04-21-2011

Wow, a Shepherd, really? Thoughts on the first words of Psalm 23

It is one of the most known passages in the entire Christian Bible, the 23rd Psalm; because of its familiarity it is easy to read the Psalm without thinking about it and understanding what it is saying.

Take for example the line, ‘The LORD is my Shepherd . . . ’ I’m not a shepherd; my father was not a shepherd; the only time I’ve dealt with sheep is either at a fair, petting zoo, or observation on someone’s farm . . . and the television show Lamb Chops.

Many visuals and ideas are present in the Bible that we, centuries later, do not fully grasp, or even slightly so. This is one of them. In our mind we usually have some sort of weirdo who hangs around and smells like sheep way too much; he probably has some sort of long wooden hook, maybe a walking stick, sleeps outside and would be unpleasant to us at our dinner table.

David calls God his shepherd. Hmm . . . either we are missing something or David thinks God is a wimp. Let’s remember some things about David, who authored this Psalm. He too was a shepherd. Remember, he was pretty bummed because he was watching his dad’s flock of sheep while his brothers were shaking in their boots on the battle-field? David also fought off some pretty beastly foes: he fought off lions, bears, wolves, and any other kind of loser who tried to nab his sheep. The Bible gives us, therefore, a much better context for understanding what being a shepherd meant; namely, if you were a sheep and you wanted to stay alive you had better have someone who was a warrior—that is a good shepherd. A friend of mine described the term shepherd more accurately as one who was like a US Marine—he is going to valiantly protect those who are his family or ‘flock.’ We see a couple verses later that God has some weaponry in a club and staff—the first being used for fighting off others. David did not fear in the face of his own death because God was with him!

But a shepherd is not all brass and guts. A shepherd only fights off enemies because he cares for his sheep. The quiet streams; the lush and comfy pastures; the refreshing and restoration of our souls. God is tender and loving; good.

Fierce towards His enemies; loving towards His own. This is a shepherd who I can follow.

Don’t take my word for it, look for yourself in the Bible. Is this your Shepherd?

A Christian is Such Because of Christ, Not Their Own Actions or Inactions

Excellent words from the Lutheran:

Our Heavenly Father attaches no strings to His love. His love for us doesn’t depend on our love for others. Our relationship with the Father was established long ago, in the body and blood of His Son. Jesus Christ erased all our sins and shouldered all our sorrows. Already now we have a solid relationship with our heavenly Father; there’s no need to fret about it. That relationship doesn’t depend on our love for Him, but on His love for us. It hinges on the Gospel of God, not the Law of God…Again, the Old Adam betrays us. Our sinful nature would much rather hear Law than Gospel. The sinful nature is a seasoned do-it-yourselfer. We’d rather know what we should do, yet God insists on telling us who we are. The best way to tell you what to do as a Christian is to tell you who you are in Christ. The sinful nature likes to think it can earn (and keep) God’s favor. Our Old Adam prefers to base security with God the Father on His Law rather than His Gospel.

You can find more excellent quotes in context when you read Harold L. Senkbeil's book Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness. But sorry, not on the Kindle.

With Aloha

The Resurrection and Nuclear Physics

N.T. Wright, is a pretty bright dude. Some people in the Evangelical word are suspicious of him for some of his Biblical views but who DOES have it all down and right? And besides, just because one thing, or even a few things, are off does not mean everything is; my favorite saying holds true: 'we must learn to chew the meat and throw away the bone.'

Well here is some meat. N.T. Wright, the Biblical scholar, is responding to some words that the nuclear physicist Stephen Hawking said about Heaven and Christianity. And be not afraid, though Wright may come across as rude or, more geographically appropriate cheeky, this is good, clear, helpful, appropriate tone for someone to take with the issue.

Read well. Enjoy.

Impudent Praying: thoughts from Jesus’ words in Luke 11.8

Here is Jesus with his disciples, they ask of him, ‘teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ Jesus replies, when you pray say . . .‘ and he gives what history has named The Lord’s Prayer.

In Luke’s book Jesus goes on teaching about prayer: he tells the story of a rude neighbor who comes banging on his friend’s door at 2am going on about how he needs some bread because another rude friend came and wanted to crash at his place. The man who had the neighbor at his door was already in bed wearing his boxers catching some Zzz so he could function the next day; being rightly annoyed he says, ‘hey, I’m sleeping, you schlub; go away, I’m not getting up for your friend who doesn’t know how to plan ahead of time!’ But the man at the door persists: ‘Hey man, I need some bread!’ ‘Get lost you turtle-neck wearer!’ ‘Come on! I need some bread for this guy!’

Jesus goes on to tell his disciples that the man who was sleeping eventually gets up, gets bread, and gives it to his annoying neighbor NOT because they were friends but because the guy was, impudent.

I had no clue what impudent meant so I looked it up: essentially it is not being respectful by following what is the norm based on society or tradition. So the guy is a little unorthodoxed in his approach but he gets his bread. So what is Jesus trying to convey to his guys who are following him? It seems that Jesus is saying, ‘God is your Father and He loves you and nothing is too hard for Him. There may be some traditions and rules about how you should approach Him, but remember to approach Him; you needn’t go to a temple or wear certain clothes or say specific things, but ask HIM!’ This is along the same lines as the writer of Hebrews who says we can go confidently to the ‘throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’

The Creator of all things, while wild and subservient to no one, is our Father who loves us. When we pray we are banging on His door, we are calling on Him, we are, in a sense, becoming a welcome nuisance to Him. No liturgy, no heartless quotes, no muttering of the same phrase over and over will help, only coming to God because of what Jesus has done will do; because Jesus gave us a voice with God. God does not care for fancy phrases and perfect theology; He wants those broken enough to know they are in need of Him. You’re never too sinful; you’re never too messed up; you don’t need to get things right before going to God; you dont need to have some feeling or sign and you’re never going TO BE good enough to go to God: Jesus fills that place for us.

Competing Sport: Can Sports Bring Peace?

The subject of world peace and setting aside differences seems more prevalent at the Olympic Games and similar events than any Miss (insert anything here) Competitions. One of the key focuses of the Games is solidarity—togetherness, unity. The idea being sports and competition can bring together otherwise distant countries and ways of thinking. Peace, world peace, at least for a few weeks.

The idea of setting aside of differences through sports is pervasive hope; the NBA sported Latino style jerseys during their season; today MLB clubs will be wearing Negro League Jerseys; then there are movies such as Remember the Titans—based on actual events—and myriads of others which hope to unveil that sports are the medicine for aching rivalries. We see in sports the similarities in one another; the desires of our enemy are found in us; sports unmask the façade we have been seeing and expose the humanity in the other . . . well, humans.

But then you have other worldwide competitions: FIFA World Cup of Soccer; World Cup of Rugby, Cricket, etcetera. These events are more of a containment of rivalry attitudes, long enough at least to crown a winner. The on the field controversies are apparent and sometimes volatile between countries that hate each other.

So is sporting the hope for the cause of world peace? Do sports derail persistent and consistent counter ideologies existing now for centuries? Sport itself, it seems, often fumigates peace.

I hope to play sports as long as I can. I think sports are fun and good and can teach a lot, but sports will never bring ultimate peace to humanity. As Rocky Balboa in the movie Rocky IV said after his bout with the Russian: ‘During this fight, I've seen a lot of changing, in the way you feel about me, and in the way I feel about you. In here, there were two guys killing each other, but I guess that's better than twenty million. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!’ Change we may, but not enough; never enough.

If we look to sports or literature or dialogue or anything for ultimate peace we will always be disappointed with the failing result. The Christian understands this deep issue of unceasing disaster and pain as sin; everyone is contaminated with it, this author, you the reader, the Pope and your grandma. Because of sin hatred, disdain, wars and hard times will always exist on this earth. But the Christian has a hope for ultimate peace and it is found in the person and work Jesus Christ. He is the one who died on behalf of all those who would follow and believe him. Our sin has not only damaging consequences now but has eternal consequences as well, but Jesus died in our place paying for the evil we let seep from us. Now while we seek for peace here on earth and desire to bring good to as many as possible the Christian knows that ultimate peace will never exist on this earth; but the hope of the Christian is that one day there will be a new earth which is void of all sin and therefore hatred and war and rivalry; this is only true because Jesus killed sin forever. The Christian is no great individual or group of people but the Christian follows one, the only one who will bring about true and lasting peace which will never be interrupted by spouts of selfishness, greed, or hate.

As if Being Fat Wasn't Taxing Enough

Your kid is fat so you need to pay more taxes. That’s the headline for some new proposals to trim down the United States’ bulging debt: fatten up taxes baby. On the surface this idea seems silly to me. Why is a government, which consistently produces shoddy health studies and recommendations, not only trying to regulate or tell people how they should be physically, but taxing those who are . . . out of line?

However, first thoughts are not always the best. So after thinking about this idea of taxing the parents of overweight kids I realized how heinous it actually was. A few thoughts if you care:

1. Would President Taft ever have dreamed of such a tax? Because his mom would pay a lot of these taxes. He was a bit over our government suggested weight. But some relate his obesity with his sleep apnea.

2. What if a child is obese because of a legitimate medical issue . . . such as sleep apnea? I think compounding the situation and adding more governmental burdens on someone is sad.

3. Many friends of mine grew up fat but have changed their style of living and habits in a way that has expanded their well-being far beyond physical health; society, in sometimes a hard way, teaches us to care for our bodies and we are pushed to pursue that; however, the motivation would be entirely different if it was Big Brother saying, ‘get thin!’

4. Who would determine the ‘fatness’ or obesity of a child? If it is anything like military regulations and charts it will be miserable as they in no way take into account of body type; it would only be determined by the individuals height and weight and, in some cases, body fat percentage. I know lots of people who are in great shape but according to governmental standards they are fat. Also, would teachers be the ones doing this? Another reason for them to have disdain from their students I’m sure.

5. On a basic level, who cares if someone’s kid is fat. It is the parent not the government who raises children. Now some might be doing a poor and even dangerous job but . . . eh, natural selection?

6. Where does the need to have 'in-shape' kids come from? Have we let our eyes grace too many magazine covers, seen too many super-athletes and models? Maybe we should blame--sue if it was still the early 90's--computers: the great advancement in technology has stifled imaginations and desires to play in the yard everywhere!

7. Who is going to pay most for this proposed bill if it indeed ever passed? The lower class. The lower class tend toward lower cost meals. Typically lower cost meals are wildly unhealthy. These wildly unhealthy meals are all the single-mother of 5 can afford, unless Uncle Sam wants starving kids on his plate.

8. I think this reveals the extent of the responsibility that our leaders feel: ‘we are doing our job, but the real problem are with unattractive kids.’ Let’s kill or defeat the bad guys; help each other out; allow people to pursue happiness and stop blaming the fat kid . . .as if they do not have enough pressure on them anyway.

Well, I’m out like a senator in dodge ball.

01.04.11

Thank you for my mutability;
the insecurity of sin.
Once dead; not now.
Sleeping asunder; sharp as thunder.
Thank you that I'm unstable;
able to cut away at the label.
I can conform to your contours.