Summer Blockbusters Seen Through the Lens of Faith

For those of you that don’t know, I am a huge movie buff. My mother was a movie critic, so it comes with the territory. I love to look at the way Christianity influences culture and how culture interprets Christianity. Sometimes we are better able to connect with a biblical theme when we can see it on the silver screen or our television. Sometimes we can better understand what we believe when we discuss something that strikes a chord with us or when something rubs us the wrong way. It is important to see how our faith influences the way we view the world.

When I was a youth director, I often used clips from films to begin our lessons. I thought that if we practiced reflecting on our faith as we engaged pop-culture, the youth might begin to see the world through the lens of faith. I was thrilled when these teenagers began talking with me about how a new show or some song they heard on the radio reminded them of something they learned in church or read in their Bible. We should all reflect on how culture interprets Christianity and how our faith influences the way we encounter culture.

With that said, there are a number of blockbuster movies coming out this summer. In the coming weeks, I will be reviewing Star Trek, Wolverine, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Transformers 2. Some of these blockbusters are full of Christian symbols and themes, while others may be a bit of a stretch. Many of these films are not appropriate for all ages. They often glorify violence, which is not the way we are called to act as Christians. I am not recommending these movies for everyone, but if you plan to see them, I would recommend that you take some time to look at them through the lens of faith.

A Free Cup of Coffee

After a very busy Holy Week, the family and I went to Washington to visit our best friends from seminary. After enjoying their small town for a while we all packed up and drove to Seattle. We pushed the strollers through down town and ate seafood, looked at the space needle, and checked out a children’s museum. But the best part of the trip was Pike’s Place Market. This market had fresh flowers, produce, meat, cheese, pastries, and fish. The market is known for a particular stand where men in rubber pants fling fish over the counter. We were told that we missed seeing the Globetrotters by a few hours. The market is also known as the birthplace of Starbucks. I’m not sure about you, but I have a love/hate relationship with Starbucks. I love their mochas and frappuccinos, but I hate the cost and I can live without the calories. On our last morning in town I was sent to get doughnut holes from one of the pastry stands. It was raining (the only time it rained on us in Seattle), so I went by myself. The kids had woken up so early that the doughnuts weren’t ready yet. So I decided to find the original Starbucks.

As I entered the coffee shop, I heard a rather loud customer suggesting that he should work as a quality control rep for Starbucks because he had been to every single one in Seattle (no small task) and visited others whenever he was out of town. I thought the man might need to lay off of the espresso for a while. I tuned him out while I looked at the mugs. As he was walking out another man came in and placed his order. The barista (fancy name for someone who serves coffee at Starbucks) said that if this man would commit to calling his mother on Mother’s Day that his coffee would be free. The young man looked puzzled and the barista said that the loud man who had just walked out had paid for the coffee for the next fifty people that came in and said that they would call their mothers on Mother’s Day. No one knew when Mother’s Day was, so I joined in and said that it was May 10 (husbands and children – this is your reminder). I ordered my coffee and noticed that the loud man was talking on his phone outside. As the other man and I walked out together we thanked him for the coffee and he said something to the effect of, “That’s what I’m all about, making sure people have a good day.”

I wondered why someone would pay for fifty cups of coffee. Apparently the other man was curious too. He asked why anyone would do that. We wondered if he knew that people like me like coffee, but don’t like paying for it. We wondered if he really appreciated his own mother and wanted others to do the same, or if had some regrets about not talking to his mother and didn’t want anyone else to make the same mistake. We wondered if he had watched the movie “Pay it Forward” and this was his way of helping people start the day off on the right foot. The other man thought that this was a strange way to help others. And truth be told, so did I. I wondered if there was a better way to use this money for those who truly need it (because no one really needs an overpriced cup of coffee).

I knew there was a lesson to be learned here, but I wasn’t sure what it was. The oddity of the act prevented me from suggesting that maybe this was done because the man was religious – this could have started a conversation that may have led to an opportunity for evangelism. As I was about to move the conversation in that direction the man excused himself and walked to the stand where he worked. An opportunity missed. I learned a lesson, but I thought there was more to be learned here.

I started to think about this man’s generosity and how it raised people’s curiosity. We wondered why he was so generous. Shouldn’t we Christians live our lives in such a way that people wonder why we are so different? Shouldn’t we be just as generous? According to all my friends who have worked in the food service industry, Protestants are known to be penny-pinchers. I have known waiters that hated working on Sundays because all of the churchgoers would come in and leave lousy tips. While I think we are called to be good stewards of our money, what does it say when non-Christians are more generous than Christians? Perhaps one of the lessons we can learn from this free cup of coffee is that we are called to be generous and when people wonder why we can let them know that it is because we believe God has been so generous to us.

As I thought more about this strange event, I began to connect this story with the anointing of Jesus. Jesus is sitting at a table with his disciples when a woman comes in and pours perfume on Jesus’ feet. It seems like a waste, like paying for overpriced coffee. In fact, the people around Jesus suggest that this perfume could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. I know I thought the money that paid for my cup of coffee could have been used for a lot of different things. But Jesus reprimands those that question this woman and says that wherever the gospel is preached this story will be told. This story is told in all four gospels. The coffee was a gift, just as the perfume was a gift. The first prepared people for a great day, the second prepared Jesus for his burial. As we prepare for a new day, let us celebrate the new life we have received as God’s gracious gift.

Cliff's Notes

Cliff Stewart is one of my mentors. He is the paster of First Central Presbyterian Church. He has a healthy sense of humor, he reads a lot, and he is very technologically savvy. He has a facebook page and he sends out frequent emails. This morning he sent an email with the following prayer attached. I really liked the prayer. What do you think?

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. -- Anonymous

Kings on NBC - Episode Three - "First Night"

In this episode, the Queen is hosting a ballet. A generous donor has asked to sit next to David and is willing to pay $100,000 for the seat. The seat next to Silas was only going to catch $10,000. The Queen then makes a thinly veiled reference to I Samuel 18:7 when she says, "Silas commands his thousands, while David brings his hundred thousand." The Queen has Thomasina (the King's right-hand w0man) tell David that his seat is needed for a generous donor. He is uninvited and Jack sees this as an opportunity to "befriend" David. Someone recently pointed out that they always thought it was strange that the biblical Jonathan was willing to help David oppose his own father, and in effect, his own chance to rule. I think they were suggesting that Jack may represent what kind of friends they really were. I don't think so, as strange as it may seem, I think Jonathan really did love David as he loved himself (I Samuel 18:3). One thing we shouldn't do is read too much into the show. This "friendly" relationship may be more dramatic as it plays with the tension between these two up and coming leaders, but it goes beyond the biblical story. While Jack tries to set up David for a smear campaign, the Queen tries to set her daughter up with a rich young buisnessman. But neither of these stories is nearly as powerful as the tension between Silas and Rev. Samuel. During the ballet, the King gets a call from his mistress who says that his illegitimate son is in the hospital. Nothing is working, so Silas has Samuel picked up and dropped off on the side of a road. Samuel thinks he is being arrested, but Silas says he needs his consultation. They engage in the following conversation concerning God.

Silas: What does He want from me? Why does He act my enemy? Port Prosperity, is that the cost? I’ll take it back, I will rescind my offer.

Samuel: I cannot tell you of God’s mind. He shares with me at his pleasure. About this, He is silent.

Silas: I did right by Him. This land was once a place where men of faith feared to walk the streets and prayers came in whispers. I made it safe for men like you.

Samuel: So God owes you?

Silas: If not Him, you. Tell me what’s the fair trade?

Samuel: One offers sacrifice according to the offense. Only you can name that.

Silas: Sacrifice? Has he not moved past that yet? Give Him my best. Tell Him I've given too much.

Samuel: We make amends Silas. The pure, the unblemished for our sins.

Silas: He wants what I will not let him take. I will not leave this on the altar.

Samuel: Then you find another lamb.

Silas: No. Not even God is that cruel.

Silas drives off and hits an animal.

Silas: (looks up) Is this what you need? Something beautiful has to die to make you happy. (then he kisses the animal before snapping the dying animal's neck)

At the end of the show, Silas is sitting in the hospital. When his son wakes up he sees Silas and says, “Daddy.” Silas looks up. He kisses his son on the forehead. His mistress moves to touch his forehead, where there is blood. He tells her no and begins to walk out. She asks, “You have to go? What is it?” He says, “The cost.”

Roughly two thousand years ago Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. This holiday is called the Passover because it is when the final plague, the angel of death passed over all the houses that had the blood of a lamb sprinkled on its door (Exodus). Jesus says that he is the lamb. He is the pure unblemished sacrifice. He who knew no sin, became sin so that we might be considered righteous. God is holy. Our sin separates us from God. In order to bring us to Him, God had to send the Son to die and rise for us. There is no longer any need for animal sacrifices for our sins. They have been covered by the Lamb, Jesus Christ. But that does not mean that we should no longer offer sacrifices. Jesus says that if we want to follow him, we must pick up our cross and carry it each day. God sent the Son as a sacrifice for our sins, let us respond by sacrificing the things that get in the way of a closer relationship with God and others. Let us sacrifice some of our comforts in order to comfort others. Let us not forget the scandal of the cross. God's love for us is scandalous. Let us give thanks to God by loving God and others in return.

The Resurrection and the Phoenix

I just finished reading an article by John Spencer Hill from the "Journal of Biblical Literature" (101 no 1 March 1982, p. 133-35). The article looks at the Greek in John 12:13, and notes that there are two references to Palm trees in the same sentence: "the crowd took palm branches from palm trees. Hill suggests that the strange sentence structure is on purpose. He goes on to say that the Greek words for palm tree and phoenix are very similar in the way they are spelled and sound. Hill argues that John uses the word twice to help it stand out and to make a subtle reference to the phoenix. I think this is a major stretch. How often do you use a word twice in order to make a subtle reference to a word that sounds like the one you are using? Most people are going to miss the subtlety because it is too subtle. Even though I disagree with the author's argument, I do think that the phoenix is an appropriate image for the church (even though the only reference to a phoenix is in Job 29:18). The mythical creature that dies and rises from its ashes has been a symbol of resurrection for thousands of years. This symbol found new meaning when Christ rose from the grave. It is a precursor; it points to the resurrection and the life found in Jesus Christ.

This mythical creature found new life for folks when J.K. Rowling (a Christian) decided to give the bird a lot of press in her Harry Potter series. While this bird is a myth, it does serve as a symbol for the true resurrection found in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Older Brother and Bailouts

I receive "Cliff's Notes," emails from Cliff Stewart, a mentor of mine who serves as pastor of First Central Presbyterian Church in Abilene, TX. He has a wonderful sense of humor and often shares remarkable thoughts, quotes, etc. This morning he sent a snippet from a sermon by Dr. Michael Halleen. This is a timely message for many of us today.

The older brother became angry and . . . answered his father, “Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. . . .But when this son of yours who has squandered your property . . . comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” (Luke 15:28-30)

My financial advisor and I agreed on a conservative investment strategy, believing it was not wise at my age to be taking unnecessary risks with my modest retirement portfolio. I took his counsel, played by the rules, did the responsible thing.

But my bucket got a hole in it. In the past eight months I’ve lost more than 40 percent of the value of my investments. And no one seems to be able to fix that hole. Instead, it’s the guys who broke the rules, the scoundrels who made bad decisions and irresponsible choices, who are getting bailed out. Their bucket is under repair, in some cases being filled with bonuses. The fattened calf is trotted out for them!

I’ve found new appreciation for the older brother in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. He was the one who stayed home and worked in his father’s fields while his younger brother was squandering everything he had been given. He was the one who had been responsible, steady and loyal. Yet we’re often critical of him for being angry about the party his father throws when the younger brother returns home. He pouts, he complains—just as I do to my financial advisor. He refuses to celebrate—just as I refuse to celebrate the good fortune of those being bailed out. Wait! I say. I’m the one who did what I was supposed to.

But the story of the prodigal and his brother isn’t about right and wrong. It’s about lost and found. Jesus seems to be saying that those of us who do the “right things” in life get just as lost—just as disconnected from God—as those who do the wrong things. The older brother standing stubbornly outside the house was as distant from the father’s love as his brother had been in the far country. Both were lost. Each needed to be found. All are welcome at the party.

Of course being responsible—“being good”—is always the better road. But that’s not what saves us. We’re not loved because we do the “right thing.” The love comes first. We choose to live responsibly because we are valued—infinitely loved—by the Father in whose house we dwell.

Kings on NBC (A Review)

When I first began seeing previews for NBC’s new TV-drama, “Kings,” I was intrigued. I thought the show was going to consider what America would be like if we had a monarchy rather than a democracy. So last week I tuned in to see if the show would catch my interest. It did, but it was not because of a political thought experiment but because of its biblical moorings.

It did not take long before my family and I recognized that the names of people and places in the show are from the Bible, more specifically 1 Samuel. The king and his children have names that are derived from the Hebrew names of the first king of Israel and his family: Silas for Saul (Ian McShane), Jack for Jonathan (Sebastian Stan), and Michelle for Michal (Allison Miller). The surname, Benjamin, is the name of the twelfth tribe of Israel. Reverend Samuels (Eamonn Walker) represents the prophet Samuel, from which the biblical books of 1 and 2 Samuel get their name. David Shepherd (Chris Egan) represents the seventh son of Jesse, a shepherd by trade, and a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). David is known for slaying Goliath, a giant in the Bible and a tank in the show. The name for the country Gilboa comes from a range that served as the setting for the battle between Israel and the Philistines. Shiloh, the capitol city in the show, was the name of the religious center of Israel during the time of the Judges. These names are not a coincidence. This show appears to be an adaptation of the biblical stories from 1 and 2 Samuel.

As a Christian, this raises a lot of questions for me. Is it the studio’s intention to retell the biblical story in a modern context? If so, why was it not promoted as such? At the beginning of the show, the king says in a speech that it is not popular to speak of God but he does so because he feels blessed. Is this the motivation behind the show’s production? Are the studio executives trying to talk about God incognito? Are they trying to share the stories of the Bible in a non-threatening way? Or did they choose to retell these stories because they felt like there is “nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes)? How close is the studio planning to stick to the biblical stories? I enjoyed the first two episodes and I am planning to watch the rest of the first season.

I am interested to hear how the public will respond. Will people recognize the biblical story? Will people consult the Bible to see what really happened? Will they shrug their shoulders and change the channel? Would more or less folks watch the show if they knew it was based on the Bible? How do Jews and Christians feel about a TV show adapting stories they consider scripture?

The studio will obviously need some ability to adjust the stories to fit a different context and to maintain interest, but I hope they stay close to the biblical model. I would encourage folks to watch the show, read their bibles, and reflect on how God is speaking to them today. You can watch past episodes on http://www.nbc.com/. If you choose to watch, some things we should remember are: 1) This is not our story, it’s God’s story; 2) We are called to share God’s story; and 3) even if the show becomes a bad adaptation, it can be a great teaching moment. But first things first, we need to know the Bible before we can comment on how other’s portray it. Perhaps it is time to read or re-read 1 and 2 Samuel. If you would like to comment on this review or read more of my comments on the show and other topics, you can do so at http://www.revrigoulot.blogspot.com/ or by finding the link on our church website, http://www.pampapcusa.org/.

Before I conclude this article I would like to point out some images and references to the resurrection found in the first episode. When David fixes Reverend Samuel’s car, the reverend exclaims, “The dead has arisen.” This could be preacher-talk for a car being fixed, but it may also be a subtle attempt to suggest that the dead can come back to life. The butterfly is an important symbol in the show as it is prominently displayed on the Gilboa’s flags and uniforms. When my family and I watched the first episode, my dad suggested that it was silly to have a butterfly on your flag because there is nothing less intimidating than a butterfly. However, the butterfly has served as a symbol of the resurrection for centuries. Caterpillars seem to die when they form their cocoons and they seem to come back to life better than before when they emerge as butterflies. Butterflies may be peaceful, but they are powerful images of the life that overcomes death. It may not make much political or military sense, but God’s foolishness is wiser than our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). I would like to encourage people to watch the show and reflect on these Judeo-Christian stories, images, and themes as they are being presented by NBC.

The Moderator Comments on the Loss of Members in PCUSA

The Moderator of the PCUSA recently wrote the following blog entry. I appreciated his thoughts and I am interested to hear what others have to say.

(Bruce's comments are in blue)

At a recent gathering, yet again, someone posed the basic question to be, "What do you think about people leaving the denomination?"
Fully understanding that I may be inviting trouble and the safer - and maybe wiser - option would be to leave it to the ecclesiastical pundits and polity wonks to hash out, I figure what the heck, might as well weigh in on one of the big unspoken questions.
Before I start, let me be very clear in that I am not in any way encouraging folks to leave, stay, return, etc. but trying to provide a space to share what I have heard and to invite respectful discourse. As I have posted before, while I have many reasons to leave the PC(USA) I have at least 10 reasons to remain part of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I am not in any way "loyal to the end" to the PC(USA) nor do I find my worth from the denomination, but in the end the PC(USA) is where I feel God is calling me to most effectively and passionately express my Christian calling to serve.
I know there are many facets and layers to people's relationship with the Presbyterian Church (USA). I have had friends who have left our church because we are either to conservative and closed-minded or because we are too liberal and culture-accommodating. I also have friends who seem to always be just this side of making the leap be it to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the United Church of Christ or to independent church-planting; all trying to figure out if the next big decision will finally push them to a commitment one way or another. I grieve for the loss and/or potential loss of denominational colleagues, but I also rejoice when those decisions are made in response to a deep faithfulness to answer God's calling into something new.
To be blunt, and this may seem odd coming from someone in my denominational position, but I actually do not care all that much about where one lands in their denominational affiliation as long as he or she is being fed, nurtured and challenged in their relationship with the risen Christ. As a church planter I long ago gave up the notion that the church I serve is the best church for everyone who walks through our doors on Sunday night.
In fact, one of the first things offer to visitors to MBCC is to acknowledge that we won't be for everyone and that I care more that one lands in a place where they grow spiritually so much so that if they want to have coffee sometime, I would be more that willing to to help them put together their "church shopping list." If MBCC is the place for them, great, but if not I can help them find the right fit. I am very clear that I believe that we offer a unique and compelling Christian experience, but I also acknowledge that God calls each of us in different ways and even to different places.
Shouldn't we want the same thing for one another regardless of theological perspectives; for the other to grow in their relationship with Christ that goes beyond denominational obligation and loyalty? I think that for some of us, somewhere in our experience, we see our salvation being directly tied to our denominational identity. Folks should not be part of our particular denominational tribe because we have some kind of exclusive possession of the truth, but because we offer a unique and compelling reason to live out their faith through the life of our uniquely connectional denomination.
In the end, the institutional location where one chooses to live out one's Christian journey shouldn't be a place where one is always happy, comfortable and gets what one wants or is otherwise fooled into thinking that there will be an absence of struggle or conflict. Instead, it must be a place where one feels called to express their gratitude to God for the blessings in their life so much so that the struggles and conflicts can be seen as opportunities through which one's faith grows. If those struggles cause one to compromise one's theological or ideological values and integrity, that is not the place to be NOR should anyone allow themselves to be bullied or forces into such a reality.
Again, I am not trying to encourage any particular group to engage in any particular action, but merely weighing in on what I think is an important conversation that is being held in our church. For if we are to move forward with any semblance on health and solidarity, then we must do so trusting God enough to be honest about where we stand on some of the crucial issues is vital.
So . . . I laid out what I think, what say you?

What do you think? Are you concerned about the decline in membership within the PCUSA? Can we grow through an approach that centers on becoming and equpping faithful disciples? Should we be focused on growth at all? It is easy to judge how well a church is doing by counting the number of fannies in the pews or names of the role, but is that the best way to determine whether or not a congregation or denomination is being faithful to God? A decline certainly indicates something, so what do you think the decline in numbers is telling us about the denomination? What would you like to see PCUSA do differently? You can see Bruce's original post and other people's comments by going to www.mod-reyes-chow.com.

Kings on NBC

I watched the 2 hour premiere of "Kings" on Sunday evening and I was fascinated by the biblical imagery that has been adapted from the book of 1 Samuel. I am wondering how close the executives are planning to stay to the biblical model/timeline. As a Presbyterian pastor I love to see and discuss how Christianity impacts culture and how culture interprets and presents Christianity. I should also recognize that the story of David is first and foremost a part of the Hebrew Scriptures. I am interested in how other people of faith are reacting to the show and its scriptural roots. Did you watch the show? What did you think? Do you want the show to stay close to the biblical story or should it be free to go down different avenues?

Sermon Scraps - The Samaritan Woman at the Well

This past Sunday I preached on John 4:4-42. You can read the sermon or watch the service by going to www.pampapcusa.org. I came up with the title sermon scraps because I intended to talk about all the fun things I learned in my research that didn't make it into the sermon. Unfortunately, I have not made the time to follow through on that idea. But this week I learned so much in my studies that I wanted to share some more information with those who might be interested. The sermon was about the different ways that the Samaritan Woman has been interpreted over the past two thousand years of church history. Scholars can't decide if she is a hero or a harlot; a sinner or a saint; humble or haughty; friendly or facetious; slow-minded or scholarly. She may be all of these things and more. When her story is put next to the story of Nicodemus, we see that the gospel is for everyone. These are two very different people on completely opposite ends of the social spectrum. We see that she catches on faster than Nicodemus and perhaps even the disciples. We see her act like an apostle as she tells people to come and see Jesus for themselves. I have two thoughts that didn't make it into the sermon this go around.

1. Why does Jesus have to pass through Samaria? I learned that while this is the shortest route to take, it was not the preferred one. The Jews tended to prefer the scenic route because it helped them stay out of Samaria. It is like taking the loop around the city in order to avoid the wrong neighborhoods – the wrong parts of town that are filled with the wrong sorts of people. Jesus did not have to go through Samaria because there were no other routes to take. I believe Jesus had to go through Samaria because that is where God wanted him to go. I think God planned his conversation with the woman at the well and his two day stay in the city of Sichar. Think of it this way, Jesus had to pass through Samaria because God had already made reservations for his stay.

2. I almost preached a sermon on The Woman as an Example of Being a Witness. In an article titled, "The Witness at the Well," Fred Craddock says the following,
"She is a witness, but not a likely witness and not even a thorough witness. 'A man who told me all that I ever did' is not exactly a recitation of the Apostle's Creed. She is not even a coninced witnss: 'Can this be the Christ?' is literally, 'This cannot be the Christ, can it?' Even so, her witness is enough: it is invitational (come and see), not judgmental; it is within the range permitted by her experience; it is honest with its own uncertainty; it is for everyone who will hear. How refreshing. Her witness avoids triumphalism, hawking someone else's conclusions, packaged answers to unasked questions, thinly veiled ultimatums and threats of hell, and assumptions of certainty on theological matters. She does convey, however, her willingness to let her hearers arrive at their own affirmations about Jesus, and they do: "This indeed is the Savior of the World."

I love the idea that this woman is a faithful witness even though she is not a likely witness or even a witness that is completely convinced that Jesus is the Christ. How many of us feel like we shouldn't talk about our faith because we are embarassed about how much we don't know or how often we question our faith. Should doubts keep us from sharing the faith we do have? Should a lack of knowledge prevent us from sharing the love of God that we have embraced? How wonderful to find a biblical example of someone who was so excited about her encounter with Jesus that she went and told everyone she knew the good news that she had met Jesus. It is my hope and prayer that all Christians will recognize that we are called to be witnesses to the world. We cannot wait until we have everything figured out before we go out and share the love of God with the world. In fact, I believe it is through being a witness that we begin to learn what it means to be a witness. Missional Theology suggests that we learn about God by taking part in God's mission. We learn what it means to be a neighbor by being a neighbor and reflecting on how well our actions reflect the will and love of God. We learn what it is like to be forgiven by forgiving others. We learn to love God more deeply by sharing that love with the world. The Samaritan Woman at the Well is a prime example of being a witness to the world.

My Ash Wednesday Sermon

This Sermon was originally preached at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at 12:00 noon on February 25.

My three-year-old son, Kennan, goes to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Monday we told him that the school was having a book fair. Later that evening he was really upset and on the verge of tears. When we asked him what was wrong, he said that he didn’t want to give his books away. Many of us feel the same way about Lent. We feel as if we have to give up something we enjoy – and like my son, many of us don’t have any idea why we are supposed to do it in the first place.

This year is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth. I recently read an article that claims Calvin was among the Reformers who tried to get rid of Ash Wednesday and other Lenten observances. As a Presbyterian preparing a sermon for Ash Wednesday I was intrigued by the idea that Calvin might not approve of what I was doing. So I dusted off my copy of John Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion” and flipped to the section on fasting. Calvin claims that fasting is not well understood, so it can easily lapse into superstition. His writing reveals that he does not have a problem with fasting, as long as it is done for the right reasons. Lent is not a time to give something up just for the sake of giving something up. Calvin says, “the matter lies primarily in the motive of the heart.” In fact, Calvin makes reference to our scripture reading from Joel, chapter 2.

Our scripture reading begins with a blast from a trumpet, warning the people that they are facing a great calamity. God has sent an army to destroy the city. There is no escaping this army, but there is hope. God may still relent – if the people return to God with their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. We don’t know why God is sending this army, but we do know that the people believe they need to repent. Lent is a time for us to reflect on our relationship with God, a time to repent from our sins, a time to rearrange our priorities in life. Lent is a time for us to turn our hearts to God. Any fasting, weeping, or mourning must be an outward reflection of how one feels on the inside. Joel says you should rend your hearts and not your clothing. The bible has many examples of people who tore their clothing after recognizing their sin. It is a visible sign of inner repentance. Repentance is when we turn away from sin and turn toward God. What Joel is saying is that we cannot put on a religious show. God knows what is in our hearts. We shouldn’t give up something we enjoy without knowing why we are doing it. Psalm 51 says sacrifices are meaningless unless they represent a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. Lent is not about appearing religious. It’s not about making a sacrifice that will appease God. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s forgiveness. God has already done the work. Lent is about recognizing what God has done for us. It is about remembering Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, his journey to the cross on Calvary.

Our reading from Second Corinthians calls us to be reconciled to God. The passage recognizes that Jesus Christ, the only person who never sinned in his entire life, became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. Lent is a time for us to recognize our sin as well as the sinless one who died for our sin. Lent is about removing the obstacles that prevent us from having a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. If you don’t think you have time to read scripture or pray daily, yet you have time to watch television, then perhaps you should give up watching television for Lent. But it only makes a difference if you fill that time with God. Giving up television in order to read scripture and pray each day is a fast that John Calvin would be proud of. You shouldn’t give things up in order to be forgiven or earn brownie points with God. God has no delight in sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. But if you use that time to grow in your knowledge, service, and love of God – then you will receive your heavenly reward.

Our reading from Matthew warns us not to practice piety in order to impress others. We are not supposed to give money, pray, or fast in order to appear religious. God wants us to tear open our hearts, not our clothes. We need to be transformed from within. Calvin says that God does not care about fasting itself, unless an inner emotion of the heart is present. We need God to create in us a new heart, to put a new and right spirit within us. We cannot do this on our own. We cannot turn away from sin and turn toward God without the inward working of the Spirit.

A second trumpet is blown in our scripture reading from the book of Joel. This time the trumpet blast brings the people together for a fast. This fast is an outward sign of their inward repentance. They have returned to the Lord, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. During this season of Lent, let us prepare our hearts to be made new. Some obstacles may need to be removed. It may hurt. But your reward will be great.

Lent vs. Lint

Lent is the season in which the Church recalls the events of Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem. Lint is that stuff that some of us find in our belly buttons and most of us find in our dryers.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter. It is forty days, not counting Sundays. Unlike, Christmas (Dec. 25), Easter is not on the same date each year. Easter is based on a lunar calendar that reflects the Jewish celebration of the Passover. The church has maintained the connection between Christian celebration of Easter and the Jewish celebration of the Passover because Jesus was in Jerusalem with his disciples celebrating the Passover when he was betrayed, crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. Lent is a season of preparation for the events that lead up to the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter always occurs in the spring.

Spring reminds us of spring-cleaning and spring-cleaning reminds us of finding lint in the dryer and sweeping dust bunnies from underneath furniture. Many households prepare for the spring by putting cold weather clothes away, re-organizing rooms, cleaning, and redecorating the house.

In many ways, Lent is supposed to be a time for some Spring-cleaning for our souls. It is not necessarily about making sacrifices (giving up desserts, television, or some other comfort). Lent is a time for preparation and reflection on our relationship with God and God’s love for us. Lent is a time for organizing and prioritizing our lives. Lent is a time for us to consider what is really important in life and focus our energy on those things. We may decide that we need to work on our relationships with God, family, and friends. We may decide to work on a spiritual discipline, like daily prayer and reading scripture, fasting, service to the community, etc. In the end, we may decide that we will give up watching television so we can read scripture and pray during that time instead. We may decide to give up desserts or have an occasional fast so that we can give the money we would spend on that food to an organization that feeds the hungry. But Lent is not meant to simply be a time of self-denial. Lent is meant to be a time of self-fulfillment.

Lint is something you throw away – it’s like celebrating Lent by simply giving up something you enjoy. Lent is meant to be a time when we reflect on how much God loves us and respond by sharing God’s love with the world.

Let us pray,
Gracious God, during this season of Lent, we ask that you would send your Holy Spirit to be with us, to guide and direct us, as we reflect on Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Help us learn more about your love and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Deepen our love for you and help us respond to your love by sharing it with the world. If we choose to give something up during this season, we ask that it would be done in order to bring us closer to you. If we choose to begin a new spiritual discipline during this season, we ask that you would give us the strength, endurance, and commitment we need to see it through. Bring us closer to you as we recall Christ’s journey to the cross during this season of Lent. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Love of God

This Saturday we will celebrate the gift of love as we enjoy Valentine’s Day. While this holiday tends to focus on romantic love, I would like to talk about our love for God. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a Benedictine Monk. Bernard came up with the following four stages to describe how people tend to love God.

The first stage is “Love of Self for Self’s Sake.” The psychological term for loving oneself is narcissism. We recognize this behavior in infants and small children that think the world revolves around them. This behavior can return during adolescence. And we all know some folks who never seem to grow out of this stage.

The second stage is “Love of God for Self’s Sake.” This is when we recognize that there are benefits to believing in God. We look forward to heaven and ask that God bless us while we wait down here on earth. While this is certainly better than narcissism, it can be problematic. God is not a magic genie. God’s timing is not our timing.

The third stage is “Love of God for God’s Sake.” This is when we recognize that God has value, not because of what God can do for us, but because of who God is. We love God because God is God.

According to Bernard of Clairvaux, the fourth stage is “Love of Self for God’s Sake.” This is when we begin to see ourselves as God sees us. When we begin to experience life as a gift and strive to live our lives giving glory to God by enjoying God and the life we have been given.

If we are honest with ourselves, we probably move in and out of these stages on a daily basis. Let us strive to love God and ourselves for the sake of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is love. This is revealed in the very nature of God. St. Augustine recognized that God is love by referring to the members of the trinity as: the lover, the beloved, and the love that binds them together.

Prayer:
Glorious God,
You are love. Help us love ourselves. Help us love others. And help us love you. Help us to know you more deeply. Help us to enjoy life and give glory to you for all that you’ve done, all that you are, and all that you have called us to be.

New Year's Resolutions - Mine is posting more frequently!

While it is a month and a half after the start of the new year, I thought I would begin my new year's resolution of blogging on a more regular basis. And what better way to start than by posting the newsletter article I wrote for the church in January. Enjoy!

The New Year is a time for reflection on the past year and dreams for the new one. As you reflect on the past year, take some time to consider where you have seen God at work in your life and the lives of your loved ones, as well as your church, community, and world. As you look to the future, open yourself up to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The New Year is an excellent time to recommit ourselves to God and open ourselves up to what God would have us do.

This year I have heard some folks knocking New Year’s resolutions. One preacher said that they tend to be based on what society tells us to do, that they come from looking outside of ourselves and perhaps down on ourselves. While I don’t want to throw the resolutions out, this preacher may have a point. Choosing our resolutions based on what others tell us are important may be one of the reasons so many of us fail to follow through with them. However, I think an outside perspective combined with some introspection and a real desire for change can have positive outcomes. Thinking about what others are telling you to do and then reflecting on your desires is worth some time even if you don’t make a resolution for change. Knowing yourself is an immeasurable gift. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When we take the time to reflect on our lives, I’m sure all of us will find something that we would like to change. The New Year really is a great time to kick a harmful habit or pick up a good one. It is a time for commitment and re-commitment.

The important thing to remember is that God loves us just as we are. But that doesn’t mean that God wants us to stay where we are. God wants us to continue to grow and mature as people and as children of God. As we reflect on our lives this New Year, let’s be sure to reflect on the love of God as well. Where would we be without it?

Some Recommendations:
Did you know that you can find daily bible readings on our church website www.pampapcusa.org by using the Links page? You can also have the daily readings sent directly to your email by going to http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index.htm.

This year we are celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin. John Calvin was one of the Reformers who helped shape the faith of the Presbyterian Church. To celebrate, Princeton Theological Seminary is providing daily readings from Calvin’s crowning theological work, “The Institutes.” If you would like to make these readings a part of your New Year’s Resolutions or you just want to check it out, you can find them at http://www2.ptsem.edu/ConEd/Calvin/.