This week I’m taking a class on Religion & Media and writing a bit here each day on some class reflections. The theme that sticks out to me today is Authenticity.
“a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen. There are people who consciously practice being authentic, there are people who don’t, and there are the rest of us who are authentic on some days and not so authentic on other days.”
What a neat quote. As a lover of pajamas, in a literal sense this means wearing what makes me happy, what brings me joy. As a future pastor it means transparency, being yourself in the pulpit and at Target. In a culture of designer brands and plastic surgery I wonder if authenticity can be difficult to achieve for many. For many we hide behind a mask of expectations from others, showing instead a highly polished image of what we want people to see.
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So how do you define authenticity? How do you live it out? Feel free to comment with your thoughts.
I had the opportunity for another sermon today, or maybe it’s a homily, bit shorter than a sermon at 7 minutes. The service was ‘Lessons & Carols’ where we read the Christmas story from five scripture passages paired with five related Christmas Carols. Good fun, would *so* do this style of service again.
Anyhoo, If you’re curious, audio of the sermon is here along with text, so listen or read, pick your poison. Enjoy!
Show of hands, who has experienced Lessons and Carols before? I hadn’t until now. When pastor mentioned it to me a few weeks back I looked through the format and said “Sweet! We should do this!” So thank you Pastor and Shirley for your inspiration and help pulling this together, it’s one last chance to hear the Christmas story and sing carols, good fun. And thank you all for the positive energy and singing with gusto. Maybe next year we’ll add in a Margarita mixer to the festivities. Kidding, kidding!
There is something special about combining Lessons with Carols. I only came to realize it when looking at the scripture readings side by side with carols.
For example, in the lesson from Isaiah today we hear these words:
“the people who walked in darkness who have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows – light! Sunbursts of light”
That theme is echoed memorably in the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem we sang this morning. I’ll take a little stab at singing that a capella –
“yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light, The hope and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
How did you experience hearing that song? Was that different from hearing the spoken word? There are lots of ways to look at this. Maybe the spoken word involves more of the head, while the sung word more of the heart. A scientific study conducted a few years ago found a difference too. The left hemisphere of the brain takes the lead processing words, including what you’re hearing now. The right hemisphere of the brain does most the work processing songs, and is more sensitive to the emotional features of language.
Other recent research has shown that skills with lots of things are strongest when both halves of the brain work together. So here we are, listening to scripture spoken, paired with carols – based on scripture – being sung. Perhaps that helps the message sink in just a little bit deeper than hearing just one or the other.
Erectile dysfunction is said to be an excellent drug that was proposed only for treating erectile dysfunction and not viagra on line any other issue. A cialis 5 mg few positions determine loose breathing and some call for Breath of Fire. If it is decreased, then spermatozoa can have difficulties with penetrating through the mucus in the female genital tract and a jelly-like substance is secreted, which acts as a lubricant during coital session; thereby, resolving the issue of FSD and its other associated sexual issues. sildenafil uk buy A tablet or a jelly reduces the stress from the blood vessels and maintains you could try here levitra generika the smooth blood flow throughout the body. This reminds me of a recent experience as a hospice chaplain intern. I was visiting a patient dying of cancer, and the nurse on 24 hour care said she hadn’t heard them speak in several days. The only exception was a couple of days earlier when the nurse had hummed the hymn Amazing Grace. At that point the patient had briefly woken up and sung along quietly. The chaplain I was with took this as a sign, and the three of us – two chaplains and a nurse – began to sing Amazing Grace. And then it happened. This person, laying there on the bed, seemingly lifeless, opened up her eyes just a bit. She then smiled, ever so slightly, and proceeded to purse her lips, moving them along with the lyrics of Amazing Grace. She then sang, quietly, right along with us.
Sure, it was a gravel-y, and somewhat pained, but what a beautiful sound. Her song let us know she was still here, that her spirit was still with us. This experience was a powerful reminder to me about the depth of meaning music can have, and its ability to draw out the innermost being from within.
In the Gospel reading from John today the author uses a different way to connect with our innermost being. John begins by reflecting back on the Creation story, writing “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.”
The reading continues, looking forward to the birth of Jesus. The translation used this morning, The Message, uses the paired words “Life-Light” to describe Jesus. It says:
“The Life-Light was the real thing:
Every person entering Life, He brings into Light.”
So Jesus brings Light into our Life. What a great pairing, our Life, coupled with the Light of Jesus. What a neat way to understand salvation. Perhaps that’s why this reading from John is paired with one of my favorite Christmas carols. Joy to the World, the carol proclaims, The Lord has come!
And here we are, on January Fourth, the eleventh day of Christmas, a good time to reflect on 2014. There was probably some light in your life this past year. And probably some darkness too. Maybe you even felt alone and devoid of life at some point, waiting for a sign, maybe a song, to shake you from your slumber.
We can also reflect on the winter solstice of December 21, not too long ago. On that day, the darkest day of the year, we know that there will be more and more sunlight each day going forward that surrounds us. We can also reflect back on Christmas day, and to a tiny baby, the Life-Light, Jesus, born to guide our ways.
After looking back for a spell we then turn our gaze, and look forward to 2015, to what is to come. The reading from John forecasts an excellent pairing: Your Life, with the Light of Christ. Your Life, A life that proclaims Joy to the World, the Lord is come. Your Life, that when paired with our Creator, overcomes the darkness.
As Thanksgiving fades into the rear view mirror, and we look forward to celebrating the birth of the Christ child, I’m reminded again what a crazy, crazy time of year this can be.
There are parties to attend, and maybe one or two to plan. Decorations to put up, perhaps a train set to assemble too. Christmas cards to send, maybe some to email, maybe some to facebook. And then there are the gifts. We’re told that now is the time to BUY, BUY, BUY. It’s the only way to show our love for others. Every Kiss Begins with Kay (jewelers), dontcha know.
And then there is Black Friday, designed by marketers to kick off the Christmas season by getting you to head to the stores. Except now we have Gray Thursday, aka Thanksgiving Day, where stores open to start the sales (or is it Christmas?) season off even earlier. We can’t even take a day off to give thanks for all we are *already* blessed with anymore. No, instead we’re told to head to the stores, in search of more stuff, for us and our loved ones. The cycle repeats.
With all this in mind, this Christmas season, I’m taking a different approach. Instead of being thankful for all the somethings we have, instead, I’m thankful for nothing. The nothing of curling up with a good book, or snuggling my wife and our children. The nothing of conversation with a dear friend. The nothing of looking up to the heavens, enjoying the stars and the sky, and wondering what it is God has in mind for such a small being as I. Scientific technologies have attained a great height and one can get treated by simple dosage of effective medicine which is a version of cialis 20 mg djpaulkom.tv. The tablets will take approximately 30 minutes to work viagra buy usa and will allow the person to achieve an erection when blood rushes to the hospital, orthopedic surgeons are required to perform surgeries to repair fractures or torn ligaments. Your doctor will determine the pill viagra check this site out best possible treatment for you and you will have the medicine right at your door step. Other treatments like biofeedback therapy, perineal shock therapy, psychotherapy, Chinese medicine medication and so on. cialis india generic
All these things are nothing, society may tell you. And yet, to us, as Christians, a people of Silent Nights, Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men they are a vital way we live into the world around us.
May your holiday season be filled with a heaping, overflowing, abundance of nothings. And may you be blessed by each and every one of them.
Today was a special, special day. I had the opportunity on Reformation Sunday – a major festival in the Lutheran world – to deliver my first sermon! Many friends were there, the congregation was supportive as always, the whole experience is something I’ll never forget. If you’re curious, audio of the sermon is here along with text, so listen or read, pick your poison. Enjoy!
In 1995 alternative rock group The Smashing Pumpkins released their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The album debuted #1 on the Billboard top 200, going on to sell over 5 million copies in the US alone. The hit single from this album, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, went on to win a Grammy award for best performance. That song prominently features these sad, sad lyrics:
Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage,
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved,
Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage.
Billy Corgan, lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, describes the album as being “based on the human condition of mortal sorrow.” There must be something in our culture that makes us feel trapped, unable to escape our cage.
Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday, and the leader of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, all those years ago.
Luther knew of rage, and for much of his youth it was directed inward. First it was a rage of not living up to expectations – his father wanted him to be a lawyer, and paid good money for Luther’s education to follow this path. Later his was a rage of more expectations, expectations he thought were from God.
Luther, living in a monastery at the time, worried much about sin, and that he may have committed it. Luther was trying to save himself, through good works, and would apologize to God through confession whenever he failed. Often Luther would awake the head monk in the middle of the night to confess. At times Luther was so obsessed with his sins he would practice self-flagellation, or whipping himself as punishment. Painful stuff.
So why all this extreme behavior? Because Luther believed that if he passed away without confessing all his sins that eternal damnation would await. A cage of impending hell, that’s quite a cage to be holed up in.
Fortunately, after deeply studying the bible, Luther had an ahh-haa moment…
Theologian Gerhard Forde summarizes the insight from this moment like this, saying:
What shall I do to be saved? The answer is shocking. Nothing! Just be still, stop talking, and listen for once in your life…Listen to what God the Almighty, creator and redeemer is saying to the world, and to you, in the death and resurrection of his Son! Listen and believe!”
And with this new understanding of grace and salvation the personal reformation of Martin Luther had begun. Luther, now aware of this grace, and free from the rage he experienced in mind and body, set about to share this message with others. It wasn’t widely accepted or appreciated by the church at the time, so he wrote and posted the ninety-five theses on the door of the Wittenberg cathedral in 1517.
Luther, a man of the people, encouraged those around him to spend time each day studying the bible and in prayer. He also challenged the Catholic church on their use of indulgences – that’s where people would pay the church to forgive sin. By this understanding people would also pay the church to avoid hell. For Luther, as is for us, we are free through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our cages have already been opened, our self-rage washed in grace. Salvation is ours, just believe, nothing else.
If you want to avoid it, then you might want to know more about the product before they begin the medication. bought here discount viagra Fortunately, we now have some technologies such as the Brain Resource WebNeuro program, among viagra generic cheap some others, that makes this possible. There cost cialis are numerous ED pill out there, some of them are listed below. It viagra discount improves ejaculatory force and helps to enjoy enhanced sexual pleasure in lovemaking. The gospel reading from John today connects with Luther’s ahh-haa moment too. In the gospel reading Jesus speaks to a crowd, telling them to remain faithful to his teachings. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” Jesus reminds us. There are no modifiers here, no works to do for salvation, only a simple equation: believe, know the truth, be free.”
Reformation isn’t something stuck in the past with Jesus 2,000 years ago or with Martin Luther 500 years ago. Reformation can be here, and now, and personal.
I was raised in a Pentecostal church, which taught Christianity a bit differently than what we understand as Lutherans. Our Pentecostal brothers and sisters in Christ believe in the speaking of tongues as a gift of the Holy Spirit, and also emphasize public faith healings. It made for a dynamic way to experience church as a kid. But Pentecostals, at least in the 1980s, were also largely known for something else: preaching about the ills of homosexuality. I distinctly remember the pastors of my youth speaking about AIDS being a punishment from God for a sinful lifestyle. It never made much sense to me at the time, I mean, where was this God of love we were taught about in Sunday School? This disconnect, between an angry, punishing God and a God of love is a large reason I walked away from any form of Christianity for many years.
My personal reformation towards something new began in college. By chance I went to a Lutheran university, and was blessed to date, and then marry, a good Lutheran girl (hi Kathi!)
As part of our engagement we went church shopping, with a goal of finding a faith community that worked for each of us. At some point the Lutheran concept of being saint AND sinner, that both reside in us at all times started making sense. When I stumbled on a good explanation of Lutheran grace, that God forgives, always, and salvation is ours, always, I was hooked for good.
It was also during this time that a few guys from my college fraternity would take the 45 minute drive each year to Notre Dame University. Their goal? To nail Martin Luther’s 95 thesis to the door of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. It a silly thing to do, for sure, but I took away another message: reform is still happening in our world today.
Our Lutheran denomination, the ELCA, has engaged in reform of this sort, and in some very specific ways. We believe that God calls all to be in community together as a people of faith. We believe God can call anyone to lead our congregations, be they black or white, male or female, gay or straight. From the pulpits to the pews, *All* are welcome. This, for me, brought me out from the Christian cage of my youth, away from a God of judgment to a God of love.
While I was freed from this cage, and happily embraced our Lutheran community at St. Michael, God wasn’t done with me yet.
Two years ago I thought I had it all, a loving family, a great church, a roof over my head, the stability of a good paying job. I had recently been promoted at work, was now managing a team of employees, and stayed busy climbing the corporate ladder. Our goal was clear, upper management told me, do whatever it takes to increase profits. Nothing else matters.
In this cage, more works brought more money. In this cage, people were only as important as the revenue they represent. My rage this time came out as a dark clinical depression. Deep down I knew, despite the values corporate America was asking me to embrace, that relationships, that people, really do matter.
Then one night, from a hotel room in Chicago, my personal ahh-haa came. I was busily typing away at the keyboard, preparing for a sales presentation the next day. The topic? How to increase profits. I decided to take a break, and listened to a favorite sermon from Pastor Weiss on the internet. The sermon, from Easter day 2012, is a retelling of the garden of Eden, and has the theme but you don’t need points.
We’re caught up in accumulating points and have lost our way, so the story goes. Instead, our role on earth is simple, we are to dance with our Creator, dance with creation, dance with each other, and be in deep relationship with the world.
Hearing this, from a hotel room in Chicago, while working on a presentation all about collecting points – points with big dollar signs attached to them – brought tears streaming down my face. But you don’t need points! I remember shouting at my laptop. My personal reformation, and release from the cage, had evolved yet again. Since then I walked away from a career in collecting points, have decided to pursue ordained ministry, begun seminary classes, and have dived even more into the life of the church at St. Michael. This moment – of yelling at a laptop But you Don’t need points! – is a large reason I’m standing here today.
So what about you? What cages, what rages do you need to be released from? Is it a cage of self-loathing? A rage of broken relationships? A cage of longing for more, but not knowing how?
Know the truth, Jesus reminds us, and be free. Amen.
Earlier this month, Pastor in Pajamas traveled with a group of six to assist with a Vacation Bible School (VBS) at the Village of Hope, a school in Haiti our congregation supports. Each night our group gathered for a meal, shared in a short devotion, and spent some time reflecting on the day. I led three of the devotions, drawing from the themes of Creation, the Promised Land and Jubilee. For more on our experiences in Haiti, rewind to Part 1 – Haiti – Jesus is Alive!
The final devotion of the trip was on the concept of Jubilee. I first learned about the concept of Jubilee in a class on the Pentateuch, aka the first five books of the Bible. What was this passage of scripture that united the likes of leaders from various faith backgrounds including the Pope, the governments of 40 countries, and pop culture icons like Bono from the rock group U2 toward a common cause?
Jubilee is a concept that most recently entered into our culture with Jubilee 2000, an international coalition that called for the cancellation of third world debt by the year 2000. Over 40 first world countries participated in this debt cancellation, coinciding with the Great Jubilee, a celebration of the Year 2000 by the Catholic Church. To party right in the church world it helps to invite more people to the party. To do that sometimes requires we roll out the red carpet to those in need as was done here. As a person of faith these efforts are something to be proud of.
Shall we invite a few more?
After introducing Jubilee briefly for our devotion and asking who had heard of it – about half of us had, half hadn’t – we read Deuteronomy 15:1-11. The text outlines the crux of it; every seven years debts among people are forgiven, and land is returned to the original owner. Verse 11 summarizes this approach to eradicating poverty with “since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”
During discussion, one person talked about how they view Deuteronomy 15:2-3, which suggests that forgiveness of debt during Jubilee is “not exacting it of a neighbor” and “of a foreigner you may exact it.” At face value this could be considered that Jubilee would only apply within countries borders, or among neighbors, and not apply to foreigners. In light of the shared history of Europeans colonizing Haiti and bringing slaves from Africa we could consider that this brought together two cultures in our hemisphere, and that we have shared a common identity for over 500 years. Based on that, and particularly considering the short distance from Haiti to South Florida, we spoke about the possibility that could consider ourselves neighbors more than anything else.
Another person mentioned that after the 2010 earthquake many governments and banks had forgiven debt, including Italy, Canada, Brittan, France, the US, and the World Bank. In addition other countries provided help medically and financially after the earthquake; in a way the concept of Jubilee was being applied as part of the disaster response. We then closed with a Haitian prayer:
"Lord,
We are on the edge of the mountain
Which keeps caving in from erosion.
Day by day, more is caved away.
In the world, we are on slippery ground;
we are standing on the edge
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Speaking about who and what we are won't secure us.
For safety, we must step up to higher ground."
Fast-forward to our current religious climate stateside. The book unChristian reviews a survey conducted among adults under age 30 in the US with no religious affiliation. The survey found the most common perceptions of present-day Christians among this group are anti-homosexual (91%), judgmental (87%), hypocritical (85%) and too political (75%). The book also notes that nine of the top twelve perceptions of Christians from this study are negative. From this they conclude that “Christianity has an image problem” and then focus on detailing the issues and discussing possible solutions.
What does this have to do with the concept of Jubilee? A lot, potentially. After returning home from Haiti and reading up on Jubilee some more I ran across this story from February 2014:
“Student and community groups of different ideologies and faiths gathered together in unity to support Jubilee USA Network’s fight against global poverty Wednesday night.
The event, called “Berkeley United to End Global Poverty,” brought together Berkeley College Republicans, Cal Berkeley Democrats, the Jewish Student Union, the Muslim Student Association and Cal Veterans Group to engage in a discussion about international debt relief.
Jubilee USA Network, the main sponsor of the event, is a bipartisan coalition of 75 national organizations, including but not limited to church and Jewish organizations, labor, environmental and human rights groups.”
Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Republicans and Democrats. Veterans groups and Berkeley college students. Faith-based, grass roots efforts united by common mission to address poverty, environmental and human rights issues. Joined together by texts written over 3,000 years ago. Texts about Jubilee, that, up until modern times, may never have been practiced. Ideals from an ancient culture that are only now beginning to be realized.
Instead of being known by the labels “anti-homosexual” “judgmental” “hypocritical” and “too political” what if efforts like Jubilee are what our faith communities are best known for? What if we aspire to be known for what we stand for instead of what we stand against? Forgiveness of debts is a radical concept in our largely capitalist, for-profit world, radical enough that it can bring together peoples from a wide range of religious backgrounds toward a Higher purpose. Perhaps this is what God is doing in the text of Jubilee, taking us back to core Judeo-Christian values still relevant today to move our ailing faith communities forward.
