Peace and Hope

A couple posts ago I talked a bit about the story within the story of Christmas (political and revolutionary!) and that sparked quite a few comments... so while I may regret this later I wanted to do another post on this to continue the conversation and invite others to join who haven't been reading those comments (see "story within a story").

The way I understand peace and hope in this world is this... sure people are going to screw it up. We are people and selfish after all. I'll even admit that I'm oftentimes the one who screws it up (the sooner we all realize that the world centers around me, the better off we'd all be!). But the fact that people will screw it up, that they will take advantage of peace, that they will at times violently try to supress and contain those who are after peace, should not control me or my hopes that a day will come when shalom, peace can exist. Jesus himself lived this way, hoping and living for peace and love... and yes it got him killed. But the promise beyond that death of a kingdom and a "life to the full" are built on peace and the hope of peace (see the tanakh, that's the Old Testament you Protestants).

I'm not saying that we should run around playing the matyr, but I wonder if we too often sacrifice our hope for our pride, our vision and dreams for control? Is it too much to ask really that we live as people of peace, trusting others and committing to the long-term of relationships? Assuming the best of others instead of dreading for the day when the worst will come? Perhaps I'm naive. Perhaps I'm an ingoramous. (okay not such a stretch) But why not live this way and not allow others to take it away from us?

I have much work to do to make this happen starting at home with my own family and on out into the world in which I live. I'm gonna try though. I'm gonna keep on trying. You've got to hope in something, why not peace? Shalom to you all!

Christmas Music

Those who know me, know that I'm not a huge Christmas music fan. I don't hate it. I just think it has a place.

I used to work at a radio station that played Christmas music ONLY from Thanksgiving through New Year's. This kind of exposure is bad for you. It makes you want to stab yourself in the ears.

My other thing with Christmas music is, why is there so little new Christmas music? Is the best we can do really just those 15 or so songs? Do we really need another version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"? Do we ever need to say "ye" again? And don't get me started about the time I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus...

Well to make my Christmas music naseau complete, we were at a very nice luncheon this week sponsored by Nazarene Publishing House. Many thanks and props to them for a nice dinner, for getting people together and for trying to show they care. After dinner though they "treated" us with their newest and top selling Christmas cantata. Did I mention it was a Southern Gospel musical? Thankfully the wait staff had cleared the forks and knives off the table so I couldn't hurt myself. Urgh! Many people thought it was wonderful. I simply did not find it to be my element or in anyway really redeemable.

It came complete with a choir that looked cultishly locked on their leader - scripted smiles, tears of blessing and handraising abounded. Then the two soloist ladies had on dresses that were... well let me describe. One was so shiny and sequened I found myself being mesmerized and drawn to it like a Mosquito to a bug light. The other looked like a cocktail dress from the 80's complete with shiny teel fabric.

And just when I texted my friend sitting next to me "I feel an altar call coming on", the leader stood up and proclaimed, "this would be the spot where we would normally do an altar call..." he hesitated as though thinking of doing one there and then and then I felt many gazes shift to the underdressed publishing house warehouse workers at the table next to mine. I almost cried. Thankfully he moved on into another kind of speech about understanding us and our problems and our "tiredness".

That was truly a classic nightmare come to life.

The story in the story

We've been talking at church about the "Christmas songs" in Luke. Last week we talked about the angels song to the shepherds. There is this part before the song at the beginning of the passage that reads simply "in the time of Caesar Augustus..."

This is the same Augustus whose quotes include that he was "god in flesh on earth". He also referred to himself as "son of god". He was also referred to as the "turning point of salvation" because he was going to save the world by bringing peace to everyone (except he was going to bring peace by his army and killing anyone in his way). They even coined (literally put it on their coins) the phrase, "Salvation is found in none other than Caesar" and "Caesar is Lord".

In the midst of this time the angels say to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The glory goes to God not Caesar. Peace comes from God, not Caesar. Hmmmm... It's quite a political statement.

This also begs the question - what do we turn to now for peace? hope? Who or what do we hear claiming to be our salvation? Who or what do we turn to for peace?

Bitter-Sweet

A few updates from the silence...
- REALLY tough day yesterday... enough said

- recently decided that I'm Sweet enough and we'll be moving on to another book or something soon. I'd love any suggestions for a focused reading and/or discussion from time to time.

- An incredibly great conversation recently involving Dave, myself and several leaders from our seminary faculty and a few others about the emergent church and how they as a seminary/denomination might be ideally placed in time to be a Boaz to many people who are in the church but can't keep on doing church the same way. It was truly a God thing that brought the convesation together so quickly and truly God was in the conversation. Good people. Perhaps this is all "for such a time as this". I thank God for the chance to be a part of the conversation and for the opportunities he's given me.

You Might Be Emergent If...

This blog post is awesome and you have to check it out. I know nothing of who this is... but awesome none the less.