Two weeks back, I stole one of your ideas and wrote about faith and mogul skiing. One of you responded to that letter with another great idea, which I will now steal shamelessly also!
Here’s what happened: I wrote that faith was like mogul skiing; moguls come at you so fast that the better trained you are, the easier it is to respond like you want. Ditto faithful living, goes the theory. Then, someone made a good observation, how often we speak of routine as a problem for faith, and talk about ‘keeping faith fresh.’ But maybe, he went on, there’s a positive way to think of spiritual routine, perhaps after the fashion of performers. “Ask any performer what happens when they take time off…How long does it take to lose your edge?”
That reminded me of a conversation I had years ago with a spiritual mentor. He and I spent an hour together weekly for about two years. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but I deeply respected his insight and spiritual maturity, and especially his ability to love me for who I was. And that’s helped shaped me into who I am today. So if any of you are searching for ways to make more of an impact with your life, consider becoming a mentor. It takes commitment and compassion, but helps people in lasting, profound ways (and you needn’t be a ‘spiritual mentor’; just hanging out with youth is enough). I have multiple ways to help you do that, by the way, just let me know.
Anyway, so Mark and I were chatting one afternoon, and we pondered what spiritual development takes. We were both musicians (he muuuuuuch better than I!), so he said, “Shane, think about concert pianists.” So I did. And I said, “I got nothing, Mark. What do you mean?” “Concert pianists practice their art daily. And they say that if they take a day or two off, they can really feel it. Others may have no clue, but they know. But if a week goes by without practice, they say critics will begin to notice; you know, those trained to pay attention. And give it a month without practice, they’ll say that the general public starts noticing. And that’s when trouble really begins!” Now, I can’t say if that’s actually true; I’ve never asked a concert pianist (some I’m relying on Jeremae- resident orchestra musician- to confirm or deny). But the analogy with how faith works is interesting. Faith requires regular practice, for it to accomplish what we want. And if practice stops, you might lose your edge.
Couple of observations- 1) Often people define “faith” as “what I believe.” But that’s wrong, or at least, incomplete. Actually, faith is something you do, something you can practice, a capacity you can build, or lose. And to narrow that to something like ‘belief’ diminishes the power of faith. In fact, it’s probably better to talk about what-faith-does by using the word “trust.” We trust that Jesus is Lord, which requires belief but means little if you don’t act or live like Jesus is Lord. Etc.
2) The way musicians practice their art is pretty straightforward- Sing every day; play scales on the piano; work on music above your skill level so you can build the capacity for more challenging material. Practicing our faith, however, isn’t always so concrete or straightforward. Jesus gave us general principles- Love God, and your neighbor as yourself- but left it to us to put that in action. And while some things are obvious ways to do this (give to Haiti relief efforts, mentor youth, assist with worship, etc.), do you ever think of such things as ‘practice’? Or is it more natural to think that is actually ‘doing faith’? Or is it both?
I notice I’m near the letter’s end, so let that be an open question. How do you “practice faith”, on a day-to-day basis? I’ll write a follow-up soon with some ideas and wisdom from folk who’ve thought about that question deeply. Until then, I pray you keep your edge sharp and shining bright. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Living the Questions…
This letter is a shameless promotion of the current Adult Sunday School Class. But, hopefully, it’s worth reading whether you attend or not. Though you really might like it…
For those who haven’t attended Sunday School in awhile, let me give a sense of what’s been happening. Last year, the Board approved an educational experiment. We purchased a yearlong membership with a church lending library- Iowa Religious Media Services. IRMS has vast amounts of DVDs, Videos, Books and other resources, which they lend to paying member churches. Membership dues are on a sliding scale. So, being an intimate church, we come in at the low end- $106 p/year. I presented this to the Board last year, and they decided to designate part of our education budget for IRMS membership. Thus, we now have access to the ever-expanding IRMS catalogue.
I called this an experiment because, cool as it sounds, I didn’t know if it’d work at PCCC. I worried they were too far away, or that stuff we really wanted would always be unavailable. So we figured we’d try it out, and see how it goes. About six or so months into the experiment, my and others’ assessment is an unqualified YEAH! The IRMS staff is responsive and kind, and turn-around time on material is very quick. But most important, the resources we’ve found for Sunday School are great. The Youth have enjoyed the two DVD series we’ve tried (and I’ve been excited to discover how insightful, deep, funny and faithful PCCC youth are; it’s all our privilege to be in church with them!). And the adult Sunday School is three weeks into its third DVD series, called “Living the Questions.” Every Sunday is about a 50/50 mix of discussion and DVD watching. Though the sessions build on one another, each is self-contained enough that you can miss Sundays and not get lost. Or join the class after the third/fourth week, and feel completely in sync…I’m just sayin’.
So why write about this now? Well, when I first encountered IRMS, at a Regional event, they were promoting “Living the Questions.” I’d already seen these DVD sessions at my old church in Lexington, and loved them. I’d also heard that many other DoC and mainline churches had incredible experiences with LtQ . So I thought this could be interesting for PCCC. The problem was the DVDs cost $300; not a big deal for some church budgets, but WAY too much for us to spend on one curriculum. But IRMS was a way to get access to LtQ AND much more at a third the cost. Naturally, I was eager, and now it’s happening!
But what makes this series so interesting to me? Think about the title- Living the Questions- and then ponder our modern context. Some churches advertise themselves as answer factories, right? Come to worship, join our church, and we’ll teach you God’s most intimate secrets. Sound like a beautiful idea? Sure. Does it sound realistic? I don’t think so. And I’ve learned that doesn’t describe P triple C (PCCC...) either. Indeed, we’re proud that we don’t offer easy answers to life’s most profound questions. Not because we lack faith, but because we don’t think that’s how life works. For religious folk in this modern, pluralist environment, reducing God and God’s plan to a simple four-point formula is naïve, at best, or in some cases, dishonest and manipulative. And I think at PCCC, we value honesty and authentic faith, even if it’s more difficult than other options.
In other words, the modern religious life isn’t about discovering the “right” answers. It’s about asking better and better questions- about Jesus, God, family, morality, etc.- and living more faithfully as a result. Or at least, that’s what this DVD series proposes, and as you might’ve guessed, I think that’s basically right. That doesn’t mean you’ll agree with everything the DVD presenters say. But it’ll provoke, challenge, and encourage you to deeper Christian living. And that’s not a bad way to prepare for worship, amen? FYI, the class tells me they’re really enjoying this series, and that there’s still lots of room…
Grace and Peace,
Shane
P.S. - Class is 9-9:45 AM
Read more!
For those who haven’t attended Sunday School in awhile, let me give a sense of what’s been happening. Last year, the Board approved an educational experiment. We purchased a yearlong membership with a church lending library- Iowa Religious Media Services. IRMS has vast amounts of DVDs, Videos, Books and other resources, which they lend to paying member churches. Membership dues are on a sliding scale. So, being an intimate church, we come in at the low end- $106 p/year. I presented this to the Board last year, and they decided to designate part of our education budget for IRMS membership. Thus, we now have access to the ever-expanding IRMS catalogue.
I called this an experiment because, cool as it sounds, I didn’t know if it’d work at PCCC. I worried they were too far away, or that stuff we really wanted would always be unavailable. So we figured we’d try it out, and see how it goes. About six or so months into the experiment, my and others’ assessment is an unqualified YEAH! The IRMS staff is responsive and kind, and turn-around time on material is very quick. But most important, the resources we’ve found for Sunday School are great. The Youth have enjoyed the two DVD series we’ve tried (and I’ve been excited to discover how insightful, deep, funny and faithful PCCC youth are; it’s all our privilege to be in church with them!). And the adult Sunday School is three weeks into its third DVD series, called “Living the Questions.” Every Sunday is about a 50/50 mix of discussion and DVD watching. Though the sessions build on one another, each is self-contained enough that you can miss Sundays and not get lost. Or join the class after the third/fourth week, and feel completely in sync…I’m just sayin’.
So why write about this now? Well, when I first encountered IRMS, at a Regional event, they were promoting “Living the Questions.” I’d already seen these DVD sessions at my old church in Lexington, and loved them. I’d also heard that many other DoC and mainline churches had incredible experiences with LtQ . So I thought this could be interesting for PCCC. The problem was the DVDs cost $300; not a big deal for some church budgets, but WAY too much for us to spend on one curriculum. But IRMS was a way to get access to LtQ AND much more at a third the cost. Naturally, I was eager, and now it’s happening!
But what makes this series so interesting to me? Think about the title- Living the Questions- and then ponder our modern context. Some churches advertise themselves as answer factories, right? Come to worship, join our church, and we’ll teach you God’s most intimate secrets. Sound like a beautiful idea? Sure. Does it sound realistic? I don’t think so. And I’ve learned that doesn’t describe P triple C (PCCC...) either. Indeed, we’re proud that we don’t offer easy answers to life’s most profound questions. Not because we lack faith, but because we don’t think that’s how life works. For religious folk in this modern, pluralist environment, reducing God and God’s plan to a simple four-point formula is naïve, at best, or in some cases, dishonest and manipulative. And I think at PCCC, we value honesty and authentic faith, even if it’s more difficult than other options.
In other words, the modern religious life isn’t about discovering the “right” answers. It’s about asking better and better questions- about Jesus, God, family, morality, etc.- and living more faithfully as a result. Or at least, that’s what this DVD series proposes, and as you might’ve guessed, I think that’s basically right. That doesn’t mean you’ll agree with everything the DVD presenters say. But it’ll provoke, challenge, and encourage you to deeper Christian living. And that’s not a bad way to prepare for worship, amen? FYI, the class tells me they’re really enjoying this series, and that there’s still lots of room…
Grace and Peace,
Shane
P.S. - Class is 9-9:45 AM
Read more!
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Gathering Bloom…
Some think of wedding registries as law, and I’m one of them. These people, perhaps creative elsewhere, feel no impulse of creativity when buying wedding gifts. We buy what’s on the registry and only what’s on the registry, unless someone else has bought that item, in which case we find something else…on the registry. Others, however, have a more liberated approach to the wedding gift process. Some use the registry items as ‘guides and suggestions’ rather than ‘the only items ordained by God which a wedding guest should ever purchase.’ Others forgo the registry altogether, relying solely on their judgment and knowledge of the couple. We received a few such gifts, and each was beautiful (if I tried that, I’d buy Broncos-themed Macaroni and Cheese Makers, so it’s best I stick to the registry).
One of the non-registry gifts from our wedding is especially noteworthy. It arrived a couple months late, but we didn’t know it was coming until, returning home one evening, we found a small box on our porch. Apparently, a family member had waited until the perfect time of year to send the gift. And good thing too. The box was alive!
Well, not the box, but the gift inside. We’d been given a flower bulb, potted and ready to grow, in need simply of water and sunlight. Again, it was unexpected, but we’ve enjoyed having this flower in our home the past few months. It’s been fun watering and waiting, moving it closer to the window, away from the window, watching as the first green shoots break the soil, and grow longer and thicker.
Just this past week, I’m happy to report, the bulb began to open. A flower emerges! Thus, a) I didn’t kill it, frustrating predictions of Vegas odds makers, and b) I’m finally seeing if the beauty within is as dynamic and profound as I’ve imagined these past months.
Do me a favor; reread that last sentence, starting at b). Thanks. Ready for a metaphor?
I say this gift is perfectly timed, because it’s almost Spring now, and already, blooming is beginning! Indeed, every Spring we have this earth-given opportunity to reflect on the power of new life, of transformation from within. Think about it. The bloom that emerges on my kitchen table received many external inputs- water, soil, sunlight- but I simply see something marvelous opening in front of me, acting like the bulb contained that spectacular display all along. The biological story is more complicated, of course. But the image is as simple as it is beautiful. New life, transformation, in this instance of God’s Creation, derives from those potentials and beauties within the flower, and all outside input gets applied to that goal.
Church works that way. That flower is my metaphor for Plymouth Creek. In the past weeks, we’ve seen some changes and shifts occur. The Worship Team has asked we embrace innovation and creativity, so we can more fully understand our 2010 theme (Go to All Peoples: Transforming Community with Disciples), and catch the vision of being a church who loves to worship together. The Mission-oriented folk asked us to adapt our mission strategy. Gone is the Mission-of-the-Month rubric; in its place is a familiar list of special offerings and a challenge to undertake one or two medium/long-term mission projects based on the power of community and relationship (decisions for that will be made on March 14 after church; please join in!). If you’ve participated in Board or Servant Leader conversations, you know the fresh ideas and emerging new forms of ‘doing church’ that our congregation is exploring and implementing.
And all that sounds like a blooming flower. I’ve seen so much beauty within this church already. And like many of you, I’ve imagined so much more that is possible. But it’s not all the stuff we could add to this church from the outside that’s makes me joyous, hopeful and elated. It’s the simple, profound, dynamic , generous, compassionate people and potentials within. And it’s a blast to watch you bloom.
Thanks for taking the risk to bloom, and show your beauty to your neighbors.
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
One of the non-registry gifts from our wedding is especially noteworthy. It arrived a couple months late, but we didn’t know it was coming until, returning home one evening, we found a small box on our porch. Apparently, a family member had waited until the perfect time of year to send the gift. And good thing too. The box was alive!
Well, not the box, but the gift inside. We’d been given a flower bulb, potted and ready to grow, in need simply of water and sunlight. Again, it was unexpected, but we’ve enjoyed having this flower in our home the past few months. It’s been fun watering and waiting, moving it closer to the window, away from the window, watching as the first green shoots break the soil, and grow longer and thicker.
Just this past week, I’m happy to report, the bulb began to open. A flower emerges! Thus, a) I didn’t kill it, frustrating predictions of Vegas odds makers, and b) I’m finally seeing if the beauty within is as dynamic and profound as I’ve imagined these past months.
Do me a favor; reread that last sentence, starting at b). Thanks. Ready for a metaphor?
I say this gift is perfectly timed, because it’s almost Spring now, and already, blooming is beginning! Indeed, every Spring we have this earth-given opportunity to reflect on the power of new life, of transformation from within. Think about it. The bloom that emerges on my kitchen table received many external inputs- water, soil, sunlight- but I simply see something marvelous opening in front of me, acting like the bulb contained that spectacular display all along. The biological story is more complicated, of course. But the image is as simple as it is beautiful. New life, transformation, in this instance of God’s Creation, derives from those potentials and beauties within the flower, and all outside input gets applied to that goal.
Church works that way. That flower is my metaphor for Plymouth Creek. In the past weeks, we’ve seen some changes and shifts occur. The Worship Team has asked we embrace innovation and creativity, so we can more fully understand our 2010 theme (Go to All Peoples: Transforming Community with Disciples), and catch the vision of being a church who loves to worship together. The Mission-oriented folk asked us to adapt our mission strategy. Gone is the Mission-of-the-Month rubric; in its place is a familiar list of special offerings and a challenge to undertake one or two medium/long-term mission projects based on the power of community and relationship (decisions for that will be made on March 14 after church; please join in!). If you’ve participated in Board or Servant Leader conversations, you know the fresh ideas and emerging new forms of ‘doing church’ that our congregation is exploring and implementing.
And all that sounds like a blooming flower. I’ve seen so much beauty within this church already. And like many of you, I’ve imagined so much more that is possible. But it’s not all the stuff we could add to this church from the outside that’s makes me joyous, hopeful and elated. It’s the simple, profound, dynamic , generous, compassionate people and potentials within. And it’s a blast to watch you bloom.
Thanks for taking the risk to bloom, and show your beauty to your neighbors.
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Friday, February 26, 2010
A Bumpy Road…
DISCLAIMER: The idea for this letter did not originate in my brain. Rather, I’m stealing it from Donna J., who said something awesome after service Sunday, which I needed to think about more deeply. This is my attempt at that. Ask Donna if I utterly misunderstood or not…
Disclaimer done. Let’s talk about skiing! You may know that some of my favorite High School memories are from sophomore year, when I joined the freestyle ski team at my favorite ski mountain. I competed in mogul racing, and it was an amazing year. I trained twice weekly with a coach who’d raced in the World Cup and on the Professional Tour. Some teammates tried out for US Ski Team spots, and I even raced against kids from other teams who skied for the US in the Olympics. I always lost badly to these folk, but it was a blast regardless!
Alas, some folk I’ve told about this just can’t understand my deep love for the sport. Indeed, some don’t even know what it is. Let me try to explain. Imagine a ski hill. Make it wide, and quite steep, and cover the hill with lots of BIG bumps. Imagine yourself skiing around those bumps at high speeds, making turns so narrow your knees nearly smack your chin. Then throw two large jumps into the mix, one near the top, the other near the bottom. That is mogul racing; glorious, amen?!
After watching the Olympics, I heard some say, “How do they do that? Those bumps come at them soooo fast!” That’s an understandable question; the speed is mindboggling. But what to the average viewer looks like someone shouldn’t be able to react that fast, to the Olympian seems, well, normal. Of course, these competitors have skills and athletic ability you and I can’t dream about. But it’s also true that, like any Olympic Sport, the best mogul racers have done this for years and years.
I think the physiological term is ‘muscle memory.’ Their legs are so accustomed to turning these exact ways that they don’t need to stop at each mogul, and decide the best way to turn. They look five, ten turns down the hill and anticipate that movement, while trusting their feet to react instinctively to the bump directly in front. These competitors move so fast because thousands of training hours shape such good muscle memory, their minds are free to contemplate other challenges. Like the final back flip!
Last Sunday, Donna said, “Shane, I think that’s how faith can work.” And you know what? I think she’s absolutely right! Indeed, we attend church weekly not just because Fellowship Hour coffee is free. But through song, sermon, fellowship and prayer, we’re training ourselves to perceive God all around us, and especially in our neighbors. That’s crucial because sometimes in daily living, we don’t have time to stop and ponder, “What would Jesus do?” We’re confronted with tricky situations and simply must respond, hoping to please God in the process. And as Donna said, that like good mogul skiers, if we’ve made knowing God and learning God’s story better a constant priority, our natural reactions will look much more…holy.
I heard a radio interview recently about experiments brain scientists are doing with ‘expert meditators’, i.e. people who’ve logged tens of thousands of hours in prayer and contemplation. One of their great findings is the ability of meditation and prayer to change your brain, specifically in ways that lead to increased capacity for compassion and mindfulness. What’s more is that the mind’s plasticity (ability to change) doesn’t end at age 7, or 27. The brain keeps trying to learn more, develop greater ‘brain skills’ like compassion, throughout life. And you don’t have to be a monk, to do this, nor do we all need to become ‘experts.’ If you do the math, weekly Worship and daily prayer really adds up. We can all develop greater instincts of compassion and mindfulness, if we regularly submit our thoughts and feelings to God’s attention. And like all mogul skiers know- it may sometimes be a bumpy ride, but WOW, is it worth it!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Disclaimer done. Let’s talk about skiing! You may know that some of my favorite High School memories are from sophomore year, when I joined the freestyle ski team at my favorite ski mountain. I competed in mogul racing, and it was an amazing year. I trained twice weekly with a coach who’d raced in the World Cup and on the Professional Tour. Some teammates tried out for US Ski Team spots, and I even raced against kids from other teams who skied for the US in the Olympics. I always lost badly to these folk, but it was a blast regardless!
Alas, some folk I’ve told about this just can’t understand my deep love for the sport. Indeed, some don’t even know what it is. Let me try to explain. Imagine a ski hill. Make it wide, and quite steep, and cover the hill with lots of BIG bumps. Imagine yourself skiing around those bumps at high speeds, making turns so narrow your knees nearly smack your chin. Then throw two large jumps into the mix, one near the top, the other near the bottom. That is mogul racing; glorious, amen?!
After watching the Olympics, I heard some say, “How do they do that? Those bumps come at them soooo fast!” That’s an understandable question; the speed is mindboggling. But what to the average viewer looks like someone shouldn’t be able to react that fast, to the Olympian seems, well, normal. Of course, these competitors have skills and athletic ability you and I can’t dream about. But it’s also true that, like any Olympic Sport, the best mogul racers have done this for years and years.
I think the physiological term is ‘muscle memory.’ Their legs are so accustomed to turning these exact ways that they don’t need to stop at each mogul, and decide the best way to turn. They look five, ten turns down the hill and anticipate that movement, while trusting their feet to react instinctively to the bump directly in front. These competitors move so fast because thousands of training hours shape such good muscle memory, their minds are free to contemplate other challenges. Like the final back flip!
Last Sunday, Donna said, “Shane, I think that’s how faith can work.” And you know what? I think she’s absolutely right! Indeed, we attend church weekly not just because Fellowship Hour coffee is free. But through song, sermon, fellowship and prayer, we’re training ourselves to perceive God all around us, and especially in our neighbors. That’s crucial because sometimes in daily living, we don’t have time to stop and ponder, “What would Jesus do?” We’re confronted with tricky situations and simply must respond, hoping to please God in the process. And as Donna said, that like good mogul skiers, if we’ve made knowing God and learning God’s story better a constant priority, our natural reactions will look much more…holy.
I heard a radio interview recently about experiments brain scientists are doing with ‘expert meditators’, i.e. people who’ve logged tens of thousands of hours in prayer and contemplation. One of their great findings is the ability of meditation and prayer to change your brain, specifically in ways that lead to increased capacity for compassion and mindfulness. What’s more is that the mind’s plasticity (ability to change) doesn’t end at age 7, or 27. The brain keeps trying to learn more, develop greater ‘brain skills’ like compassion, throughout life. And you don’t have to be a monk, to do this, nor do we all need to become ‘experts.’ If you do the math, weekly Worship and daily prayer really adds up. We can all develop greater instincts of compassion and mindfulness, if we regularly submit our thoughts and feelings to God’s attention. And like all mogul skiers know- it may sometimes be a bumpy ride, but WOW, is it worth it!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Let’s go discipling…
Do you consider ‘disciple’ a verb? Normally, I don’t either. But read Matthew 28:19 in its original Greek (sounds like a great Friday evening…), and you’ll discover that’s how Jesus thought.
This verse, of course, is the famous “Great Commission,” although most translations miss the point. Here’s what you probably recognize- Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. And here’s why it’s wrong. Number one, Matthew didn’t write a phrase- “make disciples.” He used one word, and a verb at that. In English, it would be something like “discipling”. But put ‘discipling’ into Microsoft Word, and a squiggly red line appears beneath, suggesting that ain’t English. And it’s not; it’s Greek. Number two, Matthew’s word for “nations” has nothing to do with political arrangements that began emerging in the Middle Ages called nation-states. And besides, how would we ever “disciple” a “nation”? Let alone baptize a nation, as Jesus next instructs? Actually, Matthew’s Greek word is usually translated, in the New Testament, as “Gentiles” or “Peoples.” And it’s the root for the English words “ethnic” and “ethnicity.” So here’s Shane’s retranslation of the Great Commission, which I think better captures Matthew’s original writing, and makes Jesus’ mission more empowering. “Go, therefore, to all peoples, and disciple them…” I’ll be interested to know if that sparks insights of your own, but it matters to me because:
For starters, when understanding Jesus, I think it’s crucial to recognize that he locates the power of God’s transformation primarily in the relationships we build. Not in the institutional church or nation-state or economic order (as important as these are!), but relationships with God and other people. That’s why I prefer talk about going to all peoples, rather than nations. It clarifies the center of gravity in Jesus’ worldview. Christians, for centuries, forgot this, and built a growth model focused on ‘national’ expansion. Kings or whomever would suddenly consider it spiritually (or economically) convincing to trust Jesus and His Church, and would subsequently force her/his people to pledge such allegiance also. American states, even, tried this for centuries- Massachusetts being the final state to get rid of an ‘official religion’, in 1833. Mistranslating the Great Commission didn’t cause all that, of course, but I wonder if it helped. Still, going forward, I think we should return to roots of the Jesus Movement, and remember that Jesus believed the powers of intimacy and vulnerability-between-neighbors reflected God’s best ideas more than any other power we’d ever concoct.
Also, I think it’s cool to think of ‘Disciple’ as a verb, an activity. Usually, it’s a noun, and to me, an identity-marker. My denomination is the Disciples of Christ, thus I’m a Disciple. But in Matthew 28, Jesus suggests that following him, and inviting others to join, isn’t as much about checking a box like you would on the Census (mark here- if you’re Caucasian, 20-30 years-old, a Disciple, etc…), as it is about joining him on a journey. For many, the most we’ve helped in ‘making disciples’ was raising kids, or talking to youth about baptism, or teaching Sunday School to children. And that’s awesome. But too often, we act like once that’s happened- a person’s baptized, and thus (s)he’s claimed the identity “Disciple of Christ”- the job is done. I’m guessing Jesus doesn’t think so, however, since he calls us to go discipling. That sounds like the learning process is actively on-going; that the relationships must not simply begin, but also remain dynamic, if the transformative power of God is going to work fully.
To that end, this Lent, we’re discipling together. Both in worship and on Wednesday evenings (6-7 PM), I’ll be teaching and preaching about living as a Disciple of Christ. We’ll learn the basic practices of our religious tradition. But more importantly, we’ll discuss how updating those ideas for the 21st century can help us live more whole, and offer wholeness to our many neighbors who’ve grown skeptical of religion or never went to church, so don’t give it much thought. I hope you’ll join me for worship and class, and get excited about Discipling people. Jesus thought it’d be a great adventure. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
This verse, of course, is the famous “Great Commission,” although most translations miss the point. Here’s what you probably recognize- Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. And here’s why it’s wrong. Number one, Matthew didn’t write a phrase- “make disciples.” He used one word, and a verb at that. In English, it would be something like “discipling”. But put ‘discipling’ into Microsoft Word, and a squiggly red line appears beneath, suggesting that ain’t English. And it’s not; it’s Greek. Number two, Matthew’s word for “nations” has nothing to do with political arrangements that began emerging in the Middle Ages called nation-states. And besides, how would we ever “disciple” a “nation”? Let alone baptize a nation, as Jesus next instructs? Actually, Matthew’s Greek word is usually translated, in the New Testament, as “Gentiles” or “Peoples.” And it’s the root for the English words “ethnic” and “ethnicity.” So here’s Shane’s retranslation of the Great Commission, which I think better captures Matthew’s original writing, and makes Jesus’ mission more empowering. “Go, therefore, to all peoples, and disciple them…” I’ll be interested to know if that sparks insights of your own, but it matters to me because:
For starters, when understanding Jesus, I think it’s crucial to recognize that he locates the power of God’s transformation primarily in the relationships we build. Not in the institutional church or nation-state or economic order (as important as these are!), but relationships with God and other people. That’s why I prefer talk about going to all peoples, rather than nations. It clarifies the center of gravity in Jesus’ worldview. Christians, for centuries, forgot this, and built a growth model focused on ‘national’ expansion. Kings or whomever would suddenly consider it spiritually (or economically) convincing to trust Jesus and His Church, and would subsequently force her/his people to pledge such allegiance also. American states, even, tried this for centuries- Massachusetts being the final state to get rid of an ‘official religion’, in 1833. Mistranslating the Great Commission didn’t cause all that, of course, but I wonder if it helped. Still, going forward, I think we should return to roots of the Jesus Movement, and remember that Jesus believed the powers of intimacy and vulnerability-between-neighbors reflected God’s best ideas more than any other power we’d ever concoct.
Also, I think it’s cool to think of ‘Disciple’ as a verb, an activity. Usually, it’s a noun, and to me, an identity-marker. My denomination is the Disciples of Christ, thus I’m a Disciple. But in Matthew 28, Jesus suggests that following him, and inviting others to join, isn’t as much about checking a box like you would on the Census (mark here- if you’re Caucasian, 20-30 years-old, a Disciple, etc…), as it is about joining him on a journey. For many, the most we’ve helped in ‘making disciples’ was raising kids, or talking to youth about baptism, or teaching Sunday School to children. And that’s awesome. But too often, we act like once that’s happened- a person’s baptized, and thus (s)he’s claimed the identity “Disciple of Christ”- the job is done. I’m guessing Jesus doesn’t think so, however, since he calls us to go discipling. That sounds like the learning process is actively on-going; that the relationships must not simply begin, but also remain dynamic, if the transformative power of God is going to work fully.
To that end, this Lent, we’re discipling together. Both in worship and on Wednesday evenings (6-7 PM), I’ll be teaching and preaching about living as a Disciple of Christ. We’ll learn the basic practices of our religious tradition. But more importantly, we’ll discuss how updating those ideas for the 21st century can help us live more whole, and offer wholeness to our many neighbors who’ve grown skeptical of religion or never went to church, so don’t give it much thought. I hope you’ll join me for worship and class, and get excited about Discipling people. Jesus thought it’d be a great adventure. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
When good is good…
Many of you know that my niece Grace was adopted from Ethiopia. The story goes that my sister Blaine’s church, one Sunday, hosted a U.S. missionary who’d returned from Ethiopia. The topic of international adoption arose, and Blaine felt a deep stirring in her soul. She and Will, her husband, talked and prayed about it for some time. They discussed finances, did much research, and eventually decided God was calling them to adopt.
That’s when the waiting began. From start to finish, the adoption process took Blaine and Will about eighteen months. I’d never witnessed that process, so I hadn’t realized how much paperwork and planning adoption required. And apparently, Blaine and Will’s timeline was shorter than many others. There were regulatory agencies from the U.S., local and national, as well as from Ethiopia, that needed reassurance. No, they weren’t ‘adopting’ children and selling them to sweatshops. No, they weren’t involved in international sex trafficking of minors. Yes, they were able to support an adopted child, emotionally and financially. A caseworker toured their home, interviewed them and their other kids. And they both had to travel to Ethiopia for three weeks before everything was complete and Grace was finally in California. Phew, what an adventure!
We don’t know everything, but it seems Grace began life tragically and miraculously. She was abandoned not long after birth. Grace’s birth mom struggled with AIDS, they think, and desperate poverty. She had no hope of properly raising the kid, so she let Grace go. Someone found her before she died, thankfully, and placed her in an over-crowded orphanage (Grace’s story isn’t unique in Ethiopia). Fortunately, a loving American family wanted to adopt her, which happened approximately five months later. Now she’s my niece.
Some questioned why Blaine chose international adoption, rather than domestic, and that’s fair. From my rudimentary knowledge, there is some unmet need for U.S. born adoption, particularly for African-American children and teenagers. But regardless where they’re from, adopted kids are children who needed stable homes. And what challenged Blaine and Will to open their family to a parent-less child were stories of severe Ethiopian poverty, which was reason enough for them.
I’ve thought about those circumstances a lot ever since hearing, this week, about that group of American missionaries arrested in Haiti. In case you didn’t, ten Baptists were stopped at a border crossing, and accused of child trafficking. It seems these do-gooders tried taking 33 kids to an orphanage they were building in the Dominican Republic, which promised better living conditions than the earthquake/poverty ravaged Haiti. But the missionaries didn’t have the right paperwork, and weren’t up-to-speed on international adoption protocols. They were, from all appearances, simply folk who wanted to help kids, and thought they’d found a good way.
But as my family learned, there’s A LOT to consider if you want to help orphaned children. And given the multi-billion dollar evil sex trafficking industry, that’s probably for the best. Think of how easily devious criminals could target vulnerable Haitians these days. Tens of thousands of parents dead. A non-functioning government. If I were a border guard, I’d be especially wary. Now, it doesn’t seem like these missionaries intended such harm. Quite the opposite. But are they, therefore, without fault? In other words, is wanting to do good enough? Or are Christians called to put effort, as well, into finding a good way to do good, particularly if you have the capacity to do so? Being married to a researcher, I’m of the latter opinion. The law of unintended consequences concerns me, as does the ease with which our compassionate hearts can muddle our thinking in times of crisis.
But it also seems this story is just beginning. New details emerge daily, so I’m reserving full judgment. What do you think? Should Christians act first, and ask questions later? Or is there a spiritual imperative to make sure, as best we can, that our efforts will bear good fruit? Or is that just a convenient excuse for inaction? May your weeks fill others with goodness. Please pray for these imprisoned missionaries and all the children of Haiti. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
That’s when the waiting began. From start to finish, the adoption process took Blaine and Will about eighteen months. I’d never witnessed that process, so I hadn’t realized how much paperwork and planning adoption required. And apparently, Blaine and Will’s timeline was shorter than many others. There were regulatory agencies from the U.S., local and national, as well as from Ethiopia, that needed reassurance. No, they weren’t ‘adopting’ children and selling them to sweatshops. No, they weren’t involved in international sex trafficking of minors. Yes, they were able to support an adopted child, emotionally and financially. A caseworker toured their home, interviewed them and their other kids. And they both had to travel to Ethiopia for three weeks before everything was complete and Grace was finally in California. Phew, what an adventure!
We don’t know everything, but it seems Grace began life tragically and miraculously. She was abandoned not long after birth. Grace’s birth mom struggled with AIDS, they think, and desperate poverty. She had no hope of properly raising the kid, so she let Grace go. Someone found her before she died, thankfully, and placed her in an over-crowded orphanage (Grace’s story isn’t unique in Ethiopia). Fortunately, a loving American family wanted to adopt her, which happened approximately five months later. Now she’s my niece.
Some questioned why Blaine chose international adoption, rather than domestic, and that’s fair. From my rudimentary knowledge, there is some unmet need for U.S. born adoption, particularly for African-American children and teenagers. But regardless where they’re from, adopted kids are children who needed stable homes. And what challenged Blaine and Will to open their family to a parent-less child were stories of severe Ethiopian poverty, which was reason enough for them.
I’ve thought about those circumstances a lot ever since hearing, this week, about that group of American missionaries arrested in Haiti. In case you didn’t, ten Baptists were stopped at a border crossing, and accused of child trafficking. It seems these do-gooders tried taking 33 kids to an orphanage they were building in the Dominican Republic, which promised better living conditions than the earthquake/poverty ravaged Haiti. But the missionaries didn’t have the right paperwork, and weren’t up-to-speed on international adoption protocols. They were, from all appearances, simply folk who wanted to help kids, and thought they’d found a good way.
But as my family learned, there’s A LOT to consider if you want to help orphaned children. And given the multi-billion dollar evil sex trafficking industry, that’s probably for the best. Think of how easily devious criminals could target vulnerable Haitians these days. Tens of thousands of parents dead. A non-functioning government. If I were a border guard, I’d be especially wary. Now, it doesn’t seem like these missionaries intended such harm. Quite the opposite. But are they, therefore, without fault? In other words, is wanting to do good enough? Or are Christians called to put effort, as well, into finding a good way to do good, particularly if you have the capacity to do so? Being married to a researcher, I’m of the latter opinion. The law of unintended consequences concerns me, as does the ease with which our compassionate hearts can muddle our thinking in times of crisis.
But it also seems this story is just beginning. New details emerge daily, so I’m reserving full judgment. What do you think? Should Christians act first, and ask questions later? Or is there a spiritual imperative to make sure, as best we can, that our efforts will bear good fruit? Or is that just a convenient excuse for inaction? May your weeks fill others with goodness. Please pray for these imprisoned missionaries and all the children of Haiti. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Monday, February 1, 2010
In the Time of Love…
Her name was Fermina, and she drove Florentino wild. “51 years, nine months and four days,” he nurtured his love for her, and on the evening of her husband’s death, in the middle of her living room, he finally told her how he felt.
Fermina was, understandably, unimpressed. She cursed at him, forced him to leave her house and wallow in his unhealthy ‘love’ somewhere else. She would grieve her late husband without Florentino’s company, thank you very much. And yet, over the next weeks and months, they traded letters back and forth, discussing this, and so much else, in the secrecy of pen and ink. Until, eventually, the offense of Florentino’s selfishly timed confession was forgiven, and something like mutual respect, maybe even love, developed.
That story has haunted me for years, ever since I read Love in the Time of Cholera during college. I’m still not sure why I chose that book when I did. Perhaps a vague memory of seeing it once on a respected teacher’s desk. Nevertheless, it taught me many things. How to love a story on its own terms. How to recognize the vastness of ‘loves’ in the human heart; some of its many shades and shapes, temptations and distortions. But mostly, I walked away from the novel with greater appreciation for how, in the words of St. Paul, “love endures,” and how it must evolve through life’s many changes to do so.
But this is a newsletter article, not a book review. So let me explain why I’m thinking about Florentino and Fermina. It’s because of Lent, and our on-going 2010 congregational theme- Go To All Peoples: Transforming Community with Disciples. This Lent, I want to invite y’all to join me Wednesday evenings at 6 PM for a class I’ll be ‘teaching.’ The working title is “Love’s Got Everything To Do with It,” and the subject matter will be our denomination- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For about an hour weekly, we’ll meet in the sanctuary to explore our faith tradition; its roots, its history, its famous phrases, but most especially why, in my (and many others’) eyes, it offers a uniquely compelling way of practicing faith for contemporary Americans like you and me…and our neighbors.
After all, has anyone ever asked you, “What kind of church do you attend?” And you say, “Disciples of Christ.” And they respond, “What?! Is that a cult? Fundamentalist? You mean it’s not Lutheran?” When I opened my bank account last year, someone asked what the church I served was about. I stammered, “Well, it’s, uhhh, nice, and, uhhh, welcoming, and…” And I’m the preacher! I was just nervous, of course, since that’s a rather personal subject to tell a stranger. But the truth is I love my church and its heritage, and I think it should be, in words of one Servant Leader, “a bigger deal.” Indeed, the reason for this year’s theme is that I believe the Disciples of Christ way doing church isn’t just ‘nice,’ or ‘friendly.’ It’s potentially transformative, for all peoples, or at least those we courageously invite to learn about and love us.
So I’m going to lead a class about our brand of faith, beginning February 23, which is the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday. I hope you’ll join me, and get better at describing why this church challenges you, excites you, even transforms you. And in case you’re tempted to skip because you already know the basics, let me suggest that this won’t simply be “Disciples for Dummies.” We’ll be exploring new interpretations of our faith tradition, which I’ve recently read and think y’all should learn. Like this- According to renowned Disciples Scholar and Leader, Rev. Dr. Newell Williams, our church is about falling in love with God. Not obeying God, or bringing about God’s Kingdom on earth. But living in love with the God of all who loves all. We’ll explore what that means, its many implications and how that truth has evolved and transformed as Disciples have grown for two centuries now, and counting.
How’s that for love with staying power? Florentino would be impressed. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
Fermina was, understandably, unimpressed. She cursed at him, forced him to leave her house and wallow in his unhealthy ‘love’ somewhere else. She would grieve her late husband without Florentino’s company, thank you very much. And yet, over the next weeks and months, they traded letters back and forth, discussing this, and so much else, in the secrecy of pen and ink. Until, eventually, the offense of Florentino’s selfishly timed confession was forgiven, and something like mutual respect, maybe even love, developed.
That story has haunted me for years, ever since I read Love in the Time of Cholera during college. I’m still not sure why I chose that book when I did. Perhaps a vague memory of seeing it once on a respected teacher’s desk. Nevertheless, it taught me many things. How to love a story on its own terms. How to recognize the vastness of ‘loves’ in the human heart; some of its many shades and shapes, temptations and distortions. But mostly, I walked away from the novel with greater appreciation for how, in the words of St. Paul, “love endures,” and how it must evolve through life’s many changes to do so.
But this is a newsletter article, not a book review. So let me explain why I’m thinking about Florentino and Fermina. It’s because of Lent, and our on-going 2010 congregational theme- Go To All Peoples: Transforming Community with Disciples. This Lent, I want to invite y’all to join me Wednesday evenings at 6 PM for a class I’ll be ‘teaching.’ The working title is “Love’s Got Everything To Do with It,” and the subject matter will be our denomination- The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For about an hour weekly, we’ll meet in the sanctuary to explore our faith tradition; its roots, its history, its famous phrases, but most especially why, in my (and many others’) eyes, it offers a uniquely compelling way of practicing faith for contemporary Americans like you and me…and our neighbors.
After all, has anyone ever asked you, “What kind of church do you attend?” And you say, “Disciples of Christ.” And they respond, “What?! Is that a cult? Fundamentalist? You mean it’s not Lutheran?” When I opened my bank account last year, someone asked what the church I served was about. I stammered, “Well, it’s, uhhh, nice, and, uhhh, welcoming, and…” And I’m the preacher! I was just nervous, of course, since that’s a rather personal subject to tell a stranger. But the truth is I love my church and its heritage, and I think it should be, in words of one Servant Leader, “a bigger deal.” Indeed, the reason for this year’s theme is that I believe the Disciples of Christ way doing church isn’t just ‘nice,’ or ‘friendly.’ It’s potentially transformative, for all peoples, or at least those we courageously invite to learn about and love us.
So I’m going to lead a class about our brand of faith, beginning February 23, which is the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday. I hope you’ll join me, and get better at describing why this church challenges you, excites you, even transforms you. And in case you’re tempted to skip because you already know the basics, let me suggest that this won’t simply be “Disciples for Dummies.” We’ll be exploring new interpretations of our faith tradition, which I’ve recently read and think y’all should learn. Like this- According to renowned Disciples Scholar and Leader, Rev. Dr. Newell Williams, our church is about falling in love with God. Not obeying God, or bringing about God’s Kingdom on earth. But living in love with the God of all who loves all. We’ll explore what that means, its many implications and how that truth has evolved and transformed as Disciples have grown for two centuries now, and counting.
How’s that for love with staying power? Florentino would be impressed. In all things,
Grace and Peace,
Shane Read more!
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