Prayer

Prayer

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Place of Trust

The Place of Trust is Martin Marty’s interpretation of Martin Luther’s commentaries and notes on the Sermon on the Mount. It is specifically on the Beatitudes, with some detail paid attention to the rest of Jesus’ message in the Gospel of Matthew. Marty is a noted historian with a specialization on Luther and the Reformation. While keeping much of the original tone and language of Luther’s work, Marty shows how Jesus told us His message of trust, or faith in God. Reading like a single message, it is compromised of the letters and commentaries, Luther wrote on the Sermon on the Mount.
For many of us, like Luther we find faith and trust to be a struggle. That is why this speaks to his audiences, as well as the current generations. For Luther, the trustworthiness of God begs faith in every circumstance. This lets on to Luther’s central message, if God is in control then the day is seen in a different light. Then there should be no anxiety about tomorrow. There is a sharp contrast to the God of Mammon, the god of this world. The Mammon versus Yahweh is similar to the good versus evil metaphor often used. Mammon says to occupy as much wealth and possession as if we were to stay in this world forever. Christians know otherwise, that we are only here for a short period of time, and then the hereafter. Luther expounds on the famous line by Christ about how the sparrows and lilies of the field live a life with no anxiety. We should do the same. Those living a rich life now has already received their reward, thus they are no better off than we are. Our faith is grounded in struggling. Though we may struggle, our struggle is temporary. The Kingdom of God is believing in Christ. It is now. It should be taken seriously and not lightly. That is how the disciples of Mammon live, as if life is not serious and there are no consequences for our actions.
It is a worthy read to see how Luther takes historical and biblical examples to show us not to be anxious about anything. Even when we see those who do not live according to God’s laws prospering. The chief work of a Christian is prayer and preaching. Do not let your work be discredited by worrying about someone else. Prayer is more important. Luther describes it as a three step process that should not be restricted or for show. It is necessary to ensure a life of devotion, one “worthy of the calling.” Prayers should not be a chore, but rather a source of joy. For this reason Luther emphasizes the power of short prayers. He offers The Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed as examples for those unsure of how to pray.  Prayer ensures that we will continue God’s work by serving one another. God is always at work. We are to continually serve one another. This is something that the world, those followers of Mammon simply cannot understand.
Prayer is our faith lived out. Our faith should come before all else. Faith allows you to “be filled,” which is being able to see the evidence of your labor. Through faith you will see God, and you will see that all good things come from God. Then you will have a pure heart when you pursue God. When the heart is pure, the body will be purified. This goes as far to follow Christ not just by abstaining from breaking the rules but by pursuing a relationship with God. The same thought would be echoes 400 years later by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship. Again, those of this world would not understand such a cost that does not serve themselves but others instead.

Luther wants you to take heart. You will go through struggles, but it is during those struggles that you will see the one who struggled on your behalf.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Back in the 50's....

Back in the 50's there was a well known radio host/comedian/song writer in  Hollywood named Stuart Hamblen who was noted for his drinking, womanizing,  partying, etc.
One   of  his bigger hits at the time was "I won't go hunting with you Jake, but  I'll  go chasing women."
One day, along came a young preacher holding a tent revival. Hamblen had him on  his radio show, presumably to poke fun at
him. 
In order  to gather more material for his show, Hamblen showed up at one of  the  revival meetings.
Early in  the service the preacher announced, "There is one man  in this audience who is a big faker." There were probably others who thought  the same thing, but Hamblen was convinced that he was the one the preacher  was  talking about. (some would call that conviction but he was having  none of  that).
Still the words continued to haunt him until a couple of nights later he showed up  drunk at the preacher's hotel door around 2AMdemanding the preacher pray for  him!
But the  preacher refused, saying, "This is between you and God, and I'm not going to  get in the middle of it."
But he did invite Stuart in and they talked until about 5 AM at which point  Stuart  dropped to his knees and, with tears, cried out to  God.
But  that is not the end of the story. Stuart quit drinking, quit chasing women,  quit everything that was 'fun.' Soon he began to lose favor with  the  Hollywood crowd.
He was ultimately fired by the radio station when he refused to accept a beer  company as a sponsor.
Hard times  were upon him. He tried writing a couple of "Christian" songs, but  the  only one that had much success was "This Old House", written for his friend  Rosemary Clooney
As he continued to struggle, a longtime friend named John took him aside and  told  him, "All your troubles started when you 'got religion'. Was it worth it all?"  Stuart answered simply,
"Yes."
Then his friend asked, "You liked your booze so much, don't you ever miss it?" and  his answer was, "No." John then said, "I don't understand how you could give  it up so easily."
And  Stuart's  response was, "It's no big secret. "All things are possible  with God." To this  John said, "That's a catchy phrase. You should write  a  song about  it."
And,  as they say, "The rest is history."
The song  Carl Stuart Hamblen wrote was "It Is No Secret."
"It  is no secret what God can do. What He's done for  others, he'll do for you.  "With  arms wide open, he'll welcome you. It is no secret, what God can  do...."
By  the way... The friend was John Wayne. And the young preacher who refused  to  pray for Stuart Hamblen? ...That was Billy Graham.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

"The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, 'Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half- measures are any good. I don't want to cut a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked- the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours...'  What we have been told is how we can be drawn into Christ- can become part of that wonderful present which the young Prince of the universe wants to offer his Father- that present which is Himself and therefore us in Him. It is the only thing we were made for."
-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity




We really need to give all of us to God. He requires it. It is the condition that all of His promises are based on. People often forget that! That is why soma people take Jeremiah 29:11 out of context! God says, "Do this and you will prosper!" People expect the prosperity without keeping their end of the bargain.I am no different. I compartmentalize. I keep God in one part of my life. But do not give over my drinking and my sexual desires over to Him. That is stopping me from receiving His promises. Those moments of instant gratification have caused relationships to go bad and even prevent further successes in my walk with Christ. Christ demands it all. He wants all of me! I have always said that everything we do either brings us closer or further away from our goals. Our walk with God is no different. Self gratification, the music I listen to, the language I use, all of it should be to glorify God. I should stop others from defaming God. I cannot really do that unless I "live a life worthy of the calling." I feel like if He came to me and demanded it, I would no choice but to hang my head in shame. I'm sure He would lift my head up with welcome arms and say "Follow Me and sin no more." (John 8:11) Jesus requires that i leave everything and follow Him- mores for one that desires not only to be "one in whom Christ dwells" but how much mores for one who wants to write for and teach the teachers? I go on and on about the years I wasted starting my career, not writing and the 6 year lapse in my education. How much more am I missing out on the life I so earnestly yearn for. I miss out my delaying my full disclosure to Christ. While others would say "better late than never" and "at least you are making good now" I am definitely my worst critic and can't help of thinking of Bonhoeffer's words, "It is not about breaking rules, but actually pursuing God." I let myself slide, but knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Happiness by legalism or by being morally good is of no good. My rebellious nature does not allow me to do good simply to have done good. I am at a crossroads. I can continue to slide, in which case I feel like it may be worse than it has been, or I can head back into The Light. I can show people how Jesus is welcoming me with those open arms. That is the only reason anything has ever come into being, to draw everything towards Christ. But it is not without consequence. It requires a label and an explanation. I am asked to confess at any moment and without warning. It should be a welcome opportunity to minister, but recently I have run and backed myself into my own corner. I have missed the opportunities Christ has given me, I pray for forgiveness. It costs being able to just go out- either people label me as a hypocrite or I impose guilt on myself. I pray for a heart like God's- where the focus is on the Relationship, and not how I have screwed up in the past. Where guilt subsides and I concentrate on God working in my life rather than when I wasn't working. This is the whole reason to exist.  To become what C.S. Lewis called a "little Christ." Rather than worry about what a "little world" would do- be a sex addict, attention seeker, a drunkard, behind on child support, I need to work on what He would do- preach the Word, raise His children right, be active in activities to proclaim a life of Christ.

Friday, October 31, 2014

A Simple Way to Pray

If you don't know how to do something, simply read the instructions. We've all been told that many. Probably too many times. Yet for some reason we never do. The same is true of our prayer lives. A friend of mind who worked in a Christian themed retail store once told me of her distress over the fact that more people bought commentaries on the bible than actually read the bible itself. As a writer, that's good for business. But as a ministry leader, that is disheartening. We do not take advantage of the fact that we have God's Word accessible to us. It is available in several different mediums and versions. Perhaps it is appropriate for me to write this on Reformation Day as I reflect on the fact that not so long ago only clergy had access to the Word. It could not be challenged because they were the authority, they were the learn-ed ones! Take a moment and thank God for those like John Hus and Martin Luther who fought to give us a Bible we could understand in our own language. And it is on the anniversary of Luther nailing his famous debate (95 Theses) to the door at the church in Wittenburg, that I am reflecting on his same letter to his barber. From the pulpit Luther had stressed the importance of prayer. Jesus commanded, and Paul echoed for us to never cease when praying.

Luther's barber accepted his challenge but admitted that he did not know how to pray. Luther's famous reply (letter) to him is the book we now know as A Simple Way to Pray. It is a very light read, and a strong weapon for arming ourselves with Prayer. Luther's approach to prayer is quite simple. The four steps include Instruction, Thanksgiving, Confession, and Prayer. Luther takes the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed (which admittedly is not Scripture but still good for meditating on God's Word), meditating on one line then following his four step form.

The small volume is very Luther rich. BY that  mean it can be a bit wordy, crass in a spot or two, and emphasizes above all justification (or made right in the eyes of God) by faith. Prayer, like salvation, is a gift bestowed on us by God. To not accept it is to turn our backs on God. Like Luther's barber, if we object by saying we don't know how, then Luther notes just spend time with Him. As he finishes one section, Luther lets on, if you have time or feel the need to go on, then go on. I am not sure if Luther sees talking to the Father in the relationship style that is so common in today's liturgy, but he definitely believes that the more you practice, the more comfortable you will be in prayer. Prayer, according to Luther, need not be long but rather "fervent and often."

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Babylonian Vegans

Daniel 1 New International Version (NIV)

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.

The first story in Daniel is actually a few chapters later, The fiery furnace in Chapter 3. But here we lear, not only where Daniel and his 3 friends got their surnames. Daniel and his friends were taken from their land and put into the babylonian academy as slaves. The thinking was that if prominent Israelites took on the customs of the Babylonians that the rest would and there would be fewer uprisings. This is how Daniel and his friends found themselves in such position. 

God gives us many rules. Some lay a heavier burden on us that others. They all have the same goal, to maintain and further our relationship. Tithing, honoring our parents, praying, fasting, baptism, all of these are modern ways of adding to our relationship with God. For Daniel and his friends, it was to continue observing God's rule to not eat food sacrificed to idols. To do so would be to not set his nourishment apart for God. Daniel would rather not eat than to eat savory meat seasoned with guilt. He knew that God would supply any nourishment he would be missing out on. In fact we find (and many of my vegan friends enjoy arguing this point) that they looked better than the captives who ate the forbidden fruit (meat.) For being the first vegans since Adam and Eve, God rewarded them with spiritual gifts. Daniel's gift, the interpretation of dreams, would continually bless him the rest of his life.

BY observing God's laws and keeping His commandments we show Him our love for Him. In return, he shows us evidence of His love, which He initiated first. Take a moment and consider your spiritual gifts. How did you come across this gift? What have you used it for?

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Theologians

Martin Luther: The person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looms upon the invisible things of God as though they were clearly perceptible in those things which have actually happened... He deserves to be a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross.

Karl Barth: A theologian who does not enjoy his work is no theologian at all.

Merriam-Webster: : a person who is an expert on theology


When you think of theology what do you think? I am finding an increasing number of people who when I ask them about their personal theology I am getting two common answers. "That's just the way I was raised" and "well my pastor says." You may not realize it, but you are a theologian. You are an expert on your own theology, on your own understanding about the nature of God.

Read the stories. Read a story. Think for yourself about the meaning and the implication. If you feel a desire to understand it more then ask questions. Do research on the time period.  Ask experts. But evaluate what you hear. Take nothing at a deep level. Evaluate what you hear and with a lot of prayer take up the meaning for yourself.

Don't know how to pray? Start with Jesus' instruction on prayer, commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer:

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, 
The power, and the glory, 
For ever and ever. 
Amen.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Follow Me

In the Book of Matthew there are two noticeable instances where Jesus gives the command. "Follow Me." Sure here was a lot more to it but He put it simply. Follow Me.

In Matthew 4 He calls his disciples with this simple command. Follow Me. Drop what you are doing. It doesn't matter. I have something more important. Follow me and see your entire life change. Follow me and see the life you always wanted to live. Follow me and see. The disciples exhibit an excellent quality (and quantity) of faith. They did not know what they were getting into but they dropped every and followed Him anyway.

In Matthew 16, He lets them know in more detail. They have experienced it firsthand for the last 12 chapters. Perhaps there is some significance to that number. They have walked in His shadow. They know better than anyone what Jesus meant  in Matthew 4:17 when He said, "The Kingdom of God is at Hand." It is the Here and Now, yes for us too, for especially for them. But, nearer to His death and resurrection, Jesus gives them a better idea what will be asked of them. To lay aside everything they have come to know. Every comfort but be put aside. Every necessity is to be put aside as well. He tells them that to follow him means casting their homes, jobs, and yes even their families aside.

In Church Dogmatics (Volume 4, part 2), Karl Barth comments on the call. He says, "Follow me is the substance of the call in the power of which Jesus makes people his saints... the call issued by Jesus is a call to discipleship...the call to discipleship is the particular form of the summons by which Jesus discloses and reveals himself to the individuals in order to claim and sanctify them as his own, and as his witness in the world... and what Jesus demands is trust in himself and therefore, in the concrete form that this involves, trust in God He demands faith in the form of obedience; obedience to himself."

God has already called you for great work. You would not be a disciple of His if He had not. He has bestowed on you a great gift, designed for a particular work. Do you know what that is? Is oration? Are you a speaker? Or is it within you to spread His message with your hands? St Francis is often credited with the axiom, "Spread the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." What are you doing to spread the news that Jesus is King?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Why Write?

Six years ago I left graduated with a degree in Religion and Philosophy, with plans to go to Oral Roberts University. I was going to attain my Masters of Divinity, then pursue a PhD t a prestigious university in hopes to teach at the college level while writing books. Through these two mediums I was planning on “teaching the teachers.” I would help to prepare and nurture the shepherds across the country and the world as they led their congregations. Then, as it often does, life happened. How does it go? “Life is what happens while you are busy making plans.” A terrible divorce and guilt caused me to drop my desire to be an educator and instead tried for other things. 

I am, however, a firm believer that God instills our passions in us for a reason. In fact one of my favorite quotes (From Luther the movie) is when the experienced Father Staupitz tells a young misguided Martin Luther “we preach best what we need to learn most.” So, while talking with someone who was discouraged about not being on their desired career path I asked the question that I needed to ask myself. That question is simple, “why?” Why can’t you head back? Why can’t you make up for the lost time? Why can’t you use these experiences to help you in your pursuit? Then, after much prayer and conviction, I answered that question with, “alright - maybe I can!” I half heartedly checked it out and after the first way I saw it could be done, I noticed another door and then another opening! My “luck” (if you call it that- I prefer to call it God’s Provision) had not only changed but had been turned on its head! I had gained experience living life to its fullest, and struggling in ways no one ever should! I had fallen away from God and had returned. I had begun the Prodigal Son. My experiences gave me new perspective on the lessons I knew but had not felt. My intellectual mind was now faced with emotion. I saw myself turning into a different person. We do not always know God’s Plan but in hindsight, and here is proof. Rather than speak to a well educated audience, one where I knew what the education level of my readers, Now I would have a broader audience. I still tutored in Philosophy and many people still considered me the one they could ask about Bible and Church History. I had been blessed with Revelation. I was to use this spiritual gift and speak to the masses. I could easily answer the questions that people where afraid to ask, and I felt at ease and they reciprocated. People who said they were always afraid of being judged for asking questions said I explained it to them in a way that felt relatable. I was shocked, wasn’t I intended to have a more specific, limited audience? God said no. Church is the last place someone should feel judged and yet that fear of judgement kept people away. It was there, my mission.

My thesis was clear. Let the people know that God was in their corner. He was not seeking judgement but a relationship with them! I was able to tell them that the Law in its over 600 commandments was not a list of “break these rules and get spanked.” I felt charged with letting everyone know that the Law was rather God’s way of asking for a relationship with Him. He said, this is the goal and doing these things will strengthen our relationship. Just like a marriage, if you do things that counteract a productive relationship the chances for divorce are greater. Though it may not be written down, every relationship has an established code of conduct, do these things and we will become closer. Why should our relationship with God be any different? Traditions, internal, and external struggles have convoluted God’s love letter to us. I felt charged to lead the new generation of church leaders. This would stop the damaging cycle of poor religion being taught. One of my heaviest influences Dietrich Bonhoeffer called out his fellow members of the Confessing Church during NAZI era Germany made a serious case that we should not only not further a bad cycle, but that it was our responsibility to oppose such bad cycles. 
As I began to talk to more and more people, I found out that many people had similar questions. They had similar apprehensions. My knack for speaking on multiple levels would be best served not only in lecture and one on one but also  in writing to the masses. I would challenge the world to look deeper. “Thats what I was always taught” or “thats the way my church believes” would not cut it. Through history and philosophy I would write diatribes causing them to examine their own relationship with God. “The norm” was not important. I was learned, but while many of those with similar interests and educated felt the call to led congregations themselves, I felt the call to nurture them. Those in leadership (yes even church leadership) need someone in their corner. As do the laymen. God ignited the spark in me. Teach the teachers, write to the laymen. Use your gift to write in such a way that both will understand and get something out of it. Yes LORD, I accept your challenge. 


Monday, September 1, 2014

Reading the Psalms with Luther


Being a parent can be difficult. You always want to give your kids the absolute best. I’ll admit it, sometimes I buy my kids the off brand. I have even bought the off brand videos. It is not the movie they wanted but it’s the same story. They enjoyed it but they definitely communicated that it was not what they were expecting. I recently felt the same thing myself when I made an online purchase. I purchased Reading the Psalms with Luther, and was very excited when it arrived in the mail less than a week later. However, I was unpleasantly surprised when I realized that the commentary I was hoping for was actually a summary. What I had hoped for was an interpetations of the Psalms by Martin Luther, what I received was a summary of those interpetations of Luther by Bruce A. Cameron. My hopes remained high when the first pages included Luther’s perspective on the Psalms, “Most beautifully and briefly it embraces everything in the entire Bible; it is made into a fine enchiridion, or handbook” (p. 7.) After a brief introduction, the book handles each Psalm in three parts, the commentary, the Psalm, and then a prayer. This is done after a small introduction on how much the Psalms meant to Luther. It was his daily prayer book, the topic of his initial lectures, and to him, the entire Bible encompassed (p. 9.).

 

He classified each Psalm as either a psalm of prophecy, instruction, comfort, prayer, or thanks. Each psalm pointed to one of the Ten Commandments and one of the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer (p. 9-11.) As we read through, the emssages that Luther is known for shines throughout. Anyone who has done even a light study of Luther knows he teaches on free will and justification, the importance of faith over work, especially indulgences, and the place of authority.

 

The Law has been removed because it failed (p. 51.) We should take comfort that God’s anger is temporary. He does not wish but good for us and has already interceded on our behalf that we live joyfully (p. 72.) A guilty conscience is the worst kind of torture. This is reminiscent of Luther’s perception of God early in his ministry (p. 96.) God alone does everything for us (p. 101.) The Psalms are filled with his doctrine on justification found in Romans (p. 154.) God’s plan is revealed in our history, the Psalms retell this story showing how God has always been in control (p. 181.) Our salvation is not based on anything of ours (p. 210.) The only reason that the Church has lasted is that it is God’s Will (p. 215.) Worship in the Old Testament fell short, but the New Testament brought about real worship (p. 222.) Christ was the Lowest of the Low and Highest of the High (p. 230.) The Word must be pure (p. 284.)

 

The only true works are a product of true worship (p. 77.) We are to pray to God that our works be faith filled, and that we do not let our insecurities defame the Gospel (p. 99.)  Relying too heavily on works can produce bad fruit (p. 101.) God’s Word is a gift from the Father (p. 200.) Praising the Father gives Him glory and serves an emotional connection (p. 204.) Faith brings about living (works) (p. 207.) Every work should be doing good and shunning evil (p. 236.) Luther warns against saint worship which has become a new form of idolatry (p. 257.) All human effort is simply emptiness (p. 278.) Do not be like the proud saints who rather than trusting in God trust in their own works (p. 316.) Every human ability is the product of God’s work (p. 330.) False teachers teach material wealth as blessings or that things going well are proof of God’s favor (p. 342.)

 

Those in authority have misrepresented the Gospel (p. 86.) We are warned to have endurance (p. 92.)  Relying on other sources than God can cause us to give in to greed and a desire for wealth (p. 119.) Luther warns us against the tyrant that rather than build up God’s Word would work to destroy it. They call themselves the true church and any that would oppose them, heretics (p. 133.) Do not think that Luther was against authority! He believed that all authority and order was put in place by God (p. 135, 144, 245, 310.) He thought that we should fight to preserve government. He warned against a constantly unchanging government. This instability he thought was dangerous (p. 143.) HE felt that obeying the government was your civic duty and your responsibility as a Christian (p. 145.) After the Gospel, a ruler strengthening God’s laws is the most coveted thing there is (p. 196.) As Luther is teaching the Psalms to future teachers and ministers, he warns them about false teachers and those teaching new doctrine (p. 300, 307.). The very thing is is accused of himself. Pray for worldly authorities (p. 318.) Success in government, victory, and fortune gifts from God and do not come from human ability (p. 341.)

On the whole it is a very enjoyable devotional. I do not regret the purchase because this summary, like the Psalms, are profitable to any Christians life. It is built with simple reminders than no matter where you are in your Christian walk you can use. That being said, I cannot recommend it as useful for study on Martin Luther, the Father of the Reformation.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Omit the Obit

I am looking at a new direction of how to accomplish the things I'd like to do over the course of the next ten years. I thought that the easiest way to write these out would be to write them as if they had already happened. So, here is my obituary. That being said I do not wish to die in ten years, but this is a guideline for my plan over the next ten years! 

Dr Crawford passed away last week from natural causes. He is survived by his three children, Jonathan Crawford of Wichita, Kansas and Alexandria and Esther Crawford of El Dorado, Kansas. Dr Crawford was an Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska, teaching classes of Philosophy, History and Religion. He is better known for his numerous speaking engagements on Justification, Free Will, and the Modern Day Impact of the Reformation. He authored several books on these subjects and is even credited with a devotional based on Classics from Church History. He received his doctorate from Princeton University and his Master’s from Wichita State University. He was fluent in Greek and German. His dystertation on the Need for a New Reformation has helped the way many theologians view philosophy already stopping the segregation between Religion and Philosophy. In lieu of service, a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

The Return of the Prodigal Son

The Return of The Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
by Henri J.M. Nouwen

It was a long week. I had worked several days straight through. I was cramming for a test adding undue pressure to myself. I was waiting for my relief at the nursing home to hurry up. They were late. Yet again. This was beginning to become the norm for them. I loved working with Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients. My fathers side was plagued with mental disease. He was a manic bipolar depressant and my grandfather was a victim of Parkinson’s. However, tere was one patient at the facility that was always difficult for me. It was basic knowledge that he preferred the female aides to help him. My relief came and I bolted. Before I could get home I received a call from the charge nurse that the supervisor on duty (and my stepsister) and the other aide on duty (her girlfriend) had filed a report that I had physically abused the difficult patient. It didn’t help that the complaint was expedited because the charge nurse was the girlfriend’s mother. Not sure what I would do with this recent suspension I spent the rest of the day just trying to keep myself busy with distractions. I attended a yoga class, ate out with friends, just enjoyed a day off. Then about 11 that night I received a call that would haunt me ever since. It was my cousin letting me know that he was supposed to go to my dad’s house to watch the Nebraska football game with him, but when my cousin arrived he found my father face down on the carpet. He passed away from chronic heart failure. So now I’m jobless and my father was gone. The next day I was numb. The shock still hitting me. The Executive Director of my facility said that she found the charges against me preposterous  but not to be surprised if the State performed an investigation. Numb and uncaring I said let them, and quit. She said she understood. I went into healthcare ager my dad’d bipolar had gotten worse. He was gone my interest in healthcare was gone. I tried a few side jobs but had zero passion in them. I withdrew from hanging out with friends.

Then the city of Wichita was ablaze as the Wichita State Shockers were doing phenomenal in the NCAA tournament. At an outdoor bar I ran into a friend who’s father also had mental problems, though her father was declining due to Alzheimer’s. We talked as the game went on. She convinced me to apply as a busier at the restaurant where she was a server. It was a fine dining restaurant. During the interview my magnetic personality shined through and though I applied for a mediocre behind the scenes position I was hired as a server. Within six months I found myself the most magnetic personality, topping nearly every sales metric. If not for the conversation during that basketball game, my mourning and immediate future may have been very different. There is something special in these seemingly insignificant moments. It was during my tenure as a server there that I realized the calling that had left me several years prior as a writer and scholar of theology and philosophy. If not for that game I would not be writing this. Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming is his telling of one such moment in his life.

He opens up the book talking about he had become stagnant in his pastoral position. Yes even those spreading the Gospel go through down and out periods. During this time and as he worked with those mentally handicapped he would become introduced to Rembrandt’s painting portraying Jesus’ telling of the Prodigal Son. He was able to see the painting from a poster copy to the real painting. He dedicated the next few years to learning everything e could about it. This “Aha!” moment with a painting would paint how Nouwen viewed life and colored his faith. It was the renewing he was looking for. After the small narrative of his introduction to the painting he goes back and forth between talking about the parable, Rembrandt’s process of the painting, and Nouwen’s own spiritual implications of the new understanding of perhaps the most famous parable. He goes explains all three by dissecting the characters in the parable, first the youngest son, then the elder son, and finally their father. This is the structure of the painting (p.23.)

The younger son is going through something we all have. That’s why we need our “Aha!” moment, we have a feeling of detachment. (p. 19) The son already feels detached from the family before he sets off. Rembrandt lived a lavish lifestyle in his youth, much like the younger son (p. 33.) There are many implications of the younger son’s request to take his share of his inheritance from the father. He is basically telling his father he has house for him. He might as well be dead. He is also saying that everything the previous generations have been working on is meaningless to him (p. 36.) The spirit of the younger son’s rebellion are that he does not understand his role as the Beloved one (p. 40.) The world’s love is unconditional. The Father’s is not. In this world, we try to get things to fill the voids we fill in life. We try several different addictions. But the world can only offer things that will forever fall short. The younger son as Rembrandt portrays him is the end of this rebellion (p. 42-43.) The son is Rembrandt’s reflection of himself after living a lavish lifestyle. This is one of his last works. In this portrayal all symbols of status and individuality are gone. Everything had made him him is gone. All that remains is his sword, proof he had not forgotten who he was and where he came from (p. 46.) Completely alone, the son has dropped to the lowest in society (p. 48.) One of the greatest challenges is to change our perception of God. We are to seek His forgiveness, but instead we have a tendency to cling to our comfortable life of sin. Its what we know. But it convinces us of a perception of God as a righteous judge holding guilt and damnation over our heads. That, however, would require us to put everything is God’s hand, let him restore us back to son rather than a lowly servant (p. 53.)

Contrast is obviously important as we move on to the elder son. Rembrandt putting the older brother in the painting ties it to the parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector (p. 63.) Nouwen in his own life had become resentful, and as a friend points out rather than see himself as the defiant younger son, perhaps he was actually like the bitter, jealous elder son. Whereas a position for a long time had cause “obedience and duty “ to drain and influence his attitude, making him cold (p. 70.) Rembrandt portrays the contrast between the brothers rather than the celebration as the parable tells (p. 74.)

 For Nouwen the parable is not about either son but the father who goes searching for them both (p. 82.) Rembrandt’s portrayal is opposites pitted against each other, the rebellion and the welcoming home. The sons and the father (p. 92-93.) The center of the painting is the father’s hands (p. 96.) The father, especially the way his hands are drawn show the father as both masculine and feminine (p. 99.)  There is contrast between Rembrandt’s earlier paintings (always portraying himself) which show his lavish lifestyle and this (one of his last works), where it is perhaps his hands modeled after his own (p. 100.) The father calls for all the items that would signify the younger as a son again. Everything he asks for would restore him as a son and not a servant or hired hand (p. 111.) God brings about many gifts but these all lead to joy. Joy for Him as Father. Joy for the sinner as he comes home. The joy is the reward and does not mean the absence of suffering (p. 114-116.) Tradition dictates that either of the sons are the focus of the story, but Rembrandt shows that the father is the real focus of the story (p. 122.) Rembrandt shows up that Father’s compassion is the real theme of the painting, and the parable (p. 124-126.) Rembrandt well represents that the father demonstrates compassion, not power, control, or influence (p. 127.) 


Nouwen finishes by reflecting on the father’s life. How a life of suffering has brought him the joy that has transcended all the suffering. He does well to transfer this joy to his sons. This life of joy is the goal. Being like the father is the goal. We may find ourselves acting like the rebellious or jealous son but the compassion of the father is the gospel (p. 137-139.)