not sure I have anything to say...

I never thought I'd say that, but since I am trying to write every week I thought I'd better say something.

Just a couple of things. First, I am always amazed when I find people who read my blog. Just this week I found another one. Everyone, please say hi to Kero.

"Hi Kero"

Please make him feel welcome in our conversations.

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Second, it must have been about a year ago that I had my first experience ice fishing. It was miserable! It was blustery and cold. The wind was gusting and the temperature reached a high somewhere in the low teens as I recall. It was so miserable, in fact, that this year I bought an ice pole. Well, yesterday I went ice fishing for the second time. It was about 30 degrees and there was no wind. It was a beautiful experience and I had a ball. It wasn't a trophy day, but I caught about a dozen - of which 6 were keeper bluegill. I hope the ice lasts so I can get out again.

Just a reminder that if you try your hand on the ice BE VERY CAREFUL.

ef

The Call of Discipleship

This week the church celebrates the call of the first disciples. John tells the story in 1.35-51. Before you read it, take a minute to consider the Jewish context.

Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi, teaching Jewish disciples, living in a first century Jewish world. His world revolved around Judaism. The educational system was 100% religious. When children were 5 they would begin the first stage of education. It was called Beit Sefer. During the next 5 years, students would dedicate themselves to MEMORIZING the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). By the time they were 10 years most Jewish children had the first 5 books of the OT MEMORIZED!!!!

At that point, most students went to work with their parents to learn the family trade and begin working. But the best students started another phase of education called Beit Talmud. Their they spent the next 5 years memorizing the rest of the Hebrew scriptures. By the time these students were 15, they had the entirity of the OT MEMORIZED!!!

Again, most of those who entered this phase, went back to work with their families, but the best of the best went on to the final stage of their education called Beit Midrash. Here, the best of the best sought out a Rabbi for whom they wanted to be a disciple. A disciple was not just a student. A disciple was one who learned the Rabbi's thoughts and followed his ways so that the disciple could do teach what the Rabbi taught, do what the Rabbi did, and be just like the Rabbi.

Watch this clip about discipleship from Rob Bell's series "Nooma."
(since I don't know how to post a link, go to familychristian.com and search for "nooma dust." There will be an option to watch a preview).

Now check out John's story.


The really cool thing about all of this is that we are not called to be students of Christ, but rather DISCIPLES of Christ. Any student can answer the oft asked question: "What would Jesus do?" But only a disciple can really do what Jesus did and be who Jesus is. The call to follow is a call to be a disciple of Christ. That means not only do we seek to know Christ, but we seek to be like Christ. This is the essence of Christian Holiness. More than just knowing God, we must be like Chirst. We must think as he thinks, do what he does, live as he lives, and love as he loves. That seems a pretty tall order, but we must remember that Rabbis don't call just anyone to be their disciples. They only call those who they know can learn their ways, do their deeds... be just like them.

Christ calls you! That means Christ believes you can be just like him. You can know him. You can learn his ways. You can have his mind. You can do his work. You can have his heart of love. I know, it seems like such a difficult task. It seems like an awefully high expectation. I know, it seems impossible. It seems impossible that ordinary sinful people who live in a broken and sinful world could truly be holy just as our Father is holy. There is only one way to find out if you can really be transformed...and the world through you... That one way, in the words of Christ, is if you will "Come and See!"

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Now it's your turn. If being a disciple is more than just being a student, what else might it entail? What do you think discipleship might look like in your life? In your church? What other things might helps us to be just like Christ?

The Baptism of the Lord

Matthew 3.13-17

This week the church celebrates the Baptism of our Lord. I have only one question. Why was Jesus baptized? That is always the question isn't it? As we have thought about it, banterred about our ideas, and read the opinions of scholars and novices alike, still none of the answers seems completely satisfactory to my mind. The most common, the "identification with humanity" is good theology and sounds reasonable, but it seems to me like an answer develped when we can't find anything else that fits.

The one thing that resonated with me, was one commentator who embraced that lack of a satisfactory answer. In the passage, Jesus comes to John to be baptized. John's baptism was one of repentance, yet the sinless Jesus surely is without need of repentance. John calls Jesus on it, they argue & John gives in. When Jesus emerges from the waters he suddenly has eyes to see and ears to hear as the Spirit descends annointing his ministry and as the voice of God affirms his Sonship.

When John asked Jesus the very same question we all want an answer to, Jesus simply replied, "It is the will of the Father." But that's not good enough. Why? What was accomplished? What necessitated it? We have all these qestion. We need good reasons and clear explanations.

To be quite honest, I think I sound a bit childish. Dad yells, "Don't go in the street!" I want to know why. What do all good dads say? "Because I said so." I contest, "That is no good reason." I argued then. I argue now. "It is the will of the Father." That's just not good enough... or is it? Could it be that the life of faith does not require reasons and explanations and coherent, logical arguments? Could it be that obedience is the virtue here? Could it be that more often than we'd like - or even that we're comfortable - the life of faith is one of blind obedience. When we are willing to obey without question, without explanation, without clear understanding of the reasons or benefits, then God is able to truly be seen in and through us. Obedience. Perhaps that is the word of the day.

The Epiphany of our Lord

This week the church celebrates the Epiphany of our Lord. The Gospel lesion is Matthew 2.1-12 where the Magi come from the east, find the baby Jesus, and bow down and worship him. The Epiphany can have a couple of foci. It can emphasize God’s self-revelation. That is, when God first revealed to the world that this baby was not ordinary baby, but was indeed the Messiah, the son of God. It can also emphasize the revelation of God’s mission to the world. The Magi, you see, were gentile. Read in such a way, the story reveals that God’s message of Good News is for all people. That includes you and me!

In both cases, the common theme is an epiphany. An epiphany is an aha moment when you get it. Like when you tell a joke and you can tell the instant the hearer gets it by watching their face. That moment of getting it, is an epiphany. Or perhaps it could be compared to the proverbial light bulb coming on in your head. When the light dawns, that is an epiphany (perhaps this is a more Biblical understanding as the OT lesson from Isaiah tells, “Arise! Shine! For the light has come!”).

In the gospel story there are three groups (or persons) who are confronted with the reality of the Baby Jesus. The obvious one is the Magi. They come seeking a king and find a Messiah. They have an epiphany as they illustrate the proper response to the presence of Christ in our world… they bow and worship. The second person is King Herod. He has an epiphany too. He realizes who this child is and he is afraid. He plots and schemes to destroy the presence of Christ in the world. Both the Magi and the King have their own epiphanies, and both respond, albeit in different ways.

The truly intriguing characters in all of this are the Chief-Priests and the Scribes. This group of the religious elite – the experts, the pastors, the scholars – never seem to see it. They are gathered by Herod, informed of the events, and asked where this baby was to be born. Like good and pious men, they quote scripture and tell Herod where the Messiah is to be born, but for them, the light never comes on. They never get it. They never share in the epiphany.

I wonder why not? I wonder why those so well trained, so well educated, who have spent their whole lives learning their scriptures and traditions, who are the backbone of the establishment, miss it entirely? Is there a lesson for us in that? Is there a lesson for us who have been in the church our whole lives? Is there a lesson for us who know the scripture and the tradition so well? Is there a lesson for us who are the backbone of the Christian community?

What do you think?

New Year's Resolution

Perhaps it is a bit cliché, but after much thought, I think my New Year’s Resolution is… drum-roll please… HEALTH. I feel like my time in pastoral ministry has been marred by unhealthy living. Noticing the looks of the pastors around me, I am not alone! However, I want to improve my health in a variety of areas this year. Here are some of them.

1) The obvious one is physical health. I have always been an active person. I have always been involved with sports. I like to think I have stayed in decent shape. In High School, sports. In college, intramurals. At seminary, just being a youth pastor tends to keep you active. But being a pastor, a year and a half of lunch meetings, desk sitting, and lots of stress have left me feeling lazy and out of shape. I hate running. I have not found any rec leagues I can join. I think I am going to try and dust off my bike. I am going to try and ride 5 days a week. Outside if the weather permits, and maybe I’ll find a cheap stationary I can ride when its miserable outside.



2) The next noticeable is my mental health. I feel like I am getting dumb. I don’t feel like I read or write nearly as much as I’d like (sermons don’t count!). So, I have a plan. This is going to be the year of Wesley. I am going to try to read one sermon, letter or journal entry per week. I am also going to try and read about Wesley in book and in my WTS journals. Additionally, I am going to write. I am going to write a brief article each week about something the church celebrates each week. Perhaps an event (like the incarnation, the epiphany, the resurrection, etc) or perhaps a person (like an apostle, a saint, or any other significant hero of the faith). You can watch for those here or at torontoinfocus.com/religion. Finally, I am going to assign myself a writing project. I am going to try and write a scholarly article about the influence of the liturgy of the Church of England on the shaping of Wesley’s doctrine of Christian Perfection. I don’t know what I’ll find, but it will be fun… I think.

By the way, did you know that to be in one of Wesley’s small groups you must agree to three things: (1) always do good; (2) never do bad; (3) regularly attend the means of grace!




3) I want to get spiritually fit. I miss midweek Eucharist at St. Peter’s Episcopal on Red Bridge Road. But there are no midweek Eucharists here. So, my goal for spiritual health is (1) find a spiritual director; (2) find an accountability partner; (3) pray Morning Prayer from the Daily Office of the Book of Common Prayer each morning when I first get to the office and then pray Evening Prayer when I last leave the office.

Health is an important thing, but man is it exhausting just thinking about getting back in shape!

Merry Christmas,

EF