"God our Father, give to the nations of the world a new heart of comradeship, the old man of ignorance and cruelty being done away, and the new man put on, renewed in knowledge, to strengthen and to serve the brethren; that every people may bring its tribute of excellence to the common treasury, without fear, and without the lust of domination, and all the world may go forward in the new and living way which he has consecrated for us, who now lives and reigns, with you and the Spirit of truth, one God, world without end. Amen"
The above is the last part of a responsive prayer for intercession for church, state and world, from the Methodist Book of Worship. Oh, by the way, this was copy write 1944-1945, and was published again in 1952, authorized by the Methodist General Conference held in Kansas City MO. April 26-May 6 1944. If you recall history, the world was in quite a mess back then, and yet Methodist followers of Christ, were praying that not just America, but all the world would find it's way back to God.
Today, it seems that American Christians seem to believe that God has left America and that He can somehow be wooed back if we just clean house and kick out all the people who don't believe in Him.
I might want to go out on a limb here and say that God is still here, just as God is in the presence of believers in Kenya, China, Australia and Everywhere. The problem is not that God needs to be asked back, or have a place cleaned out for God, or all the housekeeping done, so God will come back. Please..... Just as God, in Christ came and brought together men of different backgrounds and made God known to them and through them, so today it is not God's leaving that has made America what it is. It is those who allege to be God's people becoming exclusive in how they present God. If the only way to know God is my way, then the rest of you are in trouble. But I digress.
As we begin this season of Advent, I wonder just what it means to be a Christian who presents God in the way Christ intended. I hope that Christians will actually be aware, that Christ came not to condemn, but to show God's love and to offer a way to God. Jesus didn't come to institute giving gifts, or to make sure that there was a reference to Him (CHRISTmas) from Halloween to December 25. Personally, I think we are wrong if the only way we believe someone knows we are a true believer is if for 40 days we hit the mall with a message of Christ in Christmas sweatshirt. Scripture says that the believers of the new testament were known, make that recognized, not by how they dressed or how holy they were, but how they loved. The love that they showed, I believe, was not just restricted to the houses where they met. I don't think they went out looking for those who already believed, but were showing Christ enough in their lives to have others ask, "Why do you do what you do?"
In the prayer I started with I believe the "new and living way which he has consecrated for us," is not about Christians "values" or American ideas and ideals dominating the world through forcing our "rightness" on others. Christ didn't start a revolution on the political front, but He did revolutionize the hearts of a few, then a few more, then many many more.
This Advent season, I am not asking that God take back America, but that God would take back my heart and use it to God's purpose; to love others as God has loved me!
Peace my friends.
Welcome to Windrock
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Old...New....Now...
On October 8, 2009, our newest grandson was born, Jaxon Scott. His proud mom and dad, Tonya and Jason are joyful and grateful for his arrival. I say, good timing Jaxon, we needed you to complete the family and now it's Christmas, your first Christmas. We can't wait, you might even get a hula hoop....
New grandson, old grandpa.
Old and new are two 3 letter words that are so very powerful, that they stand alone in descriptive grammar. At my age, not old age, but age, I have become more sensitive, or perhaps aware of old versus new. The observation of "everything old is new again" surely is applicable in our world today.
A few years ago when Chrysler announced the NEW retro looking PT Cruiser, the demand could not be met. Those who had lusted for a street rod built from a 1940's roadster wanted to fulfill their dream, sort of. It seemed odd that a retro street rod was a sedan. Then when the NEW Dodge Charger, a dream muscle car from the 1970's, was rumored to be coming on the scene, again, every baby boomer lined up or dreamed. Then it came, the 4 door version of the Hemi Charger. The boomers wanted the coolness of the name, with the convenience of being able to dismount the rear seat easily. Old, new, but not the same. Then came the re-invention of the Mustang, and the reintroduction of the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camero, old names brand new cars, (these did stay 2 door hardtops). Nostalgia for the name, but not for the uncomfortable ride and simple vinyl seats and no seat belts, not to mention the inflated price tag. Even the plain vanilla Ford Taurus is back, NEW. I'm waiting for the Dodge Dart to come back, it wasn't cool when I had mine back in the '70's, but please no bucket seats, give me the front bench.
I really didn't start out to write about cars, but in our culture, they seem to be at the top of the list of things that can take us back to a time when, it seems in our minds, that times were better and time moved slower.
New and Old, what is it in these two simple words that can trigger reactions in our minds and in our hearts that can knock us off track in life.
New means many things. Fresh, unused, shiny and exciting often accompany new in it's journeys. For most of its' time new is being pushed on us as what we should want. New and improved, new and exciting, new and more powerful, faster, greener, etc. Old often is seen as the opposite of new, but I'm not agreeing with that. But I do know that for many, new and old both bring the same emotion; FEAR. For all the times that we are preparing for a new experience, for a new time in our life, we are wondering "Is this new really necessary?", the old worked just fine. And sometimes we convince ourselves it's true and we stay in the old. Every person in every generation past, and all that are now alive deal with new and old everyday. Old technology was new once, the telephone, the television, recorded music, or movies: tubes, vinyl, tape, digital; cars: gas, hybrid, diesel. The new is different, but to everyone, it is not always better.
Old is stuck, new is not stuck.... yet. I know While I know I'm getting older, and the evidence in the mirror when I look at my white beard, in my mind I am the same person as when my beard was darker 10 years ago. This self perception can be brought into focus in unexpected ways as in this personal example.
Not long ago, Logan, the oldest (11 years old) grandson, noticed a picture of Regina and me on display in our house. This was one of those church directory photos. We were all smiles and young, I think it was taken in 1989. As we walked through the room, he saw the picture and asked,"Is that supposed to be you and Gigi?". I was somewhat taken aback, "supposed to be?" Of course it was us, old us, or newer us, I don't know. That's the catch, is the old me newer, or is the current me, newer me, older? This old me knows so much more than the the newer me.
What I really realize is that new and old are not exclusive. The only way that they become exclusive is if we stop becoming. Many times we hold onto the old because we feel it defines who we are, but as Logan pointed out, the picture in our mind, is who we suppose we are, not who we really are. The reality is that neither old or new are where we live. Where we live is Now, and pining for either the past or the future is not a prescription for living the abundant life Christ has promised us. If I buy a 1970 or a 2010 Dodge Challenger it will not transport me back to the life I had then. This is now, my life then was new, but now it's old.
Here's something old that helps me in my perspective of new and old, it may help you too (or not). It's from the OLD Testament, a very old book, Ecclesiastes. The reference is more about young and old, but the truth does not change.
This is from "The Message" a paraphrase version by Eugene Peterson.
From chapter 11:
"Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days"
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.
From chapter 12:
"Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over.
Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.
The body is put back in the same ground it came from.
The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. "
And so it goes, the writer says, new or old, "It's all smoke, nothing but smoke.
And then further down, "The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd."
I'm living in the smoke of my 55th year, and I am trying to adopt this attitude, letting the wisdom of my old self and my newly wise friends nail my new and old existence together until the smoke clears.
Whether this blog made much sense or not, I hope you will find a way to live as the writer of Ecclesiastes also states in Chapter 11. "Live footloose and fancy free--- you won't be young forever.... " and neither will I, someday I'll be old, but not now!
Peace my friends!
New grandson, old grandpa.
Old and new are two 3 letter words that are so very powerful, that they stand alone in descriptive grammar. At my age, not old age, but age, I have become more sensitive, or perhaps aware of old versus new. The observation of "everything old is new again" surely is applicable in our world today.
A few years ago when Chrysler announced the NEW retro looking PT Cruiser, the demand could not be met. Those who had lusted for a street rod built from a 1940's roadster wanted to fulfill their dream, sort of. It seemed odd that a retro street rod was a sedan. Then when the NEW Dodge Charger, a dream muscle car from the 1970's, was rumored to be coming on the scene, again, every baby boomer lined up or dreamed. Then it came, the 4 door version of the Hemi Charger. The boomers wanted the coolness of the name, with the convenience of being able to dismount the rear seat easily. Old, new, but not the same. Then came the re-invention of the Mustang, and the reintroduction of the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camero, old names brand new cars, (these did stay 2 door hardtops). Nostalgia for the name, but not for the uncomfortable ride and simple vinyl seats and no seat belts, not to mention the inflated price tag. Even the plain vanilla Ford Taurus is back, NEW. I'm waiting for the Dodge Dart to come back, it wasn't cool when I had mine back in the '70's, but please no bucket seats, give me the front bench.
I really didn't start out to write about cars, but in our culture, they seem to be at the top of the list of things that can take us back to a time when, it seems in our minds, that times were better and time moved slower.
New and Old, what is it in these two simple words that can trigger reactions in our minds and in our hearts that can knock us off track in life.
New means many things. Fresh, unused, shiny and exciting often accompany new in it's journeys. For most of its' time new is being pushed on us as what we should want. New and improved, new and exciting, new and more powerful, faster, greener, etc. Old often is seen as the opposite of new, but I'm not agreeing with that. But I do know that for many, new and old both bring the same emotion; FEAR. For all the times that we are preparing for a new experience, for a new time in our life, we are wondering "Is this new really necessary?", the old worked just fine. And sometimes we convince ourselves it's true and we stay in the old. Every person in every generation past, and all that are now alive deal with new and old everyday. Old technology was new once, the telephone, the television, recorded music, or movies: tubes, vinyl, tape, digital; cars: gas, hybrid, diesel. The new is different, but to everyone, it is not always better.
Old is stuck, new is not stuck.... yet. I know While I know I'm getting older, and the evidence in the mirror when I look at my white beard, in my mind I am the same person as when my beard was darker 10 years ago. This self perception can be brought into focus in unexpected ways as in this personal example.
Not long ago, Logan, the oldest (11 years old) grandson, noticed a picture of Regina and me on display in our house. This was one of those church directory photos. We were all smiles and young, I think it was taken in 1989. As we walked through the room, he saw the picture and asked,"Is that supposed to be you and Gigi?". I was somewhat taken aback, "supposed to be?" Of course it was us, old us, or newer us, I don't know. That's the catch, is the old me newer, or is the current me, newer me, older? This old me knows so much more than the the newer me.
What I really realize is that new and old are not exclusive. The only way that they become exclusive is if we stop becoming. Many times we hold onto the old because we feel it defines who we are, but as Logan pointed out, the picture in our mind, is who we suppose we are, not who we really are. The reality is that neither old or new are where we live. Where we live is Now, and pining for either the past or the future is not a prescription for living the abundant life Christ has promised us. If I buy a 1970 or a 2010 Dodge Challenger it will not transport me back to the life I had then. This is now, my life then was new, but now it's old.
Here's something old that helps me in my perspective of new and old, it may help you too (or not). It's from the OLD Testament, a very old book, Ecclesiastes. The reference is more about young and old, but the truth does not change.
This is from "The Message" a paraphrase version by Eugene Peterson.
From chapter 11:
"Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days"
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.
From chapter 12:
"Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over.
Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.
The body is put back in the same ground it came from.
The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. "
And so it goes, the writer says, new or old, "It's all smoke, nothing but smoke.
And then further down, "The words of the wise prod us to live well. They're like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd."
I'm living in the smoke of my 55th year, and I am trying to adopt this attitude, letting the wisdom of my old self and my newly wise friends nail my new and old existence together until the smoke clears.
Whether this blog made much sense or not, I hope you will find a way to live as the writer of Ecclesiastes also states in Chapter 11. "Live footloose and fancy free--- you won't be young forever.... " and neither will I, someday I'll be old, but not now!
Peace my friends!
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