Discernment

Discernment, divine insight or experiential guess-work?  Answer: Yes.  

Over the years, I have found that I catalogue peoples responses to particular situations by possible motivations.  My kids also know that I provide human commentary to animal antics that we observe in our yard but that is another story.  My library of experience, is not only full of Psych 101 type observations (people who respond with anger may be responding because of underlying fear or pain) but is primarily full of my reflections on my own responses, why did I say or do what I did?   I also have been privileged to walk with individuals in their difficult times and have been privy to their reflections.  All added to my library of possibilities, a library that I seem to draw on more these days.  While I thank God continually for these experiences and the gift of being able to catalogue the events for quick retrieval, I recognize that my library has significant limitations.  Its use can be based on the assumption that most people respond similarly thus the recognition of the library's name becomes important; it is just "guess-work". So many times my library lets me down, I am lost for a response.  It is at those humbling moments when God's glory shines.  God love for the individual I interact with stops me from saying something unhelpful and before I can think the most perfect words have come from my mouth.  Not words of idle commentary or of "guess-work" but words a gift from God for God's people, divine insight.  

I light of my conversation about ordination, I see this as another demonstration of God's faithfulness to his people.   The ordained are set apart because they have gifts that point to God; gifts the Church can recognize.  One of those gifts for me - discernment. Praise be to God.  

Ordination

What an awesome God.  Over the centuries he has faithfully provided leadership for his church. I think the fact that there is such continuity is overlooked by many.  Below is a bit of para 14 of the Basis of Union.  It says the Church bears witness to God’s faithfulness and declares the hope by which it lives; however, this is reflected through the participation of the ordained. 

In this act of ordination the Church praises the ascended Christ for conferring gifts upon men and women. It recognises Christ's call of the individual to be his minister; it prays for the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to equip the minister for that service. By the participation in the act of ordination of those already ordained, the Church bears witness to God's faithfulness and declares the hope by which it lives.

The Basis goes on to say 

In company with other Christians the Uniting Church will seek for a renewed understanding of the way in which the congregation participates in ordination and of the significance of ordination in the life of the Church. 

The understanding of ordination to the life of the Church and the congregations  participation, well, it seems at the time of union (1977) was highlighted for more discussion. 

In my discussions with ordained about ordination, I find that they by in large are in awe of God’s faithfulness to the church.  But, in my last discussion, there was a comment along the lines that in ordination the Church recognizes gifts of leadership (and others).  But this bothered me, somehow so later in the conversation, I asked, “The Church recognizes leadership but do congregations?”  My friend commented that he found many congregations that think of the ordained as some sort of “Divine polyfiller” that comes in and fills up all the gaps and needs.

I recognize that a congregation is a place that many arrive at spiritually empty and perhaps, it may be a bit much to expect more from them but I hope that my ordination service will point to God’s faithfulness and bring hope to the congregation as well as all the things identified above.

Why Mal can't take himself too seriously either

Mal writes - Prior to leaving Bris there were some issues. 

• I forgot my belt – okay with these trousers but not sure about others – can buy a belt if I need it.
• I printed my boarding pass last night as you know.  It would not read this morning when I checked my bags in – so the lady said I will print you another in case this doesn’t read at the gate.
• She did, put it in a folder with the baggage check and off I went to Q club.
• At Qantas club I was greeted with “Oh would you prefer to go to the Captain’s lounge opposite gate 23 sir?”.  I looked at the time thinking, what entitles me to those lounges, “Oh maybe Silver status” but didn’t think any more of it.  Went into the Bus lounge (new and part of the original Q club lounge now but separated).
• Went off down to gate when called, was first in line.  Hostie greeted me with “Oh this is the Gladstone flight sir, not Darwin”.  She handed back the pass and it was for Mr (Another) Hamill in seat 23A going to Darwin..  When I said I was on the Gladstone flight she asked me to go to the other counter.
• I did, they explained the new computer system had some bugs and they were running the old and the new side-by-side.  Got my original 3A seat allocation back and went back to the line. Then thought, “I bet my port is on the way to Darwin!!”.  Got the folder with baggage tag attached and yup – Darwin bound.
• Pulled out of line and back to counter.  They called baggage to see if they could get my bag pulled and onto the Gladstone.  Line for Gladstone flight was now empty – they asked me to board and that if the bag didn’t arrive then they would get it on the 8.30am flight and deliver it to me in Gladstone.
• So got to Gladstone and my bag arrived – about the third one off.

Linda writes - the lesson.... look at the name on the boarding pass and take the offer to Captains club. :-) 

 

The questions are....

1.  The question for the semester is "What do you think ordination is/means?" 

I will spend the semester exploring this and hope to post periodically on this subject.  I will let you know what I come up with for me at the end of the semester.

2. The question for this week is "What does it mean for you to be a human person?"

Yup, only a week to figure this one out.

I would love to know that you think.

Ecumenical

As a young person, I recognized that I was formed by several denominational traditions.  I was baptized in the Presbyterian Church not that I remember much of that but throughout the years when we worship with my Gramma it was at the same church that I was baptized in so I imagine there was formation there.  My church memories begin in the Isabel United Church of Christ (UCC), however, we were a rural community and ministry among churches was shared so these early memories of the UCC were influenced by the Methodist minister serving there.  I was confirmed into the UCC by United Methodist minister.  As I became an adult, I found myself drawn to the Methodist church because it was most familiar; fancy that.  After the Methodist minister moved on the UCC was served by a Lutheran minister so much of my youth camp experience was Lutheran.  This does not include Vacation Bible School  (VBS) that we attended every year with my cousins.  VBS was run jointly by an Assembly of God and a Lutheran Church.  It was at the Assembly of God church that I made a commitment to Christ, whatever that meant to a 9-10 year old.

My ecumenical formation continues.  My supervisor, for a few months while I was in field placement at the Lutheran Church of Guam, was Brad Boydston.  He introduced me to lots of people (through blogs) from the Evangelical Covenant Church. 

I attended lectures on Old Testament Law by Terence Fretheim, Lutheran.

I had the opportunity to listen and speak to Bishop Nazir-Ali, Anglican (see post).

I recently attended lectures on the Spirituality of Mark by Bill Countryman, Episcopalian. 

As well as, formation from all my lectures by the local Uniting Church of Australia, Anglican and Catholic lecturers who are part of the Brisbane College of Theology.   

I am in formation with the Uniting Church of Australia and am committed to the Basis of Union.   There is no doubt in my mind that I am where God wants me to be.  Yet I find it extremely interesting that my formation has been and is still so ecumenical.  What a blessing!

Vacation

Dear Readers,

Thank you for sticking with my blog even though I haven't posted for a while.  I have been on vacation and just arrived home today.  The attached photo was one of the highlights.  The 4th of July fireworks (actually held on the 3rd) at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota were spectacular.  I told Mal that I would never need to see fireworks again.  I am not sure any will top it.  The day was glorious - good thing too because we got there about 9 am and the show was not until 9:15 pm.  We were early because the parking fills up by 10 am and the closest parking additional parking means a 2 mile jaunt up the mountain.  There were activities all day and we had a group of people.  Mal's daughter and family came from Florida, friends from Washington state, my brother and family from Florida and of course my family including my daughter's and their partners were amongst the gathered.  

The best part of the holiday though was all the people that we caught up with.  While there was fireworks of the spectacular kind; the trip really was about people who are very important to me.  I love them so and now that I am home in Brisbane, I wish the trip had been a bit longer (usually, I am ready to come home).  This trip was many people and too little time.  I pray that I will get to see them all soon again.   

But since the semester is starting again, I imagine I will blog more frequently.

Book Review

This is my first ever book review.  I have recently finished reading Christianity’s Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution - A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First by Alister McGrath.  While I enjoy history, I never seem to have much time to delve into church history much less any other history.  The books and articles that I read these days must apply to what I am doing.  

This book was tremendous.  It made history relevant.  It is not a dictionary of events or people of the reformation rather it tracks the ideas of the reformation through history to the present day.  

The book follows issues like images and music in worship through historical opinions.  It tackles the question of our multiplicity of Protestant denominations; how and why they occurred and traces many to their roots in the reformation.  

McGrath looks to the future and helps the reader get a sense of not only where we have been as church but also where we may go. 

If you are looking for a timeline of facts and dates, this is not it.  If you are looking for a book that reads like a novel tracing the changes, subtle and drastic, of reformation ideals like they were characters in real life, well then this is it.

Why God won't let me take myself too seriously Part 2

Okay, today, I got to college early so I stopped by the coffee shop for a coffee and a ticket for the lunch meal.  The cost was of course was not even dollars and I told the clerk that I had the change.  So he held out his hand for my coins.  I took them out of my coin purse, reached my hand directly over his and open my fingers for the coins to drop into his hand.  But no.  One coin stuck to my finger and flung itself into a cup of coffee with a splash.  No, not my coffee. The clerk stood there and kept giggling.  I could not have hit the coffee if I had tried.  I offered another coin the the clerk now in hardy laughter said "no worries" he would get it out later.  

The person standing behind me in line comments on how much coffee splash out and asked if I could do that again.  

Yes, this is the lifestyle of the not so rich or famous.

Movie Review

Mal and I and a few from our college went to see "The End of a Spear" on Monday night.  We really enjoyed the movie based on the true story of some missionary families.  I think for me it raised my awareness of the amazing love of God for all his creation.  I wonder at the conviction of men to risk their lives for a few unknown people.  I am in awe at the faith of the women to continue after such loss.  

I remember when I saw the documentary that this movie is based on I cried for my children.  I do not know what kind of unfriendly world they are entering.  And I prayed that no matter what they faced that they would be faithful.   This movie, I wondered where my convictions will take me.  Minister of the Word in Australia looks easy by comparison, doesn't it?

I thought wrong

I thought I would not like reading Calvin.  I was wrong.  There are bits I am uncomfortable with but there is so much good.  

For example Institutes 1.6.1

God therefore bestows a gift of singular value, when, for the instruction of the Church, he employs not dumb teachers merely, but opens his own sacred mouth; when he not only proclaims that some God must be worshipped, but at the same time declares that He is the God to whom worship is due; when he not only teaches his elect to have respect to God, but manifests himself as the God to whom this respect should be paid.

Interesting that since 1559 or something like that it hasn't changed God still informs people that they should worship God as opposed to everything else and that He is indeed God.  Deut 6:4 Hear O Israel: The LORD is our GOD, the LORD alone!

Will we ever get it.....

Don't look back

I was commuting home from university the other day.  I take the train from uni then transfer to a bus when I get into the city.  This particular day, I got off the train in rush hour and had made my way off the platform and through the terminal.  During rush hour there are young people handing out a news magazine.  They are at every platform and at the entrance to the station.  I had managed to get past the people at the platform, quite pleased with myself for not contributing to my recycle bin at home when halfway thru the terminal I spotted the young people at the front.  They were facing the street and handing out magazines to the people entering the station.  I was relieved.  Just then the young woman turned around and opening her mouth in a big yawn.  She was turning away from the throng entering but of course, without realizing it turned to face the throng leaving.  She blushed and looked down as I grinned. 

The moral of the story - don't look back.  Up, down, sideways are slightly more acceptable but never look back. 

Passion Fruit

Not to be out done by my friend Brad, I too have flowers in my garden.  Yes, it is nearing winter in Australia and I have a passion fruit plant that is a bit out of season but the blooms are beautiful.  The blooms are also very short lived.  There is a story about the name of the  passion fruit. 

The story goes, “When Spanish explored South America they discovered that passion fruit was used in native folk medicine as a sedative. When the Spanish brought the passion fruit to Europe the leaves were used as a sleep-inducing medicine. The name 'Passion' was given by Catholic missionaries in South America. The corona threads of the passion flower were seen as a symbol of the crown of thorns, the five stamens for wounds, the five petals and five sepals as the ten apostles (excluding Judas and Peter) and the three stigmas for the nails on the cross.” 

Called to be Light

I had the distinct honour of attending Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali’s lecture on Islam and Christian relations. He is a great speaker and confirmed to me, anyway, that we should get to know our neighbours. He was helpful because he spoke of history of Islam and related stories of historic Christian/Islam encounters both good and bad. I was disappointed that most people that attended the public lecture were my age and older. Don’t young people care to be informed? (this is a tangent by the way)

The most important part of the Bishop’s visit was that he came to college and we had a small group session with him earlier in the day. His focus there was not so much the topic of his later lecture but he brought up the notion of “secularism” (his word). He defined secularism as the trend in Western society to make, change and interrupt laws without considering Christianity or God. He pointed out that the basis for all moral/ethical law in western society is based on the Bible. He works with lawmakers in the UK and is disturbed that most do not understand the ethic that the current laws comes from. He spends a great deal of his time educating lawmakers.

He seriously believed that morally we may be entering a “dark ages”. (I forgot who he cited for this idea). And as church leaders he charged us to be “Light” of the world. He compared the light image to the salt image. He believes that Christian for awhile have been salt and now must be light.

I asked what that looks like in the parish context. He said we must hold to Christian ethic and educate people on what the Bible says. He pointed out that even in a small church someone will need medical treatment that may come from research that buys aborted fetuses or from other far out means. He indicated that he has already had to take a stand against research into human animal cross breeding.

The dilemma. If the research helps hundreds or thousands, is it okay to in a laboratory make a half human/half cat to get the medicine from? Secularism says why not. I ask, “What does us teach us about the value of human life? And its relationship to God?” My answer, “Under these conditions, life becomes another throw away product.”

Called to be “Light”. Could this be why the book of Amos came up about a thousand times (seems like) during my discernment to candidate for ministry? Time will tell, I suppose.

Creation

Creation has been a topic that seems to be in abundance recently. We watched Louie Giglio videos in church. Mal has purchased a couple books that explain science and the Bible. A blog I read had a couple of entries about creation. While I am trying to focus on the cross (and church reformed history), creation and its relationship to science keeps becoming the topic of discussion. So here ya go. Linda Hamill on creation….

First, for you to understand my position you need to understand some of the experiences that have influenced the development of these thoughts. I grew up in the country and there developed a respect for the land and the people. Our land was between two Native American reservations, so I also developed an appreciation for people’s stories.

The native people traditionally told stories to teach relationships; relationships between family, elders, other tribes, the land, and even animals. In the tribe, time, the measure of it, or the dependence on it was not the same as I was taught. I found time to be similarly not measured in the Pacific Islands.

I am not an anthropologist and just barely a theologian but I reckon Genesis chapter 1 is a story, in the sense of a tribal story explaining important relationships. When I studied Hebrew, I found that there were cultural aspects to the language that resonated well with me because I had grown up in the country and watched a tribe.

I use a bit of liberty in translating the Hebrew; actually, I tried to translate it quite literally and not attempting to put the translation into good English grammar. I also, used a bit of liberty in describing the telling of the story so imagine if you will, a group of people sitting around a campfire. The storyteller is in the middle casting shadows opposite the flame. The gaze of the faces around the fire is transfixed on the storyteller.

The storyteller puts up one hand and begins, “In the beginning,” the teller raises both hands to the sky and says, “God created the heavens and the earth,” thenlowering his arms to point to the ground.

“And the earth vacant and void,” the storyteller announces with a sense of urgency and awe so that the listeners wonder what will happen next. The storyteller does not pause but continues the suspense saying, “And darkness upon the faces of deep.”

Drawing a deep breath and noisily breathing out, whispers, “And God breathed and it fluttered over the waters.” The storyteller’s fingers flutter as if they were over the water.

The storyteller continues telling the actions of God in loud booming voice. “And God said “Be light” and light was. And God saw the light was good,” is pronounced with pride.

“And God divided between the light and between the darkness.” Then as if calling out to someone or something, the storyteller acts as if he were God calling, “And God called to the light, ‘day’; and to the darkness called, ‘night’.”

Then the dramatic actions cease and the storyteller stands tall and still and quietly proclaims, “And it was evening and it was morning, day first.” (Gen1:1-5)

The storyteller pauses before he continues telling the events of the next six days. I will not continue the story here but it seems to me that this is not a scientific explanation of the creation event.

This story is designed to give God the credit for creation. It introduces the Spirit of God, in the introduction of the ‘breath that fluttered over the waters.’ It introduces the Word, when God “called’ and ‘it was’ as if it were the Word itself that creates. Yes, I interpret this through the lens of the New Testament.

I understand this first chapter of Genesis as introducing important aspects of the God that is worshiped by the tribe that tells the story. The debate whether or not this is a scientific 24 hour day or a day as measured by God that to humanity could span year, is not relevant. If God is indeed God he could have created in seven 24 hour period or in seven set of God days that spanned years, the choice was/is God’s.

To try to pin down the science of creation is an interesting endeavor. I enjoy the reading and believe that God does reveal himself to people including myself through science but to get bogged down in that when telling the story misses much of the mystery and awe the people had for their God. So my comment on creation, “WOW!!.”

Passion Play

On Saturday evening Mal and I went to Ashgrove Baptist Church to see their passion play, Jesus, Liar, Madman, God! and it was absolutely incredible. This play was presented at this church a couple years ago and we were unable to attend because of commitments to our own church but made the point of attending because my son-in-law John had a major part.

Written by one of their own, this drama was the story of Jesus condensed to 1.5 hours, was told in modern Australian language and characters were in modern clothes. I was totally caught up in the play. I think for me the best part (other than John's characters) was the Jesus character. He was a bit wild, free, and alot loving and caring, just how I believe Jesus to be. This Jesus was very much like the Jesus who Scot McKnight described in chapter 4 of his book The Story of the Christ.

Many of the actors had 2 or maybe even 3 parts. I was impressed how they changed clothes and character so easily. John was Caiaphas and Thomas and he switched between the two parts flawlessly. And so did all the actors. The band was just a professional as the acting. The lights and sound matched. Well done Ashgrove Baptist, way to bring glory to God by telling the story of the Son.

Tired

Well we are about 4 weeks into formation for this semester. Tomorrow, I will turn in my first assignment in the Church Reform 16& 17 century subject. What on? you ask. Just a bit about Luther comments on his Preface to Paul's Letter to the Romans. It is interesting. As for formation, well, I think I am just too tired. It seems to be a common song among the students in my formation group. "I am tired."

We are the group of students who are in field placement; that is we work in church for 30 hours per week plus one subject, which amounts to 7-10 per week and spend a day, 8 hours, in formation. This actually equals 48 hours which should not be too big a week. But I suspect most of us work more than 30 hours in our placements.

I also believe that some of the tiredness in formation is the fact that formation is on Monday. After a couple of worship services on Sundays, most ministers I know are tired. It is not always a physical tired, but often emotional and spiritual tiredness. Many ministers I know have Monday off. Others try to keep Monday a light work day. So if ministers know this, why does the field group have to reflect spiritually and emotionally on a Monday. Wouldn't it make more sense to do this some other day of the week? Just asking.

why I boycott..

M&Ms.

About 3 years ago, I began to boycott M&Ms because the candies were playing strip poker in a television ad. It was cute but it was also just at the end of prime time on a weekend and I really didn't believe that kids would be asleep and I really didn't think playing strip poker or people in their underwear was an appropriate why to sell candy. There was no link to this ad on their website as the website is pretty much designed for kids. But when I emailed, my concern, instead of the patronizing thank you for your response, we will consider it; they responded, "this is our society". I disagree and emailed that I would no longer purchase their product, thank you.

Today, they are still using nudity to sell candy and I still will not purchase them.

Thank you

For Discussion

Cold is the absence of heat; so is evil the absence of good? What would absolute zero good look like? Evil maybe? Or is there some force that is unequivocally evil?

This question began when a theology student called the snake in the garden (Gen 3) evil. (I recently heard a minister call the snake; satan) But,no where does it say the serpent is evil; crafty and later on cursed.

As I discussed this with people around me, it soon became evident that there were several connotations of evil. So we began to try to pin that down. I am interested in your input.

Enough said

HEY, DON'T PEEK, I'M ON THE POT!

Yes, an original photo from my yard yesterday.

Small

I am small. This is not some sort of self-bashing. This is a fact of creation. God is very big. The universe somewhat smaller and that is pretty big so comparatively I am small. I am however, larger than my friend Bunsen’s 3dz2 orbital density plot (a plot of electrons).
I like being small compared to God though. I thank God that I do not have to worry about planets and their rotations or how life lays dormant in a seed. Being small means I don’t have to go it alone. I can hang around with other small people and let God be God.

Being small allows me, for example, in a theological debate to see that at the beginning of the debate is another small person who desperately wants to bring glory to our great big God. The debate itself indicates there are many small people who want to get it right (knowing what is right to God is possibly not within our reach but we debate in order to get as close to right as we can). And while the debate and my study goes on so that I too might get closer to right, I figure that if God calls into use this small cracked pot to deliver his message then it is probably close enough to right for his purposes at that time.