The Blessed Virgin

"Behold, from henceforth all generations
shall call me blessed;
for he who is mighty hath done for me great things,
and holy is his name!" - Luke 1:48-49

Mary's song (traditionally known as "the Magnificat") is rich with ideas and theological points. Surely, among the reasons the Father chose Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus was their extreme piety and close walks with the Lord. If it is the writer/editor of the Gospel of Luke who is primarily responsible for this wonderful song, then kudos to him (either way, it is the Holy Spirit who is ultimately responsible for the contents of Scripture).

In verses 48-49 of Luke 1, two things strike me, particularly as I prayerfully prepare to preach on this pericope (Sunday 9:30 AM).

First, being "blessed" by the Lord may not always be a "walk in the park". Elizabeth said to Mary in verse 42, "Blessed art thou among women...", and in this passage, Mary affirms the blessing. Think of it: Mary was probably 12 or 13 years old, single, poor, pregnant though not married, and living in a culture where this sort of thing meant at least ostracism, and possibly worse. This blessing could have turned into the end of any hopes she had of living a relatively normal life as a productive member of society. Blessings are not always what they seem.

The second thing that strikes me is that Mary is blessed not because she is pregnant, but because she is being used by the Holy Spirit to help accomplish God's plan. Though it's unlikely Mary understood all that was to happen in the future - what exactly her child would do and how he would liberate Israel - she walked in faith (a wondrously frightening thing to do) and chose to not only accept her role in God's plan, but to praise God for the blessing of being a part of the salvation story.

Mary stands as a shining example of a faithfully-lived life; she lived in humble obedience to God, and truly embodies (for me) John Wesley's covenant prayer...

"I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt,

rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing,

put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee

or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee

or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things,

let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things

to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen. "

NFL Rankings - Week 15

1 - San Diego Chargers (last week 1...still the Super Bowl favorites)

2 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 2...they played very well on Monday night, but I don't think they can get past San Diego)

3 - Chicago Bears (last week 3...still the best in a woeful NFC)

4 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 6)

5 - New England Patriots (last week 5...Brady, the most successful QB of the 21st century, was ROBBED of a trip to the Pro Bowl)

6 - New Orleans Saints (last week 4...still second best in the NFC...Drew Brees is the only challenge LT has for MVP, and Coach Payton is clearly Coach of the Year)

7 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week 7)

8 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 8)

9 - Dallas Cowboys (last week 9...TO should be banned from the NFL)

10 - Philadelphia Eagles (last week unranked...Coach Reid and QB Garcia are doing a TREMENDOUS job of keeping them in the mix since McNabb's injury)

Honorable mentions:
Atlanta Falcons (who are imploding), Buffalo Bills (who are showing real promise for next season), Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants (who, like the Falcons, are imploding), New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers

Gold stars to:
San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans...two teams whose good coaches are keeping them from the league basement

Hat tip to:
Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers...quite possibly the toughest man ever to play team sports, and certainly one of the most entertaining athletes to watch, I hope he plays at least one more season

Magnificat

"...Mary sang,
'My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the low estate of his servant!

Behold, from henceforth all generations
shall call me blessed;
for he who is mighty hath done for me great things,
and holy is his name!

And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation!

He hath shown strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he hath brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of low estate;
he hath filled the hungry with good things,
but the rich he hath sent away empty.

He hath helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever!'"

- Luke 1:46-55

Mary's song in Luke 1, traditionally called "the Magnificat", emphasizes the fact that God has, through the miracle of the Incarnation, "brought down" the proud and "exalted those of low estate". Looking closely, we see that through the child in Mary's maidenly womb, God has reversed the status systems that humankind created. Suddenly, the lowly, the oppressed, the marginalized are saved, liberated, and embraced by heaven, though they have experienced rejection and alienation on earth.

How are we exalting the lowly this Christmas season? If the season is to be more than lovely music and pretty images, isn't Mary's inspirational song a wonderful challenge for the Church? In what ways are we living the "reversed" life, recognizing that the marginalized are to be exalted? How faithful is the Church to the hopes of the Magnificat?

Am I a heretic?

Another quiz. Thanks to Chris Kindle.

You scored as Chalcedon compliant. You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451. Chalcedon compliant 100% Pelagianism 50% Apollanarian 33% Adoptionist 33% Monophysitism 33% Nestorianism 17% Modalism 17% Monarchianism 8% Socinianism 0% Arianism 0% Donatism 0% Albigensianism 0% Gnosticism 0% Docetism 0% Are you a heretic? created with QuizFarm.com

Merry Christmas from Brenda Lee

Merry Christmas from George Harrison

And So This is Christmas...

In October 1971, John Lennon wrote and recorded (with Yoko Ono, the Plastic Ono Band, and the Harlem Community Choir) "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", which is perhaps the best modern Christmas song. The secondary refrain of the song features the phrase, "War is over if you want it", a phrase most people of my generation didn't fully appreciate until recent years.

The song begins with the now classic phrase, "And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?"

Christmas is, among other things, an opportunity to review our lives and our ministries in the waning year, and to evaluate how faithful and effective we have been. It's an opportunity to celebrate the successes...whether strong spiritual growth, increased worship attendance, or facility improvements (all of which Jefferson church can celebrate this year).

It's also an opportunity to be honest about the imperative Jesus gave to us. That imperative is often summed up by many in Matthew 28:16-20, a wonderful passage which, frankly, needs to be "fleshed out" a bit in order to fully graps its meaning.

For me, this is where Matthew 25:31-46 comes into play. How do we make disciples? It's the mission of the Church, after all, and rightly so. How do we do it? What does it mean to make disciples?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25.

"Truly, I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you did it to me."

Faithfully making disciples (which is synonomous with faithfully being disciples) means, in some way, serving those to whom Jesus referred as "the least of these".

Who are "the least of these"? According to Jesus in Matthew 25, these are folks who are are hungry, who are thirsty, who need clothed, who are strangers and outcasts, who are in prison, who are poor. What are we doing for "the least of these"?

It seems to me that if we are not doing enough to meet their needs, which communicates to them the love God has for them, then we are failures. In the big picture...the "Kingdom picture"...it simply doesn't matter if strong spiritual growth, increased worship attendance, or facility improvements are present. These things don't matter to God; what matters is how we have communicated the love of God to "the least of these", because Jesus relates not to the affluent or the comfortable (as Matthew 25 makes clear), but to the outcast, the poor, the disinherited (to borrow Howard Thurman's wonderful terminology).

If we fail? Jesus says we get "eternal punishment". If we are faithful? "Eternal life". In fact, Jesus is pretty clear on this point, and doesn't leave us very much wiggle room. It's not just a matter of not doing evil; it's also a matter of actively doing good.

As commentators Ralph Earle and Walter Wessel state, "The judgment of the righteous is based not on an intellectual faith but on a faith that demands loving action toward others." Let me risk heresy: it may well be that despite our traditional evangelical appeals to salvation by grace through faith, that how faithful we are in serving "the least of these" determines our eternal destiny, at least in part.

I get so tired of American materialism, which absolutely infects the Church, especially in white suburbia (I don't know who coined the phrase "affluenza", but it's spot on correct). It infects the Church Universal, the United Methodist Church and Western PA Conference (I'm still waiting for that new church start in downtown Pittsburgh or rural Appalachia, as opposed to a wealthy white suburb...). We are just too comfortable.

I am tired of Charge Conference forms and statistical reports which ask for terribly mundane and ultimately meaningless details such as the amount congregations collected in loose change offering. That's silly. Even recording the number of people in Sunday School is ultimately pointless (with all due respect to my well-meaning colleagues who value that sort of information). What we should be held accountable for...particularly those of us in affluent suburbia..is the number of hungry people we fed...the number of children who recieved winter clothing...the number of inmates we visited at the county prison or the regional hospital or the local personal care home...and what we did to stand with those who suffer from racism, AIDS, or hate.

The Church has misplaced its priorities, and the world is suffering for it. May God have mercy upon us.

Thankfully, in this season of new life, miracles can still happen. Led by the Spirit, we can reclaim the mission, and begin to take Matthew 25 seriously. We can know penitence, forgiveness, and second chances...or third...or fourth. It's not too late to seek faithfulness. It's not too late for us to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" (as was said about Eleanor Roosevelt).

"And So This is Christmas, and what have we done?" John Lennon sang in 1971. May we search our hearts this holiday season and promise our Lord that at Christmas 2007, we will have a more faithful answer to that question.

Sunday's preaching text

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'

Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'
Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'

And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

- Matthew 25:31-46 (RSV)

Farewell Peter Boyle

God bless Peter Boyle (1935-2006).

Merry Christmas from Paul & Linda (& Wings)

NFL Rankings - Week 14

1 - San Diego Chargers (last week 2...LT, likely soon to named the year's MVP, makes them the new Super Bowl favorites)

2 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 1...the worst run defense in the NFL will probably cost Peyton Manning his last best shot at a Super Bowl)

3 - Chicago Bears (last week 4...still the NFC favorite, despite QB issues...though the Saints are coming...)

4 - New Orleans Saints (last week 8...they just get better every week)

5 - New England Patriots (last week 3...what the heck was that?)

6 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 7)

7 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week 9)

8 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 5)

9 - Dallas Cowboys (last week 6)

10 - Jacksonville Jaguars (last week unranked)

Honorable mentions:
Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos (last week 10), Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles

Church funny

On this day...

In 1980, John Lennon was murdered outside his home in Manhattan. Lennon was the leader of the Beatles, who unquestionably reign as the most significant musical artists of the twentieth century. Lennon's voice remains one of the most searingly honest and powerfully raw musical instruments ever recorded, and his songs remain among the greatest ever written. His example as an unbearably honest artist and as an activist for peace continue to inspire people all over the world.

Like millions of others, my life was changed by the life and especially the music of John Lennon. So much of my "embedded theology" comes from his music and the imperfect but exceedingly genuine way he lived his life. So, as the world remembers those dark events of twenty-six years ago, I thank God for John Lennon.

"You say you want a revolution,
Well, you know we all want to change the world.
You tell me that it’s evolution,
Well, you know we all want to change the world.
But when you talk about destruction,
Don’t you know that you can count me out?
Don’t you know it’s going to be alright?
You say you got a real solution,
Well, you know we’d all love to see the plan.
You ask me for a contribution,
Well, you know we’re all doing what we can.
But if you want money for people with minds that hate,
All I can tell you is, brother, you'll have to wait.
Don’t you know it’s going to be alright?
You say you’ll change the Constitution,
Well, you know we all want to change your head.
You tell me it’s the institution,
Well, you know you'd better free your mind instead.
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao,
You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow.
Don’t you know it’s going to be alright?"

(Lennon/McCartney, 1968)

Farewell J. Kenneth Grider

I was saddened to learn today of yesterday's passing of J. Kenneth Grider. Grider was a long-time professor at Nazarene Theological Seminary and an ordained pastor in the Church of the Nazarene. He specialized in the field of Christian perfection / entire sanctification and also served as a translator on the "Committee on Bible Translation" which produced the New International Version of the Scriptures.

His book A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology is perhaps the best one volume summary of evangelical theology from a Wesleyan perspective currently in print, and has had a profound influence on my own theological development, introducing me to the "governmental model" of Atonement theology, which Grider (along with the great John Miley and others) argued was the proper Wesleyan view of this essential doctrine.

I praise God for the ministry of J. Kenneth Grider, which likely will continue to bless the Church and touch Christians everywhere until our Lord returns.

NFL Rankings - Week 13

1 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 1...they hold on to the top spot by a thread...their typically efficient offense is paired with a horrific defense which could sabotage their Super Bowl hopes)

2 - San Diego Chargers (last week 2...RB Tomlinson is the best player in the NFL, and, with the very effective Rivers at QB, could earn a Super Bowl title this season)

3 - New England Patriots (last week 3)

4 - Chicago Bears (last week 5...they need to solve the problem of QB Grossman's inconsistency...now)

5 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 6...with Alexander and Hasselbeck back, NFC teams better start worrying about them)

6 - Dallas Cowboys (last week 7...watch out for Parcells' team, which could break a lot of NFC hearts)

7 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 4)

8 - New Orleans Saints (last week 9)

9 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week unranked)

10 - Denver Broncos (last week 8)

Teams on the Bubble:
Atlanta Falcons (if QB Vick can learn to pass effectively), Carolina Panthers (if they can learn to be consistent), Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs (last week 10), New York Giants (the collapse of the year), New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles (though I think this bird is cooked)

Worst in the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals (goodbye, Denny Green), Cleveland Browns (their "Super Bowl" is tonight at Heinz Field), Detroit Lions (the Ford family needs to fire ineffective GM Matt Millen post-haste), Oakland Raiders (Al Davis needs to give up power to an effective GM and hire a good coach...maybe Jeff Fisher if the Titans make a mistake and fire him at season's end), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (the miserable loss to a bad Steelers team which was without its two best players is not a good sign for Gruden's team)

Heisman watch:
It's got to be Ohio State QB Troy Smith...though Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn will likely go before Smith in the NFL Draft.

About Pitt:
I'd advise giving Coach Dave Wannstedt one more year to turn things around...then, if there's no decent Bowl bid, cut him loose.

High School:
Tomorrow night, the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars play General McLane in the AAA semifinals. TJ is heavily favored to win and advance to next week's state championship. Go TJ!

Tonight:
My brother and I will be at Heinz Field to see the woeful Browns play the disappointing Steelers. It promises to be a cold evening, but, hopefully, one with a victorious Pittsburgh team.

I Believe in Santa Claus

In the month of December, much is focused upon one of the biggest superstars in our culture. I'm not talking about Elvis Presley, the Beatles, John Wayne, or Joe Montana; there is at least one superstar bigger than even those talented folks...Santa Claus.

Each year, images of Santa are everywhere...in our music, in our stores, on our televisions...everywhere. This doesn't bother me in the least; after all, Santa Claus is very real, and, if we remember who this man is, we should be more thankful for him and his ministry, which continues to touch people today with the love and peace of Christ.

"Santa Claus" is the Anglicized/Americanized name of Nicholas, a fourth century bishop in what is today referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, in what is now the nation of Turkey. Known for his great generosity and prayerful devotion to the Scriptures, he was at one point imprisoned for his faith, but was eventually freed and participated in the critical Council of Nicea, which did so much to define, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, what entailed Christian orthodoxy.

It upsets me when I hear Christian sisters and brothers making the claim that Santa Claus doesn't exist. Imagine if in six centuries people claimed you never existed! Just because someone lived a long time ago doesn't mean they are fictional.

This is upsetting for a few reasons. First, Jesus had a special place in his heart for little children (Mt 19:13-25), and to hurt a child by claiming that Santa isn't real is not very Christ-like (see also Lk 17:2).

Second, human beings need fairy tales...we need to hold onto a sense of the fantastic. I posted briefly about this subject in May 2006, and it is a firm truth. To quote G.K. Chesterton, "Fairy tales are more than true - not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." We need this important concept, because the notion that "dragons can be beaten" is crucial to an understanding of the Christian faith; Jesus proclaimed an extremely powerful apocalyptic message (I refer you to Dale Allison's 1999 book on the subject). For a Christian to deny Santa's existence because his story is fantastic and filled with magic is to risk denial (for the same reasons) some pretty important aspects of the gospel which are also fantastic...such as the virginal conception and the Resurrection of Our Lord.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, we believe that disciples of Jesus Christ have a future (Jer 29:11), that death is not the last word (1 Cor 15:54-57; 1 Thess 4:14-18). We believe that in some way as yet not perfectly known, the dead in Christ are with God (I'll leave it to others to argue about the specific nature of the "intermediate state"). If we believe that, then is Santa Claus - Bishop Nicholas - with the Lord? If not, then are Grandma, Aunt Bessie, and your old Sunday School teacher with the Lord? John Wesley? Mother Teresa? Saint Paul?

Of course, in some mysterious way, we believe that the dead in Christ are in the presence of God, even if we cannot know the specifics of what that looks like or feels like. And, since the dead in Christ are experiencing the divine presence in a wonderful way which we cannot yet fully comprehend, they are very much alive in Christ (Lk 20:38; Phil 1:23).

Bishop Nicholas - Santa Claus - is real. And, in the bosom of the Father, he is very much alive.

He stands today as he did centuries ago as a disciple of Jesus Christ committed to prayer, the Holy Scriptures, and (remember Nicea?) Christian orthodoxy.

He stands today as he did centuries ago as a disciple of Jesus Christ committed to remaining faithful to God, even at the risk of suffering and persecution.

He stands today as he did centuries ago as a disciple of Jesus Christ committed to standing with those who suffer, those who hurt..."the least of these".

He stands today as he did centuries ago as a disciple of Jesus Christ committed to sacrificial giving and sharing, both materially and spiritually.

Let us thank God for Santa Claus and his ministry, which continues to touch the world and inspire the Church; and let us use his example to inspire us to be more faithful as disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Preaching texts for Advent 2

"...little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them,
but Jesus said,
'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them;
for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.'
And he laid his hands on them and went on his way."

- Matthew 19:13-15 (NRSV)

"Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary
by the blood of Jesus,
by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain
(that is, through his flesh),
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water...
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God,
so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible."

- Hebrews 10:19-22, 11:1-3 (NRSV)

Merry Christmas from John & Yoko

Here we go...

The Steelers' hopes for a Super Bowl repeat may be significantly dimmed, but we are blessed to have this fine team in western PA. This afternoon, Robyn and I will be attending the game against Tampa Bay at Heinz Field...a kind couple in our congregation gave us their tickets. Yay God!

I'll also be at Heinz Field Thursday night for the game against the Browns (I'm taking my brother that evening). We're praying for victories!

God is good, good, good!

Update at 9:45 PM: Steelers 20, Tampa Bay 3

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day, a day to raise awareness of the AIDS crisis which is devastating children, women and men around the world, particularly in Africa.

It seems that every Christian denomination has its own AIDS task force, but all in all, the Church ought to be embarrassed regarding its response to this global pandemic. The American Church has been so preoccupied with other issues that we have allowed this particular issue to take a back seat. Some of these issues are important and shouldn't be taken lightly...human rights issues such as abortion, poverty, and war. Other issues which have preoccupied the Church should be viewed as nowhere near as important as AIDS...issues such as homosexuality, gay marriage, and presidential politics. Both the Left and the Right have been obsessed with these issues, to the detriment of our mission concerning AIDS response and other ministries.

In our Conference, a relatively small group of pastors (led by my good friends Randy Roda and Bob Zilhaver) formed a compassion ministry for folks who suffer with AIDS several years ago in the Brookville area; other than that, I can't think of a single Conference-related AIDS ministry here in Western PA. I'm sure that many local churches are reaching out to persons in their communities who are dealing with this disease, but if our Conference is a microcosm of the denomination (and, indeed, of the Church Universal), then we are sinfully falling short of God's hopes for us.

World AIDS Day is a day to raise awareness of the AIDS crisis; sadly, this awareness needs to be raised in the Church, who ought to be the group raising the awareness!

I commend Baptist pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California, who hosted a conference concerning how the Church should be responding to the crisis. Shame on those evangelicals who chastised Pastor Warren for inviting Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois to participate. Sen. Obama's support for legal abortion is troubling, to be sure, but that doesn't mean he can't be helpful in combatting AIDS, any more than Pres. Bush's troubling support for capital punishment means he can't help fight poverty. No politician is perfect...no Christian is perfect (Obama nor Bush...and certainly not me!)...but let us go on to perfection together, all the while faithfully addressing important crises such as AIDS.

The truly startling realization is that the great world issues of our day...AIDS, abortion, economic justice, education, health care, poverty, terror, war...are all intimately related, and to faithfully address one means addressing all of them in afar more holistic fashion than the Church has done to date. I believe that we need to be in prayer as to how we might more faithfully approach these issues. I have failed, to be sure, and do not write from a position of superiority.

I pray that "compassionate conservatives" and "compassionate liberals" can band together to be the Church in this chaotic hour.

The Blessings of Commercialization

"'There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud" with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'
Then he told them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree and all the trees;
as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.'"

- Luke 21:25-31 (NRSV)

Jesus said to be on watch for the signs of the times, because when the signs are "just right", miraculous things will happen.

In Luke 21, he is primarily talking about that glorious Day when he returns to fulfill God's Promise to reconcile all creation to heaven.

But while we wait (sometimes rather impatiently) for the blessed return of Our Lord, we can also look for other signs marking other times, other miraculous seasons, other incredible opportunities to praise Almighty God and to reach out to others.

This is why I don't condemn the commercialization of Christmas, as many do; on the contrary, I revel in it.

Why? Because the signs are all around us! Trees, lights, bows, candles, greens, snow...and the wonderful music! The world is reminded during this time that we are about to commemorate one of history's greatest events, as God became incarnate in human flesh in a grand effort to save the world! (Why we evangelicals don't make a bigger deal out of the date of Jesus' conception is beyond me...so, Christmas it is.)
Because the culture has decided to commercialize Christmas, we are given a great opportunity to share the gospel. Everywhere people look they are faced with the nativity scene...they are reminded in song of the miraculous birth from the womb of a maiden...they must deal with the beautifully powerful message of the greatest and most profound of all Christmas carols, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing".

So, bring on the bright lights, the cookies, the candy, the presents, the reindeer, and the cocoa by the fire! For at least one more season, the world is faced with an opportunity to meet Jesus in his most vulnerable state - that of a newborn infant - and is given one more opportunity to consider (or ignore) the kenotic miracle of God's love!

Merry Christmas!

NFL Rankings - Week 12

1 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 1)

2 - San Diego Chargers (last week 2...Tomlinson may keep Peyton Manning from winning another MVP award...he's the best back in the NFL by far)

3 - New England Patriots (last week 4)

4 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 5...a solid offense and outstanding defense crushed the last hopes of the Steelers)

5 - Chicago Bears (last week 3...with a more consistent QB, they could be a real threat)

6 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 8...they may come from behind and end up in the Super Bowl again, where they would likely lose to Indy, San Diego, the Pats, or Baltimore)

7 - Dallas Cowboys (last week unranked...Romo looks like the real deal, and they may go far, but are really building into next year's Super Bowl favorite)

8 - Denver Broncos (last week 6...they need to solve the QB issue)

9 - New Orleans Saints (last week 10)

10 - Kansas City Chiefs (last week 9)

Pittsburgh Steelers status:
Most mock drafts see the Steelers picking either a cornerback or offensive lineman with their first pick in 2007. Both are needed.

This Friday

Ambition / Success

"I am convinced that personal pastoral ambition, and a pastoral ethic centered around productivity and success is brutal to our souls and destructive to the souls of the people we lead. I believe there is a better way. But it requires us to walk right into the messiness of our own ambitious hearts, ready to die to those ambitions. We must become skilled at detecting the odor of personal ambition, then flee from it as if the church's future depends on it. For I believe it does."

- Kent Carlson

Thanks to Dying Church and Barry Clarke.

On Evangelicalism: Good quote

"Here is no unanchored liberalism—

freedom to think without commitment.

Here is no encrusted dogmatism—

commitment without freedom to think.

Here is vibrant evangelicalism—

commitment with freedom to think

within the limits laid down in Scripture."

- Dr. Vernon Grounds, Chancellor, Denver Seminary

(Thanks to Emergent Nazarenes.)

I like this quote because it concisely differentiates evangelicalism from theological liberalism as well as fundamentalism while also leaning upon Scriptural authority without a commitment to any particular hermeneutic. Good stuff.

Incidentally, a Nazarene brother recently emailed me and mentioned three Nazarene-related sites which deal with both sacramental theology and the emergent church conversation among our Wesleyan brethren; here are the links...

* Emergent Nazarenes
* Nazarene Round Table
* Sacramental Nazarenes

(Thanks to Nathan Zipfel.)

I Relate in Many Ways

Smart Quiz

"Intellectually" Intelligent You're 'Intellectually Intelligent.' That pretty much means that you're good with theoretical ideas and concepts - but this comes to you naturally. More or less, you're a natural brainiac. Good for you. 30% theoretical intelligence 40% natural intelligence

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Thanks to Chris Kindle (who is "All-Around Smart").

Christ the King Sunday

"Before the colonialists imposed national boundaries, the kings of Laos and Vietnam reached an agreement on taxation in the border areas.

Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts, and decorated them with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians.

On the other hand, those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated them with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese.

The exact location of a person’s home was not what determined their nationality.

Instead, each person belonged to the kingdom whose cultural values he or she exhibited.

So it is with us; we live in the world, but as part of God’s kingdom, we are to live according to his kingdom’s standards and values."

- Missionary John Hess-Yoder

Sunday's preaching texts

"Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?'
Jesus answered, 'Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?'
Pilate replied, 'I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?'
Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.'
Pilate asked him, 'So you are a king?'
Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.'"

- John 18:33-37 (NRSV)

"Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood,
and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.
'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

- Revelation 1:4b-8 (NRSV)

Thanks and Giving

What a wonderful holiday! Of all the great festivals of the year, Thanksgiving is the most distinctly American...not the notion of giving thanks, of course, but the turkey, the pilgrims and the Native Americans, the Macy's parade, the football...the way we celebrate Thanksgiving is very American; it's a great holiday!

But there is an angle to Thanksgiving which we sometimes forget. We who call ourselves Christians are fairly good at giving thanks...we pray the right prayers, sing the right songs, and speak the right words.

But, as the name implies, if we are truly thankful to Almighty God for all he has done for us, for what he continues to do for us, and for what he promises to do for us in the future, then we must allow our thanks to give way to giving.

Jesus said, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14, NRSV)

As we gather with family and friends to enjoy the feast, the fellowship, and the football, have we made sure that our poor neighbors have been invited? Are they sufficiently cared for? Have they enough for their daily needs? Thanksgiving isn't really about the turkey and the football; it's about the poor, and having a blessed opportunity to serve these beloved children of God.

If we fail to remember this, then we are simply playing a game with Thanksgiving. We need to remind ourselves of the mission statement Jesus claimed for himself, and make it our own...

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
(Luke 4:18-19, NRSV)

NFL Rankings - Week 11

1 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 1...one loss isn't enough to force them from the top spot)

2 - San Diego Chargers (last week 5...wow...Tomlinson may be the best RB since OJ, Rivers looks like the real deal, and WHAT a defense...they could upset Indy and go all the way)

3 - Chicago Bears (last week 2)

4 - New England Patriots (last week 3...Brady & Co. seem to be getting into postseason form, which is bad news for the rest of the NFL)

5 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 4)

6 - Denver Broncos (last week 6)

7 - New York Giants (last week 9)

8 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 7)

9 - Kansas City Chiefs (last week 10)

10 - New Orleans Saints (last week 8...slip slidin' away...)

Honorable mentions:
Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys (looking better each week), Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers (they'll miss the playoffs, but finally seem to be getting their act together after so many miserable years)

Steelers note:
Great come-from-behind win last week in Cleveland...a terrible first half but an inspired second half...Hines Ward was solid as always, Santonio Holmes had his best game yet, Troy Polamalu did what he needed to do, and, to quote ESPN, "Ben Roethlisberger did what great QBs need to do every now and again -- he simply took over and won the game for the Steelers."

Dumb Hollywood

For years now, I have been absolutely convinced that the average IQ in Hollywood is dramatically lower than that in the rest of society. That's not to say that folks with lower than average IQs can't be talented actors or musicians; it's simply to say that, far too often, many (not all) entertainers seem almost supernaturally dense. It's not their politics; it's the things they say (and do) to support their views.

Here's some evidence...

"We are supposed to be liberated in America but if our President had his way, we wouldn't be educated about sex at all. Every woman would have six children and we wouldn't be able to have abortions." - Actress Scarlett Johansson

What an overly simplified view of the abortion debate! It's disrespectful to folks on both sides of the political spectrum who take the abortion issue seriously! How monumentally misinformed!

Thank you, Ms. Johansson, for helping to prove the notion of "dumb Hollywood".

Women in Ministry

There is an excellent piece written by Stan Gundry reprinted (with permission) at Scot McKnight's blog. You can read the piece here.

I am a firm believer in equality for women, and recognize discriminatory practices as bigotry and gravely sinful, flying against the will of God in the moving of the Holy Spirit. This sin encompasses, sadly, most of the Church Universal, and it is something concerning which we need to repent and find transformation.

Read the post on Scot McKnight's blog...it's good, good stuff!

Labor Pains

This Sunday's Gospel lesson refers to wars, rumors of wars, nations, kingdoms, earthquakes, and famine. Pretty scary stuff!

But the point of the passage isn't to scare us. Jesus' powerful "mini-apocalypse" in Mark 13 reminds us - in extremely powerful language - of the reality of change. Other than God himself, what is the one constant in our universe? Change!

The movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring begins with the prophetic words, "The world is changing." And so it is. Change surrounds us...cultural shifts, political transitions, and the ever-changing seasons here in western Pennsylvania. Autumn is now nearing its end, and we have seen the green summer leaves transform into beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges, and then die.

But this change is not a bad thing...if we are aware of what is happening.

The leaves change, fall and die each year in order that the trees may survive the cold, desolate winter and be reborn in a lush, green springtime.

God himself - the One who never changes, who is always the same, forever - changed 2000 years ago by becoming incarnate in human flesh, that we may survive the cold, desolate winter of our sin and be reborn in a lush, green springtime. For though God is never-changing, he is never static; God is the definition of "dynamic".

The changes in our world, our culture, and our lives should not be approached or observed with fear or uncertainity or trepidation. Rather, we need to remember that Jesus said that the changes we see are actually "labor pains", and that God is using the dynamic state of reality to give birth to something wonderful and dramatic...something far beyond our hopes and dreams.

So, be alert! Look for the changes around you! Adapt! Do not fear! Know that though change can be daunting, God is still sovereign and has tremendously exciting plans for each of us, for his Church, and for the world he has created!

Sunday's Gospel lesson

"As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, 'Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!'
Then Jesus asked him, 'Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.'
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
'Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?'
Then Jesus began to say to them, 'Beware that no one leads you astray.
Many will come in my name and say, "I am he!" and they will lead many astray.
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of labor pains.'"

- Mark 13:1-8 (NRSV, adapt.)

What I'm Reading

The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations
by Dan Kimball...

...this was recommended to me by a friend...aside from discovering that I am apparently "postmodern" (click here and scroll down to the term for a workable, if imperfect, definition), I am also discovering that my "ministry philosophy", which has at times looked "old", is actually pretty current and, excitingly, forward thinking...a good read so far - affirming and challenging...

The Pendragon by Catherine Christian...

...I actually read this Arthurian piece years ago and am taking another look at it now...a good distraction to settle my mind...it's one of the better Arthurian novels out there (though it can be difficult to find nowadays), and mixes Malory's take with a real Dark Ages flavor...highly recommended...


Luke 1 - 2

...to spiritually prepare for the busy-ness of Christmas, I've been prayerfully reading these two chapters in multiple translations.

Spider-Man 3

May 4, 2007

NFL Rankings - Week 10

1 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 1)...though their last win was ugly

2 - Chicago Bears (last week 3)...though their last win was ugly

3 - New England Patriots (last week 2)

4 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 7)

5 - San Diego Chargers (last week 8)...a very impressive come-from-behind win

6 - Denver Broncos (last week 6)

7 - Seattle Seahawks (last week 10)

8 - New Orleans Saints (last week 4)

9 - New York Giants (last week 5)

10 - Kansas City Chiefs (last week 9)

Honorable mentions:
Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles

Surging?:
Pittsburgh Steelers...I'm hoping they've turned things around, and that it isn't too late

Looking toward the Draft:
Washington Redskins...Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs just hasn't yet found that certain chemistry to turn the 'Skins into a productive team

Believing Jesus

"If you believe what you like in the gospels,

and reject what you don’t like,

it is not the gospel you believe,

but yourself." - St. Augustine

Thanks to Andrew Stoddard

NFL Rankings - Week 9

1 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 3)...the best in the NFL;
Peyton Manning will likely win ANOTHER league MVP award, and, I believe, his first Super Bowl championship

2 - New England Patriots (last week 2)...tough loss to Indy...several uncharacteristic mistakes by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady proved costly

3 - Chicago Bears (last week 1)...they lose their first game of the season to Miami? U-G-L-Y.

4 - New Orleans Saints (last week 4)...with a bye this week...oops, sorry; they play the Steelers

5 - New York Giants (last week 8)...the NFC will come down to the Bears, the Saints, and Peyton Manning's little brother's team

6 - Denver Broncos (last week 6)...they didn't look TOO impressive beating a Pittsburgh team that beat itself, but Mike Shanahan finds a way to stay in the mix year in and year out

7 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 7)

8 - San Diego Chargers (last week 10)

9 - Kansas City Chiefs (last week unranked)

10 - Seattle Seahawks (last week unranked)

Honorable mentions:
Atlanta Falcons (last week 5), Cincinnati Bengals (last week 9), Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets

Midseason awards:
MVP - Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Coach - Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Offensive player - LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Defensive player - Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos or

Shawne Merriman, DE, San Diego Chargers

Predictions:
AFC Championship: New England at Indianapolis
NFC Championship: New Orleans at Chicago

(but don't be surprised if NY ends up here instead of the Saints)

Super Bowl: Chicago Bears vs. Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl Champion: Indianapolis Colts

Methodist History

Misc. thoughts...

I think that...

...I felt blessed this morning to have the privilege of voting; I took my daughter Kate to the polls with me...

...regardless of how they are performing so far this season, I am so thankful that the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl earlier this year and that I was able to share that joy with my children for the first time...

...Jefferson Church is a voting station, and I hated seeing the building surrounded by signs promoting political candidates...I felt dirty when I left the office today...

...Christians throughout the nation need to be in prayer for Ted Haggard and his family, as late last week Haggard resigned his pastorate at New Life Church in Colorado Springs due to his confessed "sexual immorality"...we also ought to be in prayer for the man who made the allegations, and be careful not to react with spite or bitterness...

...it's Charge Conference season again, and I strongly dislike the paperwork we need to complete, as it emphasizes numbers more than ministry, figures more than transformed human lives...when we do that too much, we become the world...

...I will be very glad when the election is over; I am so tired of the mean discourse (from both sides of the political aisle) and the seemingly endless deceptions masquerading as television commercials, which I can't seem to avoid when all I want to do is watch a football game with my family...

...it was somewhat cowardly for either the Judicial Council or the Council of Bishops (or perhaps both) to delay release of the recent decision regarding General Conference representation by Cote d'Ivoire Methodists until the Bishops were finished with their recent meetings in Africa; good way to avoid answering questions...

...personal character and integrity are the #1 factors in leadership, by far, and Pennsylvanians are blessed to have two decent men (Rick Santorum and Bobby Casey) running for U.S. Senate...

...this month, Rev. Andy Verner of Western PA Conference will lead in the launch of a new faith community in the Pittsburgh Mills Mall, and that seems like one of the neatest ministry settings around...

...the recently announced Genesis reunion tour would be much more fun if original singer Peter Gabriel were onboard...

...too often, when it comes to issues of justice, the Church takes a paternalistic "we'll take care of you" stand rather than a more Jesus-like, fraternalistic "we stand with you" stand, which would be far more difficult and demand a far greater commitment...

...this is the season that Peyton Manning finally gets his Super Bowl ring...

...as I have been prayerfully preparing for the Advent and Christmas seasons, I am once again convinced that Charles Wesley's "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" is the greatest of all Christmas carols...matched with a beautifully majestic tune by Felix Mendelssohn, Wesley's text brilliantly and powerfully tells of the Christmas miracle...the Emmanuel message that "God is with us"...and that Jesus truly is God incarnate in human flesh; no other Christmas carol possesses the theological depth and power of this Methodist classic...

...after ten years of pastoral ministry in Western PA Conference, I still avoid going to our Conference Center whenever possible, because I still get the creeps when I'm too close to the "institutional" side of the Church, and I'm not sure why that is; I'm theologically pretty "High Church" for a United Methodist, but still maintain this strange paranoia when it comes to the institutionalization of the Body of Christ...

...the Church really needs to be doing more for and with the poor...numbers don't matter at all unless we're being faithful to God and our sisters and brothers regarding this absolutely essential ministry area.

Ecumenism

Jesus said, "I pray...for those who will believe in me...
that all of them may be one, Father,
just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us
so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me,
that they may be one as we are one —
I in them and you in me —
so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that you sent me
and have loved them even as you have loved me."

- John 17:20-23 (TNIV)

An important part of our disciple-making mission as 21st century Christians is to work toward Church unity. Actually, it's more than important; it's essential. Just as we need to be actively pursuing the spread of the gospel through verbal witness and social witness, we need to be actively pursuing ecumenical involvement with the aim of "complete unity".

Why? Because it was the prayer of our Lord that we be "brought to complete unity".

Why did Jesus pray this prayer? That the world might know the gospel. As the world sees a disunified Church, our witness is damaged. When United Methodists work against Baptists, or Roman Catholics work against Pentecostals, or Lutherans work against Presbyterians, we are hurting not only our effectiveness, but we are hurting our Lord, who desperately desires unity.

More than simply agreeing not to work against one another, we need to actively pursue working together. Folks in our communities need to know that the UM pastor, the RC priest, and the Episcopalian vicar are all "on the same page", and view themselves as part of the same team, not as competitors (deliberate "sheep stealing" is a grave sin, and one for which God will demand an accounting).

Today, I'm happy to say, I will be meeting with other local clergy...all good people...to discuss how we might work together more formally. Our hope is, of course, to accomplish something for the gospel...and to proclaim to the people of Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills that we are one. We have our doctrinal specifics, to be sure, but we all share the same Lord, and everything else is subordinant to him.

Ecumenical work is not only the work of clergy. Our laity need to be actively engaged as well...or the whole thing is just a show.

How are you actively pursuing Church unity? How are you equipping others for this task? These are important questions as we seek to be faithful and fruitful.

VOTE next Tuesday...

NFL Rankings - Week 8

Things are beginning to stabilize in the NFL this season. ..

1 - Chicago Bears (last week 1)

2 - New England Patriots (last week 2)...if they beat Indy this Sunday, they're the favorite to win it all...Brady has looked phenomenal

3 - Indianapolis Colts (last week 3)...if they beat the Patriots this Sunday, they're the favorite to win it all...Manning has looked phenomenal

4 - New Orleans Saints (last week 4)

5 - Atlanta Falcons (last week 5)

6 - Denver Broncos (last week 6)

7 - Baltimore Ravens (last week 7)

8 - New York Giants (last week 8)

9 - Cincinnati Bengals (last week 9)

10 - San Diego Chargers (last week unranked)

Honorable mentions:
Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams

Game of the Week:
Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts against Tom Brady's New England Patriots...what a game it will be! Michael Smith of ESPN, thinks that when their careers are over, Brady and Manning will be considered the two best quarterbacks of all-time...read more here.

All Saints Day

"Sing with all the saints in glory, sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth's dark story, to the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking, soon the storms of time shall cease;
in God's likeness we, awaking, know the everlasting peace.

"O what glory, far exceeding all that eye has yet perceived!
Holiest hearts, for ages pleading, never that full joy conceived.
God has promised, Christ prepares it, there on high our welcome waits.
Every humble spirit shares it; Christ has passed th'eternal gates.

"Life eternal! heaven rejoices; Jesus lives, who once was dead!
Join we now the deathless voices; child of God, lift up your head!
Patriarchs from the distant ages, saints all longing for their heaven,
prophets, psalmists, seers, and sages, all await the glory given.

"Life eternal! O what wonders crowd on faith; what joy unknown,
when, amidst earth's closing thunders, saints shall stand before the throne!
O to enter that bright portal, see that glowing firmament;
know, with thee, O God Immortal, Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent!"

- William J. Irons, 1873 (United Methodist Hymnal #702)