My effort to keep up this blog as "weekly" church posts has obviously failed. It has been over two weeks since my last post. Much continues to happen. Next week I will get back to my stated intention of putting some material from sermons here so that you can refer to notes and make comments. For now, something else.
We continue to pray for Dave Hawk, and for the police that they will find who is really responsible for Debbie's disappearance. Dave's spirits are pretty good. He loves having people visit and appreciates the care packages and mail people of the church are sending. I want to say again how proud I am of the people of our church. You have cared for Dave and his family in wonderful ways.
I am still quite unfamiliar with the task of being pastor to someone who is in jail, and pastor to people in a church who are trying to care for someone they love who is in jail. I find myself alternately sad, angry, frustrated by the system, hopeful that something might be resolved, and feeling totally powerless to do the one thing that Dave needs the most. I can't get him out of jail. I am convinced of his innocence and angry about the injustice being done to him. I fear that this injustice will continue and that he could be in jail for some time to come.
While I can see that God is teaching us all, incuding Dave, of His love and faithfulness, I find myself upset at God for not securing justice for him. It is more than my being impatient, I am hurt, frustrated, fearful, and angry that God is not taking better care of us. Ok, now that I have that off my chest, there is more.
Life happens, and as hard as life can be I still think that it is better than the alternative. God has gifted us with life that teaches, enriches, and challenges. Because of this situation I have come to appreciate Dave even more than before. I have developed a good relationship with Chelsa and Savanah, who are now active in the church on their terms. They help and participate as the outstanding young ladies they are. I have been privileged to watch many of you step up to show concern and offer real comfort and help to Dave and his girls. I continue to trust God, despite all the feelings that I expressed above. A wierd sort of side benefit of Dave being out of commission is that I am learning how to take care of our website. No, really, don't laugh.
I find myself wondering what you are experiencing in connection with our ministry with Dave and his family. I am sure that you have feelings and thoughts that are worth expressing. I invite you to do so in comments on this blog.
One comment I received on my blog is that the posts are too long. I had better quit now.
Blessings,
Sandy
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Who Is Jesus bar Joseph?
It's Hebrew, OK? The "bar" in the name is Hebrew refering to "son of." The reason I titled my sermon this is to point out that this is the way Jesus would have been known to many in the first century of our Common Era. This sermon was an introduction to my series for the Fall about discovering the "historical" Jesus.
Are the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith different? Probably so, for most of us, but they should not be. It is important for Christians to believe in Jesus as he was, not as who we want him to be. Many have written about Jesus and made up their own image of what he was like. He has been portrayed as a hippie revolutionary, an Egyptian freemason, an apocalyptic madman, prophet of doom, and as a rich man with several wives and homes. The list goes on and on. The only corrective we Christians have for these fantasies is what the Bible says concerning Jesus seen within the context of first century Judaism, which was the context of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. There are many images of Jesus floating around out there. We need to make the effort to discover what he was really like.
I have often asked the question, "What is God like?" The answer is, "God is like Jesus." That is the only answer for Christians. Orthodox Christianity tells us that Jesus is God "incarnate." Incarnate means "in the flesh." God came here, as a human being, to show us what he is like and to do for us what he wanted to do. What is God like? God is like Jesus. The study to understand what Jesus was like and how he was understood in the first century is vital to our understanding of our faith.
There have been some who have pursued the "historical Jesus" with methods that begin with the decision to discount anything the Bible says because it is a "faith" book, not a history book. We will not do that, but we will ask some of the questions these groups of scholars ask and hopefully answer the skeptics to your satisfaction.
If you would like to read two books that I am using as sources you may do so. Both are easily available in most book stores or online. These books are:
The Challenge of Jesus by N.T. Wright. Wright is the official theologian for Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey. Dr. Bailey was my New Testament professor at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon. His work on placing the New Testament into a Middle Eastern context has gained aclaim from scholars and laypersons alike.
My texts for this last Sunday were: Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:25-32, and Acts 2:22-24. As you read them notice how they all reflect the importance of the very real and historical figure of Jesus. The Old Testament prophet, the Gospel writer Luke, and Peter in the first Christian sermon ever preached all pointed to one who was historically present, who lived and died in a particular place and time.
Welcome to this journey. I hope that your enjoy it.
Pastor Sandy
Are the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith different? Probably so, for most of us, but they should not be. It is important for Christians to believe in Jesus as he was, not as who we want him to be. Many have written about Jesus and made up their own image of what he was like. He has been portrayed as a hippie revolutionary, an Egyptian freemason, an apocalyptic madman, prophet of doom, and as a rich man with several wives and homes. The list goes on and on. The only corrective we Christians have for these fantasies is what the Bible says concerning Jesus seen within the context of first century Judaism, which was the context of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. There are many images of Jesus floating around out there. We need to make the effort to discover what he was really like.
I have often asked the question, "What is God like?" The answer is, "God is like Jesus." That is the only answer for Christians. Orthodox Christianity tells us that Jesus is God "incarnate." Incarnate means "in the flesh." God came here, as a human being, to show us what he is like and to do for us what he wanted to do. What is God like? God is like Jesus. The study to understand what Jesus was like and how he was understood in the first century is vital to our understanding of our faith.
There have been some who have pursued the "historical Jesus" with methods that begin with the decision to discount anything the Bible says because it is a "faith" book, not a history book. We will not do that, but we will ask some of the questions these groups of scholars ask and hopefully answer the skeptics to your satisfaction.
If you would like to read two books that I am using as sources you may do so. Both are easily available in most book stores or online. These books are:
The Challenge of Jesus by N.T. Wright. Wright is the official theologian for Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth E. Bailey. Dr. Bailey was my New Testament professor at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon. His work on placing the New Testament into a Middle Eastern context has gained aclaim from scholars and laypersons alike.
My texts for this last Sunday were: Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:25-32, and Acts 2:22-24. As you read them notice how they all reflect the importance of the very real and historical figure of Jesus. The Old Testament prophet, the Gospel writer Luke, and Peter in the first Christian sermon ever preached all pointed to one who was historically present, who lived and died in a particular place and time.
Welcome to this journey. I hope that your enjoy it.
Pastor Sandy
Getting Started
Welcome to my new blog for weekly church posts. I hope that you can all get signed in so that you can comment on things I put here. I am learning all the things that I can do, and might put up poll question from time to time, to give you a way to register your opinion on some issue that affects the church.
My biggest challenge with this blog is to remember to keep posting, perhaps several times a week. My next post will be the basic outline/summary of last Sunday's sermon. After that I might give you a preview for next Sunday, or I might not.
I welcome your comments, encouraging or otherwise. From time to time I hope I can recommend books and websites for your enjoyment and inspiration. If you want to do the same you can leave such things in your comments. All my posts are signed "Dodger Fan," which tells you something about me. My Sabbatical Reports are still available at presbysandy.blogspot.com. Welcome! Let's get started.
My biggest challenge with this blog is to remember to keep posting, perhaps several times a week. My next post will be the basic outline/summary of last Sunday's sermon. After that I might give you a preview for next Sunday, or I might not.
I welcome your comments, encouraging or otherwise. From time to time I hope I can recommend books and websites for your enjoyment and inspiration. If you want to do the same you can leave such things in your comments. All my posts are signed "Dodger Fan," which tells you something about me. My Sabbatical Reports are still available at presbysandy.blogspot.com. Welcome! Let's get started.
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