers, all the pleadings which come from God's own creatures..... everything. God's being is able to remain constant in midst of all the change which we as humans experience in a lifetime. When this argument is taken too far is when God is described as impassible, meaning that God experiences no pain or sorrow. This stands in opposition to the narratives which are described in the life of Jesus, who serves as the human representation of God. Continously, Jesus requests God's spirit to come upon those who are in need of healing who he meets along his journeys. In all of the stories of healing which occur, God is in fact able to stand in the midst of the suffering, yet God is impacted by it.
something which I have also been thinking about is the difference between referring to God as He or possibly a She.
: I think that I limiting God’s gender to solely male, it is also setting up a patriarchial belief system that is human created. This system which is created also establishes divisions within humanity as well, in forwarding assumptions about God needing to be a male in order to form and serve in a position of leadership.
I think that much of the theology of which I have been exposed to has posited that in fact male leadership is necessary, and I think that males often times do have qualities which are needed in many forms of leadership. Often times their ability to maintain calm and not become as emotionally vested as females is in fact truthful and plays itself out in many forms. I think though that in only calling God male, there is limitations which follow with this, in the sense that in assuming that he rules, all of the characteristics of women are in fact abandoned. And the part of the deal which makes God so unique and majestic is the fact that God is not limited to certain types of qualities, God is all encompassing, God is maternal in nature, loving, compassionate, slow to anger and abiding in love, and also able to conquer all as well. This conquering spirit of God’s nature is in fact the part which allows God to see humanity, and interact with humans in the authority which God displays. Alongside this position of authority comes a balance of other characteristics, including loving compassion which God pours out upon humans as well. This compassionate side is one which does include the characteristics similar to that of loving Father, who is going to demonstrate discipline, yet this discipline is coming from a source and well of deep love.
although I think that my comprehension is in fact limited, (due to the fact that as a human, my wee little mind can't handle all that i wonder about) these are the attributes which I think are worth pointing out.
God is compassionate, slow to anger, abiding in steadfast love.
These were some qualities which John of Damascus in the 7th century used to describe God.
in relation to Time: without beginning, uncreated, unbegotten…
God's relation to Space: infinite, uncircumscribed, boundless, infinite power
God's relation to Matter: simple, uncompounded, incorporeal, without flux
God's relation to Quality: passionless, unchangeable, unalterable, unseen
one of the qualities which I don't agree with is unchangeable.
I think that God's quality is unchangeable in that in the midst of all that is happening in the world, God's being is capable of holding it all, all the prayers, all the pleadings which come from God's own creatures..... everything. God's being is able to remain constant in midst of all the change which we as humans experience in a lifetime. When this argument is taken too far is when God is described as impassible, meaning that God experiences no pain or sorrow. This stands in opposition to the narratives which are described in the life of Jesus, who serves as the human representation of God. Continously, Jesus requests God's spirit to come upon those who are in need of healing who he meets along his journeys. In all of the stories of healing which occur, God is in fact able to stand in the midst of the suffering, yet God is impacted by it.
something which I have also been thinking about is the difference between referring to God as He or possibly a She.
: I think that I limiting God’s gender to solely male, it is also setting up a patriarchial belief system that is human created. This system which is created also establishes divisions within humanity as well, in forwarding assumptions about God needing to be a male in order to form and serve in a position of leadership.
I think that much of the theology of which I have been exposed to has posited that in fact male leadership is necessary, and I think that males often times do have qualities which are needed in many forms of leadership. Often times their ability to maintain calm and not become as emotionally vested as females is in fact truthful and plays itself out in many forms. I think though that in only calling God male, there is limitations which follow with this, in the sense that in assuming that he rules, all of the characteristics of women are in fact abandoned. And the part of the deal which makes God so unique and majestic is the fact that God is not limited to certain types of qualities, God is all encompassing, God is maternal in nature, loving, compassionate, slow to anger and abiding in love, and also able to conquer all as well. This conquering spirit of God’s nature is in fact the part which allows God to see humanity, and interact with humans in the authority which God displays. Alongside this position of authority comes a balance of other characteristics, including loving compassion which God pours out upon humans as well. This compassionate side is one which does include the characteristics similar to that of loving Father, who is going to demonstrate discipline, yet this discipline is coming from a source and well of deep love.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
song of solomon
I found this sermon recently.
seriously, in the midst of a lot of debate about prop 8, and so many conversations about marriage and love, it has been something on my mind and prayers lately. I have to say that Mark Driscoll walking through Song of Solomon is pretty powerful.... and for the most part...i am in agreement with the representation of Christ's love which can be displayed through a relationship as it is presented in Song of Solomon.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/the-peasant-princess/do-not-awaken-love
seriously, in the midst of a lot of debate about prop 8, and so many conversations about marriage and love, it has been something on my mind and prayers lately. I have to say that Mark Driscoll walking through Song of Solomon is pretty powerful.... and for the most part...i am in agreement with the representation of Christ's love which can be displayed through a relationship as it is presented in Song of Solomon.
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/the-peasant-princess/do-not-awaken-love
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
bows of myrtle which are growing in me through God
these verses have been redemptive for me these last weeks: as I am reminded of the source of the water that gives true life.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. AS the heavens are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will NOT return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine trees, and instead of the briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.
Isaiah 55: 8-13
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. AS the heavens are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will NOT return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine trees, and instead of the briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.
Isaiah 55: 8-13
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
striving
young hopes... dreams instilled
your voice is heard... your dream is real
your light is seen.... your joy is sensed
the day is young.... there is so much to learn
when will it cease... the journey is just begun
humanity sees the negative... YOU see the possibilities
the destination is believed in.... yet not completely in view
what is hope? this is hope.
many will doubt... i will not.
many will question.... i will trust.
many will sneer.... i will smile.
many may spout limitations......yet I will not.
the youth need to hear and see our hope.
they need to be heard.... its not a corny slogan.
its a reality.
the harvest is plenty... the workers are few.
much of the fruit falls to the ground if it is not tended to.
the youth need tending to.
YOU have called. I will listen.
your voice is heard... your dream is real
your light is seen.... your joy is sensed
the day is young.... there is so much to learn
when will it cease... the journey is just begun
humanity sees the negative... YOU see the possibilities
the destination is believed in.... yet not completely in view
what is hope? this is hope.
many will doubt... i will not.
many will question.... i will trust.
many will sneer.... i will smile.
many may spout limitations......yet I will not.
the youth need to hear and see our hope.
they need to be heard.... its not a corny slogan.
its a reality.
the harvest is plenty... the workers are few.
much of the fruit falls to the ground if it is not tended to.
the youth need tending to.
YOU have called. I will listen.
Monday, October 6, 2008
dirt and dust of the Earth
I have had a friend who I met the summer after sophmore year of college in Alaska during the time I was working up there, ONE crazy summer. This friend and I have had a MANY open conversations, which have included authenticity which has been incredibly fruitful. Throughout these conversations, we have shared with one another about our faith, about our views of the world, about social justice.... and the list goes on. In the last year, as I have been involved with a group of students at Fuller who meet fairly consistently to intentionally get together with those of different faiths: primarily Jewish and LDS (Latter-Day Saints), I am continuously in awe of how the diversity within what is shared within these groups does point out discrepancies between theological frameworks and conceptions of God. Yet, in the midst of these discrepancies, I have noticed a theme of a striving and desire for other humans to share within the experiences which we have to share with the humans around us. I think that this experience and sharing of emotion, joy, sorrow, intellectual thought, and mindlessness all is shared. And a part of me also wonders if in this sharing, THIS is a communion with God, as well as a part of an opportunity for humanity to experience sources of physical comfort which God bestows through man.
After reading an AWESOME book which is called How Wide the Divide: A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation by Craig Blomberg, I have been praying and pondering over the importance that conversation, especially the combination of conversations over the span of years is one of the most powerful forms of expression which we have within friendships and within an experience of God. Soo.... my friend, Denton, jumped on board with the idea... and strangely enough, had said that he had thought about this idea a while back, and then changed his mind. He wanted to write a book with me. So....we are going to. Well... sort of. We are going to start a chain of emails... and just for fun I wanted to include our first one here.
That is soo funny too that you had thought about that before! Wow!!!! Well i guess now is the opportunity! I LOVE the idea of writing a book! serious!!! I guess we could do an email chain and then eventually put it into book form (or compile it together)....it has been something that I have been thinking about for a while now too... so this rocks!
So, first topic......I guess I will just pick one. It has been something I have been thinking about ALOT recently. The topic of the Creation of the Earth has been something I have been stirring around quite a bit recently. I have been paying a lot of attention to the news and hearing about this new machine which they are terming the "God machine". There are millions of dollars which are being spent on finding the "ulitmate source" or materials which serve as evidence of the time when the earth came together. These scientists are in search for the form of which the particles or atoms combined, and through their combination ended up forming the first signs of the Earth. In many sources of theology that I have been exposed to, I have heard of the notion of Creation ex nihilo, which stands for "Creation out of nothing" and often times this theory resolves and posits an assumption which many evangelicals will say that the Earth came about out of this nothingness. I have been wondering if this idea of it coming out of nothing is 1) based upon evangelicals forming a doctrine which is not based upon more substantial data, such as the Word, and also 2) if not belieivng in this doctrine takes away from bringing glory to God. I look at Genesis 1:1-2 and it says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." This is not the Greek translation, yet I wonder if God does not have just as much of possibility in creating the heavens and the Earth by bringing certain particles together, certain atoms together, which He!! created. I think all too often this creation ex nihilo theory ends up limiting the conception that is made of God, in that He only can create the world in a way if God does it like a magician, out of nothing , like abra cadabra, rather than forming a complex and intricate amount of atoms in a way where the way in which they come together form a miraculous encounter of particles which is such that creates the Earth at its origins. I think that this is a Creator which combines the power which God holds to form these atoms in God's own sight, and to bring about a creation which stands as a physical representation of the image of God. This is the same God who created a Son, named Jesus, who ended up bearing the brunt for humanity in our own weakness.
What do you think friend, about any of this? Have you thought about the conception of Creation?
After reading an AWESOME book which is called How Wide the Divide: A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation by Craig Blomberg, I have been praying and pondering over the importance that conversation, especially the combination of conversations over the span of years is one of the most powerful forms of expression which we have within friendships and within an experience of God. Soo.... my friend, Denton, jumped on board with the idea... and strangely enough, had said that he had thought about this idea a while back, and then changed his mind. He wanted to write a book with me. So....we are going to. Well... sort of. We are going to start a chain of emails... and just for fun I wanted to include our first one here.
That is soo funny too that you had thought about that before! Wow!!!! Well i guess now is the opportunity! I LOVE the idea of writing a book! serious!!! I guess we could do an email chain and then eventually put it into book form (or compile it together)....it has been something that I have been thinking about for a while now too... so this rocks!
So, first topic......I guess I will just pick one. It has been something I have been thinking about ALOT recently. The topic of the Creation of the Earth has been something I have been stirring around quite a bit recently. I have been paying a lot of attention to the news and hearing about this new machine which they are terming the "God machine". There are millions of dollars which are being spent on finding the "ulitmate source" or materials which serve as evidence of the time when the earth came together. These scientists are in search for the form of which the particles or atoms combined, and through their combination ended up forming the first signs of the Earth. In many sources of theology that I have been exposed to, I have heard of the notion of Creation ex nihilo, which stands for "Creation out of nothing" and often times this theory resolves and posits an assumption which many evangelicals will say that the Earth came about out of this nothingness. I have been wondering if this idea of it coming out of nothing is 1) based upon evangelicals forming a doctrine which is not based upon more substantial data, such as the Word, and also 2) if not belieivng in this doctrine takes away from bringing glory to God. I look at Genesis 1:1-2 and it says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. Now the Earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." This is not the Greek translation, yet I wonder if God does not have just as much of possibility in creating the heavens and the Earth by bringing certain particles together, certain atoms together, which He!! created. I think all too often this creation ex nihilo theory ends up limiting the conception that is made of God, in that He only can create the world in a way if God does it like a magician, out of nothing , like abra cadabra, rather than forming a complex and intricate amount of atoms in a way where the way in which they come together form a miraculous encounter of particles which is such that creates the Earth at its origins. I think that this is a Creator which combines the power which God holds to form these atoms in God's own sight, and to bring about a creation which stands as a physical representation of the image of God. This is the same God who created a Son, named Jesus, who ended up bearing the brunt for humanity in our own weakness.
What do you think friend, about any of this? Have you thought about the conception of Creation?
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