Divisiveness vs Love

I am amazed at how many conservative Christians promote divisiveness agains Muslims. I just finished reading Carl Medearis' excellent book, "Speaking of Jesus" and what I can't understand about conservatives is how they skip the "love your enemy" command of Jesus. The more we demonize and dehumanize people of other faith traditions, sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender the more we lack the very essence of what it means to follow Jesus. A good review of history proves this out to be true.

My hope is that the conservative branch of Christianity would take a long, cleansing breath and really buy the fact that God does not need defending. He is quite big enough to run the entire cosmos without another round of crusades...

I've Moved

Yep, I've packed up and moved. My new address is RoseMadridSwetman.com. Come on over and take a peak.

Book Recommendations

I am putting together an Independent Study for my doctoral program. It will encompass the work we have done this far in launching a non-profit. What books would you recommend on 'leadership' in business, non-profit and church?

4th Grade

Alex entered the 4th grade on Tuesday. This afternoon Alex and I walked to 7-11 so he could get a slurpee to celebrate his first week back to school. Alex said to me, "mom, I think this is going to be my best year." When I asked why, his reply, "because Nathan told me this is the best year and I think he's right because today we watched Popeye at lunch and a Charlie Brown movie after recess..."

Eugene, Luke, Holy Spirit, Power

I have been reading, Christ plays in Ten Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson. I have been meditating on the Gospel of Luke almost since last November. A few thoughts from Eugene on Luke:

• St. Luke is probably the only Gentile writer in the New Testament
• He is also the only Gospel writer who was not an eyewitness to Jesus
• He has the unique experience among the Gospel writers of knowing Jesus exclusively through the work of the Holy Spirit in the community of Jesus’ followers
• His Gospel begins with a visitation of the Holy Spirit that results in conception; the book of Acts (authored by Luke) begins similarly, also with a visitation of the Holy Spirit that results in conception.
• In the Gospel it is Jesus, the Savior who is conceived, in Acts it is the church.
• The two Holy Spirit conceptions are meant to be understood as parallel beginnings in the parallel narratives: both Jesus Christ and the community of Jesus Christ similarly conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Eugene goes on to lay out the story of the Holy Spirit’s miraculous work in the conception of Jesus and his cousin John. However miraculous the Spirit’s work in conception of life does not shortcut or skip anything human – There is nothing in a Holy Spirit—conceived life that exempts that life from the common lot of humanity. Both births were completely natural. A nine-month pregnancy preceded each birth; they were both weaned at the breast, gradually acquired the ability to eat solid food, sit up, one day rolled over and started to crawl. The long, complex, often painful process of growth from fetus to infancy to adulthood to parenthood and then on into old age is embraced and given meaning as God in Christ continues to be present in and for us by his Holy Spirit.

The marriage of God and humanity is inseparable. Not to embrace our humanity is in my opinion to deny our very essence. Living out my true humanity means I embrace my very life from the creative work of the Spirit of God who gave me this life.

Power

At the end of the Gospel and at the beginning of Acts, Jesus tells his friends that he will send the Holy Spirit to them, he also says that this coming of the Spirit will be accompanied by power. Power is a critical word in the context of the Story. Luke uses the word “power” to instruct Mary on how she will conceive “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” Here the Holy Spirit power makes a woman pregnant. All five of the Holy Spirit references in Luke 1-2 are related to pregnancy and birth. This is an interesting use of “power”-- Eugene suggests this is not at all the way power is conventionally used. Sexual impregnation is associated with intimacy and lovemaking, gentleness and mutuality. If the sexual act is impersonal or harsh or forced, it is understood as a violation. One way then to look at “power” from the context of our Story is that it would be inconceivable to understand power as anything impersonal or imposed by force.

The second occurrence of the term “power” by Luke is in the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Jesus is tempted by the devil to command stones to become bread, to become the ruler of the kingdoms of the world, and to prove his divinity by performing a spectacular circus trick by diving off the pinnacle of the temple and commanding an angel to save him at the last minute.

Each is a temptation that has to do with the exercise of power: power to impose his will on the creation, power to impose his will on the nations, and power to become a celebrity. Each of these exercises of power could be good, feeding a lot of people, ruling the whole world justly, demonstrating the miraculous ever-present providence of God to the people on the street. Jesus said "no" to each in turn. Why?

Eugene’s conclusion: Because in each case it would have been power used impersonally, power abstracted from relationships, power without any engagement in love, power imposed from the outside. Each instance—and Jesus’ citations of sentences from the Story each time highlight this—would have been a use of power that was ripped out of the context of the Story and therefore ripped out of the participating context of people’s lives. And here is the punch …Whatever the power of the Spirit means, bullying force isn’t part of it…the power of God is always exercised in personal ways, creating and saving and blessing.

After the three refusals to use power to do good things, in the wrong way, Luke tells us this: “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee…He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.” We watch the narrative unfold, Jesus whether teaching in word or act, he is always personal and relational. Jesus employing the “power of the Spirit” is set in explicit contrast to the three depersonalized, decontextualized uses of power in the wilderness: power to feed the hungry, power to do justice and power to evangelize by miracle.

The moment the community exercises power apart from the story of Jesus, tries to manipulate people or events in ways that short-circuit personal relationships and intimacies, we can be sure it is not the power of the Holy Spirit; it is the devil’s work. The Holy Spirit, no matter how loudly or fervently or piously invoked in such settings, is a stranger to such religious blasphemies…

Wow, Eugene lays down the smack...

On Vacation

Rich and I are on vacation in Whistler Village. We arrived around 7:00 last night. Alex and his friend Nate are with us. I am looking forward to being with Rich and Alex and just hanging out with no responsibility other than making sure we have some tasty meals! We are staying in a condo so we are able to have most of our meals in. It is supposed to be 80 today...the boys are getting ready to hit the pool and then this afternoon we will walk through the village and check out the upper village.
I started a novel on the way up...brought a couple of books to read for fun. No school reading, no email for work...and no blogging until I am back.
Ciao

I wonder...

Often we find the purest evil, the most unadulterated selfishness in the people who pride themselves on their morality. William Wilberforce 1797

Tickets are on sale now

The Gay Conversation

I found this on Bob Hyatt's blog which led to this, Eugene Cho's blog
You would have to read the back story on all of this, but it began with Dan Savage's visit to the church Eugene's leads as part of a 30 author rate the church's in Seattle article.
Eugene is a good guy. It seems to me he was attempting to dialogue with Savage around a very controversial issue for many different people of faith. How do people of difference move forward if we cannot have a reasonably respectful conversation from both sides of an issue? If you go and read, I am interested to know how you think the conversation can be framed to promote dialogue and learning from one another rather than combative polarizing?

Made my first deadline!

Deadline - Church History & Revolution -- August 1st

Overture II - India - August 11th

Church History – finished!

Revolution – finished!

Now I am working on my course work for the class I took in India. It will take a good week’s worth of writing. I can see light!

Last night my nine year old son asked me if I could play “go fish”

me at my computer, “no Alex, I am doing school work” (he’s been hearing that for three weeks)

Alex, “I think your school is dumb”

me, “you will be in college someday and then you will understand why this takes time”

Alex, “I’m gonna do what you did, go when I’m 50”

Church History - 2 of 4

On Sunday, July 8th I did sermon 2 of 4 on Church History for VCC
I decided to focus on a few characters from the era known as the Middle or Dark Ages. Two lights shining in the darkness: Saint Dominic (worship God with your mind) and Saint Francis (worship God by serving the poor and caring for creation).
Tomorrow - George Fox and William Penn - how the "Society of Friends" have reach into the Vineyard - John Wimber, the Vineyard movement's founder began his Christian faith in a small community of "Friends" in Yorba Linda.
Today we can see the influence that the Friends or Quaker tradition had on the movement and on us. History can and does shape us even without our knowing.
Next Sunday I will wrap up the series and then we will go back to our journey through the Gospel of Luke, sometimes known as the Gospel for the poor.

A Cup of Cool Water

Have I mentioned lately that my plate is full?

Somehow in all the busyness I forgot to slow down and really spend time reflecting, being with God, journaling, all those things that I know bring me a sense of peace. A few days ago I was reminded why spiritual practices sustain me.

The last few months in the few moments I have been “awake” meaning slowing down enough to notice, I have had a couple of themes going on. One, being invited to the irresistible dance that is going on between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (perichoresis) and two, feeling like I have had no place to catch my breath.

A friend gave me a book last fall that I started on Tuesday, May I Have This Dance? by Joyce Rupp. The first page reads: Thus God says to these bones: “I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live.”

Then that same friend mentioned I might want to read Psalm 23 in the Message, which I did this morning. This phrase leapt off the page at me: True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

Friends listening, contemplative prayer, reading, journaling, reflection – a cup of cool water for my soul!

Check This Out

My friend Rachelle has a 'zine for summer.
If you have not read Rachelle you are missing a treat...
check it out Magpie Girl

First – Orcas Island -- Second - Church History

I am on Orcas Island at my sister’s house. We arrived yesterday and will be here until Thursday. It is so picturesque here. I am sitting in one of the living room’s looking out through the trees at the water. We stayed up late last night playing cards. Karla and I are a bit competitive with the guys…hmmm…the guys are good sports…
Alex and Micah slept out in a tent under the stars. They had a blast. There is no television here so the boys are exploring, hiking, sliding down hills on cardboard and chasing bunnies. Last night we watched deer cross the street and listened to all the night creatures croaking and creaking…
Rich, Alex, my brother-in-law Frank and Alex’s friend, Micah just got back from a hike. Oh yeah, Mr. B and Mario went hiking too!
We got up, had coffee, made breakfast then the guys and dogs went on a hike, Karla worked in her garden and I went to work on my studies.

I began a four part series at VCC on Sunday as part of my course work for the Global Church History class I took in May through Bakke Graduate University. Here are some references I said I would post:

The Story of Christianity by Justo L. Gonzalez Volume I and Volume II
Church History Series on 15 DVD’s by Ray Bakke, done in 1988 at Wheaton College Campus (these may be checked out one at a time – see Rose)
Outline from sermon series available upon request (email rose@vineyard-cc.org)
http://www.phyllistickle.com/
That’s it for today. More next week. Have a safe holiday.

C hurch Signs

The sign for the church on the corner of our street says:
Judgment begins at the House of God

I wonder what message that conveys?
I should have finished my thought...
I wonder what message that sign conveys to a person walking down the street or driving by who has no prior connection with Christianity? I wonder what it might convey to people who have not really explored Christianity? Just wondering...

Reflections on leading a faith community

Some of my mentors on leadership and belonging to a faith community:

...I can never be involved in creativity except by entering the mess. Mess is the precondition of creativity. The tohu v'bohu of Genesis 1:2. Chaos.
...if we in fact believe in the Holy Spirit, then we must not at the same time try to moonlight as efficiency experts in religion. We cannot nurture the life of the Spirit in a parishioner while holding a stopwatch. We cannot apply time management techniques to the development of souls."
E. Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant, (Eerdmans 1992), p163-4.

To listen, when nobody else wants to listen, is a very beautiful thing.
Mother Teresa

Let us be very sincere in our dealings with each other, and have the courage to accept each other as we are. Do not be surprised or become preoccupied at each other’s failures-rather, see and find in each other the good, for each one of us is created in the image of God.
Mother Teresa

The road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.
Dag Hammarskjold

Prayer and action, therefore, can never be seen as contradictory or mutually exclusive. Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism, and action without prayer degenerates in into questionable manipulation. If prayer leads us into a deeper unity with the compassionate Christ, it will also give rise to concrete acts of service.
Henri Nouwen

Letting Go

Keeping up with responsibilities is tricky. I am practicing letting go on many levels. Eighteen months into a doctoral program is proving to be more time consuming then I could have imagined. I love school and receive it as a gift. So, I don’t want to whine. When something as “big” as a doctoral program enters your life (at least mine) others things have to go to make room. That’s the “letting go” I am constantly practicing these days. Some of the “letting go” that does not come easy for me:

• Spending much leisure time with friends
• Having time to cultivate new friendships
• Often having people over to just hang out
• A clean house (which is why I don’t have many people over these days)
• Saying "no" to things I used to so easily say "yes" to
  

These are just a few things…I know this is just a season and in two years when I am graduating with a Doctor in Ministry it will all have been worth it. For now it seems that much of my spiritual work is “letting go” of some of the luxuries that have to be on hold for now.

Random thoughts about Church History

I am preparing a four part series on Global Church History to present at VCC over 4 Sunday's. This will be my project for the class I took in May. It's hard to pin down 2000 years of history in four 30 minute talks...hopefully I can wet a few appetites for folks to do some reading and study on their own or in a group.

One thing that has been stirring in me since the class is this…we watched the movie Luther, which by the way I highly recommend. Something dawned on me…how is the indulgence selling back in Luther’s day any different from the folks that preach messages on if you give “seed” money to this or that you will “get” this or that from God? You can fill in the this or that. I am sure we have all heard and seen it promised that if you give you get.

Can someone tell me what the difference is?

Course Work

Well I am down to it. I have stacked three courses (16 credits) and now have until August 1st to complete the course work. Today I am at Mars Hill Grad School for the day. I am using the library and quiet to get my head into writing. I'm going to begin with the Global Church History class I just finished. My project is a 4-part sermon series to be taught at VCC this summer.
Also, on that note, one of my blog posts while at the church history class made comments about cremation. Just to clarify, Ray was not opposed to cremation, his negativity was around our cultural phobia and denial of death. Cremation is not the point, honoring and remembering the dead was the point. So often when ashes are scattered there is no "place" to go to remember and honor the dead. Ray's suggestion to me, make a garden on the church property to at least put a stake in the ground with a name to remember those that have been a part of us. We don't own our grounds so that's not an option. I get his point though. Remembering and honoring the dead does not come easy for us. Embracing a theology of death (we are all going to die unless we are those that remain and are alive when Jesus comes back) is important...helping each other die well is something I have seen sorely lacking. Enough on that for now.
Back to work!

Pentecost

Today the church remembers and celebrates Pentecost. The origins of Pentecsost reach back to one of the Jewish celebrations - the Feast of Weeks or Day of the First Fruits. The church celebrates Acts 2 - the coming of the Spirit in the upper room. The mighty, rushing wind, what appeared to be tongues of fire, the disciples spilling out into the streets speaking in all the languages of the people visiting Jerusalem for the celebration. The amazing outdoor speech that Peter gave and then the incredible inbreaking of the Kingdom of God into Jerusalem with over 3000 people deciding to follow and live in the way of Jesus.
Today my prayer is that we too can live in a way that we receive the Spirit and live our lives as the gathered people that follow and live in the way of Jesus that brings healing and hope to our world.