"He rained down manna upon them to eat
and gave them grain from heaven.
So mortals ate the bread of angels;
he provided for them food enough."
Psalm 78 24-25
Sunday we have the follow up story to feeding the 5000. It's the next day and when the people awake, they discover Jesus has left the vicinity. After puzzling over it, they determine he's gone to Capernaum and take off to find him.
Guess what they want? Yep. More bread. Jesus seems clearly annoyed. To paraphrase John's report of Jesus' remarks, "I'm kind of disappointed. I would hope you'd come for something more substantial--something more substantial than a good dinner and show." His comment goes right over their head. "Give us a sign." They go on to say, "Moses gave our ancestors manna. What have you got?"
Like many of us, they mistake the hole inside for hunger--hunger for food or for "stuff." We are a nation of obese people. Wonder why? We are a nation hungry for the latest--the latest gadget, the latest clothes, the latest piece of Web tech. Wonder why? Well for one thing, these are great distractions from having to think, to consider, to process, to reflect, to wonder. And that helps us avoid the pain of realization that food and this kind of stuff will never fill the hole.
We aren't likely to be eating the bread of angels. Too bad.
Peace,
Jerry+
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Chasing Jesus
Sunday's Gospel reading tells how Jesus and his disciples, exhausted from their work, make their way across the lake for a little respite. But the people skirt the lake and show up on the other side. Plus along the way, they gather others from villages and farms who are waiting for him when the boat lands. When he arrives, Mark says, Jesus "looked on them with compassion." He not only resumed his teaching, but he healed all those who were brought to him.
I wondered aloud today in my sermon at the Parkview why people don't still chase Jesus. Researchers tell us that not only are Christians diminishing in raw numbers in this country, but they aren't keeping up with the percentage growth of the country either. Attendance is down across the board. Even the Southern Baptist churches, traditionally growing every year, report the last two years a decline in professions of faith. What's going on?
Plenty. We're all busy. We're a nation of two career families or two job singles. We have more entertainment options than we've ever had in history. Not only can we watch dozens of channels of TV, we can Tweet, and Facebook and play video games and, well you know. But I don't think this is the primary reason. Let me add this disclaimer: this is strictly an opinion based on no research. I think the problem is Christians.
If we are the representatives of Jesus in our contemporary world, for the most part, we're doing a crummy job. We can't get along with each other. Heck, we can't even get along within our own denominations or parishes. Splits over beliefs are routine. Just not liking the priest or minister is reason enough to leave a parish or the church all together. While we give to our local churches, the amount that passes through to help the poor and lost is often less than 10% with the bulk going for institutional costs like utilities and salaries.
In short, we aren't looking with compassion at very many people. We do little or nothing to differentiate ourselves from those who make no pretense at being Christian. So why would anybody "chase Jesus" if we're the model for him in this world?
Guess I sound a little gloomy today. Maybe it's because according to the best researchers, within 15 years in this country, fewer than half the people will even claim Christianity as their faith and by 2050, the dominant faith in the U.S. will be Islam.
Peace?
Jerry+
I wondered aloud today in my sermon at the Parkview why people don't still chase Jesus. Researchers tell us that not only are Christians diminishing in raw numbers in this country, but they aren't keeping up with the percentage growth of the country either. Attendance is down across the board. Even the Southern Baptist churches, traditionally growing every year, report the last two years a decline in professions of faith. What's going on?
Plenty. We're all busy. We're a nation of two career families or two job singles. We have more entertainment options than we've ever had in history. Not only can we watch dozens of channels of TV, we can Tweet, and Facebook and play video games and, well you know. But I don't think this is the primary reason. Let me add this disclaimer: this is strictly an opinion based on no research. I think the problem is Christians.
If we are the representatives of Jesus in our contemporary world, for the most part, we're doing a crummy job. We can't get along with each other. Heck, we can't even get along within our own denominations or parishes. Splits over beliefs are routine. Just not liking the priest or minister is reason enough to leave a parish or the church all together. While we give to our local churches, the amount that passes through to help the poor and lost is often less than 10% with the bulk going for institutional costs like utilities and salaries.
In short, we aren't looking with compassion at very many people. We do little or nothing to differentiate ourselves from those who make no pretense at being Christian. So why would anybody "chase Jesus" if we're the model for him in this world?
Guess I sound a little gloomy today. Maybe it's because according to the best researchers, within 15 years in this country, fewer than half the people will even claim Christianity as their faith and by 2050, the dominant faith in the U.S. will be Islam.
Peace?
Jerry+
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Losing Your Head
I was very distracted at worship Sunday. The lessons didn't help, especially the beheading of John the Baptizer. But in the final analysis, it wasn't anything at church that was the cause of my lack of focus. It was disruption at home.
I'm not an order freak, though I do like things in their place--principally so I can find them easily. Dirt and dust don't bother me too much, especially now that I'm the "housekeeper." But things in disarray and clutter bug me a lot. And right now, there is a fair amount of disarray. We're redoing a bedroom/playroom and I'm building shelves in my closet.
The redoing has required removal of the furniture. So first I attempted to sell it through the neighborhood newsletter. Got rid of one piece. I moved one piece out myself to refinish it for my closet and then decided to just build shelves. Finally, called the Salvation Army truck. But each time something was moved, a bunch of other stuff had to be moved so it could be wrangled out of the room, and then through the small den and out the door.
With these projects humming, I was also trying to continue my outdoor projects, prepare notes for teaching a new course at the Seminary in the fall and more and more. I felt overwhelmed, and I noticed, under appreciated.
This was the mindset I took to church. I confess I prayed for peace both for me and for Carol who had a bad experience at work that threw her into a tailspin for days. But, as I said, I wasn't very focused on worship so little wonder the peace seemed to elude me. Only later did the story of John losing his head creep into my world.
John's in jail for ticking off the higher ups. He's worried that Jesus may not be who he thought he was--even sends some followers to check up. And then, John loses his head. Literally. "Jeez," I thought, "John really had it bad. And me? Just crap that will ultimately be taken care of, go away, or won't matter."
Peace comes in funny ways.
Jerry+
I'm not an order freak, though I do like things in their place--principally so I can find them easily. Dirt and dust don't bother me too much, especially now that I'm the "housekeeper." But things in disarray and clutter bug me a lot. And right now, there is a fair amount of disarray. We're redoing a bedroom/playroom and I'm building shelves in my closet.
The redoing has required removal of the furniture. So first I attempted to sell it through the neighborhood newsletter. Got rid of one piece. I moved one piece out myself to refinish it for my closet and then decided to just build shelves. Finally, called the Salvation Army truck. But each time something was moved, a bunch of other stuff had to be moved so it could be wrangled out of the room, and then through the small den and out the door.
With these projects humming, I was also trying to continue my outdoor projects, prepare notes for teaching a new course at the Seminary in the fall and more and more. I felt overwhelmed, and I noticed, under appreciated.
This was the mindset I took to church. I confess I prayed for peace both for me and for Carol who had a bad experience at work that threw her into a tailspin for days. But, as I said, I wasn't very focused on worship so little wonder the peace seemed to elude me. Only later did the story of John losing his head creep into my world.
John's in jail for ticking off the higher ups. He's worried that Jesus may not be who he thought he was--even sends some followers to check up. And then, John loses his head. Literally. "Jeez," I thought, "John really had it bad. And me? Just crap that will ultimately be taken care of, go away, or won't matter."
Peace comes in funny ways.
Jerry+
Monday, July 6, 2009
Connection
Last night my wife and I attended the touring production of Wicked. Weird, but fun story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glenda, the Good Witch, and how the Tin Man and Scarecrow came to be. Wildly popular show everwhere. When it finishes its run here, 57,000 people will have seen it.
All this is to set up what I observed before, at intermission, and immediately after the show. Cell phones flashing on! By the dozens! People were either checking email, twittering, checking calls or something similar. They weren't talking to the people around them. In fact, in more than one case, people who were sitting together were each on their phone, punching buttons, as it were, with single-minded intent.
I carry a cell phone. I've had one since the days of the "brick." I had it with me last night. Turned off. I turned it on when we got in the car. I find it to be very useful. Recently when I had my wreck, I used my cell to call for help. I have nothing against cell phones.
But, what I wonder about is the motivation behind the umbilical attachment to them. Back in the 70s I was on the road a lot and I had a CB radio. It was the fad in those days. Discussing it with a colleague, I opined that it was the equivalent to the old front porch on which people sat and said "howdy" and more to those that walked down the sidewalk in front of their houses. I wonder if there is a built in longing for connection that prompts Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and more? Is the electronic connection the best we can do these days?
Again, I'm not against electronic connection. I use email to stay in touch with friends, especially those far away and, obviously, I blog. My question is about what seems to be an obsession with the devices, even to the exclusion of interacting with those around you. And I guess at a deeper level, I wonder what hole all this connection is trying to fill?
Of course, I can't help thinking theologically about it. Wonder what you think? How about leaving a comment to let me know?
Peace,
Jerry+
All this is to set up what I observed before, at intermission, and immediately after the show. Cell phones flashing on! By the dozens! People were either checking email, twittering, checking calls or something similar. They weren't talking to the people around them. In fact, in more than one case, people who were sitting together were each on their phone, punching buttons, as it were, with single-minded intent.
I carry a cell phone. I've had one since the days of the "brick." I had it with me last night. Turned off. I turned it on when we got in the car. I find it to be very useful. Recently when I had my wreck, I used my cell to call for help. I have nothing against cell phones.
But, what I wonder about is the motivation behind the umbilical attachment to them. Back in the 70s I was on the road a lot and I had a CB radio. It was the fad in those days. Discussing it with a colleague, I opined that it was the equivalent to the old front porch on which people sat and said "howdy" and more to those that walked down the sidewalk in front of their houses. I wonder if there is a built in longing for connection that prompts Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and more? Is the electronic connection the best we can do these days?
Again, I'm not against electronic connection. I use email to stay in touch with friends, especially those far away and, obviously, I blog. My question is about what seems to be an obsession with the devices, even to the exclusion of interacting with those around you. And I guess at a deeper level, I wonder what hole all this connection is trying to fill?
Of course, I can't help thinking theologically about it. Wonder what you think? How about leaving a comment to let me know?
Peace,
Jerry+
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