For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV 1984)
Why is the cross foolish? How is it also the power of God? When thinking of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus do you discover hope? Why?
The following is by Timothy George, “Delighted by Doctrine,” Christian History and Biography (Summer 2006):
Judaism has its shema and Islam its shahadah, but Christians, responding to Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” have produced literally thousands of statements of faith across the centuries.
As a capstone to his lifelong interest in the central texts of the Christian faith, Jaroslav Pelikan edited (with Valerie Hotchkiss) Creeds and Confessions of Faith in the Christian Tradition, a four-volume critical edition with a one-volume historical and theological guide called simply Credo.
Pelikan’s collection includes several hundred creeds, including the Masai Creed from Nigeria, which Africanizes Christianity by declaring that Jesus “was always on safari doing good.” It also declares that after Jesus had been “tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died, he lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, he rose from the grave. He ascended unto the skies. He is the Lord.”
This creed was brought to Pelikan’s attention by one of his students, a woman who had been a member of a religious order working in a hospital in East Nigeria. Pelikan wrote, “She brought it to me, and I just got shivers. Just the thought, you know, the hyenas did not touch him, and the act of defiance — God lives even in spite of the hyenas.”
Not only do we believe Jesus died, that God died, but we believe Jesus lives! Yes it is foolish! It is crazy to believe such a thing, but we defiantly proclaim it. Who do we say Jesus is? What parts of our culture does the Christ who changes culture change? Where does God live in spite of death dealers? Now let us proclaim who Jesus is each morning as a confession of faith. Within our confession we say something about the power of God!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wise and Healing Words
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
When have words hurt you? Do you remember who said them? When have words healed you? Do you remember who said them? When have you used reckless words? Did you want to hurt someone? When did you use your words wisely? Did it bring healing?
The following is from Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and can be found here: http://www.lukeford.net/Dennis/t4.html
Over the past decade, whenever I have lectured on the powerful, and often negative, impact of words, I have asked audiences if they can go for 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to anybody. Invariably, a minority of listeners raise their hands signifying "yes"; some laugh; and quite a large number call out, "no!"
I respond by saying, "Those who can't answer ‘yes’ must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go for 24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go for 24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you can not go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue."
It is well worth our time to read the rest of the Rabbi’s article, but the point is made. Sometimes we say mean things without knowing it, we call it miscommunication, and maybe it is. Miscommunication is easy when we don’t take the time to consider a situation. Maybe that is why the proverb comments about the tongue of the wise. It is a wise person who takes the time to realize that miscommunication is possible and ensures that her words are healing no matter what, and what would the world look like if we could all control our tongues for 24 hours? Perhaps it is time to find out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
When have words hurt you? Do you remember who said them? When have words healed you? Do you remember who said them? When have you used reckless words? Did you want to hurt someone? When did you use your words wisely? Did it bring healing?
The following is from Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and can be found here: http://www.lukeford.net/Dennis/t4.html
Over the past decade, whenever I have lectured on the powerful, and often negative, impact of words, I have asked audiences if they can go for 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to anybody. Invariably, a minority of listeners raise their hands signifying "yes"; some laugh; and quite a large number call out, "no!"
I respond by saying, "Those who can't answer ‘yes’ must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go for 24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go for 24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you can not go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue."
It is well worth our time to read the rest of the Rabbi’s article, but the point is made. Sometimes we say mean things without knowing it, we call it miscommunication, and maybe it is. Miscommunication is easy when we don’t take the time to consider a situation. Maybe that is why the proverb comments about the tongue of the wise. It is a wise person who takes the time to realize that miscommunication is possible and ensures that her words are healing no matter what, and what would the world look like if we could all control our tongues for 24 hours? Perhaps it is time to find out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Receiving the Holy Spirit
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” – John 20:21-22 (NRSV)
What type of peace is Jesus offering? What does it mean to be sent out by Jesus? How important is it to you that Jesus sends you out? Do you experience the Holy Spirit as you go out? If so, how have you experienced the Holy Spirit?
On June 11, 1988 a concert called “Freedom Festival” was held in London. Musicians throughout the world came together to hold a concert in honor of Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday and to make a stand against apartheid in South Africa. The concert began with Sting working the crowd into a frenzy. Then musician after musician took the stage to sing while speeches were given in between sets. Over 72,000 people were loving each minute watching it in person while it is estimated over 1 billion people watched on television across the world! When Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance the crowd was even more worked up.
Toward the end of the 10-hour concert Dire Straits was performing and the crowd was singing to every song. Then the final act came on stage, Jessye Norman an American soprano. She was not considered a rock star, and as she slowly came on stage the crowd was getting restless hoping Dire Straits would come back and sing another song. Some people were shouting out for another musician while she positioned herself behind the microphone. Then in a beautiful a cappella she began to sing “Amazing Grace.” When you hear her start singing you can hear the crowd still somewhat upset, and then quickly a hush falls over them. As she kept on going the crowd began to gently sing with her. Later Norman confessed that she had no idea what power fell over the crowd that night.
There is no doubt that the power she experienced was the Holy Spirit, ensuring that people were still sent out from that concert to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. What was a grand concert became church because people experienced the Holy Spirit! God is still at work all over the place, breathing the Holy Spirit onto us in order that we can be sent out to do the work of God. Today let us pray that we caught up in this wave of glory that is the Holy Spirit!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What type of peace is Jesus offering? What does it mean to be sent out by Jesus? How important is it to you that Jesus sends you out? Do you experience the Holy Spirit as you go out? If so, how have you experienced the Holy Spirit?
On June 11, 1988 a concert called “Freedom Festival” was held in London. Musicians throughout the world came together to hold a concert in honor of Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday and to make a stand against apartheid in South Africa. The concert began with Sting working the crowd into a frenzy. Then musician after musician took the stage to sing while speeches were given in between sets. Over 72,000 people were loving each minute watching it in person while it is estimated over 1 billion people watched on television across the world! When Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance the crowd was even more worked up.
Toward the end of the 10-hour concert Dire Straits was performing and the crowd was singing to every song. Then the final act came on stage, Jessye Norman an American soprano. She was not considered a rock star, and as she slowly came on stage the crowd was getting restless hoping Dire Straits would come back and sing another song. Some people were shouting out for another musician while she positioned herself behind the microphone. Then in a beautiful a cappella she began to sing “Amazing Grace.” When you hear her start singing you can hear the crowd still somewhat upset, and then quickly a hush falls over them. As she kept on going the crowd began to gently sing with her. Later Norman confessed that she had no idea what power fell over the crowd that night.
There is no doubt that the power she experienced was the Holy Spirit, ensuring that people were still sent out from that concert to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. What was a grand concert became church because people experienced the Holy Spirit! God is still at work all over the place, breathing the Holy Spirit onto us in order that we can be sent out to do the work of God. Today let us pray that we caught up in this wave of glory that is the Holy Spirit!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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