“After Easter”

We went and saw Tom Shadyac’s new documentary “I Am” on Easter night.  He is the director of cult comedies like “Ace Venture”, “Nutty Professor”, and “Bruce Almighty”.  This film is much different!  It’s powerful message capped off our Easter Sunday.  Check out the trailer by clicking here or below.

Shadyac documents the emerging story of our interconnectedness which technology is starting to describe in quantum like ways.  Science is starting to acknowledge our DNA is wired to cooperate not compete.

Then on this (Monday) morning, I listened to what Peter Rollins, a new social media acquaintance, had to say on Easter morning.  So poignantly he speaks of all the ways we deny the resurrection when we act like what we are separate from others.  Check out his message  by clicking here or below.

I wondered yesterday in my message what would be different “After Easter” this year.  Shadyac and Rollins put it together for me-I deny the resurrection every time I deny my connection to every living creature fashioned by the hand of God.

So, I laid my head down last night and asked myself the question, what would be different “After Easter” this year.  I experienced a simple revelation.  What would be different “After Easter” this year… ME!

Lingering a Little Longer in Holy Week

Some words needs no improvement.  Instead, the rest of us should just shine the light of Christ on them so they may live.

Richard Rohr is such person whom few could improve on his inspiring words.  His writings speak of the Christian way in the midst of suffering; reminding us of the dark side of passion week.  I need to hear words which remind me of the shadows of Good Friday; so I may more resiliently sing the bright sounds of Easter on Resurrection Day.

I feel deeply that much of our expressions of Christ’s way are watered down because of our proclivity to move quickly past the reality of darkness experienced on that Good Friday afternoon.  Rohr’s words, like Rembrandt’s painting, help me stay long enough to ponder what makes our redemption possible; love offered in the midst of awful hate, and light shone into the real darkness.

I share them with those who need them, like I.  They can be read in their entirety in his book Hope Against Darkness, p. 38.

You alone, Lord Jesus, refused to be crucifier, even at the cost of being crucified.  You never play the victim, you never ask for vengeance, but you only breathe forgiveness.  While we, on this fearful earth, murder, mistrust, attack and hate.  Now I see that it is not you that humanity hates; we hate ourselves, but mistakenly kill you.

I must stop crucifying your blessed flesh on this earth and in my brothers and sisters, and in every form of life, whether innocent or guilty, worthy or unworthy.  We are all your blessed Body, and you have always loved me precisely in my unworthiness.  How can I not do the same to others?

Give me courage to practice these Jesus ways to all I encounter on this holy week.

Is Education Worth It?

Sub-Prime Goes to College

Education is on the last things we truly believe in America.  We say invest in education and it will always pay off.  Will it?

This is a question we are asking in my own family.  I have four college age children in my family; each pursuing their life goals in their own way.  I am proud of each and affirm that there are many ways to a career.  I myself have returned to do D. Min work at Perkins School of Theology to fulfill a life long dream and pursue a future call.

This is a question we should be asking in many professional careers.  In my profession, many women and men are assuming over a $100,000 debt to attend Schools of Theology for a career in ministry.   I know many of them are asking the questions about this level spending and incurring this much debt.

I have intuitively wondered if are on the brink of an education bubble.   Steven Eisman has confirmed my intuition with hard data.  Eisman predicted both the tech and real estate bubbles (We thought tech growth was endless and everyone should own real estate.  Thus, we invested wildly and borrowed madly.) He is now bringing forth research that suggests we are on the brink of an educational bubble.

At the Ira Sohn Conference he cutely sub titles his presentation Sub-Prime Goes to College that delineates how for profit educational institutions are creating more debt for underemployed students who are beginning to default on loans at an alarming rate.  His data suggest they are marketing to students with lesser means, assuring them education pays.  In reality, what is happening is they are being allured into higher costs institutions by monopolizing Title IV funds.  You can read more HERE

The question for the coming generation-How much debt are we willing to incur to accomplish our life goals?

On the Anniversary of a Great Loss

Thanks to Larry James for the reminder of this great quote that may end up in my Sunday sermon based on the gospel lection of John 11.  It sounds to me that Jesus says the same at Lazarus grave.

 

“When our days become dreary with low hovering clouds of despair, and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights, let us remember there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil, a power that is able to make a way out of no way and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows. Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.“

 

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

Artists and Preachers, Bed Partners?

Artists are often my preachers.  Contemporary singer songwriter David Wilcox helped me negotiate difficult times.  Ancient works redone by Sting have soothed my soul.  Little heard artists like Mark Broussard make my two left feet dance.  Patty Griffin has been my recent artist/preacher.  She was on Austin City Limits last night (3/24/11) doing cuts from her recent album, Downtown Church.

It occurred to me that her rendition of Dorothy Love Coates “Strange Man” might be the last little bit of help a preacher like me might need to complete this week’s message based on the gospel lection passage of John 4.  Preach on Sister Patty!  Or, to paraphrase Wesley advice on preaching, “1. To invite. 2. To convince. 3. To offer this “Strange Man“. 4. To build up. And to do this in some measure in every sermon.“

After all, while the context of ministry may change the message of a strange man remains the same.  Did I mention Robert Plant good sermons on “Band of Joy”.

Another Voice (Profound and Clear)-Richard Rohr

St. Nicholas Day

There is a great banquet that utterly relativizes and situates all our daily emotions, hurts, addictions and plans.  When you abide in your true Godself, the small self is always seen as limited, insecure and surely good—but still passing away.  We must eat from this big table to know who we really and finally are.

Our great myth of Santa Claus, of course, came from today’s Saint Nicholas, who was known for charity and gifts to poor children and young girls without dowries.  He would secretly throw sacks of money through their windows so they could experience a bit of this Great Banquet of God’s love.

Adapted from Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr, pp. 11-12

Richard Rohr Thoughts on Adult Christianity

Father Rohr captures the state of the Body of Christ. I share his thoughts because they capture my thoughts in words I am still trying to form.

“For most of the people I meet, the only way to get over the hump to the second half of life is some kind of suffering. Nothing else is strong enough to force us to let go of our ego structures and our old wineskins. We’re not ready at age twenty, although there are exceptions (like kids with cancer).

Some of our private salvation project has to fall apart and disappoint us. At that point the temptation is to go back and do the tasks of the first half of life with even greater diligence.

Organized Christianity in its Sunday form tends to encourage people to do the tasks of the first half of life over and over again (firming up the container instead of getting to the contents). The clergy do not question this because the container is what gives us a job. But it is also why many people become disillusioned by midlife, and also why we have the constant phenomenon of groups emerging on the side, like religious orders, hermits, and prayer and service groups where people actually try to live the message.”

Tuning my ears to hear!

Adapted from Adult Christianity and How to Get There CD