Fully Participating

A video from N.T. Wright, who argues for the full participation of women in church ministry.

People still are quite divided on this issue. No matter where you stand, it's always important to hear both sides of the argument.

Please leave your comments below.

Change Your Diet

What feeds your self-esteem? We live in a culture that prizes excelling in sports, business, art, music, money, and most of us eat up this value system like candy.

We have "Plays of the Year," "Albums and Artists of the Year," even "Sexiest Man or Woman Alive," - we must stop and ask ourselves: How does being taught that these are the things that matter most in life affect us?

There is nothing wrong with competition, we all need to strive to fulfill our potential, but the question is in what areas? If we listen to the lie of our culture, we strive to be faster, stronger, more intelligent, more attractive, wealthier. 

But if we use those categories to determine our sense of self-worth, we will never be satisfied.

Rather our focus should be on the value of gaining life by losing it (Mt 16.25). In leaving a legacy of love as we invest in others. Valuing things like kindness, generosity, patience, mercy, and looking out for the vulnerable.

Contrary to what our culture says, you were not made to be the most beautiful, or talented, or wealthiest, you were made to love and be loved fully, and a mental diet that focuses on those values, and lives them out, will fill you like nothing else.

Are You There?

Technology has allowed us to fill our lives with more and more. Social media, for instance, allows us to connect with hundreds of people per day.  

One of the dangers of such technology though,  is the risk of sacrificing connection with those with whom we are physically present.

Yesterday I went climbing with my wife and during the climb was taking pictures and uploading them to Facebook. Was I giving my wife my full attention? Was I present with her? 

This issue becomes especially important on a day like today: Saturday. Most are off work, spending time with family or significant others. Are we bringing our work home? 

There is a reason God promises numerous times in the Bible to "be with you" (Ex 3.12; Josh 1.5; Mt 28.20); we are communal beings, in need of connection. But the connection needs to be substantive for it to be healthy.

It might be a good time to ask yourself: am I being present with the people I am physically with? Am I investing in them, listening to them, showing them that they are worth my full attention? 

The consequences of not asking these questions may be the degeneration of the relationships that mean the most to us.

E la Nave Va

E la nave va

This image has always inspired me. I love the sheer absurdity of a man rowing a boat across the open ocean, accompanied by a rhino. 

The title of the image, E la nave va, means "and the ship goes," and for me represents overcoming insurmountable odds. When I look at it, I feel I can do anything.

An image from Revelation 5 evokes a similar emotion in me. There, the author paints a picture of a scene in heaven, where the continuation of history is dependent upon finding someone worthy enough to open a certain book. 

But no one is found, and so the author begins to cry. Just then someone encourages him, saying, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the book." 

The Lion of Judah (Gen 49.9) and the root of David (Isaiah 11.1, 10) are titles for the Messiah; Jesus is the one who can open the book. But where is he?

The last time Revelation saw Jesus he was pictured as the intimidating transcendent ruler of the cosmos, one who holds the stars in his hand and whose face is as bright as the noon day sun.

That is the Jesus the reader expects to show up, but what happens next is astonishing.

The author sees a baby lamb, "looking as if it had been slaughtered," who comes and opens the book and history continues moving forward. 

For readers of Revelation, this image is paramount: it is not military strength that conquers, it is the slaughtered baby lamb. Christianity is based on the claim that life comes through surrender and giving of life, and not by taking it.

The imagery serves to express the reality that although it may not look like God is winning the battle against the forces of evil, the battle has already been won.

And not by a mighty army, but by the death and resurrection of God, that conquered all that death and the powers of evil could throw at him.

Trading God

Nebuchadnezzar

The prophet Jeremiah spoke at a desperate time in Israel's history. The Babylonian Empire, motivated after conquering the Assyrian capital of Ninevah in 612 B.C., moved west to assume control of Assyria's former holdings. 

The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar (ruled 605-562), set his sights on Jerusalem, the capital city of Israel at this time, which had not fallen under Assyrian control.  

Word spread quickly among the Israelites that Nebuchanezzar was on his way, and everyone wondered what to do: do we trust Yahweh to deliver us? Is it too late (Jeremiah 27.6)? Should we seek help from Egypt (2.36ff)?

The Israelites had a long history of attempting to solve their problems by looking for a more accessible "god experience." This led them to trade Yahweh, the living redeemer god, for works of their own hands:

Has a nation changed its gods, even though there are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit. 2.11

Story of Kemosh

All nations of the ancient world had patron gods - these deities were inextricably tied to the peoples' national identity. The Moabites for instance, were known as the people of Kemosh; while the Philistines were associated with Dagon.

The unprecedented nature of Israel's rejection of Yahweh, leads Jeremiah to pen these words: Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate! 2.12                                    

                                       

In the end, Yahweh would use the coming destruction to show his people the natural progression of their destructive decision making. It was an attempt to get them to trust fully in him.

This story should get us thinking about where we might be trading God for things that do not profit, and if we are, begs us to turn from paths of destruction, to paths of life.

A Story Worth Living

Mark has a story to tell and he wants to tell it quickly. The gospel attributed to Mark is the shortest of the four gospels and almost has a rushed sense to it. 

This is helped by Mark's use of a phrase that is often omitted in translation for more natural reading: "and immediately" (Gk. kai euthus):  

"and immediately Jesus went into the wilderness....and immediately they leave their nets and follow him....and immediately his fame spread" and on and on. 

The frantic pace of gospel leads to such an abrupt ending, that the early church felt the need to add to it, attempting to bring the work to a more satisfactory completion.  Two attempts were made at this, but the most natural ending is the original in 16.8.

The original ending leaves the reader on the edge of their seat, waiting for the next act to unfold. But the next act is not to be read, it is to be experienced. The reader is to live out the next act. 

Nero

Many feel the tempo of Mark reflects the situation of his readers, who were more than likely Roman Christians who had experienced persecution under Nero.

The themes within the gospel of conflict, and failure to side with Jesus during trials, also give credence to this theory.

Mark is a perfect gospel for the overly busy individual who doesn't have time to read the Bible. But if one were to make time, the best way to read Mark is straight through.

That is where the humor, irony, tension, and passion, come together most potently, all in an attempt to convince the reader that this story is worth telling. And even more, that this story is worth living.

Words Create Worlds

Words have the power to create worlds, but they can also destroy them. The Bible introduces us to the power of words, when it tells us God spoke the world into existence. 

The book of Proverbs recognizes the potency of words, writing: 

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver" (25.11) and

"To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word in season, how good it is!" (15.23).

The NT picks up on this wisdom trend, charging us to "not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Eph 4.29).

We can all draw on moments when words have either helped us flourish or severely torn us down. 

It may be a good time to ask yourself, as the year is still young, do my words create or destroy worlds? Through my words, am I leaving a legacy of love, encouragement, and truth or one of shame, belittling, and discouragement? 

If you haven't found a New Year's Resolution yet, try Ephesians 4.29. It may be the most challenging, but also the most rewarding one you attempt.