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June 4, 2006 - Year B - Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21
John 15:26-27;16:4b-15
Patience is a huge issue in truth-receiving and truth-telling. It is difficult to acknowledge we only see through a glass -- dimly.
Sneaky and Ellusive, Demanding and Allusive, so a Holy Spirit interacts with us. We press so hard for finality that often we find ourselves having avoided and limited that was sent. Our recievers are locked on one frequency while messages come on a variety of frequencies.
We cut off possibilities still available as impossible to happen as dry bones are to live again. A Holy Spirit revises our vision or lack thereof.
This week we continue ready to wait and to jump to with prophecy and to wait some more. Listen for a creative wind.
Wesley White
John 15:26-27;16:4b-15
Can't you just wait to be proved wrong about sin, righteousness and judgment?
If you had to locate three key arenas of life that need to be revisited and revisioned, would they be these three or others? Sometimes our identification of the key issues of life can sharpen our responses.
Here is one way to look at these three.
1. Sin: not believing in a journey of Jesus toward compassion, kindness.
2. Righteous: being on a journey with Jesus toward compassion, kindness.
3. Judgment: reflection on and course changes through a journey with Jesus toward compassion, kindness.
Having identified the issues, can we we get on with a closer approximation of our lives with their view of G*D (The Compassionate One)?
[Note: This posting was stimulated by Karen Armstrong's latest book about an Axial Age and the Golden Rule - The Sunday Times gives one of many synopses of her work at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27709-2075414,00.html.]
Wesley White
Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21
Presuming that Jesus did give his friends a spirit holy (John 20:22) we know hear of another receiving of said spirit 50 days later (Acts) and years later (Romans). This raises a question about the presence of a spiritual reception decades and centuries and millennia later.
Too often we pass by the present (in all of its confusion) by perceiving the past as settled (not still repeating itself in differing guise). At other times we get so caught up in making meaning of the present that we lose track of the many threads that have brought us to this moment.
Whether it is creation or ourselves (go ahead and try to distinguish them) groaning for a new beginning -
Whether we are in a current state of hope or hopelessness -
Whether patience or anxiety seems to be our lot -
Whether we are sighingly weak or comfortably isolated -
Whether we are saints or non-saints -
Intercession is made on our behalf. Join it, test it, rejoice in it, share it, do not let it go for nothing.
Wesley White
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
The earth is full of G*D's creatures.
Which is to say -- the earth is full of G*D's spirit.
These creatures, even such as ourselves and our enemies, are part of wisdom spirit.
Even Leviathan is spirit-filled. Where once we saw Leviathan as one part of a struggle for control, the forces of dark/evil against the forces of light/good, we now see creation building, not destroying. Let us sport with ourselves, one another, and all.
At the right time, the kairotic time, the spirit of food (not just the calories of food) are given.
The spirit is not about rightness, but renewal -- a creation-centered spirituality.
No matter where we are or what we are doing we are part of a singing spirit. Question: are we harmonizing? Is our discord able to break open new insights or is it simply knee-jerk againstness?
Wesley White
Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14
Sounds, unlike sights, are encompassing. To look at something we have one field of view at a time. To hear something is to perceive it wherever it is, before us or behind.
Sounds can be one clear note or a cacophony. Sounds can be progressive in melody or punked all at once. Sounds can help clear our mind or confuse us.
Here we have violent rattlings bringing so many differences together at the same time. Whether of bones or languages we hear the primordial sound of creation echoing in birth, rebirth, and new birth. Here we hear the formation of community.
Consider all the different sounds of your community. Imagine them all at once. What joy! What possibilities! What integration of diversity!
Wesley White
Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21
In our own languages we hear "them" speaking about G*D's deeds of power, with sighs too deep for words, according to the will of G*D.
Sometimes the poor and oppressed only have sighs with which to communicate.
When we try to speak of G*D it often seems like trying to communicate in a foreign language. There is something miraculous about the translation process that parallels our experience with the otherness of G*D. We marvel as much with unexpectedly hearing our native tongue as with what we hear. The very medium is as mysterious as the message.
This otherness turns out to be as close as our breath. So close our breath is taken away. All that is left is a sigh brooding over the face of the deep, calling deep to deep. This sigh becomes our new language that gives us a prophetic perspective. Ahh, yes, the violence of chaos is not countered by the chaos of violence. Ahh, yes, insides touch outsides and around goes yin and yang. Ahh, yes, it is not our past that determines us, but our dreams. Ahh, yes, the language of hope transforms the determinism of anger.
To speak with kindness is an expression of G*D's presence. To pause, to rise on expectant toes, is to accord the presence of G*D a new reality heretofore unexpressed.
May you pause long enough to be able to hear the sighs of the world as key signs of the presence of G*D. May you pause long enough for kindness to rise within you. It may take longer than a count to ten.
Wesley White
John 15:26-27;16:4b-15
If we consider the elided material, Jesus is saying some stuff intended to keep us from stumbling. Of course, intentions have yet to not go astray.
At any rate, here comes some new stuff that is just as problematic as the older stuff. If we are trinitarian how do we deal with Jesus going away in order that a helping advocate come. Is there some spiritual law that only one of the three can be present at any given time? Is Jesus such a powerful personality and the Advocate such a shy one that Jesus not only outshines the sun, but the Holy Spirit?
Further, is it merely one more repetition that is keeping us from understanding sin, righteousness, and judgment? If we didn't get it with Jesus, what makes anyone think we'll get it with a Spirit Holy? Isn't this somewhat akin to jumping off the temple to showboat power.
If we are trinitarian how do we deal with a Holy Spirit that is a simple non-physical presence of Jesus, not having anything of its own to offer?
Ya gotta love John and his imagery of nesting dolls -- smallest doll is G*D (all that G*D's got is mine, inside me); middle doll is Jesus calling the shots; largest doll is Spirit Holy, Jesus' aura, Jesus' force-field.
How would you talk about the relationship of your faith development? Are you a doll smaller than G*D or larger than Spirit?
Thomas D'Alessio
So what happens if we scrap "trinitarian?"
It is a dead metaphor. Van Bogard Dunn said that exact thing: "Trinity is a dead metaphor"
and he said it way back in 1989 or 1990 at School for Ministry (aka Pastor's School), Wisconsin Conference UMC.
Van Bogard Dunn is dead now (pity, few have the intestinal fortitude he had), but his words have rung true for me ever since he spoke them with courage and conviction:
Trinity is a dead metaphor.
Anonymous
Interesting website with a lot of resources and detailed explanations.
June 11, 2006 - Year B - Trinity
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
Often we hear of the trinity as though it were a separate entity, separated from creation -- its own little community, self-sufficient.
As we listen in this week it might be helpful to consider creation and ourselves as fourth and fifth aspects of an expanded trinitarian reality.
If there can’t be trinity without relationships, we cannot avoid relationships that include ourselves.
If there is not a place for more in the trinity than the trinity, it may finally be seen for the limited doctrinal teaching construct that it is -- a partial teaching construct is a partial learning situation.
Wesley White
John 3:1-17
Such a familiar story. We think we have it pegged with particularistic born againness or with universalistic salvation of all. It is difficult to listen for the wind, spirit, breath, voice of a new creation.
Now it sighs, now it blusters. Now it wraps with gentleness around, now it whips our hat away.
So it is. Non-linear. Enjoy.
Wesley White
Romans 8:12-17
Adopted by the trinity is a worthy state of being.
What are the trinitarian adoption rules? Do they limit who can be adopted? When? Do they constrain how adoption must go on?
What are our adoption rules? Do we limit who might be adopted and when in our life story they would be welcome? Do we set the boundaries of who is with us and who is against us and whether we draw circles to keep folks out or include them in?
How does this apply to your congregation or faith community? To your nation and local community?
Wesley White
Psalm 29
May the one (no matter how many divisions we find it helpful to construct) engage creation creatively. Goals here are to strengthen creation and to bless creation. The measurement of strength and blessing is the quality and quantity of peace that eventuates.
As those in the image of the one, guess what, that is our goal as well. Peace on!
Wesley White
Isaiah 6:1-8
The line "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory" is a pretty thin way of getting at a doctrine of the trinity, even though it has the tradition of the early church behind it. They did some wonderful work and some lousy work (as do we today) a part of our task is to clarify which is which.
A better place to look is at one with "unclean lips" in the midst of an "unclean people" who sees the Lord of hosts. Imagine the connections between G*D, an individual, and a community. Out of this interconnection comes renewal of the individual, the community and G*D.
This interdependent trinity has as much vitality as an internal trinity of father, son, and holy spirit. We may need to start thinking about a trinity of trinities, or more.
individual - community - G*D
"creator" - "redeemer" - "sustainer"
past - present - future
[your addition] - [your addition] - [your addition]
Anonymous
I say briefly: Best! Useful information. Good job guys.
Wesley White
Romans 8:12-17
If you live according to the flesh, you will die. If you live according to the spirit, you will die. Death is ever present for Jesus and for us. There is no getting around that reality, though we usually put off facing that eventuality. It's good for the faithful that Jesus didn't live into decrepitude and was resurrected from there?
If you live according the the flesh, you will live. If you live according to the spirit, you will live. To fleshily give a cup of cool water, visit someone imprisoned, etc. life in the present and future is enhanced. To love G*D with all one has and to do the same for neighbors bring enhanced life in the present and future.
It is all too easy to pit flesh against spirit and to lose the interconnection and distinctions. The same can be said about trying to pit homosexual against heterosexual, we lose our connection with G*D and one another and make false distinctions.
To suffer is to also be glorified. Hooray flesh! Hooray Spirit!
Wesley White
John 3:1-17
You must be born from above.
Here is a place for you to put on your thinking cap. Ken Wilber walks you through a series of waves of existence. If you need to cut to the chase page down until you come to a series of colors.
I recommend you read the whole article, but at least check out the color levels 1-8 (with 8 being above to 7, etc.). Note that 8 doesn't erase 7.
Being born from above helps us appreciate the below that had its part to play in bringing us to the above.
If you know of a graphic online that shows this, let us know.
Wesley White
One of our readers sent a graphic that can represent the waves of existence. You are invited to check The Integral Institute for more information.
June 18, 2006 - Year B - Pentecost +2
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 or Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 20 or Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 4:26-34
Points of view are crucial pieces of information. To know from whence one is viewing is to recognize limits of interpretation. It is to know that there are other things to be seen simply by changing perspectives or walking a mile on someone else's path.
To recognize someone else's point of view both eases the implementation of compassion and helps folks talk together about otherwise controversial issues.
It is always interesting to see how many different points of view we have that depend upon the issue at hand. Many of our points of view are in conflict with one another, if simply looked at in that way. A consistency of point of view is difficult as it is so easily influenced by our experiences and learnings. We cover up our points of view with the subject at hand and mistake the subject for the point of view. To reveal our points of view regarding particular concerns is to move us toward conversion.
Wesley White
Mark 4:26-34
Jesus spoke publicly in parables. Jesus offered viewpoints on the parables in private.
This is an interesting dynamic. In the midst of a church that doesn't seem to get what the progressive, prophetic parts of the spirit and world are saying, we have to ask ourselves whether or not we have been speaking publicly in a parabolic form? (Not that speaking forthrightly would do any better in the presence of hard and hardening hearts.) Have we kept private the keys to a wider perspective?
What would sermons, homilies, witnesses, conversations look like this week if we were deliberate in keeping such as parables? Could you really refrain from trying to make your viewpoint clearer and clearer with greater and greater explanations? Even if we piled parable upon parable, would we be satisfied without trying to clarify some point or other?
Wesley White
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
One dies for all.
This is a parable.
Therefore all have died.
This is a private explanation.
As you pick up the paper or listen in on a newscast or blog, how do you view the deaths that are noted there? How are you seeing your own life as you are a day nearer your death? Does this particular/universal connection make sense to you?
Since you have died, what are you now willing to live for?
Wesley White
Psalm 20 or Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
What is your view of G*D's presence in the midst of difficult times? Easy to discern? Can't tell until you look back at one pair of footprints? A dark night of the soul that doesn't even have any footprints?
Is it your view that the righteous flourish? that the lawless get theirs?
These bedrock understandings of how life moves and has meaning affect our interpretation of our experience. Fortunately our experience can also affect our viewpoint. In the interplay between our various viewpoints and our predominant viewpoint we find ourselves fated from the past and freed for a different future.
An image here is that of a tree that flourishes with fruit. May you continue to see a fruitful future for yourself and for us together. With that vision comes strength for a journey that scatters seeds along the way and prepares for a new creation.
Wesley White
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 or Ezekiel 17:22-24
A play between the unexpected leadership of the youngest and the rooting of a cedar's growth tip.
In the first instance every institution desires to clone itself at its maturation level and to develop the kind of leaders that are currently present. To turn things on its head is to move back to the movement level, pre-institution. Here creation of the next day of creation is clearer. This is a case of evening and morning, in that sequence. [It would be nice to have the luxury of another comment here about claiming to have no criteria for selection and having handsomeness be sufficient to be noted. That connection will have to wait for another day.] But here we reprise beginnings, with all the attendant uncertainty and subsequent errors to focus simply on the unexpectedness of a new beginning.
In the second instance we note information about a Cedar from the web "Vegetative Reproduction- Cuttings may be rooted with relative ease. A recommended practice is to use cuttings from tips of major branches from the lower crown of young trees, taken from December to February.... Most reproduction, however, is from seed."
Again there is the unexpected process. Instead of propagation from a typical seeding route we have a cutting route. From being a vulnerable part of the tree, with no strength of years ringed around, it becomes the central spot of strength around which new years of growth circle and widen. All would probably be well here if we posit a once-for-all G*D setting things in motion and hiding secret doctrine deep within an institution. When we look at the sweep of scripture, however, we find this cutting process to go on and on and on -- new beginnings from old institutions goes on and on and on.
A call to us, still, is to find new leadership for a new way [are you willing for that to be you?] and to rely upon a tip of new growth rather than the accumulation of rigid doctrine that is good for seeing growth rings, but then can add nothing new [are you willing to be moved beyond that which birthed you?].
Wesley White
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
A Cartoon about being in a judgment seat.Enjoy!
It seems that when we talk judgment we are talking negatives. That is the viewpoint that holds power over us.
Imagine a cartoon where the person whose life is being shown is alert with anticipation to see how things were connected and where some editing would have helped. Instead of slinking down, one might sit up and pay attention.
Presumably the story being shown is not yet over. Why not look forward to what is going to happen next instead of shying away from what has already occurred?
Consider your own usual image of a judgment seat? Something to be avoided as long as possible or something to hustle along to to get a front row seat on what might yet be done? It is time to enjoy judgment, not fear it.
Wesley White
Mark 4:26-34
I expect Jesus would have been just as well off not explaining things to the disciples in private. It only leads to their thinking they can get a handle on what it is that Jesus is up to and makes the temptation to power on Palm Sunday even stronger for them. If they have the inside scoop what is to keep them from having the preferred seats in paradise?
Inasmuch as the presence of GOD is quite a mystery to us, we can, at best, compare it to other things we know. In each instance the comparison falls apart somewhere and goes too far in other ways. We are called to have a series of parables at our disposal to be be able to bring out the one that will cause the most stretching in the moment. We sharpen our appreciation of the presence of GOD by whetting one parable against another other.
May we listen beyond hearing and evoke in each other a greater attention to what is going on in the moment.
June 25, 2006 - Year B - Pentecost +3
1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 or I Samuel 17:57 - 18:5, 10-16 or Job 38:1-11
Psalm 9:9-20 or Psalm 133 or Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
A question of openness continually raises its voice. Just how open are we to that which troubles us?
In each case it hones our appreciation of a mystery we call GOD much more sharply than does our defensive attempts to avoid difficulty or our sense of entitlement to an easier way.
During this week we may take a few steps closer to the realities rather than the ideals of living in the midst of evil.
almase
thanks for information.
Wesley White
Mark 4:35-41
It is very easy to externalize this passage, to have Jesus address the created order to change its doing what it does, rather than to understand this as a parable. One of the dangers of pericopes is that they begin to stand separate from one another (an outgrowth of a chapter and verse numbering system that dissects a passage). This follows on the heels of hearing that Jesus only teaches in parables and elucidates them to an inner circle. This may help us see that disciples need the same parabolic teaching approach, but its surface simply goes after an external miracle.
This is a fine example of being in a learning mode and then deflecting that learning. A storm rises outside. The disciples bring that storm inside of themselves. They cry out for a resolution of the fear within. Jesus stills the outside storm and wonders about their inside storms. The disciples, instead of reflecting on his question regarding their sense of meaning, their application of faith, deflect the question to focus back on Jesus.
This is one of the dangers of a Sunday School, fill-in-the-blank, approach to life for adults. We tend to think every question is about Jesus as per this old story: A pastor was giving the children's message during church. For this part of the service, he would gather all the children around him and give a brief lesson before dismissing them for children's church.
On this particular Sunday, he was using squirrels for an object lesson on industry and preparation. He started out by saying, "I'm going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is." The children nodded eagerly.
"This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)..." No hands went up. "And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)..." The children were looking at each other, but still no hands raised. "And it jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it's excited (pause)..."
Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand. The pastor breathed a sigh of relief and called on him.
"Well," said the boy, "I know the answer must be Jesus ... but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!"
Sometimes the questions of life are about situations around and about us. Sometimes they are about our response to situations and learning better ways of living.
What question have you been deflecting? Your congregation? Your community/nation?
Wesley White
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Here is quite a list of afflictions. If one took the time I expect we could each come up with examples in our own lives that would illustrate the difficulty listed. Go ahead, give it a try.
affliction ____________
hardship ____________
calamity ____________
beating ____________
imprisonment ____________
riot ____________
labor ____________
sleeplessness ____________
hunger ____________
dishonor ____________
ill repute ____________
treated as impostor ____________
seen as unknown ____________
being of no more account than one who is dying ____________
punished ____________
poor ____________
having nothing ____________
What holds these from being defining realities and allows an alternative action in their midst is having an open heart for others.
For Paul this openness is not passivity, but an active voice of speaking frankly, honestly, openly. How open is your heart in this regard?
Wesley White
Psalm 9:9-20 or Psalm 133 or Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
Individual or nations can get caught in storms. At first they seem lifted to the heavens with the rush of excitement and then it becomes apparent that the blowback of their presuppositions catches up with them and they are headed to Davy Jones' Locker.
Think about storms for a moment and our theories of pressure fronts. Storms are generated at the edges of highs and lows. If this were to stand for the wars between individuals and nations it might be posited that Psalm 133 is what stands between the other two. Psalm 133 is about living in unity. Note that this is not uniformity, but unity between the differences without having to fight.
And then it must be noted that storms do bring the rain that brings the flowers. Aargh! If only one image would stand still long enough to hold all the meaning in the world. Well, until then, do what you can to live in a creative unity that allows enough rain to nourish without escalating into a storm that devastates.
Wesley White
1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 or I Samuel 17:57 - 18:5, 10-16 or Job 38:1-11
Confronted with overweening force or entrapping questions we have decisions to make.
Do we do what we can do? Palestinians with stones against Israelis with tanks, occupied Iranians against armored Americans, David against Goliath? Against all reason we claim a place that is not put down and dismissed. We will be meaningful, even in defeat. We will not go into that good night.
Do we eventually give in, claiming that it took us awhile to get it but now we are willing to succumb to the power arrayed against us. Once having redefined our relationship we can redefine everything else to perceive that war is peace, that we have more now than we ever did, that our new family and circumstance is ever so much better than the old.
Where is wisdom in these days? How far will we go to hold the integrity of an intention for all to work together for good? How far will we go to care for the least? How far will we go to claim our experience as a viable alternative to everyone else's tradition?
All too often David would get assassinated by a death squad before even making it to the brook to pick up one stone. All too often it is Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar that make the big bucks. And so it is difficult to maintain our listening to a still small voice that allows us to go ahead. What implacability are you facing and what are you going to do about it?
Wesley White
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Today is the acceptable time for salvation.
Now is the only time we have to act to bring wholeness and health to ourselves and others.
We wish we would have been wiser sooner. We plan to be more helpful. But, we only have this moment in which to actually show, through our endurance, another viewpoint on or way of responding to affliction, hardship, calamity, etc.
Regardless of the outcome, honor or dishonor, we have this opportunity in which to affect and effect relationships between ourself and ourselves, ourself and others, ourself and G*D/Creation. We don't decide to act on the basis of some hoped for result, but on our best understanding of who we are and the movement of life in the midst of difficulty.
Wesley White
Mark 4:35-41
Storms come in many forms. There are physical storms with thunder and lightening. There are unseparated religion/state storms with inquisitions and lynchings.
Last night was the first showing of the new Bill Moyers series, Faith and Reason on the Public Broadcasting System. It is well worth listening to on your computer with streaming video or on the go with a podcast. Go to the Watch & Listen section.
You will see and hear about storms that lead to questions of care of community (freedom of speech) and faith/fear. Have atheists like Salmon Rushdie also heard the voice of health and wholeness (salvation) saying "Peace! Be Still!" and responded that they now have no more fear in standing up to oppression, whether by storm or fascists? Have you? If so where and when will you stand?
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