Today's question is: Do you share Joseph’s perspective that a tragic event can be turned by God to a providential purpose?
The short answer is: yes.
The long answer is this: I don't think God creates hardship and heartache in our lives. I don't believe "everything happens for a reason." God doesn't cause a bad thing to happen so that a better thing can happen down the line. However, I do believe that God can transform our hardship and heartache into goodness and joy. Sometimes, the best God can bring about from a bad experience is our lesson learned. Sometimes, that's enough.
It's a fine line between believing in the transformational power of God and predestination. That fine line is a significant one, however.
PS If you are following along in the workbook, you may have noticed I skipped a question about Israel...I'm thinking on it....I'll get back to you.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Promise and Fulfillment
We moved on to the Pentateuch -- the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). The Pentateuch, as Marcus Borg puts it, is first concerned with the creation of the world from the perspective of the Israelites. Secondly, it is concerned with the creation of Israel and God's part in that. With that in mind, here are our questions for today: How are the stories of your own family’s origin reflected in the stories of the Israel’s origin? How have the themes of promise and fulfillment shaped your life?
This question of family origin is interesting to me. I know some of my paternal family history and not much of my maternal family history. So, it's a hard question for me to answer. Personally, though, I am drawn to the Exodus journey and the Israelites search for the Promised Land. I've lived in a lot of places in the past 10 years. We hope to be here in Champaign-Urbana for a long time. But, when will it start to feel like home? When will we not feel like "strangers in a strange land"? And what part does our faith play in that journey? Those are all question I wrestle with often.
Promise and fulfillment, as I preached on this past Sunday, are the thrust of the Pentateuch. God makes promises that aren't fulfilled until years and years later. Moses doesn't get to see the Promised Land with his own two eyes. He dies before crossing over. I have to be honest with you -- that bites. Moses worked so hard and put up with loads of crap from the Israelites. Why shouldn't he get to experience the fulfilment of the Promise? Why not? Because, that's just how life works out sometimes. This example, as disturbing as it is, is really profound. i feel like Moses a lot. I plant seeds but rarely get to see the things come to fruition.
This story helps me keep it all in perspective. God is not a prize to be won or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. God is faithful throughout all our journeys. God is with us in the struggle and in our triumphs.
This question of family origin is interesting to me. I know some of my paternal family history and not much of my maternal family history. So, it's a hard question for me to answer. Personally, though, I am drawn to the Exodus journey and the Israelites search for the Promised Land. I've lived in a lot of places in the past 10 years. We hope to be here in Champaign-Urbana for a long time. But, when will it start to feel like home? When will we not feel like "strangers in a strange land"? And what part does our faith play in that journey? Those are all question I wrestle with often.
Promise and fulfillment, as I preached on this past Sunday, are the thrust of the Pentateuch. God makes promises that aren't fulfilled until years and years later. Moses doesn't get to see the Promised Land with his own two eyes. He dies before crossing over. I have to be honest with you -- that bites. Moses worked so hard and put up with loads of crap from the Israelites. Why shouldn't he get to experience the fulfilment of the Promise? Why not? Because, that's just how life works out sometimes. This example, as disturbing as it is, is really profound. i feel like Moses a lot. I plant seeds but rarely get to see the things come to fruition.
This story helps me keep it all in perspective. God is not a prize to be won or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. God is faithful throughout all our journeys. God is with us in the struggle and in our triumphs.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Just Breathe
Today's question is: Which of the two creation stories are you most drawn to? Why?
A few years ago, I started focusing on my breathing as a prayer practice. I began breathing more deeply and intentionally. While exhaling, I would pray prayers of confession. While inhaling, I would pray prayers of presence, inviting God to be close to me. If you keep breathing out the bad stuff and keep breathing in the God stuff, eventually, you'll be inhaling AND exhaling God out into the world. This became a very powerful prayer practice for me.
That's one reason why I connected so deeply with the second Creation story. In this story, God breathes into the human being fashioned from mud and gives them life. If we want to connect to the new life God offers, all we have to do is breathe.
A few years ago, I started focusing on my breathing as a prayer practice. I began breathing more deeply and intentionally. While exhaling, I would pray prayers of confession. While inhaling, I would pray prayers of presence, inviting God to be close to me. If you keep breathing out the bad stuff and keep breathing in the God stuff, eventually, you'll be inhaling AND exhaling God out into the world. This became a very powerful prayer practice for me.
That's one reason why I connected so deeply with the second Creation story. In this story, God breathes into the human being fashioned from mud and gives them life. If we want to connect to the new life God offers, all we have to do is breathe.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What if...?
Today's question is: If the story of Adam and Eve is not “true” (factual), what happens to the truth of the Bible and Christianity as a whole? Two key questions: Why did Israel tell these stories? And why did they tell them this way?
Asking what happens to the rest of the Bible's validity if the Adam and Eve story isn't true presupposes that we believe the whole Bible to be factual. If this is our starting place, asking such a question is like pulling a brick out of the foundation of a building. The whole house will collapse because the foundation has been compromised. However, if we begin with a different understanding, then we avoid the whole house crumbling down around us.
Some portions of the Bible were meant to be matters of historical record, others were not. Others, like the Adam and Eve story were always intended to be mythic tales. Other portions of the Bible were meant to be poetry, others oracles, and others were letters written to specific communities.
The key questions, above, are important ones to ask. Why would the Israelites tell this story and why would they tell it in this way. Since we know that the story was told during exile, we might imagine that the Israelites needed to remind themselves that they were deeply, intimately connected to God.
Why do you think they told these stories in this way?
Asking what happens to the rest of the Bible's validity if the Adam and Eve story isn't true presupposes that we believe the whole Bible to be factual. If this is our starting place, asking such a question is like pulling a brick out of the foundation of a building. The whole house will collapse because the foundation has been compromised. However, if we begin with a different understanding, then we avoid the whole house crumbling down around us.
Some portions of the Bible were meant to be matters of historical record, others were not. Others, like the Adam and Eve story were always intended to be mythic tales. Other portions of the Bible were meant to be poetry, others oracles, and others were letters written to specific communities.
The key questions, above, are important ones to ask. Why would the Israelites tell this story and why would they tell it in this way. Since we know that the story was told during exile, we might imagine that the Israelites needed to remind themselves that they were deeply, intimately connected to God.
Why do you think they told these stories in this way?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Truth and Myth
Today's question is: How can something be true without being factually true? How is the truth of history different from the truth of myth?
Poems, song lyrics, fairy tales, children's stories, movie plots....all examples of things that can be incredibly, undoubtedly true without being factual. Take the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", for instance. Some of the characters hint at real people Harper Lee knew in her childhood, but the story is fictitious. And yet, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the truest books I've ever read. Things can be true without being factual.
It's how the truth of myth differs from the truth of history. The truth of history relies on empirical, provable facts. The truth of myth relies on notions that extend beyond facts.
Poems, song lyrics, fairy tales, children's stories, movie plots....all examples of things that can be incredibly, undoubtedly true without being factual. Take the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", for instance. Some of the characters hint at real people Harper Lee knew in her childhood, but the story is fictitious. And yet, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the truest books I've ever read. Things can be true without being factual.
It's how the truth of myth differs from the truth of history. The truth of history relies on empirical, provable facts. The truth of myth relies on notions that extend beyond facts.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
About the Dinosuar Bones
Today's question is: When did you first notice the tension between faith and science? How have you resolved that tension?
This kid named Chris was in my 7th grade science class. One day, he raised his hand and asked, "What if God put dinosaur skeletons in the ground to give us something to do?" Obviously, this kid took the Creation story literally. He was implying that during the Creation week, when God was forming the earth, God thought, "Hmm....I bet they'll get bored. Why don't I take some huge bones and bury them. These humans will dig them up and concoct stories about amazing beasts that used to roam the earth...yup, that'll be fun!"
I remember thinking about the implications of his question and getting a big headache. It sort of made my brain twist around in funny ways. By the time middle school rolled around, I'm fairly certain that I didn't take the Creation stories literally. I knew what I didn't believe. But, I wasn't sure what I did believe about those stories.
The tension got resolved through a lot of conversation, wrestling, paying attention and prayer.
This kid named Chris was in my 7th grade science class. One day, he raised his hand and asked, "What if God put dinosaur skeletons in the ground to give us something to do?" Obviously, this kid took the Creation story literally. He was implying that during the Creation week, when God was forming the earth, God thought, "Hmm....I bet they'll get bored. Why don't I take some huge bones and bury them. These humans will dig them up and concoct stories about amazing beasts that used to roam the earth...yup, that'll be fun!"
I remember thinking about the implications of his question and getting a big headache. It sort of made my brain twist around in funny ways. By the time middle school rolled around, I'm fairly certain that I didn't take the Creation stories literally. I knew what I didn't believe. But, I wasn't sure what I did believe about those stories.
The tension got resolved through a lot of conversation, wrestling, paying attention and prayer.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Powerful stories
Today's question is: When did you first learn the creation stories in Genesis? How are they meaningful for you today?
To tell the truth, I don't remember a time when I didn't know the creation stories. I'm certain that I knew the story of the 7 days of Creation along with the Adam and Eve story. But, I am also certain I thought they were part of the same story, not two separate tales.
I also remember how I felt when we learned about the stories in Seminary. The Creation stories were referred to as "myths". Even though I hadn't believed in the Creation stories literally for a long time, the word "myth" bothered me a little bit. When I realized that this term didn't take any of the power of the stories away, but rather named them for what they actually were, I got over it.
Today, I find these stories to be very powerful. Being outdoors and connecting with nature is a powerful part of my spiritual practice. So, I resonate deeply with the notion that human beings were formed from the soil and crafted by a master artisan. I also find the idea of rest being part of the fabric of Creation to be in credibly profound.
To tell the truth, I don't remember a time when I didn't know the creation stories. I'm certain that I knew the story of the 7 days of Creation along with the Adam and Eve story. But, I am also certain I thought they were part of the same story, not two separate tales.
I also remember how I felt when we learned about the stories in Seminary. The Creation stories were referred to as "myths". Even though I hadn't believed in the Creation stories literally for a long time, the word "myth" bothered me a little bit. When I realized that this term didn't take any of the power of the stories away, but rather named them for what they actually were, I got over it.
Today, I find these stories to be very powerful. Being outdoors and connecting with nature is a powerful part of my spiritual practice. So, I resonate deeply with the notion that human beings were formed from the soil and crafted by a master artisan. I also find the idea of rest being part of the fabric of Creation to be in credibly profound.
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