transformation to a better way

in his book God Bless You, Mr Rosewater , kurt vonnegut tells the story of a millionaire philanthropist who, in his quest for the meaning of life, decides to spend his life and the family fortune on society’s throwaways at the risk of losing control of the foundation’s millions upon being proven insane for doing so. in the book, vonnegut (ever the idealist cynic) makes some wry observations about the way people deal with wealth…

Think about the silly ways money gets passed around now,
and then think up better ways. (Kurt Vonnegut Jr)

on january 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake tore through the ‘poorest country in the western hemisphere.’
I found myself journaling...

O God, what is our role in the relief of this disaster?
the answer was given in psalm 20, my devotions for the day.

this psalm is a song of blessing akin to something that might have been traditionally sung in an irish pub down the road. within the lyric are many 'fare-thee-wells', but it was the first couple lines that had a specific word for me, for us. i mean, if we are comfortable referring to the world as a global village, then we need to accept the responsibility that goes with the metaphor: we need to take care of the people in our village.

in your time of trouble, may the Lord answer
sending help from his sanctuary (psa20.1-2)

the word for 'help' is 'ezer.
it is a noun meaning succour/aid/support/relief.
relief from his sanctuary

in other words, the way God chooses to bring help and relief is to provide some within his sanctuary, his place of solace, refuge and protection, having both means and opportunity to actively and faithfully distribute his grace and mercy to those in need

and yet, in sanctuary, we are so accustomed to be blessed and protected that we can frivolously throw the blessings out into the street on folly and still sleep at night. this is the danger of being entrusted with so much, i suppose.

in Jesus' early ministry days following his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, we find the Lord celebrating at a wedding. someone has made a grave error of calculation, and the party grinds to a halt as the announcement is made that the celebration is over as they are all out of wine. Jesus' mother motivates her boy the way only a mother can, and he gets up, protesting the whole time, goes over to where the big jars for ceremonial washing are standing and promptly changes them into an award-winning chardonnay.

important to note: it isn’t that the water is multiplied- Jesus does plenty of multiplication on other occasions- it’s that it is transformed from

• something common to something miraculous
• something meaningless to something meaningful
• something of social utility to something of social gravity…

what has been basic water, fit not even for drinking but for washing, is transformed into something not simply drinkable, but surprisingly good.

perhaps God intends to do the same with the cash that we keep making and keep throwing away on ridiculous luxury. we know, after all, that the interest against the loan we have taken out to pay for contentment so gravely outweighs the principle itself that we'll never be truly free of the debt. what if we were to take the common currency of commerce and let Jesus have a go at it?

relief is a God thing. God wants to provide it for people and he wants to use the generosity that he has placed in people to be its distribution system. God wants to use his church- his people today- to be part of this action.

*note: this post was drawn from a talk that i gave the week following the earthquake in haiti. at that time, the board of northview community church agreed to simply give that morning's entire offering to the relief effort, releasing our human grip on the cash that God has entrusted to our care in faith. the good people of our local church responded generously and, with matching from the CIDA, a goodly sum was sent to haiti. we have chosen to partner with World Relief and would invite anyone who has not yet done so to participate in the haiti earthquake relief effort by giving generously to the cause.

www.worldrelief.org

the unforgettable fire

What is it, Papa?
Nothing. We're okay. Go to sleep.
We're going to be okay, aren't we Papa?
Yes. We are.
And nothing bad is going to happen to us.
That's right.
Because we're carrying the fire.
Yes. Because we're carrying the fire.
(from 'The Road ' by Cormac McCarthy, p83)

***

when john the baptiser speaks of the long-awaited messiah, (soon to be revealed as his own cousin Jesus in luke 3.15-17), he speaks of someone operating on a higher plane, affecting exponential change to the world. whereas john baptizes with water, he reminds the people of the scriptures they have already learned, announcing that Jesus, will anoint people’s very hearts with the oil of royalty and then flambé them. like Moses’ bush in the wilderness, they will be set afire to burn brightly in the darkness of a fallen, cannibalistic world, but will not be burned up- instead, offering the warmth, illumination, guidance and hope of God's unforgettable fire in the darkness.

however, sometimes we start to be a bit territorial and protective with this flame that has been entrusted to us. although Jesus reminded all who had ears to hear that they were not to hide their light under a thick shade, in fact this is often the case within today's church.

yet in the words of the prophet recorded in isaiah 49.6, we are challenged with the phrase “It is too small a thing…”

"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

it is too small a thing to restrict our focus to our own people, our own programs, our own facility. it is too small a thing to engage only with those who believe as we do, that we would be mutually encouraged. it is too small a thing to protect our traditions in deference to the cries of irrelevance from a world in pain. it is too small a thing to only read christian books by christian writers, only listen to christian songs recorded by christian musicians, only support christian businesses listed in some exclusive christians-only directory. it is too small a thing to, as steve taylor put it in a song over a quarter century ago, "only drink milk from a christian cow."

in the luke 3 account of Jesus' baptism, the whole narrative begins by saying We are challenged to bear this light, to carry this unforgettable fire of God’s love and presence into every situation requiring it. To live with eyes wide open for opportunity to share his hope, that those who are ‘Gentiles’ to us (those who do not know the name of Jesus in a life-changing way), would experience the salvation of a relationship freedom from sin and relationship with Almighty God through Jesus Christ, rather than be somehow swallowed up by the calamity that befalls us all.

as we carry the unforgettable fire of God’s love and presence, let us run fast and sure, that this light would reach into every life and bring warmth, hope comfort and freedom there.

***

You have to carry the fire.
I don’t know how to.
Yes you do.
Is it real? The Fire?
Yes it is.
Where is it? I don’t know where it is.
Yes you do. It’s inside you. It was always there. I can see it.
(from 'The Road ' by Cormac McCarthy, pp 278-9)

the road

my son made an observation recently. apparently all literature placed on high school reading lists has to do with biblical themes- in particular, Christ’s redemptive work through his incarnation, his passion and his resurrection. he brought a few examples, the most recent of which was 'The Road ' by cormac mccarthy.


this got me thinking. if all great literature seems to, in some way, grapple with the common theme of existence: that we feel rather helpless facing the harshness of our physical reality, rife with pain, sickness, betrayal, violence, vengence and death. that we long for a little help as we travel along a mostly cold and impersonal, often completely unexplained road, upon which we often aspire to little more than basic survival with dignity. well what if it’s also true that all scripture is about life?

2Tim3.16 claims that all scripture has a point and is useful, but if we neglect to explore it outside of our own knowledge of it then we might be guilty of reducing the bible to little more than a comic book.

Thy word have I kept in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119.11)

we’ve gotta be putting it in
if we want to live it out
on the road.

nativity scenes

while stopping in at some friends' the other evening for eggnog, i noticed something for the first time. my friends collect nativity scenes. displayed there on the header, these are engaged in a veritable parade of nativity, each float telling the same story but doing so with style and aesthetic nuance that separates it from the others.

now THERE’s a collection idea: something that you can bring out once a year at a time when everyone displays theirs…
i have some Christmas albums (listed here in no particular order) that accomplish the same thing:

Band Aid:
Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984)
a band of pop musicians drawn together by bob geldof (of the boomtown rats) and midge ure (of ultravox) on november 25, 1984 to record a special benefit song written by geldof and ure to raise money and awareness for the victims of a famine of biblical proportions in ethiopia that year. a larger live concert event called Live Aid was staged the following summer for the same cause. through the concert tickets, recordings, books and other merchandise, as well as the benefit moneys that were raised during the actual global 'telemiracle'-type concerts, over $300 000 000 was raised. the band aid record and the live aid concerts, although not the first benefits of this type (george harrison of the beatles staged The Concert for Bangladesh on august 1, 1971 which probably served as a helpful model for geldof's Live Aid event) they seemed to usher in a new era where pop musicians began to use their celebrity and their influence as a conversive, rather than subversive force for world change.

Various Artists:
A Very Special Christmas (1987)
many pop stars who met each other for the first time either in the recording of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' , the american music industry's benefit song 'We Are The World' (written by Michael Jackson) the canadian music industry's contribution 'Tears Are Not Enough', or in the blur that culminated on july 13, 1985 with Live Aid, rallied to put together an album of Christmas favourites old and new for Special Olympics.

Jon Anderson:
Three Ships (1985)
the singer of the progressively epic art rock band 'yes' and longtime collaborator with vangelis (electronic composer of the oscar awarded soundtrack to the film Chariots of Fire) put together a particularly spacey, mid 80's-esque collection of Christmas songs and justice anthems. The record was dedicated to raising awareness for 'Beyond War' which continues to be a voice for justice and peace even today.

John Denver & The Muppets:
A Christmas Together
the soundtrack of a 1979 television special of the same name, this muppet record features a rollicking version of the beach boys' christmas hit 'little saint nick' (which follows the same formula as their earlier tune 'little deuce coup') that i worked up with a group of grade 7's during my internship at lakeview school in 1987. yep, our performance featured puppets as well. those 'kids' are now all 34 years old... 11 years older than i was when i taught them.

Boney M:
Christmas Album (1981)
okay, i do NOT know why i have this album. i've never actually bought the record, yet have somehow owned 3 copies. however, speaking of christmas concerts, how would we live without 'mary's boy child' at least once in the holiday season?

Zero Mostel/ Alan Mills:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
the grinch story is great, but only takes up one side of the record and, in truth, i've never played it. i bought this record at value village because of side2: Christmas Songs From Many Lands, sung in english by alan mills. see, my brother-in-law used to play this folk record when we would come to visit at Christmastime to play games and drink egg nog. terry was twelve years older than his baby sister, vonda, and was the closest thing to a true modern day renaissance man that i will probably ever meet. a brilliant artist, athlete, musician, leader, educator, dad and friend, his friendship and approval were kind of a big deal to me as i was trying to find my place in my wife's family...we played tennis together and talked about God and the beatles and i always said i wanted to be like terry when i grew up. he was killed with his wife by a drunk driver on october 11, 2003.

George Frederick Handel:
Messiah (1741)
handel wrote this entire oratorio over a three week period. a powerfully spiritual encounter for the composer resulted in one of the most famous and well respected pieces of music ever to feature words and music by God.

Michael W. Smith:
Christmas (1988)
orchestra, choir, synthesizers and some basic guitar, bass and drums come together in an album so rich in classical texture and (with the exception of, perhaps a painfully 80's rendition of 'angels we have heard on high') timeless in its delivery that it can be played outside the Christmas season and still bring about a rich awareness of the presence of God in the room.

each of these tells the same story- albeit the details and priorities may vary from telling to telling, each one of these bears tidings of great joy which shall be to all people…for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying
‘Glory to God in the highest- and on earth peace, good will towards men!’ (luke 2.10-14)

i know these words almost verbatim because linus has recited them yearly as part of A Charlie Brown Christmas since 1965.

dear abbey

recently a friend sent me a note asking a basic question:
why aren't the people i love drawing the same conclusions from scripture that i am?

here are the highlights of a rather lengthy reply:

***

it's great to read that you are seeking the face of God in all things. for me, there is great encouragement in reading 3000 year old words (the psalms) that call you to the one who is outside of time and yet approachable to those of us bound by it. to be reminded of the calamity that has befallen so many, but which seems to be informed by the perspective of the psalmist challenges and inspires me to examine my own faith perspective for spots that are a bit spare.

you have also been reading the words of paul and have been drawing personal guidance from these scriptures concerning your own journey through this valley time. it is right to be prayerfully considering what the scriptures are saying to us, for we are the only person over whom we have any say. sadly, this is where it gets a little dodgy for most of us:

i know what God is saying to me through the scriptures... why isn't my friend/partner/colleague/parishioner getting the message that's obviously there?'

if someone you care for is searching the scriptures and not receiving the same message as you are from them, there might be a couple of reasons:

1) he/she's not looking in the same way
2) he/she's not looking for the same things

both of these are, perhaps, answers to your the question in your note regarding the discrepancy between what you're being told and what others appear to be.

the control freak in us (ha ha- i'm confessing to harbouring one myself, not accusing you of such!) wants to run things our way. we go to the scriptures that we know will affirm what we already believe, or at the very least, speak upon that topic. we use concordances and bible helps to try and 'get it', all the while knowing what we are wanting to get: an answer that aligns itself with our will. this approach to drawing truth from scripture is not wrong, but it's not the only way to receive a message from God through his word.

sometimes we treat the scriptures the way people work with statistics- choosing to consider the ones that back up our perspective or position.

another way to approach the matter of what scripture says to us and what it doesn't is to simply continue with your regular devotions, reading the scriptures through the lens of your journey today and taking from them the things that this lens draws to your attention. you may draw some really unexpected comfort and insight from the word in areas that initially seem to have nothing to do with the questions you bring to them. yes, this is a more 'mystical' approach, but is far from the random 'open your bible, close your eyes and point at a passage' approach that people often default to. it simply involves continuing the faithful discipline of reading scripture, seeking biblical truth from the word in context.

try journaling your thoughts as you read. see where they go. stream of consciousness is a gift that God has given us so we can perceive the ideas that he has linked together in his larger themes. see if the passage you are reading reminds you of something else and then use the concordance to try to find that and read it as well. i am often amazed at how God seems to have so much to say in some rather unlikely places. i would give you some recent examples, but this note is already pretty long without anecdotes...

ID, Superego and the UFC glove

when we read in paul's writings about the 'sinful nature' (some translations use the word 'flesh') we mustn't default, like the ascetics did, to the notion that our flesh is somehow bad. God created human beings and pronounced the creation very good. a traditional phrase seems to say it all: we are called God's crowned of creation.

so what about this troublesome 'sinful nature?' referred to in galatians 5.16-18

in the original greek, the word is sarx, a word that carries with is some interesting overtones.

Sarx:
1) the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin
2) denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, therefore prone to sin and opposed to God… the beast within; the heart of a man

the heart is a wild thing- it engages with the world from a place of complete self interest. its M.O. is do or be done to…

sigmund freud, the father of modern psychology, describes the dichotomy of the ID vs SuperEgo at great length. basically, one part of us- the self interested and self serving part- is only motivated by gratification, while the other part of us- the socialized part- is motivated by the upholding of a sense of order, balance and justice in all things.

but what if we're seeing the relationship wrong? what if we're seeing these opposites as adversaries doing battle when really they are really team mates?

perhaps the ID and the Superego aren’t opposed to each other at all- perhaps they complement one another in that the ID (inward, self interested) self is enwrapped in the Superego (outward, socially and spiritually conscious) self.

recently i viewed a rather unlikely christmas special: a pay-per-view UFC event.

the UFC glove is an interesting thing. whereas it affords the wearer with limited digit dexterity need to compete in a UFC match, it would definitely be an encumbrance for one trying to play guitar well or perform dental surgery or type a really insightful blogpost. the UFC glove exists for the purpose of the protection of the competitors, nothing more.

perhaps there is a model here: if the ID is the fist and the Superego is the glove, then it seems to make sense that, like the UFC glove, the Superego with all of its orderly politics, systemic structures, laws and religions cushions the ID from the harshness of the world outside (and from the violence it tends to inflict), while also cushioning the world from harshness of the ID...

unsurrendered to the Spirit (pneuma) of God, they may work together to keep us from being all that we could be in Christ the way a UFC glove might make it difficult to perform fine adjustments when doing a tune-up on the vehicle of someone who can't afford to take it into the shop.

any colour you like

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (revelation7.9-10)
it's nice to just take an idea and run with it a ways; see where it goes. i was thinking about this big worship gathering revealed by God and described by john when something gelled...

the apostle john, exiled on the island of patmos while his faith brothers are all being systematically murdered for their terrorist ties with the rabbi known as jeshua ben joseph, describes the worship crowd gathered as multicultural, multi-ethnic, multilinguistic and so on. a fairly heterogenous group, all standing there waving palm branches just like when Jesus arrived in jerusalem, only instead of crying 'save us' (hosanna) they are proclaiming to whom salvation belongs.

but it's the white robes bit that really caught me, in light of all that comes before it. i suppose it's fair to say that white is Jesus' team colour, what with all that 'washes white as snow' talk. however, one might lose track of another possible significance of the multitudes clothed in white, defaulting to the simple truth that white shows dirt and can therefore only be seen as white when it is pure... the white stands for purity.

not that there's anything wrong with that.

so many things in our physical realm are not necessarily restricted to being only what they seem: take a simple beam of white light. we all remember the science class project where a beam of white light is directed into a glass prism which separates the colour spectrum of that beam of light and projects these colours on the wall adjacent to it. then there is, of course, the classic pink floyd album cover...

here's the thing, though: when we perceive a colour, we are really perceiving how just that band of the spectrum reflects back off of the coloured object: a green object only looks green because it is treated with something (paint, dye, whatever) that reflects only the green in a beam of white light.

a beam of white light contains all the colours of the spectrum in perfect balance and unity. it reflects off of the surface of something conducive representing this perfect balance and unity.

that the great multitude that no one can count, with representation from every nation, tribe, people and language, is singing salvation songs wearing white, reflecting the perfect brilliance of almighty God who is the only source of true light in the cosmos, suggests more than purity.

it speaks of perfect communion.