A little truth for you on a Monday morning...
Go to the people, Live among them, Learn from them, Love them, Start with what they know, Build on what they have: But of the best leaders, When their task is done, The people will remark “We have done it ourselves.” —Chinese Proverb
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. - Isaiah 58:6-12
Monday, March 31, 2008
Bee Movie.
Another fun movie we checked out this weekend was Bee Movie (www.BeeMovie.com). I found this thought shared at the very onset of the film to be rather fascinating for one reason or another.
"According to all known laws of aviation a bee should not be able to fly. Its wings are to tiny to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible."
"According to all known laws of aviation a bee should not be able to fly. Its wings are to tiny to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible."
The Kite Runner.
This weekend we rented The Kite Runner (www.KiteRunnerMovie.com). I highly recommend you check out this great story of redemption.
Weekly Update.
Easter is the season of HOPE. The message of Easter is that the way of being in Jesus, the way of living the new resurrected life is through participation. The original metaphors of the faith found in the New Testament and early church are old metaphors that need to be made new. The Easter Season is the time to recapture some of these old metaphors and make them new and fresh. The primary metaphor for the Easter season is the church as the resurrected people living a resurrected spirituality. Because of Easter we are in union with Christ.
It is highly appropriate that the second Sunday of Easter should focus on the church. The church is the community of God's people that is defined by the Easter event and called to live out the resurrected life. The second Sunday of the Easter season is a good time to call the church to be the community of the resurrected people. Easter is a time to call the church back to its roots, back to its original identity. The proof of the resurrection is not in rational argument but in the community of resurrected people. The church is called to be a sign, a witness to the Easter message that Christ has overcome the powers of evil. The church is called to be the embodied reality of a resurrected people who live out the reality of resurrection (Robert Webber).
This Sunday, March 30th we will initiate a focused effort of "Listening to Our Community". Often communities are developed by people outside of the community that bring in resources without taking into account the community itself. We are committed to listening to the community residents, and hearing their dreams, ideas and thoughts. Listening is most important, as the people of the community are the vested treasures of the future. The priority is the thoughts and dreams of the community itself. What the people themselves believe should be the focus.
Next Sunday, April 6th the KAMP's Gathering will be followed by dinner together.
On Saturday, April 19th we will join over 80 church in the metro area for Sharefest - an annual event to highlight and celebrate the numerous ways our faith community touches the needs of our city with help and hope.
Christ in Us, the HOPE...
Ben.
It is highly appropriate that the second Sunday of Easter should focus on the church. The church is the community of God's people that is defined by the Easter event and called to live out the resurrected life. The second Sunday of the Easter season is a good time to call the church to be the community of the resurrected people. Easter is a time to call the church back to its roots, back to its original identity. The proof of the resurrection is not in rational argument but in the community of resurrected people. The church is called to be a sign, a witness to the Easter message that Christ has overcome the powers of evil. The church is called to be the embodied reality of a resurrected people who live out the reality of resurrection (Robert Webber).
This Sunday, March 30th we will initiate a focused effort of "Listening to Our Community". Often communities are developed by people outside of the community that bring in resources without taking into account the community itself. We are committed to listening to the community residents, and hearing their dreams, ideas and thoughts. Listening is most important, as the people of the community are the vested treasures of the future. The priority is the thoughts and dreams of the community itself. What the people themselves believe should be the focus.
Next Sunday, April 6th the KAMP's Gathering will be followed by dinner together.
On Saturday, April 19th we will join over 80 church in the metro area for Sharefest - an annual event to highlight and celebrate the numerous ways our faith community touches the needs of our city with help and hope.
Christ in Us, the HOPE...
Ben.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter '08.
Lent, the 40-day period of preparation for Easter concludes. Henri Nowen once described Lent as the season during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance. Others refer to this season as a time of "Bright Sadness". Lent is a time of fasting and mourning, of repentance and renewal, of identifying with Jesus in his suffering so that we can identify more fully with his resurrection at Easter.
Lent reaches its climax during Holy Week, itself a journey within a journey. Easter is the season of hope and for the disciples it was a forty-day long experience.
Romans 6:4-9, 11 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism in to death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in a death like this, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slave to sin - because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Yes, resurrection is for you personally. And we need personal resurrection because we have grown all too comfortable being captive. We celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead and that we too can be raised from the dead.
But our personal resurrection is good news for the world. We must practice resurrection. The world is broken and desperately in need of repair. All that is so dead and wrong will be made right and alive.
Revelation 21:1-7 says this - Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
This is what we long for. This is what we hope for. This is what we ache for. We are giving our lives to leading, loving and living out that future reality now. And for these early Christians, this future reality had nothing to do with leaving this world.
God Makes All Things New! And the first picture we have of this future reality is found in the empty tomb. Sin has lost its power. Death has lost its sting. From the grave you’ve risen, VICTORIOUSLY!
Matthew 28:1-20 says, “After the Sabbath, at dawn of the first day of the week (Sunday), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
White is the color of Easter and of the resurrection, for it is the color of new, clean, and set apart.
And with that, we come full circle in this journey of lent. Psalms 51 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
Read Psalm 51 from Message.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid…
1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”
1 John 4:17-18 in the message reads, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. 19We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.”
…for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Jesus can be trusted. Can the church be trusted? I have a dream that people will say of the church, “You’re still here”.
Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed to the mountain Jesus has set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshipped him. Some, though, held back, doubted, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission (Co-Mission: We are not doing anything for God – We are doing it with God) you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded (John 13:34: a new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.) You. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
We have people telling people to tell some people to tell somebody until we ourselves are here being told. So go tell someone about the resurrection, about new life.
Nobody is doing any proving here, only telling. We can’t prove it but we can point to it, by telling the resurrection story and living into its reality and power.
Some things you can’t argue with because they are so flesh and blood they just are. While watching Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Harley asked, “Does everybody die?” And in that moment I talked to my five year old little girl about our bodies dying but that what's on the inside lives forever. I became a resurrection believer in that moment all over again. Because there is nothing right about dads and daughters being separated by death.
To all of them, even the ones full of doubt, go witness to it.
We believe because we see and experience resurrection. We see people leaving Friday for Sunday, death for a life transformation.
So we spread resurrection and hope and life. Resurrection is a reality that a community puts on display for a world that needs it. This early community referred to themselves as the Body of Christ. They believed that through them Jesus was still present.
The Church is a living breathing display of a whole new world God is bringing about right here and now. That’s what the Kingdom is all about, the way things really are and the way things should really be.
The Good news is that God hasn’t given upon on the world. A resurrection rescue is underway. Yes, Jesus is saving us from our personal sin. It starts deep within us and God shows us what it looks like to put flesh and blood on and live the resurrection out.
Who will we bring resurrection to?
Lent reaches its climax during Holy Week, itself a journey within a journey. Easter is the season of hope and for the disciples it was a forty-day long experience.
Romans 6:4-9, 11 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism in to death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in a death like this, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slave to sin - because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Yes, resurrection is for you personally. And we need personal resurrection because we have grown all too comfortable being captive. We celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead and that we too can be raised from the dead.
But our personal resurrection is good news for the world. We must practice resurrection. The world is broken and desperately in need of repair. All that is so dead and wrong will be made right and alive.
Revelation 21:1-7 says this - Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”
This is what we long for. This is what we hope for. This is what we ache for. We are giving our lives to leading, loving and living out that future reality now. And for these early Christians, this future reality had nothing to do with leaving this world.
God Makes All Things New! And the first picture we have of this future reality is found in the empty tomb. Sin has lost its power. Death has lost its sting. From the grave you’ve risen, VICTORIOUSLY!
Matthew 28:1-20 says, “After the Sabbath, at dawn of the first day of the week (Sunday), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
White is the color of Easter and of the resurrection, for it is the color of new, clean, and set apart.
And with that, we come full circle in this journey of lent. Psalms 51 says, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
Read Psalm 51 from Message.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid…
1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”
1 John 4:17-18 in the message reads, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. 19We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.”
…for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Jesus can be trusted. Can the church be trusted? I have a dream that people will say of the church, “You’re still here”.
Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed to the mountain Jesus has set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshipped him. Some, though, held back, doubted, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission (Co-Mission: We are not doing anything for God – We are doing it with God) you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded (John 13:34: a new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.) You. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
We have people telling people to tell some people to tell somebody until we ourselves are here being told. So go tell someone about the resurrection, about new life.
Nobody is doing any proving here, only telling. We can’t prove it but we can point to it, by telling the resurrection story and living into its reality and power.
Some things you can’t argue with because they are so flesh and blood they just are. While watching Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Harley asked, “Does everybody die?” And in that moment I talked to my five year old little girl about our bodies dying but that what's on the inside lives forever. I became a resurrection believer in that moment all over again. Because there is nothing right about dads and daughters being separated by death.
To all of them, even the ones full of doubt, go witness to it.
We believe because we see and experience resurrection. We see people leaving Friday for Sunday, death for a life transformation.
So we spread resurrection and hope and life. Resurrection is a reality that a community puts on display for a world that needs it. This early community referred to themselves as the Body of Christ. They believed that through them Jesus was still present.
The Church is a living breathing display of a whole new world God is bringing about right here and now. That’s what the Kingdom is all about, the way things really are and the way things should really be.
The Good news is that God hasn’t given upon on the world. A resurrection rescue is underway. Yes, Jesus is saving us from our personal sin. It starts deep within us and God shows us what it looks like to put flesh and blood on and live the resurrection out.
Who will we bring resurrection to?
Friday, March 21, 2008
Over and Over.
Something I came across from Seth Godin (www.SethGodin.typepad.com).
"Persistence isn't using the same tactics over and over. That's just annoying.
Persistence is having the same goal over and over."
Our goal over and over again is to BE the church, God with skin on - Love with skin on!
"Persistence isn't using the same tactics over and over. That's just annoying.
Persistence is having the same goal over and over."
Our goal over and over again is to BE the church, God with skin on - Love with skin on!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Palm Sunday.
Going to post the notes and thoughts from the Palm Sunday talk. These notes may not be exhaustive of all that was said or all that well put together on paper. I'm sure I added and I'm sure I left things out. To give a little credit where a lot of credit is due - I leaned on Rob Bell, Brian McLaren & Ray Vander Laan for help on the subject matter.
Traditionally called Palm Sunday also known as Triumphal Entry Sunday. A week before his crucifixion, Jesus entered Jerusalem, the focus of the Jewish people. Millions of Christians for thousands of years have reflected and studied and asked questions about his entry.
Matthew 27:1
Chief Priests – ruling minority elite and it their job to help the Jewish people obey God, and show the world what God was like. These people decide they must kill Jesus. They bound him led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
Why would you want to kill someone like Jesus? What was his message? Why does the ruling establishment decide this man must die?
They turn him over to Pilate the governor. Why didn’t they kill him? Who is Pilate? What historically is going on? Who is Pilate and why is he a roman governor in Jerusalem?
The Jewish people had been under foreign occupation and oppression for centuries. Since 586 BC, a succession of empires – the Assyrians, Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks and Romans. They wanted to be free to live in their own land without outside interference, occupation and domination.
Zealots – Herodians – Essenes (Sadducees) - Pharisees
The Roman Empire ruled the world. Julius Caesar tried to consolidate everything. His adopted son Octavian who later changed his name to Caesar Augustus became the first Caesar, who ruled the world from England to India.
A global superpower with one leader at the top overseeing the whole thing. Caesar Augustus believed he had come from heaven to earth to bring about universal reign, that he was the son of god incarnate on the earth. He used a propaganda phrase “Caesar is lord”, and “There is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved than that of Caesar.” He instituted a 12 day celebration of his birth called “Advent of The Caesar. You could offer sacrifices to him to forgive your sins. These foreign oppressors began to divinize the political leaders.
When you conquer the whole world, how do you rule countries from distances that might take you three weeks to travel to by horse? How do you rule and maintain order?
Caesar Augustus died which led to Caesar Tiberius. At the time of Jesus Tiberius was ruling.
In the ancient world you would spread the word of your reign through coins. The coin of Tiberius had the image and inscription of Tiberius. When you conquer a land you would demand a tax or tribute to raise money to conquer more lands. If you were a Jew in Israel and Rome had conquered you do you pay the tax the tribute? Caesar says he’s god and if I pay the tax am I acknowledging that Caesar is God? But if don’t pay the tax then we will be in danger of rebelling against the empire and Caesar kills those who rebel.
Some religious leaders want to trap Jesus so they bring him this current debate. Should we pay tribute to Caesar (the worshipped son of a worshipped god)? Jesus said, “You give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s”. What does that say? Caesar is not god! The first commandment is thou shalt have no other gods and the second is thou shalt not make any graven images or idols. So if you are a Jew trying to obey the Ten Commandments this is a real issue. So when Jesus is asked should we pay, Jesus says show me a coin, which means he doesn’t have a coin and the leaders pull out a coin which means they do have it thus saying, “Caesar is the son of god”.
Now, Tiberius has an issue because he can’t be everywhere at once. In the region of Judea, Caesar appointed a roman to go to Jerusalem to rule in his place. The man he chose to rule on behalf of the empire was Pilate, governor of the land. Pilate was a historical ruler and governed this region. His job entailed living in Israel ruling trying to maintain order. If you are Pilate, you do not want these people to raise a ruckus. Your job was to maintain order.
Pilate did not live in Jerusalem, he lived in Caesarea. But he has a problem.
Luke 22:1 says, “Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover was near. The Chief Priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death…”
What was Passover all about?
Exodus 3:7 – Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.”
The Jewish people are living in the land of Egypt enslaved by the pharaoh and God sends a messenger to them. God is the God who hears the cries of the oppressed. God rescues these helpless slaves out from under the hand of a foreign oppressor and once a year they would gather at a time called Passover to celebrate their god of the oppressed. They had been under the bondage of a foreign oppressor. God hears the cry of his people when they are in trouble and they would gather to celebrate when god rescued them.
200,000 Jews would gather to celebrate at the temple that God brought them out of slavery. If you are Pilate, you’re not very excited about this Passover. Your job is to maintain order and here they are celebrating. What if they all gather and start talking about an overthrow of sorts. You do not want them to celebrate to loudly or too long. Your job as Pilate is to keep these people well behaved and if you know 200,000 are coming to Jerusalem how do you send a message “don’t even think about it”?
Once a year Pilate leaves Caesarea and marches into Jerusalem sending a message that says do not mess with Rome. It would begin with the roman eagle saying the Roman Empire is coming. Behind the eagle would be the roman soldiers sending a message that resistance is futile submit or die. They had the cross as a punishment. Everything is about power and strength and domination. The roman army on the march evoked fear and terror. They march through your village to let you know who rules the world.
At this time, 80-90% of people in Israel are peasants and simple farmers, the working class, very poor simple good people living off the land. The Roman army is marching through your village saying don’t you even think about it. Pilate would ride on horse a sign of power strength and military success. All this to remind these Jewish pilgrims to not even think about rebelling. Pilate enters Jerusalem from the west.
This same week something else happens.
Luke 19:28.
Soon after Pilate enters from the west, Jesus directs them to get a donkey.
Luke 19:35
Luke 19:37
Blessed is the KING. What word is not the word to be using and shouting about now? KING. A large crowd of people shouting about another king is not a good thing. Pilate just entered from the west.
Luke 19:39
Some of the religious leaders (Pharisees) rebuke them telling them to keep quiet. But Jesus says if they stay quiet the stones will cry out. The crowds thought they were welcoming a king who would overthrow the Roman Empire. But they would soon be disappointed.
Luke 19:41
He wept over the city.
Matthew 21:1-11
He doesn’t walk. He does something else. Let’s explore how he enters the city. It is loaded with significance. Your king comes to you gently riding on a donkey. Jesus rides in to say I am the one who is coming.
Remez - They would quote the first part of the verse (remez) knowing you would know the rest of it. The second part is when things get a little edgy. They would have continued the quote from Zachariah 9. A chariot is a symbol of war. Ephraim was a symbol of the Jews. He takes away the weapons of war from the Jews and declares peace to the nations.
Jesus enters from the east and he doesn’t enter on a horse or on foot but on a donkey because Zachariah said some things about a future king. He will come on a donkey because he is opposed to war. He will take away the weapons of war and will extend peace.
Pilate enters from the west garbed and armed in all of the trappings of war. Jesus enters from the east but does Jesus choose a donkey randomly or for a purpose. The purpose is to say, “My kingdom is totally at odd with that kingdom”. Jesus stages an intentionally visual reality (kingdom – how things really are and how things should really be) of a totally different kind.
He is weeping and children are rejoicing. Why is Jesus weeping? In the year 70 the Jews went to war against Rome and they were absolutely destroyed. In the city of Rome there is the Titus (roman general) arch to commemorate the roman army destroying Jerusalem. Jesus weeps because they don’t follow the better way.
There are two ways to enter a city from the east and from the west and the writers of these gospels are confronting us with the way of Pilate and the way of Jesus. Which way? There are two ways to enter into a conversation, treat employees, deal with conflict in marriage, deal with pain, run your house, and treat people. We are confronted with two ways and Jesus pushes us which way? My way or the way you’ve seen. Horses or donkeys? My way or the way of Rome and the world? Two ways to enter the city, from the east or from the west?
Many who cried “Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9), were soon to join in the shout “Let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:23).
Why did he die? This nice Jewish rabbi? Why was he killed?
In the upper city the chief priests and elders of the city, the powerful wealthy elite lived. While 80-90% were barely making ends meet but in the upper city are a group of Jews who are in partnership with Pilate, they are getting rich off the people giving money to god. They are living in absolute luxury among the religious rulers who were supposed to be leading the people into obedience to god. The people are experiencing poverty and the elite are growing wealthy
John 12:19
The Pharisees said to one another “look how the whole world has gone after him. There are two ways to enter a city. This is true for people churches groups of people nations.
The temple of god has become corrupt; the elite group of leaders is exploiting people for their own power. Jesus says this is not right that it grieves the heart of god and god is the god who hears the cries of the oppressed. He is willing to die for the everyday normal people who are being trampled. He goes to the cross for a better way.
Matthew 26:36 – 27:54 (Passion Account)
Henri Nouwen – “In the world sadness if you’re sad, you cannot be glad. If you’re glad, you cannot be sad – be happy and forget your troubles. In the spiritual life it’s precisely the opposite. You embrace your sadness and trust that, right there, you will find gladness. That’s what the cross is all about. I look at the cross, a sign of execution, of pain, of torture, and see it as my hope.”
Traditionally called Palm Sunday also known as Triumphal Entry Sunday. A week before his crucifixion, Jesus entered Jerusalem, the focus of the Jewish people. Millions of Christians for thousands of years have reflected and studied and asked questions about his entry.
Matthew 27:1
Chief Priests – ruling minority elite and it their job to help the Jewish people obey God, and show the world what God was like. These people decide they must kill Jesus. They bound him led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
Why would you want to kill someone like Jesus? What was his message? Why does the ruling establishment decide this man must die?
They turn him over to Pilate the governor. Why didn’t they kill him? Who is Pilate? What historically is going on? Who is Pilate and why is he a roman governor in Jerusalem?
The Jewish people had been under foreign occupation and oppression for centuries. Since 586 BC, a succession of empires – the Assyrians, Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks and Romans. They wanted to be free to live in their own land without outside interference, occupation and domination.
Zealots – Herodians – Essenes (Sadducees) - Pharisees
The Roman Empire ruled the world. Julius Caesar tried to consolidate everything. His adopted son Octavian who later changed his name to Caesar Augustus became the first Caesar, who ruled the world from England to India.
A global superpower with one leader at the top overseeing the whole thing. Caesar Augustus believed he had come from heaven to earth to bring about universal reign, that he was the son of god incarnate on the earth. He used a propaganda phrase “Caesar is lord”, and “There is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved than that of Caesar.” He instituted a 12 day celebration of his birth called “Advent of The Caesar. You could offer sacrifices to him to forgive your sins. These foreign oppressors began to divinize the political leaders.
When you conquer the whole world, how do you rule countries from distances that might take you three weeks to travel to by horse? How do you rule and maintain order?
Caesar Augustus died which led to Caesar Tiberius. At the time of Jesus Tiberius was ruling.
In the ancient world you would spread the word of your reign through coins. The coin of Tiberius had the image and inscription of Tiberius. When you conquer a land you would demand a tax or tribute to raise money to conquer more lands. If you were a Jew in Israel and Rome had conquered you do you pay the tax the tribute? Caesar says he’s god and if I pay the tax am I acknowledging that Caesar is God? But if don’t pay the tax then we will be in danger of rebelling against the empire and Caesar kills those who rebel.
Some religious leaders want to trap Jesus so they bring him this current debate. Should we pay tribute to Caesar (the worshipped son of a worshipped god)? Jesus said, “You give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s”. What does that say? Caesar is not god! The first commandment is thou shalt have no other gods and the second is thou shalt not make any graven images or idols. So if you are a Jew trying to obey the Ten Commandments this is a real issue. So when Jesus is asked should we pay, Jesus says show me a coin, which means he doesn’t have a coin and the leaders pull out a coin which means they do have it thus saying, “Caesar is the son of god”.
Now, Tiberius has an issue because he can’t be everywhere at once. In the region of Judea, Caesar appointed a roman to go to Jerusalem to rule in his place. The man he chose to rule on behalf of the empire was Pilate, governor of the land. Pilate was a historical ruler and governed this region. His job entailed living in Israel ruling trying to maintain order. If you are Pilate, you do not want these people to raise a ruckus. Your job was to maintain order.
Pilate did not live in Jerusalem, he lived in Caesarea. But he has a problem.
Luke 22:1 says, “Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover was near. The Chief Priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death…”
What was Passover all about?
Exodus 3:7 – Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.”
The Jewish people are living in the land of Egypt enslaved by the pharaoh and God sends a messenger to them. God is the God who hears the cries of the oppressed. God rescues these helpless slaves out from under the hand of a foreign oppressor and once a year they would gather at a time called Passover to celebrate their god of the oppressed. They had been under the bondage of a foreign oppressor. God hears the cry of his people when they are in trouble and they would gather to celebrate when god rescued them.
200,000 Jews would gather to celebrate at the temple that God brought them out of slavery. If you are Pilate, you’re not very excited about this Passover. Your job is to maintain order and here they are celebrating. What if they all gather and start talking about an overthrow of sorts. You do not want them to celebrate to loudly or too long. Your job as Pilate is to keep these people well behaved and if you know 200,000 are coming to Jerusalem how do you send a message “don’t even think about it”?
Once a year Pilate leaves Caesarea and marches into Jerusalem sending a message that says do not mess with Rome. It would begin with the roman eagle saying the Roman Empire is coming. Behind the eagle would be the roman soldiers sending a message that resistance is futile submit or die. They had the cross as a punishment. Everything is about power and strength and domination. The roman army on the march evoked fear and terror. They march through your village to let you know who rules the world.
At this time, 80-90% of people in Israel are peasants and simple farmers, the working class, very poor simple good people living off the land. The Roman army is marching through your village saying don’t you even think about it. Pilate would ride on horse a sign of power strength and military success. All this to remind these Jewish pilgrims to not even think about rebelling. Pilate enters Jerusalem from the west.
This same week something else happens.
Luke 19:28.
Soon after Pilate enters from the west, Jesus directs them to get a donkey.
Luke 19:35
Luke 19:37
Blessed is the KING. What word is not the word to be using and shouting about now? KING. A large crowd of people shouting about another king is not a good thing. Pilate just entered from the west.
Luke 19:39
Some of the religious leaders (Pharisees) rebuke them telling them to keep quiet. But Jesus says if they stay quiet the stones will cry out. The crowds thought they were welcoming a king who would overthrow the Roman Empire. But they would soon be disappointed.
Luke 19:41
He wept over the city.
Matthew 21:1-11
He doesn’t walk. He does something else. Let’s explore how he enters the city. It is loaded with significance. Your king comes to you gently riding on a donkey. Jesus rides in to say I am the one who is coming.
Remez - They would quote the first part of the verse (remez) knowing you would know the rest of it. The second part is when things get a little edgy. They would have continued the quote from Zachariah 9. A chariot is a symbol of war. Ephraim was a symbol of the Jews. He takes away the weapons of war from the Jews and declares peace to the nations.
Jesus enters from the east and he doesn’t enter on a horse or on foot but on a donkey because Zachariah said some things about a future king. He will come on a donkey because he is opposed to war. He will take away the weapons of war and will extend peace.
Pilate enters from the west garbed and armed in all of the trappings of war. Jesus enters from the east but does Jesus choose a donkey randomly or for a purpose. The purpose is to say, “My kingdom is totally at odd with that kingdom”. Jesus stages an intentionally visual reality (kingdom – how things really are and how things should really be) of a totally different kind.
He is weeping and children are rejoicing. Why is Jesus weeping? In the year 70 the Jews went to war against Rome and they were absolutely destroyed. In the city of Rome there is the Titus (roman general) arch to commemorate the roman army destroying Jerusalem. Jesus weeps because they don’t follow the better way.
There are two ways to enter a city from the east and from the west and the writers of these gospels are confronting us with the way of Pilate and the way of Jesus. Which way? There are two ways to enter into a conversation, treat employees, deal with conflict in marriage, deal with pain, run your house, and treat people. We are confronted with two ways and Jesus pushes us which way? My way or the way you’ve seen. Horses or donkeys? My way or the way of Rome and the world? Two ways to enter the city, from the east or from the west?
Many who cried “Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9), were soon to join in the shout “Let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:23).
Why did he die? This nice Jewish rabbi? Why was he killed?
In the upper city the chief priests and elders of the city, the powerful wealthy elite lived. While 80-90% were barely making ends meet but in the upper city are a group of Jews who are in partnership with Pilate, they are getting rich off the people giving money to god. They are living in absolute luxury among the religious rulers who were supposed to be leading the people into obedience to god. The people are experiencing poverty and the elite are growing wealthy
John 12:19
The Pharisees said to one another “look how the whole world has gone after him. There are two ways to enter a city. This is true for people churches groups of people nations.
The temple of god has become corrupt; the elite group of leaders is exploiting people for their own power. Jesus says this is not right that it grieves the heart of god and god is the god who hears the cries of the oppressed. He is willing to die for the everyday normal people who are being trampled. He goes to the cross for a better way.
Matthew 26:36 – 27:54 (Passion Account)
Henri Nouwen – “In the world sadness if you’re sad, you cannot be glad. If you’re glad, you cannot be sad – be happy and forget your troubles. In the spiritual life it’s precisely the opposite. You embrace your sadness and trust that, right there, you will find gladness. That’s what the cross is all about. I look at the cross, a sign of execution, of pain, of torture, and see it as my hope.”
Mars Hill Update.
I thought I would begin posting the weekly update here...
Lent, the 40-day period of preparation for Easter continues. Henri Nowen once described Lent as the season during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance. Others refer to this season as a time of "Bright Sadness". Lent is a time of fasting and mourning, of repentance and renewal, of identifying with Jesus in his suffering so that we can identify more fully with his resurrection at Easter.
Lent reaches its climax during Holy Week, itself a journey within a journey. Romans 6:4-9, 11 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism in to death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in a death like this, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slave to sin - because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Next Sunday, March 30th we will initiate a focused effort to "Listen to Our Community" in and around the KAMP's area. Christian Community Development Association ( www.ccda.org ) - a wonderful organization whose mission is train and inspire Christians to reclaim and restore under-resourced communities will be a guide for us in this effort. Read some of their philosophy on "Listening" below:
Often communities are developed by people outside of the community that bring in resources without taking into account the community itself. Christian Community Development is committed to listening to the community residents, and hearing their dreams, ideas and thoughts. This is often referred to as the felt need concept. Listening is most important, as the people of the community are the vested treasures of the future. The priority is the thoughts and dreams of the community itself. What the people themselves believe should be the focus.
Join us as we follow-up with this "listening" effort by beginning to help meet some of these needs on April 19th & 20th.
God Makes All Things New! I look forward to celebrating Easter with you this Sunday at KAMP's from 10:45 - 12noon.
Fully Alive.Ben.
Lent, the 40-day period of preparation for Easter continues. Henri Nowen once described Lent as the season during which winter and spring struggle with each other for dominance. Others refer to this season as a time of "Bright Sadness". Lent is a time of fasting and mourning, of repentance and renewal, of identifying with Jesus in his suffering so that we can identify more fully with his resurrection at Easter.
Lent reaches its climax during Holy Week, itself a journey within a journey. Romans 6:4-9, 11 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism in to death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in a death like this, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slave to sin - because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Next Sunday, March 30th we will initiate a focused effort to "Listen to Our Community" in and around the KAMP's area. Christian Community Development Association ( www.ccda.org ) - a wonderful organization whose mission is train and inspire Christians to reclaim and restore under-resourced communities will be a guide for us in this effort. Read some of their philosophy on "Listening" below:
Often communities are developed by people outside of the community that bring in resources without taking into account the community itself. Christian Community Development is committed to listening to the community residents, and hearing their dreams, ideas and thoughts. This is often referred to as the felt need concept. Listening is most important, as the people of the community are the vested treasures of the future. The priority is the thoughts and dreams of the community itself. What the people themselves believe should be the focus.
Join us as we follow-up with this "listening" effort by beginning to help meet some of these needs on April 19th & 20th.
God Makes All Things New! I look forward to celebrating Easter with you this Sunday at KAMP's from 10:45 - 12noon.
Fully Alive.Ben.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sacred Pathways.
Another beautiful early spring day in Oklahoma City! Late this afternoon I'm headed to Egan, OK to some remote retreat center to teach at a youth retreat for Edmond First United Methodist Church.
In a couple of different sessions tomorrow I will talk about the rhythm of a disciple: Come, Follow Me, Go, Be Like Me, Make Disciples, Come, Follow Me, Go, Be Like Me, Make Disciples.
But tonight as we open the retreat with a time of worship. I will get the chance to open and set the stage for the rest of the weekend. And I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will shatter some of the preconceived religious notions and baggage that many of these young people will be weighed down by. Religion is a crushing load. My guess is that many of them will need to be set free in order to follow Jesus.
I hope that their relationship with God will be loosed from the box it has been confined to. Remember, there is no box! I pray they will experience the freedom to live and experience God in new and refreshing ways. In the ways they were uniquely wired to.
I am going to utilize some big ideas and resources from a book by Gary L. Thomas, "Sacred Pathways". Here is a link to an assessment that will help identify your Sacred Pathway. Check it out.
http://common.northpoint.org/sacredpathway.html
In a couple of different sessions tomorrow I will talk about the rhythm of a disciple: Come, Follow Me, Go, Be Like Me, Make Disciples, Come, Follow Me, Go, Be Like Me, Make Disciples.
But tonight as we open the retreat with a time of worship. I will get the chance to open and set the stage for the rest of the weekend. And I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will shatter some of the preconceived religious notions and baggage that many of these young people will be weighed down by. Religion is a crushing load. My guess is that many of them will need to be set free in order to follow Jesus.
I hope that their relationship with God will be loosed from the box it has been confined to. Remember, there is no box! I pray they will experience the freedom to live and experience God in new and refreshing ways. In the ways they were uniquely wired to.
I am going to utilize some big ideas and resources from a book by Gary L. Thomas, "Sacred Pathways". Here is a link to an assessment that will help identify your Sacred Pathway. Check it out.
http://common.northpoint.org/sacredpathway.html
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Vision 360.
Here is a brief summary of a newly developing kingdom endeavor in urban OKC.
By the way, I'm listening to Jon Foreman's Fall and Winter EP. Amazing!
Vision 360 Oklahoma City
What is the vision for Oklahoma City? Spiritual transformation
Oklahoma City is experiencing the kind of transformation that only comes from the presence of Jesus and His Kingdom. The tool is the church. New expressions of church, envisioned by citywide strategy, encouraged by a relational network, and resourced with the tools for fruit, are flourishing throughout the city. Those churches are impacting every area of society, including the vulnerable, the economy and business community, education, the arts, and government. It’s an urban movement, starting among the most marginalized and spreading outward to impact a region. And in the DNA of the movement is the destiny for a city to impact the nations.
What is the challenge? Spiritual decay
Haggai 1:4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
Oklahoma City is rapidly becoming unchurched. Only 21% of the people in OKC regularly attend a Christian church. The 18-25 generation are abandoning the faith in record numbers.
Spiritual issues require Kingdom solutions: High divorce rate, low value on urban children, racism, the church is least visible where it is most needed.
What is the strategy? Church Planting
New churches are most effective in reaching new generations, new residents, new people groups, and especially the unchurched.
New churches are 6-8 times more effective at reaching non-Christians than established churches.
New churches reinvigorate existing churches in a community.
So what is happening now and in the short run?
In the first three years we’ll plant 15 churches in urban Oklahoma City
Networking and resourcing existing church planters
Establishing a “1 year” board of business and church leaders
Raise $2 million to hire staff and begin resourcing the church planting strategy
Develop a city strategy for church planting that radically crosses all boundaries
Work with existing churches to recruit, assess, train, and resource effective church planters
Start NOW deciding how we will reproduce what God is doing here in a city far away.
By the way, I'm listening to Jon Foreman's Fall and Winter EP. Amazing!
Vision 360 Oklahoma City
What is the vision for Oklahoma City? Spiritual transformation
Oklahoma City is experiencing the kind of transformation that only comes from the presence of Jesus and His Kingdom. The tool is the church. New expressions of church, envisioned by citywide strategy, encouraged by a relational network, and resourced with the tools for fruit, are flourishing throughout the city. Those churches are impacting every area of society, including the vulnerable, the economy and business community, education, the arts, and government. It’s an urban movement, starting among the most marginalized and spreading outward to impact a region. And in the DNA of the movement is the destiny for a city to impact the nations.
What is the challenge? Spiritual decay
Haggai 1:4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
Oklahoma City is rapidly becoming unchurched. Only 21% of the people in OKC regularly attend a Christian church. The 18-25 generation are abandoning the faith in record numbers.
Spiritual issues require Kingdom solutions: High divorce rate, low value on urban children, racism, the church is least visible where it is most needed.
What is the strategy? Church Planting
New churches are most effective in reaching new generations, new residents, new people groups, and especially the unchurched.
New churches are 6-8 times more effective at reaching non-Christians than established churches.
New churches reinvigorate existing churches in a community.
So what is happening now and in the short run?
In the first three years we’ll plant 15 churches in urban Oklahoma City
Networking and resourcing existing church planters
Establishing a “1 year” board of business and church leaders
Raise $2 million to hire staff and begin resourcing the church planting strategy
Develop a city strategy for church planting that radically crosses all boundaries
Work with existing churches to recruit, assess, train, and resource effective church planters
Start NOW deciding how we will reproduce what God is doing here in a city far away.
Somebody Stop Me.
Somebody stop me. Two posts in two minutes. I think I'm on a roll!
Here is a an intriguing rant or rave that I came across from a fellow Okie, Anne Jackson at www.FlowerDust.net.
“what’s the deal with most modern churches? i understand the idea of local churches, but doesn’t that mean a body of believers within a community (not necessarily a “building”)? and with technology the way it is nowadays, can’t a community be practically anywhere? why do i feel guilty for not serving in my local “building” when i know i serve others daily in my life. why do i feel guilty for not being in a small group or always going to a service that my local “building” coordinates when i know i hang out with other believers regularly? why do i feel guilty when i don’t tithe to my local “building” but i give money to other believers and causes that i feel led to give to? is the culture of the modern church one that is so singularly focused that the local church has become an institution and not a lifestyle, which i think is the way the new testament intended it to be? i know there is a need for churches in our culture, but why do those churches make other ways seem unacceptable?”
Here is a an intriguing rant or rave that I came across from a fellow Okie, Anne Jackson at www.FlowerDust.net.
“what’s the deal with most modern churches? i understand the idea of local churches, but doesn’t that mean a body of believers within a community (not necessarily a “building”)? and with technology the way it is nowadays, can’t a community be practically anywhere? why do i feel guilty for not serving in my local “building” when i know i serve others daily in my life. why do i feel guilty for not being in a small group or always going to a service that my local “building” coordinates when i know i hang out with other believers regularly? why do i feel guilty when i don’t tithe to my local “building” but i give money to other believers and causes that i feel led to give to? is the culture of the modern church one that is so singularly focused that the local church has become an institution and not a lifestyle, which i think is the way the new testament intended it to be? i know there is a need for churches in our culture, but why do those churches make other ways seem unacceptable?”
I'm Back...In The Saddle Again.
OK - so you know it's been a little while since you've updated your blog when the gentleman you're sharing lunch with teases you about your most recent post being LAST YEAR, ouch! And you can't remember the password to log into your account, wow! Thanks to Rex linking me in his post, here I am making amends with all three of you out there.
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