I invite you to join with me in a time of prayer and support for the great devistation in Myanmar (Burma).
Here is a link to a helpful emergent village post with graphics and video.
Support the United Methodist Committee on Relief efforts for those in Myanmar (Burma).
Other pictures of Burmese People (graphic comes from flickr).
0n the 25th and 26th of April, I was blessed to be able to join Brian McLaren at one of his DeepShift gatherings as part of the Everything Must Change Tour. He and his team were here in Kansas City to engage people about how it is that we are called as disiples to a revolution of hope, impacting the world in the way of Jesus.
Here is an audio clip (mp3) of me reflecting on a short segment of this event. In invite you to listen and offer your reflections. If you listented to this, what could make this form of media better?
New website for Everything Must Change. The basic media for the tour will be on this website in a few weeks.
Through the classes I teach at Grace, a common question that people ask is about the portrait of God as found in the Old Testament. The struggle is that there seems to be a different portrait of God in the OT as we find in the New Testament (Christian Scriptures). Thus, people question if there are really two gods or if God changed in character from the portait in the OT to the God we know through the ministry of Jesus Christ and his followers.
A man in the early 2nd century of the Common Era (A.D.) named Marcion was one of the first who “rejected the idea that the Old Testament God and the New Testament God were the same being” (see Chris Price per Peter Kirby’s blog). This perspective has indeed continued to the present day, in spite of the dominant perspective of the church arguing for the continuity of God in the Bible. But then how do we then make sense of the varied portaits?
Negative Aspects of God perceived in the OT:
There are likely many options to argue how God is the God found in the OT and the NT:
Option 1: The lens to see reality and worldview of a particular people is limited, and thus in the OT the people describe God given their current culture and lens. The portait of God (and God’s request for actions) is biased by the limitations of the people at that time. This option argues that there is a distinction between the character of God and the character of God as perceived by the people in a particular time and place. Thus, when we come to the NT, the character of God has not changed, rather the perception of God is presented by a people in a different time with different areas of focus.
Option 2: The portait of God in the OT is balanced by many other attributes (merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, seeking to bless all peoples, the God of all creation, etc.), which are not embraced in the same way the more negative aspects are, giving a limited portait of God in the OT. This often happens when people are alarmed by what God says or does, but the totality of God’s character is not kept in view.
Option 3: Another understanding argues that the understanding of God changed as the people of God developed (matured), as in developmental psychology. The way of relating to the early tribes of Israel and people of the Exodus was more reflective of a parent and a younger child – more blunt, declarative, etc. Then when the people of God mature, the way God relates to God’s children was more reflective of a parent and a child moving into adulthood, needing to take more responsibility and see the basis of their actions. (There is a risk in assuming that the early children of God are immature, while the people in the NT reflect mature children – this is especially risky when we project Jews (of today and throught history) as immature, while Christians as the more mature ones. I disagree and want to guard against such ideas).
Questions for Reflection: What do you think? What perspectives do you hold? How do you understand the character of God as found in the OT? How does this shape your ways of reading Scripture?
Here are a few video highlights from the Justice Revival that happened in Columbus, OH recently, featuring Jim Wallis, the CEO of Sojourner Magazine. The portion that I was most moved by are Jim’s comments regarding the good new of Jesus Christ.
Question: For whom is the good news of Jesus Christ good?
In a few days I will be taking some training so that I can offer online classes using Blackboard through BeADisciple.com. My expectation is to offer at least one Online Lay Academy class next fall. So I have questions for you:
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be gathering next week in Fort Worth, TX. This is a quadrennial meeting to decide policy and legislation that affects the whole of the church. The Kansas East Conference will have 3 clergy and 3 laity delegates of the total 990 delegates from around the world.
I will be leading a class at Grace, along with Rev. Frank Dorsey, called “What is General Conference?” It is a basic class to help people learn more about the organizational structure of the United Methodist Church, as well as to stay connected with what happens in Fort Worth this year. The class will meet in room 222 on Tuesdays (April 22nd, 29th, and May 6th) from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Please come join us for this journey! Here is a pdf of the class notes of the first session: What is General Conference – Class Notes – 1. Let me know your thoughts!
You can also stay connected via the UM homepage.
Question: What are your hopes for General Conference 2008?
Last week American Idol, a show Shelly and I follow, did their second annual “Idol Gives Back.” The purpose was to raise funds for many very worthy charities and mission groups. Both years I have been very moved by the stories of people around the world and even in our back yards, who are struggling to survive. My perception is that Idol seeks to raise fund, but also expose the atrocisties of our world, calling people to give either of their resources or of their time and love to change people’s lives.
Where does the Church participate in this work? I have been impressed by how Idol has take great steps to connect the millions of viewers each week, with the world’s largest problems. What might we be able to do if we joined our voices in a movement to advocate for the least, the lost, and the last, with our government, and others in power in our world to make a larger impact in our world?
In 2005 Shelly and I visited the UN and we saw this chart on the wall (graphic), visually describing how the world spends its resources. As you may be able to see, most of the money goes towards Military. In 2004 that figure was about $1 Trillion; it has only grown since then.
In Brian McLaren’s book, Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope, he wonders what would happen if we as the US (or even the global world) would tithe our military budgets to changing the issues of greatest need – hunger, AIDS, potable water, primary education, etc. What revolution of hope would come from this opportunity?
I am thankful to Idol for giving back and for helping people understand some of the greatest needs of the world. How do we take the next step? We start by educating ourselves, by catching a vision of God’s Reign here on earth, and by growing in relationship with those in most need in our communities.
Questions: What do you think we are called to do? How might giving back be too small of a vision in comparision to Jesus’ call to live into the kingdom of God?
Recently I learned that I have been accepted into a program seeking to strengthen younger clergy in their pastoral leadership skills. The program is called the Lewis Fellows through the Lewis Center for Church Leadership in Washington, D.C. This program will last for one year, and the group of Fellows will gather four times for three days each at various venues across the nation.
I am very excited about this opportunity and hope it will provide beneficial connections with other younger clergy across the US, as well as strengthen my skills in leadership and visioning for my ministry at Grace.
Hello Everyone!
This is my first real blog, now that I feel more comfortable with the system. I want to begin by speaking towards the title of this blog, Discipleship on the Way. The basis is that of the New Testament, particularly Acts, where we learn that the first followers of Jesus were called the People of the Way. They were communities of people, seeking to follow the way of Jesus Christ. I see my life and ministry as one in relationship with others, growing in our discipleship, as we too seek to follow the way of Jesus Christ. This image of the Christian life implies movement, being on a journey, growing in santification, and being a follower. I seek to love others into the way as companions on the journey.
I love the image that I found on Flickr, because it captures a journey with at least two persons along a path. They are not static, and even though they are walking on a solid surface currently, they don’t know what is ahead for them. The fog is present, which doesn’t allow them to see too far, but it also can represent the presence of Spirit that surrounds them and their journey.
What are your reflections on my blog title and subtitle? What understandings come to light from the image on the header? Thanks!
Shalom,
Dustin
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