Beauty

On my drive home today (from a funeral) I saw the most amazing sky, unlike any other I can recall. The sky was blue overhead, gray toward the horizon, with scattered but sharply outlined cumulus clouds against the horizon's gray. Rather stunning, actually. I momentarily regretted not having a camera handy, then realized that the lens wouldn't have done it justice anyway. Just call me a sucker for natural beauty - thanks, God!

A personal epiphany a few days ahead of Epiphany...

In working on my own character, it’s so easy to slip away from the goal: am I working on my character just to be a “better person”? Or am I working on my character because more than anything else I want to know and be like Jesus, share in his suffering, and partake in his resurrection?
There's a huge difference there, one I don't always notice.

Not to cast stones, but...

...I had a thought on an unintended consequence of theology.
I wonder to what extent the Eastern Orthodox understanding of theosis (spiritual growth understood as personal divinization) has opened the door to idolization (divinization) of political leaders, especially within political systems oriented toward strong, single leaders?
Not that Prots and Catholics are at all historically pure in this regard, of course. But as an outsider looking in, I am struck by what seems to be a (relatively) even more uncritical stance toward secular leaders within the Eastern traditions, and wonder at its contemporary theological underpinnings.

Juxtaposition

I was eating at a nice Italian restaurant the other night with family from out of town, and was struck by the juxtaposition between the opulence of the food and the words to the live Christmas music being performed.

Somehow "why lies he in such mean estate" didn't jive so well with my gorgonzola-pear salad; here I am, dining like Herod, and the guy 20 feet behind me is singing about the low-lifes (shepherds) who clustered around Jesus.

Mind you, I think creation is given us to be enjoyed and eating out (even at a really nice place) is hardly a sin, but the contrast was jarring nonetheless.

Less "Nice," More "Edge"

Some weeks ago I spent a few days at a Jesuit retreat house. The Jesuit order, of course, was founded by Ignatius of Loyola, a rough-and-tumble soldier who converted to Christianity - and for centuries now the Jesuits have been known for their rough-edged vigor in both missions and apologetics (with some of us Protestants on the receiving end, at times).

But in the days since I have been struck with just how many people who have been used so greatly by God have had that same kind of abrasive, aggressive 'edge' to them. Martin Luther, certainly. John Knox, absolutely. But also Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna (not to mention St. Paul) from the ancient church and people I've respected like Kevin Blue, Mark Driscoll, Viv Grigg in our present day.

And, let's face it, on this issue the gospels don't really set up as much of a juxtaposition between John the Baptist and Jesus as we usually think. John the Baptist preached about "coming fire" but did so in a winsome and compelling enough way that crowds traveled huge distances to hear his preaching. And Jesus, while he was inimitably attractive to all kinds of people including prostitutes and scam-artists, had very harsh words and deeds (white-washed walls, hypocrites, thieves, Satan, "know neither Scripture nor the power of God," "sell all you have and give to the poor," "God will come and kill those servants and lease the vineyard to others" - not to mention physically separating Temple merchants from their merchandise with nothing other than a whip of cords) for all kinds of others.

So, considering my own life: though I will continue to learn more about Grace the rest of my life, I am becoming convicted that I have focused way too much on the "nice"side of human relations. If I am truly to become more like Jesus, my growth in these next years needs to be much more on the "rough edge."

Interesting, no?

I came across this on someone else's blog, who apparently got the link from yet another. A thought-provoking take on proselytism, from(as Ben points out)an atheist and one half of the comedy/magic duo Penn & Teller.

Labels, labels

Just took the hermeneutics quiz up at Leadership Journal and scored a 53, which pegs me as a "moderate" - although apparently a 52 would have labeled me as "conservative. Some of the questions lack satisfactory answers, but a fun snapshot quiz nonetheless.

Check it out yourself at: http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2008/cln80225.html

Another funny siting (and sitting) moment

Had dinner last night with a church committee at Buca di Beppo. Yes, keep the snickers down, it was that Buca, the "gorge yourself silly" kitschy Italian chain.

Anyway, I found it amusing to be eating in what was apparently the "Pope Room," and having this guy stare at me all night long from the center of our table.

Star Trek church (architecturally)

Recently visited a church not terribly far from here, and check out the pulpits and platform chairs. Not too hard to imagine them on the production set of a 1st Gen Star Trek episode, no?

I'm sure they looked very hip when they were first installed...

If you can't do it right, just don't do it. Please.

My wife and I just returned from watching the movie adaptation of Prince Caspian, the second of the Narnia series - which turned out to be a complete disaster. The movie, that is.

Not only did they add every variety of kid-oriented adventure movie cliche (up to and including romance between Caspian and Susan), but the writers completely eviscerated all theological allegory from the story. Aslan was trite and almost absent from the storyline, Peter was egotistical all the way through, and the over-arching message (to the extent there still was one) was self-reliance, rather than the goodness and joy of Aslan/God.

What a disaster. I do hope they find better writers for Dawn Treader - or, failing that, some writers who are less hung up on being 'creative' and JUST KEEP TO THE STORY IN THE BOOK!