U-Store

If you are not a PTSem student, I apologize for this meaningless post.

I have taken up the fight against the overpriced books at the TBA, whose money goes directly to the University.

Below is a link to an Amazon list for some Fall 2005 classes. If you print this list out and take it to the store, they should honor the Amazon savings.

OT400, NT322, TH222, PR201, CH330 and a few others

In danger

For some reason, I have never slowly and thoughtfully read II Corinthians 11:23-28:
(The writer here is Paul-a man who once inflicted upon Christians the same pains he received.)
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

I cannot recall ever hearing a sermon discussing these reality of these dangers. I cannot recall this passage being read during Confirmation Sunday. I cannot recall this passage being declared at a baptism. For obvious reasons, we like to gloss over this.
There is a reason that following Christ involves such discomfort, because it is revolutionary; it is transformative. It is not about us but about the other.

Having read and watched this summer Fast Food Nation and Supersize Me, I have become troubled by the abundance most of us First Worlders take for granted. Similarly, we (the church folks) have created enviroments where people show up to church to "be feed" instead of "feeding others." In other words we have a created Spiritual Obesity. We offer How To sermons, or Gold-Star childcare, or free Caribu coffee and tend to forget that following Christ is a dangerous endeavor that costs us our entire lives. Therefore, the meat of the message probably is not very seeker sensitive.

art: atonement

the Other Conference

AFC North:
Pittsburgh
Cinncinnati
Baltimore
Cleveland
AFC East:
New England
Buffalo (WC)
NY Jets
Miami
AFC South:
Indianapolis
Jacksonville (WC)
Houston
Tennesee
AFC West:
Kansas City
San Diego
Denver
Oakland

Reinstatement

Throughout the hectic days of Christ’s death and resurrection, the words Peter uttered in Pilate’s courtyard must echo in the back of his mind; how could he have denied being a disciple of Christ, when just a few months earlier Jesus had promised that Peter would be the rock upon which the church would be built?
Now as Peter dined alongside the resurrected Christ, he was filled with shame and regret for betraying his friend and Lord. What would his future hold? Would Jesus embrace him again?
Then, at some point during the meal, Jesus points to the tremendous catch and Peter’s fishing equipment and asks, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
At first, Peter hangs his head in shame because Jesus no longer addresses him with his nickname: “The Rock.” Perhaps this is sign that Peter is no longer going to be the central figure in spreading the Gospel. He sheepishly responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” All the while thinking in the back of his head, I hope Jesus doesn’t bring up that whole denial thing.
Jesus responds, “Feed my sheep.”
For split second Peter is stunned; his heart races; a sigh of relief escapes. Then Jesus asks him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love?”
Still, Jesus does not call him Peter, but merely Simon. This time though, Peter responds with a little more certainty: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus responds, “Take care of my sheep.”
As the dinner progresses and Peter is grateful that no one is talking about his betrayal, when Jesus asks Peter a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” This time Peter was hurt that Jesus still did not believe him. He responds, “Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.”
In other words, “Lord you know that I denied you while you suffered on cross, but you also know that I do love you. And you know that I want to be an instrumental part of sharing your Gospel, even if that means death.”
Jesus turns, smiles and says “Follow me!”

And Peter follows.

Pre-preseason Selection

On a lighter note (subject to change at the end of the preseason):

NFC South:
Panthers
Atlanta (WC)
Saints
Tampa Bay
NFC East:
Eagles (easily with TO, without TO will make this conference a bore)
Giants
Redskins
Dallas
NFC North:
Detroit
Green Bay (WC)
Minnesota
Chicago
NFC West:
Seattle
St. Louis
Arizona
San Francisco

Day of Atonement

"Dear God," he said, "we come before you this year, as we do every year, to ask Your forgiveness. But in this past year, I have caused no death. I have brought no plagues upon the world, no earthquakes, no floods. I have made no women widows, no children orphans. God, You have done these things, not me! Perhaps you should be asking forgiveness from me."
The great Rabbi paused, and continued in a softer voice, "But since You are God, and I am only Levi Yitzhak, Yisgadal v'yiskadah sh'mei rabah [Magnificent and sanctified is Thy Name]," and he began the service.*

Though on the surface this quote seems harsh, I believe it adequately addresses the pain we should feel for death, plagues, orphans, and other injustices.
We cannot and should not ignore the autrocities which have occured under our watch. As ministers, when we walk into a hospital room, a funeral palor, a wartorn country, a prison, we are representing spiritual wisdom. That does not mean we have to provide words, rather we can merely provide a ministry of presence. The result of that should be our empathy for the other's pain. We should leave those situations transformed by them such that our prayers, our "days of atonement" may become laments like the above prayer.

Hope occurs even in lament.

*Wolpe, David J. The Healer of Shattered Hearts: A Jewish View of God, 158.