I've just begun reading a new book - an author I've been encouraged to read for some time now - Peter Rollins. The book is Insurrection.

In Rollins' introduction, he expresses his wish too introduce what he refers to as "pyro-theology." He goes on to state that a flaw in many of our reform movements in the church have been in our desire to "return to the early church." Be it the church before Emperor Constantine, the church prior to Neo-Platonism, or the church pre-Paul - "such moves, however, fall short, not because they go back too far, but because they feal to go back far enough."

Rollins concludes, then; "The truly revolutionary move is not to chart a return to the early Church, but to the event that gave birth to the early church."

Thus, his title, Insurrection - a evolved affirmation of the importance in my view - the urgency of our focus on the resurrection as pivotal moment in history, not only for Christianity, but for the world.

I've had that general theme on my mind ever since Easter Sunday. It's certainly not a new thought that we all too often leave our celebration of Christ's resurrection quarantined to that one day a year when we flower up the sanctuary and wear our Easter best. The week after is "Low Sunday" in the church, and it goes downhill from there. Only when Christmas comes, do we find a little time for joy.

They key, of course, is not merely celebrating the resurrection - but actually living our lives as if the resurrection was - and is - true . . . as if Easter really happened.

I'm looking forward to this read - to the opportunity for me - and my congregation - to dabble a little bit in the insurrection inherent in the resurrection.

It's something to think about, anyway. Until then . . . .

                                                                                         Shalom

                                                                                                                Dave

Seeking our identity

Who am I? Who are you? Who is anybody?

These are the kinds of questions that seem to be in constant play - we're always seeking to "find ourselves."
I read an article last week by William Barry SJ, in "Presence," the journal of Spiritual Direction International. Dealing with this matter of discovering our true selves, he quoted a homily by Fr. John Jerdiejus, in which he quoted "an old southern gentleman.  It sums it up for me - so much so that I've used it several times over the last week in journal and sermon:

You gotta be who you is, and not who you ain't! Because if you ain't who you is, than you is who you ain't. And that ain't good.

I wish I'd said that.

There is a truth involved here - that we never truly know ourselves until we let go of all the facades we erect around ourselves and allow ourselves to be our selves.

Likewise, we can never truly know God until we know - are are ourselves.

"To be, or not to be; that is the question." In all due respect to Will Shakespeare, perhaps the more complete question is to be me - or not . . . that is . . . .

Just a thought . . . .

Rev. JimmyDave

Honoring our Sacred Spaces

I haven't blogged in some time now - but was hit this morning in my Lenten devotionals by a quote from Francis of Assisi - in "The Testament."

And the Lord gave me such faith in churches that I would pray with simplicity in this way and say: "We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, in all your churches throughout the whole world and we bless You because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world."

I was reminded of how cynical we become about the church - how easy it is to be critical of what we feel the church has become. I too am guilty of taking this easy road.

It is well for us to reminded, however, of the value the church holds in our lives - and in the life of the world. I once had a professor of World Civilization that told us that the greatest single influence on Western Civilization was Christianity.  And lest we forget - or avoid remembering - the core presence of Christianity is the church.  We may bemoan the weaknesses and sins of the church over the centuries, but perhaps we need to balance that criticism with thanksgiving that Christ gifted us with his Body - that we might carry out his Great Commission to carry his good news to all the world.  Quite simply, there has been no greater transmitter of His gospel than the church.

So the next time we're tempted to lament the diminishing numbers in attendance, let's recall once more the words of Jesus as spoken in Matthew 18.

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

Next time you're in worship - give thanks for God's gift of the Body of Christ - for where we are, he is there among us.



Politics a' Plenty

I don't know what I was thinking.  I really hoped - looked forward to the recent mid-term elections, just to be through with all the expert commentators on who would win and who would lose.  Sadly - for me - they've simply switched from prelude to postlude in their commentary.  Now we get to hear - AD NAUSEUM - who's to blame, what's to come, and how it will affect the presidential election in 2012.  And there's the over-arching question that everyone is hammering home - "Does he get it?!"  I'm still not sure what IT is to GET.  I'm not sure anyone else is either.

Remember now, I'm a news and politics junky.  My wife has accustomed to leaving the room and reading something worthwhile, while I flip back and forth between Fox News, CNN and MSNBC - hoping against hope that I might find some actual news amongst the opinion.  Alas, it's rarely found.

Here's my concern.  I know, the goverment is expanding too much and spending too much money.  I know, the government HAS to act in order to avoid catastrophe.  I know, I know;  we have to take our country back . . . we have to act.  I know all this - really, I do.  But when are we as a nation going to stop listening to all those who would tell us what to believe and what to be afraid of?  When are we going to start considering what it will take for us as Americans to move from our self-preserving decisions to that which might actually be a solution for everyone?  When will we stop operating from a stance of "winner/loser" and begin operating for the best outcome for ALL concerned?

Just some random questions......it is a Monday after all.

David

Election day musings...

It's here - thank the good Lord it's here - now we can get started on the presidential election of 2012.

I am so weary of the political hoopla - and I'm a political junky.  But the level of animosity is beyond any I've witnessed.  It's tiring.

I will be curious to see how soon the newly elected begin demuring - begin blaming their ineffectiveness on everyone from their predecessors to the terrorists.

Can we talk?  Really - can we talk?  I don't want to argue.  I don't want to decide who's a patriot and who's not.  I don't want to call names and trade blame.  Can we talk?

It's the only way I can see out of the poisinous climate of discourse in which we find ourselves. 

It occurs to me that if we as Christians REALLY want to have some impact on the political scene, the biggest contribution we could make is civility.....respect.....trust.....mercy......compassion.....and oh yeah - love.

I know, I know......get real!

Greetings from revjimmydave

Well here I am - where I wasn't sure I'd ever be - in the "blog-o-sphere."  There will be more to come in the future - especially as we link this with other staff members here at Brook Hollow CC - but for now, wishing anyone who sees this a wonderful day in God's good world.

Shalom

revjimmydave