Theology Blog

Theological conversations are a gift from God…they are a way to form and live out true community and to dream, talk about and pray through the nature of God, humanity and the world really is a way we can live out the Kingdom dream that Jesus brought to the earth. One of those conversations that I have been having lately is about the land. It was one of those Holy Spirit moments. One week, I was in a class where someone was talking about the land. They stated that the land is the only innocent party in the scripture, yet the land takes the bulk of the abuse. Then in talking with my friend Tim, we had a conversation about call; and that perhaps call is not about the specific ministry, church or denomination, but about the land. Perhaps we are called to a particular location-a particular land. I think we both realized that we were on to something. We are a people of the land. The land provides everything that we need to physically survive. As we approach Ash Wednesday, I think of the words we use…from dust we came, and to dust we will return. We come from the land. We are the land. It has been months (the conversation started sometime in November) that this has been sitting in my heart and mind. Then I think about the song above and its lyrics:

Lord hear our cry,

Come heal our land

Breathe life into these dry and thirsty souls…

The language of the land is found throughout the scriptures, and the farming imagery that is used by Jesus is frequent and poignant. Did Jesus use these metaphors because of there worth and effectiveness? Did he use them to relate to the culture, or did Jesus use them because we are the land…that like the land we can become dry and thirsty, that like the land there are places of dessert and places of great growth?

Then in doing some reading for class, I came upon this quote:

“The act of creation is not so much what happened then as it is what happened here, it is the story of the formation of a specific land and a particular people.”   Weaver-I Hermeneutic to we Hermeneutic.

So the conversation continues…

A video by Francis Chan about risk. Francis is an inspiration to me and has challenged me on many occasions. I think this video really can speak to the American parent, Christian, and Church. I won’t say much, because it speaks for itself, however my question is this. Are we so caught up in safety and security, in providing the best scenario for our children and youth that we have completely neglected the FEAR OF THE LORD as described in the First Testament?

I am taking an online course, how to read the Bible. Its an interesting experience. It is at “theological” school that is very diverse in terms of the beliefs of the individual students. Actually, I feel like it is far too liberal for me, but this course has been a shining light in my experience there; primarily due to the professor. The quote above is something I have been thinking about all week. Do we seek to learn from the Bible or learn about it. Do we read it seeking to learn about it, or do we read it, let it read us to be transformed by it. Sometimes in our attempts to understand we really do miss the forest for the trees. The Bible is a dangerous book, and its not just any book. Its God’s story, and it is relevant for all generations. So how are we experiencing it?  Is it a tool for transformation? Is it a weapon? Is it just another book? What do you think and believe about the Bible?

The quote above is offered in a devotion of Eugene Peterson’s writings. It is a simple and profound summary of the reality that faith is in fact a journey. It is not a moment of conversion, a series of learnings or events. Faith is a journey. It is a journey that is both individual and communal. Whether we are intentional or not, we are becoming…changing. The question he asks is profound. Are we becoming more or less? How can we pay more attention to the journey, to the things that change around, in, and through us? How do we reconcile the notion of faith as a journey with the our modern, logical, result driven orientation as modern Americans? The questions are always more important than the answers. The process is always more important than the result. The trip is always more important than the destination…so who are we becoming in the here and now?

I ran across the quote above during my devotional time this morning in a Richard Rohr devotional that I read. In many ways it speaks for itself. What does it really mean to be a person of the Kingdom. A young child once said that the Kingdom of God is like opposite day, so true. So in the Kingdom life how do we live counterculturally, be transformed, yet honor the time in space in which we are called to serve? An interesting thing to do, because to live Kingdom values in today’s church and world is no easy task. What do we consider healthy and normal? Is it Biblical? Do we hold normal, healthy, and balanced so high that they are idols? Are we engrained in the system so much that we cannot see the Kingdom system that Jesus brought with open eyes? Much to think about…

During my time with God today, I was listening to one of my Divine Office readings. The phrase that I heard during this time was “mystery is the root of love.”  I got stuck on that the rest of the time as I pondered what the means in every area and aspect of my life. Thinking about my marriage and my kids; I pondered what it means for mystery to be the root of that love. I thought about my relationship with God and what it means to embrace the deep mystery that is God’s unconditional love and grace for me. I thought about what it means to love others, and that love cannot ultimately come from my efforts alone. Love cannot be produced or completely understood, but the concept that love is a mystery is not as profound as the notion that mystery is the root of love. Roots keep plants alive, they keep them standing, they help them grow. They are a lifeline for the plant or tree. Mystery is the lifeline, the root, the power that is behind our love. Our failure to embrace mystery is our greatest mistake today in the church. As we neglect mystery, we limit love. Without love, we are nothing.

Life is complicated, snow angels are not. Life requires so much focus and attention, a constant battle of will, priorities, beliefs, and reality. Snow angels are simple. All you need is snow and some willing participants. This picture is of our third snow this fall/winter. The kids were excited to go out and this was the first time they did snow angels together. It was an October snow storm just before Halloween. Denver got 20 plus inches, we only got 6. You can see the green grass underneath Micah. It is always a joy to watch the joy in kids and the simplicity that they embrace. That is what Jesus was talking about when he talked about faith like a child. Its the ability to embrace the simplicity and mystery and find joy in the simple gifts. A hard thing for us sophisticated, educated adults to embrace. Where in your life can you celebrate simplicity in the midst of the challenges of life? Is it in relationships? Nature & Creation? Laughter? Good Food? It has been a very hard couple months for me, and this picture is a reminder (in many ways) of what really matters. Our failure to embrace simplicity is the cause of many of our woes; our economic woes (we want and feel we need to much, we do not live simply), our fears about God (we try too much to figure out God instead of embracing mystery), and our broken relationships. How can we, how can I embrace simplicity?

“God does not give you more than you can handle.”  I have heard this 1000 times, and have said it countless other times.  It is not a helpful saying in a moment of pain or crisis, and does not really bring any peace, but it is a reality, especially in hindsight.  It is amazing what we are capable of handling, experiencing, doing, and expressing when we have invited God to the table.  Think back on your own life, what are some things that you have experienced that you are surprised about…I bet you will find some.  Perhaps this is a cheesy Christian saying that is not necessarily completely rooted in scripture, but it does become a reality when we examine the journey of our lives.   Then we face the same battle again, sometimes with confidence, other times saying…why me?  And then we remember (that is re member with God-re unite with God) and all of a sudden, we realize anything and everything is possible.

Ephesians 4-The vision for the church…what church is meant to be. Check out the Message translation for a poetic version of this important chapter.

Habbakuk 1:5-the reminder of our story…that there is a story being written and it is amazing!

Matthew 18-Jesus model for conflict. How we do conflict makes or breaks our relationships, our ministries, and our family. Its so important its one of the few things Jesus got specific about.

I am reading Erwin McManus’s book Wide Awake. He is talking a lot about dreams and dreaming. He commented that God only gets involved in God sized dreams. I have been thinking a lot about that.  I agree with the statement, not because God does not care about all of our dreams; because God does. The fact is that God gives us free choice and free will and it is only in the God sized dreams that we really move outside of ourselves. It is the God sized dreams that require God and cannot be done on our own. It is those dreams where we give up the most control. I am thinking a lot about this right now. I find myself in a place I never expected at this time, and yet I have such peace and hope. It is clear that there is something big in store for me…and now is a time to dream. I have dreamed before but because I have lived so much in fear, I have not dreamed to the level I can dream. I wonder where to start…and wonder if now is the time to dream or to just listen and let God reveal the possibilities. I want to live a life of deep faith and dreaming and see what glorious thing is next.