Lent is over, Holy week has past, and the Easter event lingers on in our memories and our experience for another year. So what did it all mean for you this time around? Have you been inspired or touch by the Easter event in a new kind of way?
Our Good Friday service is still etched in my memory. I actually appreciated not taking part in the service for the first time in years and I was able to be, and ponder the message that Jonathan Moore gave. Having said that I now pause in my day to ask myself, ‘how’s your reflection?’
Jonathan spoke on the text from John 19:1-16 and his message was inspired by an article written by Barbra Brown Taylor titled ‘The Perfect Mirror’. I would like now to reflect once again upon an extract from Jonathan’s sermon:
“According to John, Jesus died because he told the truth about everyone he met. He was the truth, a perfect mirror in which people saw themselves in God’s light, for who they truly were.
What happened then goes on happening now; in the presence of his integrity our presence is exposed, in the presence of his courage and consistency our cowardice is brought to light, in the presence of his fierce love for us our hardness of heart is revealed. Take him out of the room and all of those things become relative.
In his presence people either gather around to worship him or do everything they can to shatter him.”
As part of the service on Friday we were all given a shiny, reflective piece of card that resembled a piece of smashed mirror. I look at mine everyday and wonder if I live my life with truth, integrity and honesty as Jesus did? If not, why not? What do we fear in seeking to live the way Jesus lived? When I look at my reflection in the mirror am I happy with what I see?
Now that the discipline of Lent has past, what does my reflection in Christ continue to reveal to me?
How’s your reflection?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
"Meek and mild teacher or mysterious rebel with a cause?"
Thanks for the blog link Jeff I checked it out and followed a link to find this article that Cheryl Lawrie had written for The Age which was published on Easter Sunday.
If anyone is interested check out the blog here and the article here. I find it helpful and complimentary to my ongoing conversation about who Jesus was, what he lived and died for, and what is really important for followers of the Risen Christ to be concerned about today.
Here's a quote from the article "Meek and mild teacher or mysterious rebel with a cause?" I prefer the latter personally, that's the Jesus I follow:
"As the stories of Jesus show us, it's rarely those in positions of power and influence who understand who God is. They have too much to lose. Instead, look for what the poor, the prisoner, the women, the children would tell us of who God is, because Jesus says it's with them that God is to be found. And trust it most if they speak of love."
Cheryl Lawrie works with an alternative worship project for the Uniting Church.
Shalom
Mark
If anyone is interested check out the blog here and the article here. I find it helpful and complimentary to my ongoing conversation about who Jesus was, what he lived and died for, and what is really important for followers of the Risen Christ to be concerned about today.
Here's a quote from the article "Meek and mild teacher or mysterious rebel with a cause?" I prefer the latter personally, that's the Jesus I follow:
"As the stories of Jesus show us, it's rarely those in positions of power and influence who understand who God is. They have too much to lose. Instead, look for what the poor, the prisoner, the women, the children would tell us of who God is, because Jesus says it's with them that God is to be found. And trust it most if they speak of love."
Cheryl Lawrie works with an alternative worship project for the Uniting Church.
Shalom
Mark
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Christ is Risen – He is Risen indeed!
Fact or fiction – proof or faith?
Was Jesus really risen from the dead?
The Christian confession in the resurrection of Jesus has been at the core of the Christian faith for nearly 2000 years. Although it is the confession of most who profess a faith in Christ, what are the thoughts and questions going on behind the scenes that lead people to such a conclusion?
I have encountered many Christians during this past 38 days of lent who wrestle with or accept the confession of the resurrection of Jesus in different ways. Was it really a bodily resurrection? What really happened to Jesus body afterwards if that is the case? Did Jesus really rise from death? These are legitimate, yet for some disturbing questions, that Christians of today are wrestling with in order to try and understand a tradition, a creedal statement, a confession that has been around for so long.
I think it is healthy for Christians today to be in dialogue with one another on such a topic and be allowed to sit with the questions for a while. Why is it so important for us to believe in such things? Can we actually sit with one another with different views on this and still respect one another and get along?
The authors of each Gospel (the four we have in our bibles anyway) pay particular attention to the final week of Jesus life, including death and resurrection. Only three of the original Gospel accounts have extensive resurrection stories. It certainly becomes apparent in these accounts that the authors go to great lengths to share eye witness accounts as proof of the resurrection. Skeptics would say that this is just the way the author tweaks the story to get the reader to believe. However even the resurrected Jesus in the stories say, ‘how happy are those who believe yet have not seen’.
I particularly like the original ending of Mark’s Gospel which has no such appearances of a resurrected Jesus at all. In fact, Mark leaves the reader with an empty tomb and the women who found it fleeing from the scene trembling and bewildered and not telling anyone about it because they were afraid (Mark 16:1-8). What I love about Mark’s Gospel is that he leaves us, the reader, to make up our own mind.
Our lectionary focused it's attention of the Gospel of John...again (surprise, surprise) this Easter Sunday. I am always captivated by the characters John chooses to focus on in the story. In fact for John the resurrection is a personal event for each of the characters - Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Peter and 'the other disciple' (the one whom Jesus loved, or the one who loved Jesus, depending on how you read your Greek). Each of them experienced the resurrected Jesus differently. I am particularly interested in Mary's experience - she didn't even recognize Jesus. This is not unlike the story told by Luke when Jesus walked to Emmaus with 2 disciples and 'they didn't recognize him'. So I go, 'what's all that about?' when those who were closest to him in life and ministry either don't believe Jesus was raised from death (Thomas and Peter) or don't recognise the resurrected Christ. No wonder it's a hard story for people to swallow 2000 years later.
I suspect they may be looking for the Jesus of their own construction. It's not unlike what we do to Jesus today, we construct an image of Jesus that suits us, an image that may be an untruth, a Jesus that we are comfortable with. Regardless of facts, or historical/eye witness 'proof' the Jesus we often meet is Jesus on our terms. So what happens then when we are confronted by the resurrected Christ, the Jesus not our our own construction but of God? What happens when we encounter that which cannot be proven or explained? Sure we can be left bewildered, confused and afraid failing to recognise - after all, that's exactly what the Gospels tells us of the experiences of those who actually experienced the risen Christ 2000 years ago.
Another thing I find fascinating in the accounts the resurrected Christ has with certain characters is this, even when they don't recognise him him recognizes them. He calls Mary by name, that is the point of her revelation. The hope Christians have is not based in evidence, nor does it need to be. The hope on this day of resurrection is that Jesus recognizes us even when we don’t recognize him.
Proof is not needed at all in order to testify to the resurrection. While I think it is healthy for us to debate such a topic there is no need for us to oppress one another with 'proof text's' or forcefully twist anothers arm to think the same way. In fact we may even learn something about resurrection of Jesus from another persons experience that can teach us something more of the nature of God and the hope we share.
Confession in the resurrection of Jesus has always been a matter of faith. Those who have faith in such an event proclaim it is God’s divine ‘YES’ to the faithful life Jesus lived. God raised Jesus in an action that defied death, so those who believe could have hope in a God who can create something new out of a devastating event. This would lead us to understand why every Easter Sunday, Christians proclaim that Jesus is alive which is why we have hope and life in Christ today.
Shalom Mark
Was Jesus really risen from the dead?
The Christian confession in the resurrection of Jesus has been at the core of the Christian faith for nearly 2000 years. Although it is the confession of most who profess a faith in Christ, what are the thoughts and questions going on behind the scenes that lead people to such a conclusion?
I have encountered many Christians during this past 38 days of lent who wrestle with or accept the confession of the resurrection of Jesus in different ways. Was it really a bodily resurrection? What really happened to Jesus body afterwards if that is the case? Did Jesus really rise from death? These are legitimate, yet for some disturbing questions, that Christians of today are wrestling with in order to try and understand a tradition, a creedal statement, a confession that has been around for so long.
I think it is healthy for Christians today to be in dialogue with one another on such a topic and be allowed to sit with the questions for a while. Why is it so important for us to believe in such things? Can we actually sit with one another with different views on this and still respect one another and get along?
The authors of each Gospel (the four we have in our bibles anyway) pay particular attention to the final week of Jesus life, including death and resurrection. Only three of the original Gospel accounts have extensive resurrection stories. It certainly becomes apparent in these accounts that the authors go to great lengths to share eye witness accounts as proof of the resurrection. Skeptics would say that this is just the way the author tweaks the story to get the reader to believe. However even the resurrected Jesus in the stories say, ‘how happy are those who believe yet have not seen’.
I particularly like the original ending of Mark’s Gospel which has no such appearances of a resurrected Jesus at all. In fact, Mark leaves the reader with an empty tomb and the women who found it fleeing from the scene trembling and bewildered and not telling anyone about it because they were afraid (Mark 16:1-8). What I love about Mark’s Gospel is that he leaves us, the reader, to make up our own mind.
Our lectionary focused it's attention of the Gospel of John...again (surprise, surprise) this Easter Sunday. I am always captivated by the characters John chooses to focus on in the story. In fact for John the resurrection is a personal event for each of the characters - Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Peter and 'the other disciple' (the one whom Jesus loved, or the one who loved Jesus, depending on how you read your Greek). Each of them experienced the resurrected Jesus differently. I am particularly interested in Mary's experience - she didn't even recognize Jesus. This is not unlike the story told by Luke when Jesus walked to Emmaus with 2 disciples and 'they didn't recognize him'. So I go, 'what's all that about?' when those who were closest to him in life and ministry either don't believe Jesus was raised from death (Thomas and Peter) or don't recognise the resurrected Christ. No wonder it's a hard story for people to swallow 2000 years later.
I suspect they may be looking for the Jesus of their own construction. It's not unlike what we do to Jesus today, we construct an image of Jesus that suits us, an image that may be an untruth, a Jesus that we are comfortable with. Regardless of facts, or historical/eye witness 'proof' the Jesus we often meet is Jesus on our terms. So what happens then when we are confronted by the resurrected Christ, the Jesus not our our own construction but of God? What happens when we encounter that which cannot be proven or explained? Sure we can be left bewildered, confused and afraid failing to recognise - after all, that's exactly what the Gospels tells us of the experiences of those who actually experienced the risen Christ 2000 years ago.
Another thing I find fascinating in the accounts the resurrected Christ has with certain characters is this, even when they don't recognise him him recognizes them. He calls Mary by name, that is the point of her revelation. The hope Christians have is not based in evidence, nor does it need to be. The hope on this day of resurrection is that Jesus recognizes us even when we don’t recognize him.
Proof is not needed at all in order to testify to the resurrection. While I think it is healthy for us to debate such a topic there is no need for us to oppress one another with 'proof text's' or forcefully twist anothers arm to think the same way. In fact we may even learn something about resurrection of Jesus from another persons experience that can teach us something more of the nature of God and the hope we share.
Confession in the resurrection of Jesus has always been a matter of faith. Those who have faith in such an event proclaim it is God’s divine ‘YES’ to the faithful life Jesus lived. God raised Jesus in an action that defied death, so those who believe could have hope in a God who can create something new out of a devastating event. This would lead us to understand why every Easter Sunday, Christians proclaim that Jesus is alive which is why we have hope and life in Christ today.
Shalom Mark
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
On the edge
It was day 28 of lent and instead of going for my usual bike ride to find space to reflect, I headed down the coast with my board for a surf.
It was a reasonably large swell for Southport which meant the breaks were packed with surfers. I sat on the beach and pondered for a while what kind of approach I would take to getting past what looked like a terrifying shore break. I eventually got out there. Paddling out for me is not without a healthy sense of fear particularly in big and rough waves. It’s always comforting once you get to the group of other surfers and you can sit there on your board bobbing up and down knowing you’re reasonably safe beyond the break zone.
Surfers, ‘real surfers’ are usually adventurous types and will try anything at least once. It usually involves doing something daring. As we were waiting for a set of waves to come through I noticed two surfers paddling a little further out. They were heading for the Port Norlunga reef which was becoming more and more exposed with the outgoing tide. Large waves were crashing up against the reef making for spectacular viewing. These two surfers climbed up on the reef for a closer look, not because they were dared to, and not to gain respect, but purely because they could and because surfers love to live on the edge.
A big set came through and we all scrambled for positions. It’s always interesting to see which way people scramble. While some line themselves up to catch the wave, others paddle as fast as they can further out to sea to avoid the wave. This is what makes or breaks a ‘real surfer’. The waves that day were really sucking up and when you look down from the top it’s a long way to drop. All kinds of questions conger up in your mind as you discern whether you could make it or not.
In surfing circles there are playful ways of giving your mates a hard time if they continually dodge the wave. They are given name labels like grommet, scrubber, poser or try-hard. They wear these labels until that day they can paddle to the edge of that wave and take the plunge and not just a little one either, there has to be no hesitation and no fear shown when dropping into even the big monster waves. That day is called graduation day when they can call themselves surfers with integrity and not just pose as one.
Similarly, Jesus calls his disciples to pretty radical decisions daily. Jesus borders on the edge of acceptance never thinking twice about taking the daring plunge to stand with those who are marginalized or oppressed. It didn’t matter what people thought of him, what mattered was that these people had a chance to be liberated from their condition.
There are those who like to wear the label of being followers of Jesus, or in today’s terms ‘Christian’. From the time many followed Jesus on that final journey into Jerusalem, how many were really able to follow through with integrity?
To earn your right to be a Christian of integrity, is to be prepared to make radical decisions to follow Jesus daily.
Shalom Mark
It was a reasonably large swell for Southport which meant the breaks were packed with surfers. I sat on the beach and pondered for a while what kind of approach I would take to getting past what looked like a terrifying shore break. I eventually got out there. Paddling out for me is not without a healthy sense of fear particularly in big and rough waves. It’s always comforting once you get to the group of other surfers and you can sit there on your board bobbing up and down knowing you’re reasonably safe beyond the break zone.
Surfers, ‘real surfers’ are usually adventurous types and will try anything at least once. It usually involves doing something daring. As we were waiting for a set of waves to come through I noticed two surfers paddling a little further out. They were heading for the Port Norlunga reef which was becoming more and more exposed with the outgoing tide. Large waves were crashing up against the reef making for spectacular viewing. These two surfers climbed up on the reef for a closer look, not because they were dared to, and not to gain respect, but purely because they could and because surfers love to live on the edge.
A big set came through and we all scrambled for positions. It’s always interesting to see which way people scramble. While some line themselves up to catch the wave, others paddle as fast as they can further out to sea to avoid the wave. This is what makes or breaks a ‘real surfer’. The waves that day were really sucking up and when you look down from the top it’s a long way to drop. All kinds of questions conger up in your mind as you discern whether you could make it or not.
In surfing circles there are playful ways of giving your mates a hard time if they continually dodge the wave. They are given name labels like grommet, scrubber, poser or try-hard. They wear these labels until that day they can paddle to the edge of that wave and take the plunge and not just a little one either, there has to be no hesitation and no fear shown when dropping into even the big monster waves. That day is called graduation day when they can call themselves surfers with integrity and not just pose as one.
Similarly, Jesus calls his disciples to pretty radical decisions daily. Jesus borders on the edge of acceptance never thinking twice about taking the daring plunge to stand with those who are marginalized or oppressed. It didn’t matter what people thought of him, what mattered was that these people had a chance to be liberated from their condition.
There are those who like to wear the label of being followers of Jesus, or in today’s terms ‘Christian’. From the time many followed Jesus on that final journey into Jerusalem, how many were really able to follow through with integrity?
To earn your right to be a Christian of integrity, is to be prepared to make radical decisions to follow Jesus daily.
Shalom Mark
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
God takes us by surprise
When Ash Barker was here a couple of weeks ago, we had an amazing experience after visiting a church one Sunday night. Ash had an amazing encounter with a person he knew from 15 years ago. Out of this encounter sprung a conversation between Ash and I about the impact you often don’t realize you have in ministry because you often plant many sends, tend to them, and help them grow, but hardly ever see the fruits that result from your labor. Here Ash tells an amazing story of this encounter…
A few weeks ago I experienced an unexpected joy. It was my last night in Oz as I faced my fifty-first meeting, in my third city, in fourteen days. My tongue felt six inches thick, my throat was cracked red and my head was dizzy longing to hit the pillow on my sixth bed for the trip. This wouldn’t have been so bad, but a couple of hundred smart dressed 15 to 20 year olds started to arrive through the church doors ready to hear me speak. I was so spent that I wasn’t even sure I could put an intelligible sentence together never mind persuade any-body of God’s heart-beat for the poor.
That’s when it happened. A huge Islander walked across the room and shook me by the hand.
“Remember me?” My mind was tanked, but I did know this guy. His eyes smiled.
“Huh. Its me Anthony, well Anton now. I used to live with you fellas.”
My knees buckled, nearly toppling over as I realized who this was. This was not the fuming, angry, skinny fifteen year-old Anthony, I’d last seen fifteen years ago. Here was a weather beaten, but peaceful man, now known as Anton. He was the last person I’d expected to see at this church, not least because last time I’d heard he was doing a very long jail stretch.
Anton spoke fast, letting me know how he found Jesus in solitary confinement. He had remembered how I had bought him fishing rod for his birthday and how we caught plenty of fish that day of a hired boat. I’d said, “one day you’ll be a fisher of men.” Alone in jail Anton said to God, “If you get me out of this jail I will speak your truth for the rest of my days.” Anton did get out of jail, tried to find me and for the last four years as well as holding down a steady job he has been sharing Jesus with all who will listen in a kind of gutsy, street-level way. Anton saw this new life as a kind of fulfillment in those words I vaguely remember saying years ago.
A kind of joy instantly sprung up, lifting my spirits. As I got up to speak in front of so many fresh faces, a torrent of stories and insights splashed out of me. Some I hope will find their mark and make some difference. Few there that night would need to be transformed the way a fifteen year old Anthony had after all.
Ash Barker UNOH Director – Bangkok Chapter
Check out more of UNOH's Wild Ones stories on the Wild Ones blog
Shalom Mark
A few weeks ago I experienced an unexpected joy. It was my last night in Oz as I faced my fifty-first meeting, in my third city, in fourteen days. My tongue felt six inches thick, my throat was cracked red and my head was dizzy longing to hit the pillow on my sixth bed for the trip. This wouldn’t have been so bad, but a couple of hundred smart dressed 15 to 20 year olds started to arrive through the church doors ready to hear me speak. I was so spent that I wasn’t even sure I could put an intelligible sentence together never mind persuade any-body of God’s heart-beat for the poor.
That’s when it happened. A huge Islander walked across the room and shook me by the hand.
“Remember me?” My mind was tanked, but I did know this guy. His eyes smiled.
“Huh. Its me Anthony, well Anton now. I used to live with you fellas.”
My knees buckled, nearly toppling over as I realized who this was. This was not the fuming, angry, skinny fifteen year-old Anthony, I’d last seen fifteen years ago. Here was a weather beaten, but peaceful man, now known as Anton. He was the last person I’d expected to see at this church, not least because last time I’d heard he was doing a very long jail stretch.
Anton spoke fast, letting me know how he found Jesus in solitary confinement. He had remembered how I had bought him fishing rod for his birthday and how we caught plenty of fish that day of a hired boat. I’d said, “one day you’ll be a fisher of men.” Alone in jail Anton said to God, “If you get me out of this jail I will speak your truth for the rest of my days.” Anton did get out of jail, tried to find me and for the last four years as well as holding down a steady job he has been sharing Jesus with all who will listen in a kind of gutsy, street-level way. Anton saw this new life as a kind of fulfillment in those words I vaguely remember saying years ago.
A kind of joy instantly sprung up, lifting my spirits. As I got up to speak in front of so many fresh faces, a torrent of stories and insights splashed out of me. Some I hope will find their mark and make some difference. Few there that night would need to be transformed the way a fifteen year old Anthony had after all.
After the service I went back to a mutual friend’s house for dinner and Anton told me his whole story. I met too some of his friends and neighbours who band together to love and serve Jesus in their inner-city Adelaide neighbourhood. They kept prompting Anton to tell this story or that. “Aye, you’re the fishing guy then, are you? Heard that one a few times!” one said. Like, Anton, none had easy lives, but like Anton all were seeking to find a fresh way forward with Jesus and desperate for other to know this transforming power too.
Within 24 hours of that dinner I was dragging my luggage through our slum neighbourhood’s narrow lane ways toward my home. I often feel flat and empty after such crazy trips, questioning their worth. When I rest up I do see their value, but this time even this long, dark walk carried a deep sense of joy. Sure speaking, writing, lecturing and scheming for the kingdom has its place, but nothing beats hearing how God uses our small deeds done with a lot of love to bear fruit in ways you least expect it. Viva the revolution of the small Jesus-deeds!
Ash Barker UNOH Director – Bangkok Chapter
Check out more of UNOH's Wild Ones stories on the Wild Ones blog
Shalom Mark
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