The Future lies in the Past

Christianity Today ran an article in the February 2008 edition entitled "The Future Lies in the Past." I'd be very interested to get your input on this. I am among these whom Webber called "the younger evangelicals" and resonate with the article. Do you agree with Webber that the path to the future runs through the past?

The Kite Runner

Tonight, Amy and I watched The Kite Runner. I found it to be a very deep and beautiful story. Beautiful? But, it's a movie of such violence and silence! Grace is woven all through the film. It is beautiful how Hassan refuses to hit Amir, even after he is pelted by his best friend in an effort to move him to attack him for his cowardice. I find it fascinating how the son of Hassan continues his work of redemption...even as he is being saved. I find it interesting how the Amir, whom we never see pray in the film before, is brought to a place of prayer. There's so much to this film.

Easter, Day 17 of 50

Trying to stay in the rhythm of Easter is difficult, especially since it doesn't get the attention it deserves from the surrounding culture like Christmas does (and that cultural celebration/observance is placed in Advent rather than Christmastide). I found this hymn this morning that is beautiful. The tune wasn't something I was familiar with so I used the trusty "Sing to the Lord" hymnal and cyberhymnal.org to try to find some melodies that are more familiar to our Christian tradition so we could sing this wonderful hymn. Its meter is LM, which can be sung to the tune of "When I Survey the Wonderful Cross." I find this a very interesting juxtaposition especially considering that "When I Survey" is focused on the cross, and this hymn is about resurrection. The hymn can also be sung to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." I think it is good to be able to cross the tunes from the seasons, especially from Christmas because of its joyfulness. There is also tune from "Jesus Shall Reign" that works well. This hymn is really great and I hope that it ministers to you as it did me.

Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.

Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains,
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Savior with the Father reigns.

In every insult, rift, and war
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.

Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

Words: Brian Wren

Corporate Confession

There is a really interesting thread on a/the general confession that is missing from our worship services. It'll take a little while to read through them all. It's interesting to see how differing views on holiness/entire sanctification [and even cultural assumptions] shape (and determine) one's view toward a corporate confession. I'd encourage you to read it. In the season of Lent I find this conversation to be timely.

http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?t=17664

A Community Called Atonement

I just started a new book by Scot McKnight entitled, "A Community Called Atonement." So far, just 50 some pages in, I want to share that I could not put it down. However, a book of this magnitude requires so much processing, I would like to propose that we share some of the ideas from the book and talk about what we are defining as the "church" - not to mention anything else that may spring forth from reading. Here is something that stands out from the first few pages:

" 'The gospel we preach shapes the kind of churches we create.
The kid of church we have shapes the gospel we preach.'
It would be simplistic and colonizing to suggest that power determines everything, but we should be alert to the observation that the power a local church possesses shapes what it offers as gospel and atonement. Could it be that we are not reconciled more in this world - among Christians, within the USA, and between countries - because we have shaped our atonement theories to keep our group the same and others out? I believe the answer to that question is unambiguously yes. "

While there is so much I think about this and will hopefully share, I will simply say that I agree with his assessment and anticipate reading what you think.

A hymn for Shrove Tuesday

Alleluia, song of gladness,
hymn of endless joy and praise.
Alleluia is the worship
that celestial voices raise
and, delighting in God's glory,
sing in heaven's courts always.

Alleluia, blessed Salem,
home of all our hopes on high.
Alleluia, sing the angels;
Alleluia, saints reply;
but we, for a time on this earth,
chant a simpler melody.

Alleluias we now forfeit
in this holy time of Lent.
Alleluias we relinquish
as we for our sins repent,
trusting always in God's mercy
and in Love omnipotent.

Blessed Trinity of Glory,
hear your people as we pray.
Grant that we may know the Easter
of the Truth, the Life, the Way,
chanting endless alleluias
in the realms of endless day. Amen.

Can be sung to any 8.7.8.7.8.7 tune
From The Saint Helena Breviary, Church Publishing 2006

Wesley Conference Webcast

This next Thursday and Friday (07-08 Feb) there will be a webcast for the conference at NNU entitled: Furtherness: Holiness Reoriented in a Changed World." The guest speakers are Brian McLaren, Scott Daniels, and Thomas Oord. It's only $25 a person and the more you have with you watching, the cheaper it gets. It would be easy to hook a computer/laptop up to a video projector! If Amy and I weren't going to Turbo at Northwood, I'd definitely be a part of this. Here is the link to find out more: https://www.nnu.edu/wesleywebcast

I encourage you to be a part of this. Perhaps if no one can participate, we should get the DVDs and get together and watch it and discuss. Bring the conference here and have our own, at the lead of these great leaders.