"the greatest hermeneutic of the gospel is a community that seeks to live by it."
Leslie Newbigin
The broad-backed hippopotamus
Rests on his belly in the mud;
Although he seems so firm to us
He is merely flesh and blood.
Flesh and blood is weak and frail,
Susceptible to nervous shock;
While the true church can never fail
For it is based upon a rock.
The hippo's feeble steps may err
In compassing material ends,
While the True Church need never stir
To gather in its dividends.
The 'potamus can never reach
The mango on the mango-tree;
But fruits of pomegranate and peach
Refresh the Church from over sea.
At mating time the hippo's voice
Betrays inflexions hoarse and odd,
But every week we hear rejoice
The Church, at being one with God.
The hippopotamus's day
Is passed in sleep; at night he hunts;
God works in a mysterious way -
The church can sleep and feed at once
I saw the 'potamus take wing
Ascending from the damp savannas,
And quiring angels round him sing
The praise of God, in loud hosannas.
Blood of the Lamb shall wash him clean
And him shall heavenly arms enfold,
Among the saints he shall be seen
Performing on a harp of gold.
He shall be washed as white as snow,
By all martyr'd virgins kist,
While the True Church remains below
Wrapt in old miasmal mist.
-- T. S. Eliot
The creeds are great. I was raised in a tradition that said "Creeds bad - you follow our unwritten 'creed' " They were trapped in semantics that confession (though apparently flexible) was somehow sanctioned by Holy writ whereas creed .. argh bad used by the "beast of revelation"
If some research would be done - people would see that definite scriptural basis for creeds.
For example :
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. (Nicene Creed)
- compare this statement with Psalm 121
This statement alone separates us from the beliefs of millions of people in the world. That God created the "heavens and the earth" - not some primordial soup, or some life force that mixed salt and fresh water together.
The Father, the Almighty - maker of all seen and unseen.
Wow - creeds are so rich. I could do a teaching about how applicable they are to our faith and life now. Not just some mantra that we recite before the offering or the sermon, etc. but the very foundation and formulation (not source -Scripture is the source) of the dogma of our faith.
We got back sometime Sat. night. It was an ok trip - I like to be able to have some time away - I think that is imperative (solitude) for Christians - and especially pastors who deal with people day in and day out.
Today is a day that we as a family "fast" from the world, no T.V., no nothing and oftentimes no food. I also enjoy days like this. I get to think and not feel so rushed by "life."
It is amzing how we look forward for this or for that - and the next thing you know - the future has vanished.
Lord give me grace to live today!
I am out of town this weekend - I am at my wife's grandmother's house. I enjoy it here - nothing to do so I do not feel guilty doing nothing.
I am reading some T.S. Eliot. I did not appreciate him in high school as much as I do now. I tended to stay away from the theistic (or what I thought were theistic) poets and writers in high school. I loved English in high school - I had a teacher that really inspired me to pursue my love for reading, writing and the academics/ liberal arts in general. She also pushed me philosophically by getting me to read Ayn Rand (yuck) and others. It sparked in me a love and also an idolatry for existentialism. Now that I am a christian I appreciate the foundation of thought that she laid in my life. She made me a skeptic (of course I soon became more skeptical than her) and even now though I have been saved from Hume and Kantian type skepticism - I still question a great deal of things. I have a faith seeking understanding.
Anyway T.S. Eliot was a great poet. I enjoy him very much.
I really think that Sunday is the nectar of the God !! (not gods- but God) I have enjoyed today so much. Today some of the guys that come to our meetings (they are at my house) sat on my front porch for awhile and enjoyed the wonderful, lazy weather. Sometimes with me being in seminary and all - I just need some "veg" time. No reading - nothing but nothing. I got that for awhile this afternoon.
Thanks Lord for the "Sabbath" - my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and lazy days with my savior on the front porch.
I placed a jar in Tennessee,
And round it was, upon a hill.
It made the slovenly wilderness
surround that hill.
The wilderness rose up to it,
And sprawled around, no longer wild.
The jar was round upon the ground
And tall and of a port of air.
It took dominion everywhere.
The jar was gray and bare.
It did not give of bird or bush,
Like nothing else in Tennessee.
- Wallace Stevens
My struggle today is why is it that liberals always refer to conservatives as being like Hitler?
Correct if I am wrong (and for this one I know that I am not wrong) - but Hitler was a liberal and a socialist - National Socialist Party (Nazi Party)
So why is he the feared conservative poster boy - when the things that he platformed are what today liberals champion?
1) gun control
2) tolerance for anyone who agrees with them
3) benefits for a "working class" that doesn't work to earn points politically
4) has true dictatorial goals in mind
5) Propaganda to convince loyalty to the state.
6) Big government
Hey maybe that's not liberal - but just government... hmmmm...
I hate these little tests that peolple do but I could not resist this one.
| "What a mystery is this, that Christianity should have done so little good in the world! Can any account of this be given? Can any reasons be assigned for it?" |
| You are John Wesley! When things don't sit well with you, you make a big production and argue your way through everything. You complain a lot, but, at least you are a thinker and not afraid to show it. You are also pretty liked by people, and pretty methodological about your life and goals. You know where you're going. Some people find you irritating, so watch out for people leaving you out of things they do. |
I am back into the old grind. There is one difference this year though. I feel more confident in God's grace to carry me through my studies and I also feel more relaxed.
God has apparently done a work in me this summer. I feel closer to God than I have in quite awhile - but it is close in different kind of way. I can't explain it but it is a more substantial kind of way. I believe that an increased intake of God's Word and also attempting to put into action has stimulated this increase of spiritual vitality in my life. Also a great influence has been the community of people that I am involved with and their love and discipline. Being in community transforms - especially one that is authentic. I praise God for the joy (and heartaches) of BEING the church.
I have a great deal of reading this semester - I have developed an approximate schedule for me to follow with my studying. If I don't do that I will not get my studying accomplished. I am going to post on the church blog my schedule so everyone will know when I am available and when I am available only for emergencies.
Well that's about it for what's going on - tommorrow I hope to offer more commentary on some of the books I am reading and some of the things that I am learning.
Back to school tommorrow. I am excited. I love going to learn about God. When I was younger I did well in school but I did not enjoy it as much as I do now. I can't wait to learn now. Actually I would love after I get my Phd to go back and get a degree in physics or some other scientific field. I love to learn - and I also love to teach. My love for teaching fuels my love to learn and vice versa.
I watched pieces of this crazy show today at the folks house. My wife, son and I journeyed over there for some BBQ and ice cream and I started watching that American Chopper show on Disc Channel. It was a rough show - but man it had some cool bikes on there. I love motorcycles. My wife would never let me own one - but I still dig them all the same. I probably won't make a habit out of American Chopper - but watching it for awhile was great.
I am also thinking very seriously about taking up fishing as a hobby. Not very expensive, could actually put some food on the table and very, very relaxing.
So my sister and I looked online at some real estate at a lake near here. It would cool to have a weekend house for my family to share to fish or just get away for awhile (sound cool Ron?)
So I hope in the next few weeks to get some fishing done.