Pastor MP spoke of being close to heaven, like the separation is thin between our world and heaven. It is a great analogy. Heaven is not just a future place, it is here with us now, close by.
I remember the guide at Yellowstone said the earth's crust is thin there, that is why there are so many geysers and boiling pools. Lots of water and lots of heat. When MP spoke of the thinness of earth to heaven that is what I thought of. It seemed analogous to me.
I also felt like the separation between us and God was thin at the service. I was greatly moved by the worship time and the sermon too. Perhaps the exercise before coming helped. I got in a two hour walk before church and really had not cooled down by the time we got there a few minutes late. I planned poorly and I did not get back home until after 9:30 PM. I showered quickly. I had not really cooled down yet. I needed at least two quarts of water to replenish what I sweated out. But I felt great in church. I now wish for the hills of Israel. If we go next year I will appreciate them more. They help with the aerobic experience. Houston is so flat.
Yesterday I mentioned how much I appreciated how the playwright quickly and efficiently set the scene for the rest of the play in Emma, based on the satirical book by Jane Austen. He had opening speeches by major characters to tell us about themselves and others we would soon meet. I also admire the way the writer of Exodus sets the stage for the rest of the story. I admire how efficiently all the stories in the Bible are set up. There is so much packed into a few sentences.
The first chapter of Exodus sets up the situation of the Israelites in Egypt. "Then there arose a pharaoh who did not know Joseph." The words are pregnant with meaning. Also they do not say so much. Is that a new dynasty? Was there some kind of violent political intrigue? I guess we will never truly know.
The second chapter introduces us to Moses. We find out why he was cast into the Nile in the last few verses of Chapter 1. He is miraculously saved from dying of exposure. Did his mom plan this all out?
We then find he is unwilling to forget his own people even thought he is living lavishly in the palace. When exiled to Midian, to a people closely related to his own he again shows that he has a heart for the powerless, for those unjustly treated.
God sees that he has a heart for the task God chooses for him. Or is it Moses who sees what God already knew, since God knows everything beforehand? He knew Moses heart before Moses did,
So after two chapters the scene is set for the rest of the story.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Emma at AD Players
I went to see this at Grace Theater over on West Alabama near Kirby.
I cannot gush enough about this adaptation of the book by Jane Austen. This is the best production AD Players has done in several years.
The front of the bill mentions this is adapted by Jon Jory. He must get a lot of credit. I have seen movie an TV adaptations. This is quite different. There are a couple of opening speeches obviously done to introduce the characters and the conflict. We are quickly gotten up to speed.
This play goes for laughs, or at least the actors do. The satire of Austen's book is still there but it's not as important here. This is a comedy. But at the same time I think Emma's blunders are more starkly explained by the plot of the play.
Sarah Cooksey has been great in recent plays an she again shines as Emma. This part is right in her wheel house and she hits a home run. Other supporting roles are very well done. This is a big cast and almost all the regular players get to contribute.
This show is going to play until August 28. The house was full but not sold out. You should treat yourself to a fun play that has depth.
I cannot gush enough about this adaptation of the book by Jane Austen. This is the best production AD Players has done in several years.
The front of the bill mentions this is adapted by Jon Jory. He must get a lot of credit. I have seen movie an TV adaptations. This is quite different. There are a couple of opening speeches obviously done to introduce the characters and the conflict. We are quickly gotten up to speed.
This play goes for laughs, or at least the actors do. The satire of Austen's book is still there but it's not as important here. This is a comedy. But at the same time I think Emma's blunders are more starkly explained by the plot of the play.
Sarah Cooksey has been great in recent plays an she again shines as Emma. This part is right in her wheel house and she hits a home run. Other supporting roles are very well done. This is a big cast and almost all the regular players get to contribute.
This show is going to play until August 28. The house was full but not sold out. You should treat yourself to a fun play that has depth.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Garum = Roman era fish sauce
Have I blogged on this yet? I think I mentioned it.
One thing I most remember about the talks we got at the archaeological dig at Hippos/Sussita was on amphora and one thing transported in them: Garum
Marketing has been around a long time. What, producers asked themselves, to do with left over fish? How can one transport fish over long distances and therefore increase our clientele? Fish cannot be kept fresh long. Fresh fish tastes best. What to do?
Answer: Boil down stinky leftover fish, transport it in jars, and call it "Garum" and sell it as a wonderful delicacy. Lots of foods are like that. Examples: Throw in all the spoiled meat, maybe some beans, add a lot of hot peppers and call it "chili". Slumgullion must have a similar beginning. I think of "chicken wings" that way today. You take the worst part of the chicken, a part that was often thrown away or made into dog food. When my mom cooked the whole chicken in the poorer days of my youth, my dad would graciously eat the wings, leaving for us children the better parts, the thigh, breast, and leg. I'm not sure who ate the backs. But some enterprising food merchant created sauces and brazenly touted "Chicken Wings" as a delicacy. Well, it is if you believe it. Some rich people will eat most anything if it costs a lot and has a fancy name, see caviar (fish eggs).
Anyway GARUM is an early marketing ploy brilliantly conceived and readily accepted by rich and poor alike in Roman culture for many centuries. There was a rich version using real fish, costing like caviar and a poorer sauce using mostly water and fish heads and such sold for poor people to flavor their food. But essentially it is rotten fish boiled in water. There is no other way to see it. In order to travel long distances by boat it can be no other way. It cannot be fresh. Marketers are great at simply renaming things. They touted this as an advantage, not as rotten but as a delicacy. People bought it for many generations. I say it was brilliant.
Garum, fish sauce, was shipped throughout the Mediterranean area in the bottoms of ships in strange looking pots called amphora (amphorae). These pots had double handles for easy moving, narrow mouths to be easily stoppered, and pointed bottoms to stack more easily. In ship bottoms they would double as ballast, keeping the boat upright in heavy weather.
These strange looking jars were actually very practical. They too were used for centuries. I think they evolved because of the Mediterranean Sea's longish narrow shape, a great natural canal used for trading and shipping goods by sea. Most people lived by the sea in Roman and Greek times. The longest portion of a trading travel would be by ship and not by land. So trading vessels were adapted to boats more than to land transportation methods.
One thing I most remember about the talks we got at the archaeological dig at Hippos/Sussita was on amphora and one thing transported in them: Garum
Marketing has been around a long time. What, producers asked themselves, to do with left over fish? How can one transport fish over long distances and therefore increase our clientele? Fish cannot be kept fresh long. Fresh fish tastes best. What to do?
Answer: Boil down stinky leftover fish, transport it in jars, and call it "Garum" and sell it as a wonderful delicacy. Lots of foods are like that. Examples: Throw in all the spoiled meat, maybe some beans, add a lot of hot peppers and call it "chili". Slumgullion must have a similar beginning. I think of "chicken wings" that way today. You take the worst part of the chicken, a part that was often thrown away or made into dog food. When my mom cooked the whole chicken in the poorer days of my youth, my dad would graciously eat the wings, leaving for us children the better parts, the thigh, breast, and leg. I'm not sure who ate the backs. But some enterprising food merchant created sauces and brazenly touted "Chicken Wings" as a delicacy. Well, it is if you believe it. Some rich people will eat most anything if it costs a lot and has a fancy name, see caviar (fish eggs).
Anyway GARUM is an early marketing ploy brilliantly conceived and readily accepted by rich and poor alike in Roman culture for many centuries. There was a rich version using real fish, costing like caviar and a poorer sauce using mostly water and fish heads and such sold for poor people to flavor their food. But essentially it is rotten fish boiled in water. There is no other way to see it. In order to travel long distances by boat it can be no other way. It cannot be fresh. Marketers are great at simply renaming things. They touted this as an advantage, not as rotten but as a delicacy. People bought it for many generations. I say it was brilliant.
Garum, fish sauce, was shipped throughout the Mediterranean area in the bottoms of ships in strange looking pots called amphora (amphorae). These pots had double handles for easy moving, narrow mouths to be easily stoppered, and pointed bottoms to stack more easily. In ship bottoms they would double as ballast, keeping the boat upright in heavy weather.
These strange looking jars were actually very practical. They too were used for centuries. I think they evolved because of the Mediterranean Sea's longish narrow shape, a great natural canal used for trading and shipping goods by sea. Most people lived by the sea in Roman and Greek times. The longest portion of a trading travel would be by ship and not by land. So trading vessels were adapted to boats more than to land transportation methods.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Israel experiences
For me one of most glaring differences in Israel is the brashness of people. Not everyone of course but enough to make it distinctive. And Jews still are very emotional about rules. (Hey I do resemble some of this, children take note.)
The way I saw it most starkly was in the kibbutz cafeteria dishwashing area. We ate in a cafeteria for lunch and supper. Lunch is the main meal. We were required to buss our own dishes. To do that you took your stuff into a hot steamy room where an automatic dishwasher with a conveyor line operated. There was usually a man watching the process (from mostly out of sight) to make sure things went well.
But it you did something wrong he became very present in your life. Sort of like the proverbial Jewish mother. You would get a tongue lashing. Really.
My first day I was tired and sort of on auto-pilot. I think I placed my soup bowl in a way that he thought wrong. His response: "What are you doing there? Those dishes will never get clean like that!" Seeing my confusion he came over and changed them.
Other times a different man said: "Can't you read the sign? It tells you how to do it." Fortunately that was only addressed to me once. But I also heard it said to another person.
These comments were said with .slightly raised volume and a tone of exasperation. Usually a response was required from you before you were dismissed. You needed to tell them you would do better, apologize for your mistake. Then the man would be slightly mollified. It was as if, even though I had only been there a few days I was required to automatically know all the rules and read all the signs. There were several.
One day I ate late and the dishwashing area was mostly closed down. I did not see where to place my trash so I moved a top off the normal place and placed it there. When the man came in and saw what I had done I was in trouble. "Can't you that the cover was there. Do you not understand that the cover means not to put anything there? It was covered for a reason. Why did you do that?" Then I saw the one remaining trash basket set out for we late eaters. It was on the other side of a big room. Yes I was wrong. And yes I got my deserved tongue lashing.
The way I saw it most starkly was in the kibbutz cafeteria dishwashing area. We ate in a cafeteria for lunch and supper. Lunch is the main meal. We were required to buss our own dishes. To do that you took your stuff into a hot steamy room where an automatic dishwasher with a conveyor line operated. There was usually a man watching the process (from mostly out of sight) to make sure things went well.
But it you did something wrong he became very present in your life. Sort of like the proverbial Jewish mother. You would get a tongue lashing. Really.
My first day I was tired and sort of on auto-pilot. I think I placed my soup bowl in a way that he thought wrong. His response: "What are you doing there? Those dishes will never get clean like that!" Seeing my confusion he came over and changed them.
Other times a different man said: "Can't you read the sign? It tells you how to do it." Fortunately that was only addressed to me once. But I also heard it said to another person.
These comments were said with .slightly raised volume and a tone of exasperation. Usually a response was required from you before you were dismissed. You needed to tell them you would do better, apologize for your mistake. Then the man would be slightly mollified. It was as if, even though I had only been there a few days I was required to automatically know all the rules and read all the signs. There were several.
One day I ate late and the dishwashing area was mostly closed down. I did not see where to place my trash so I moved a top off the normal place and placed it there. When the man came in and saw what I had done I was in trouble. "Can't you that the cover was there. Do you not understand that the cover means not to put anything there? It was covered for a reason. Why did you do that?" Then I saw the one remaining trash basket set out for we late eaters. It was on the other side of a big room. Yes I was wrong. And yes I got my deserved tongue lashing.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Lamentations 2
Let me just say I am not oriented to Houston yet. I got amazingly sleepy at 4 PM yesterday, went home and slept from 5 until 11. I realized that corresponded to 11 PM to 7 AM in the morning in Israel. Proper sleeping hours in Israel, not in Houston. After 11 I just could not sleep at all. I read and caught up on computer. Then dozed until 6:30 AM this morning when I got up for work.
Work: We are moving down the hall to a smaller office. We have been here for over 20 years so a lot of emotional decisions must be made.
Jeremiah had to prophesy a tough message. It cost him. Are we called to speak to someone (or some group) a prophesy that is like the one Jeremiah had to speak? Prophesy is about leadership. MP has been leading in a prophetic way in his sermons. He has the authority as the pastor of my church. Most of us do not have that kind of authority over a congregation. But most of us do have places where we have some moral influence, if not authority. I think parents have this kind of authority but it should be used humbly and carefully. Jeremiah backed his words up with examples and evidence. It is not enough to simply make a generic statement that likely seems like a put down.
Jeremiah was concerned and mourned when God's judgment came. That is what Lamentations is all about. When God's judgment came Go, the loving God, seemed to be an adversary to his own people, "his footstool" (v.1).
When God actually opposes us, when he punishes us, is it a natural consequence of our selfish ungodly choices or is God against us. Whatever it truly is, when it is happening it looks like God is our adversary. We feel like blaming God.
People refer to the Holocaust when they read this chapter. We ask "Where is God?" (vs. 21-22) is such awful situations. The invasion of Israel and the murder of a majority of the citizens of Israel in Jeremiah's time was a similar atrocity. Everyone who survived asked bitterly "Where is God?" Jeremiah was sent to answer this awful question. He hated it.
We can only humbly empathize with those who have actually gone through such atrocities. Unfortunately it still happens in Sudan, in Bosnia, in Rwanda, and others less publicized. God is there and he weeps.
Work: We are moving down the hall to a smaller office. We have been here for over 20 years so a lot of emotional decisions must be made.
Jeremiah had to prophesy a tough message. It cost him. Are we called to speak to someone (or some group) a prophesy that is like the one Jeremiah had to speak? Prophesy is about leadership. MP has been leading in a prophetic way in his sermons. He has the authority as the pastor of my church. Most of us do not have that kind of authority over a congregation. But most of us do have places where we have some moral influence, if not authority. I think parents have this kind of authority but it should be used humbly and carefully. Jeremiah backed his words up with examples and evidence. It is not enough to simply make a generic statement that likely seems like a put down.
Jeremiah was concerned and mourned when God's judgment came. That is what Lamentations is all about. When God's judgment came Go, the loving God, seemed to be an adversary to his own people, "his footstool" (v.1).
When God actually opposes us, when he punishes us, is it a natural consequence of our selfish ungodly choices or is God against us. Whatever it truly is, when it is happening it looks like God is our adversary. We feel like blaming God.
People refer to the Holocaust when they read this chapter. We ask "Where is God?" (vs. 21-22) is such awful situations. The invasion of Israel and the murder of a majority of the citizens of Israel in Jeremiah's time was a similar atrocity. Everyone who survived asked bitterly "Where is God?" Jeremiah was sent to answer this awful question. He hated it.
We can only humbly empathize with those who have actually gone through such atrocities. Unfortunately it still happens in Sudan, in Bosnia, in Rwanda, and others less publicized. God is there and he weeps.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
last day in Israel
Yep, we are done here in Israel. The week is over. It is about 1 PM here. I have eaten lunch, the main meal of the day and am feeling pretty chipper.
So chipper that I plan to walk back out to the highway and turn up the mountain road for a 1/4 mile to a set of beehives. I want to take some close up pictures. Perhaps at 5 PM when the temperature starts to cool off.
There are beehives randomly (seemingly) placed everywhere. The are on metal flats of four so they can me moved by forklift if need be. I suspect they are here mostly for pollination of the many orchards around here.
There are orchards of olives, dates, bananas, and all sort of fruit trees. In season are plums and nectarines. Also green grapes are in season. Nectarines taste a bit different with whiter flesh and are blander.
The ride to the airport is still on though we have never met the lady. She will meet us at 6 AM. Pray for traveling mercies.
So chipper that I plan to walk back out to the highway and turn up the mountain road for a 1/4 mile to a set of beehives. I want to take some close up pictures. Perhaps at 5 PM when the temperature starts to cool off.
There are beehives randomly (seemingly) placed everywhere. The are on metal flats of four so they can me moved by forklift if need be. I suspect they are here mostly for pollination of the many orchards around here.
There are orchards of olives, dates, bananas, and all sort of fruit trees. In season are plums and nectarines. Also green grapes are in season. Nectarines taste a bit different with whiter flesh and are blander.
The ride to the airport is still on though we have never met the lady. She will meet us at 6 AM. Pray for traveling mercies.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Digging in Israel
I think DW and I are just getting the hang of the climate, the food, the local hours and it's almost time to leave.
We have confirmed a ride to the airport at 6 AM Friday morning.
Today I just did not want to get out of bed. I felt like playing hooky. But I felt the others who have suffered through the last two weeks and gotten to be, if not friends, at least familiar with each others' ways. Amanda, Matt, and Olivia have kept it real all the way along with our section leader Emilia (Amelia?) styled "Em" on her Facebook page.
We have had others come for a while. Joey was here the first week. Amanda still misses Joey. We have had high schoolers from Haifa, a family from Israel came for a day and others I forget right now. Oh yes today we had a young couple from Mexico, college students in the capitol.
Anyway, perhaps displaced, but I did not want to disappoint anyone. I suppose I would have felt some loss of face. (Incidentally we have a Japanese archaeologist volunteer this week.)
We are working with a lot students. These young people are smart and motivated. Most are pretty expert language students. Matt and Olivia like to play around with different languages.
Oh yes, how can I forget Ken, a man our age who is a long time repeat volunteer. He has been working on other projects around our section so I have not worked with him as much. But he has been generous to drive us places. We tried to make church Sunday night but he had a flat so we could not go.
The dig leaders are great with people and highly energized. We have done some evening tours that have been hard on me because I hate bus rides. These rides are even worse because they are through the mountains and the roads here are more like F.M. roads in U.S.A.
The food still bugs my stomach. Yet I eat it and have not significantly lost weight. It tastes alright bland but alright. It just is hard to digest.
We are actually considering coming back next year. I wonder what the leaders privately think about that.
We have confirmed a ride to the airport at 6 AM Friday morning.
Today I just did not want to get out of bed. I felt like playing hooky. But I felt the others who have suffered through the last two weeks and gotten to be, if not friends, at least familiar with each others' ways. Amanda, Matt, and Olivia have kept it real all the way along with our section leader Emilia (Amelia?) styled "Em" on her Facebook page.
We have had others come for a while. Joey was here the first week. Amanda still misses Joey. We have had high schoolers from Haifa, a family from Israel came for a day and others I forget right now. Oh yes today we had a young couple from Mexico, college students in the capitol.
Anyway, perhaps displaced, but I did not want to disappoint anyone. I suppose I would have felt some loss of face. (Incidentally we have a Japanese archaeologist volunteer this week.)
We are working with a lot students. These young people are smart and motivated. Most are pretty expert language students. Matt and Olivia like to play around with different languages.
Oh yes, how can I forget Ken, a man our age who is a long time repeat volunteer. He has been working on other projects around our section so I have not worked with him as much. But he has been generous to drive us places. We tried to make church Sunday night but he had a flat so we could not go.
The dig leaders are great with people and highly energized. We have done some evening tours that have been hard on me because I hate bus rides. These rides are even worse because they are through the mountains and the roads here are more like F.M. roads in U.S.A.
The food still bugs my stomach. Yet I eat it and have not significantly lost weight. It tastes alright bland but alright. It just is hard to digest.
We are actually considering coming back next year. I wonder what the leaders privately think about that.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Psalm 11
Am I projecting or is the psalmist here working to be trusting? He is not totally ready to trust God wholeheartedly. What do you think? Is it there or am I adding it from my own emotions?
[1] In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain;
[2] For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
[3] If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?"
[4] The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
[5] The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
[6] Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
[7] For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.
The psalmist sees things might not work out perfectly. He may be tried and tested. Yet he is convinced that his final fate will be much better than that of the unrighteous, the sinner who does not respect God.
The psalmist knows God is in control (4). Yet things may still be hard for him.
There is a hint of the fire and brimstone preachers of old (6). Our before God might be hard. But it will be much worse for us if we abandon God and follow sinful desires. God loves righteousness (7). He hates the unrighteous (5). So choose righteousness. It will be better for you in the end.
The psalmist encourages himself, "God loves the righteous!" I encourage myself with that, with the proviso that Jesus is my righteousness. God loves me. I will endeavor to love him back.
[1] In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain;
[2] For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
[3] If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?"
[4] The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
[5] The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
[6] Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
[7] For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.
The psalmist sees things might not work out perfectly. He may be tried and tested. Yet he is convinced that his final fate will be much better than that of the unrighteous, the sinner who does not respect God.
The psalmist knows God is in control (4). Yet things may still be hard for him.
There is a hint of the fire and brimstone preachers of old (6). Our before God might be hard. But it will be much worse for us if we abandon God and follow sinful desires. God loves righteousness (7). He hates the unrighteous (5). So choose righteousness. It will be better for you in the end.
The psalmist encourages himself, "God loves the righteous!" I encourage myself with that, with the proviso that Jesus is my righteousness. God loves me. I will endeavor to love him back.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
from Kibbutz Alon eiv Gev
We got sick Thursday, the last dig day. It is Saturday noon here, Sabbath is almost over. I think I am feeling good enough to start my second week tomorrow. I am not sure about Barbara. She figured before we started she would lay out some days.
We have moved to a new room. This one opens to the outside. Restrooms and showers and down the outside passage. But we do have our own TV and refrigerator. The refrigerator is full of food.
I was reading in Nehemiah 8 where Nehemiah and some elders open the book of Moses, specifically the rules. They explain them from morning until noon.
When we hear God's word we are to rejoice (Nehemiah 8:9-12). So after the telling and the understanding they have a party. They rejoice together.
But not before worship and conviction. Nehemiah reads the scripture to the people. They were convicted of their sin. They were crying. Nehemiah told them repentance should be followed by rejoicing.
At this point (and at other times as well) the entire nation, men and women, all who were of the age of understanding are said to understand God's word and desire to practice it completely. Unfortunately times like these do not last for the Israelites. They do not last for us either.
God please help us to follow you will completely and with joy in our hearts.
We have moved to a new room. This one opens to the outside. Restrooms and showers and down the outside passage. But we do have our own TV and refrigerator. The refrigerator is full of food.
I was reading in Nehemiah 8 where Nehemiah and some elders open the book of Moses, specifically the rules. They explain them from morning until noon.
When we hear God's word we are to rejoice (Nehemiah 8:9-12). So after the telling and the understanding they have a party. They rejoice together.
But not before worship and conviction. Nehemiah reads the scripture to the people. They were convicted of their sin. They were crying. Nehemiah told them repentance should be followed by rejoicing.
At this point (and at other times as well) the entire nation, men and women, all who were of the age of understanding are said to understand God's word and desire to practice it completely. Unfortunately times like these do not last for the Israelites. They do not last for us either.
God please help us to follow you will completely and with joy in our hearts.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Acts 2 - amazing growth
I may have spoke of this before. But the commentator marveled at the instant church.
A church of 120 who had been with Jesus for a while multiplied almost 30 times at Peter's first sermon. Obviously all of this was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Just think of that kind of growth in you church! How would you handle it?
The vast majority of the 3,000 converts wanted to join them. If you do evangelism you are responsible for the discipleship of who are saved. The next verses after 42 describe how they did it.
Verse 42 speaks to how they did it. "The apostles doctrine and fellowship" must have involved regular group teachings and personal, one on one or small group, sharing. They also got together to pray and had an early, simple version of a communion service to remember Jesus and his saving work. That is what Jesus told them to do after all.
The ideas of priestly privilege and the concept that only the initiated should receive had not been developed yet. It was a simple thing, a remembrance.
Verses 44-45 scare those who want to take this as a literal blueprint for how Christians should live now: Those who were converted lived together and shared all their things in common. Many (or all) sold what they had to give to their new brothers. This was a full time, seven day a week commitment, not just an hour or two on Sunday. But judging from the advice Paul gives in his letters, this was not the standard for every church, just the first one.
But many groups throughout the years have tried this original church plan, with limited success. The holy orders of the Catholic church have been the longest lasting attempts to live like this. They immediately realized that there must be rules. People are sinful. After the first blush of excitement is over there will be problems. There is also the temptation to retreat from the world. Most orders understand the importance of keeping contact with the world. The wisely understood this problem too.
US attempts to form Christian communities often started with a sort of utopian model. They often failed when people got illusioned. There are still some communities that attempt to embrace a simpler lifestyle and a more vibrant relationship with God. All these, I think, are based on this Acts 2 model of the church. But this is not the only church model that the Bible shows.
A church of 120 who had been with Jesus for a while multiplied almost 30 times at Peter's first sermon. Obviously all of this was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Just think of that kind of growth in you church! How would you handle it?
The vast majority of the 3,000 converts wanted to join them. If you do evangelism you are responsible for the discipleship of who are saved. The next verses after 42 describe how they did it.
Verse 42 speaks to how they did it. "The apostles doctrine and fellowship" must have involved regular group teachings and personal, one on one or small group, sharing. They also got together to pray and had an early, simple version of a communion service to remember Jesus and his saving work. That is what Jesus told them to do after all.
The ideas of priestly privilege and the concept that only the initiated should receive had not been developed yet. It was a simple thing, a remembrance.
Verses 44-45 scare those who want to take this as a literal blueprint for how Christians should live now: Those who were converted lived together and shared all their things in common. Many (or all) sold what they had to give to their new brothers. This was a full time, seven day a week commitment, not just an hour or two on Sunday. But judging from the advice Paul gives in his letters, this was not the standard for every church, just the first one.
But many groups throughout the years have tried this original church plan, with limited success. The holy orders of the Catholic church have been the longest lasting attempts to live like this. They immediately realized that there must be rules. People are sinful. After the first blush of excitement is over there will be problems. There is also the temptation to retreat from the world. Most orders understand the importance of keeping contact with the world. The wisely understood this problem too.
US attempts to form Christian communities often started with a sort of utopian model. They often failed when people got illusioned. There are still some communities that attempt to embrace a simpler lifestyle and a more vibrant relationship with God. All these, I think, are based on this Acts 2 model of the church. But this is not the only church model that the Bible shows.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Ragtime by E. L Doctorow (a long review)
Is that the guy's real name?
Well the book does not say one way on another.
This book is set on the first page in 1902 in New Rochelle, NY. The first family we meet is never named. The family is called Father, Mother, Mother's Brother, and Son. We follow them in snatches throughout the book. The last family we meet is also never named, the father is a poor Jewish man and his young daughter. He is called Tateh. So fathers play a big role.
In between Doctorow intersperses famous people of the time including Pierpont Morgan, Henry Houdini, and the characters in the "Trial of the Century" Stanford White, Henry K. Thaw, and Evelyn Nesbit. Looking in Wikipedia a lot of the smaller characters also lived. Doctorow wishes to create a story around these characters and more importantly describe the ethos of this time and place.
I think he does a very good job of describing the culture but in so doing he also reveals his own prejudices. He is certainly an atheist but also somehow believes in a karma type fate. I am reminded of some modern movies. His culture is godless, warping it quite a bit.
Perhaps the eccentric views he has Morgan espouse also reflect the author's views. It is not clear. But the waspish views of Father and Mother and the extremely legalistic moral views of Tateh are also described.
A major conflict that fills the last half of the book does not seem to have an basis in fact but serves to bring all these other characters together is the tragic plight of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. His car is vandalized simply because he is a negro. He goes on a vengeful rampage which kills many people and finally gets himself killed. If this in fact happened surely it would be on the internet.
It is a touching story that we are led to believe, because of all that comes before, actually happened. That is very misleading. Doctorow would like us to believe that it could, even should, have happened. White people had it coming.
Anyway the book ends with our poor Jewish artist Tateh moving out to California and getting rich in pictures, specifically creating the "Our Gang" comedies using his personal experience as inspiration. That is nice but a bit unsatisfying because his name is never mentioned. Searching in Wikipedia the creator of Our Gang was Hal Roach who may be Jewish but it doesn't mention. He was born in up state New York but seems to have spent a lot of time in Alaska before moving to CA. So Doctorow's Tateh is only very loosely based on Roach, that is why he is never named I guess.
So Ragtime starts out describing that might have happened but perhaps jumps over into impossibility after a while unless you subscribe to a very cynical view of life. Perhaps I do or perhaps I don't but I did not get joy in having my nose rubbed in it.
Well the book does not say one way on another.
This book is set on the first page in 1902 in New Rochelle, NY. The first family we meet is never named. The family is called Father, Mother, Mother's Brother, and Son. We follow them in snatches throughout the book. The last family we meet is also never named, the father is a poor Jewish man and his young daughter. He is called Tateh. So fathers play a big role.
In between Doctorow intersperses famous people of the time including Pierpont Morgan, Henry Houdini, and the characters in the "Trial of the Century" Stanford White, Henry K. Thaw, and Evelyn Nesbit. Looking in Wikipedia a lot of the smaller characters also lived. Doctorow wishes to create a story around these characters and more importantly describe the ethos of this time and place.
I think he does a very good job of describing the culture but in so doing he also reveals his own prejudices. He is certainly an atheist but also somehow believes in a karma type fate. I am reminded of some modern movies. His culture is godless, warping it quite a bit.
Perhaps the eccentric views he has Morgan espouse also reflect the author's views. It is not clear. But the waspish views of Father and Mother and the extremely legalistic moral views of Tateh are also described.
A major conflict that fills the last half of the book does not seem to have an basis in fact but serves to bring all these other characters together is the tragic plight of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. His car is vandalized simply because he is a negro. He goes on a vengeful rampage which kills many people and finally gets himself killed. If this in fact happened surely it would be on the internet.
It is a touching story that we are led to believe, because of all that comes before, actually happened. That is very misleading. Doctorow would like us to believe that it could, even should, have happened. White people had it coming.
Anyway the book ends with our poor Jewish artist Tateh moving out to California and getting rich in pictures, specifically creating the "Our Gang" comedies using his personal experience as inspiration. That is nice but a bit unsatisfying because his name is never mentioned. Searching in Wikipedia the creator of Our Gang was Hal Roach who may be Jewish but it doesn't mention. He was born in up state New York but seems to have spent a lot of time in Alaska before moving to CA. So Doctorow's Tateh is only very loosely based on Roach, that is why he is never named I guess.
So Ragtime starts out describing that might have happened but perhaps jumps over into impossibility after a while unless you subscribe to a very cynical view of life. Perhaps I do or perhaps I don't but I did not get joy in having my nose rubbed in it.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Adventure traveling
Traveling is still and adventure. I thought I ad planned it out, really I did. But I did not ask for help from the people on the other end, people I do not know, people I thought might be too busy. I underestimated the serious problem arriving on shabbat (sabbath) would be.
I hate the long flights but this year things were much much better. Traveling this year had a lot to do with waiting. April dropped us off at the airport. We got into an elite line, just our blessing. It meant we had to wait in the gate lounge for three hours. We got to Toronto only to find that the flight to Tel Aviv was delayed. We waited four hours. Then after a blessedly short 10 hour flight we arrived in Tel Aviv to the reality that the only way to the kibbutz would require a $250 taxi drive. The knew if we wait until after shabbat we can get a $15 bus ride directly there. But that require an 7 hour wait until shabbat is over.
So we took the taxi to the central bus terminal in Tel-Aviv. Then we waited outside for a couple of hours that seemed like more sitting out on the sidewalk. Few speak English and those that do are hard to understand. Thus I did know I could enter at least an hour before we did. Then it took us a while to realize that while the escalator was blocked the elevator worked up to the top floor where the buses were.
Barbara got the very bright idea that Tvias was the same thing as Tiberias in bus parlance. I asked a driver who after consulting with someone who spoke English replied "yes". So I warily got on with DW. We drove on an inerurban bus that stopped a lot to Tiberias. We stopped in a relatively large town called Afula (while I had never heard of). The next stop was Tiberias. I could hardly believe it. It took only 2:15 of while I dozed a lot. DW dozed at the bus station while I read. I finished my Doctorow book, "Ragtime" from leaving Houstonto waiting in the bus station. I gotta go soon so signing off. Probably tomorrow a review of Doctorow.
I hate the long flights but this year things were much much better. Traveling this year had a lot to do with waiting. April dropped us off at the airport. We got into an elite line, just our blessing. It meant we had to wait in the gate lounge for three hours. We got to Toronto only to find that the flight to Tel Aviv was delayed. We waited four hours. Then after a blessedly short 10 hour flight we arrived in Tel Aviv to the reality that the only way to the kibbutz would require a $250 taxi drive. The knew if we wait until after shabbat we can get a $15 bus ride directly there. But that require an 7 hour wait until shabbat is over.
So we took the taxi to the central bus terminal in Tel-Aviv. Then we waited outside for a couple of hours that seemed like more sitting out on the sidewalk. Few speak English and those that do are hard to understand. Thus I did know I could enter at least an hour before we did. Then it took us a while to realize that while the escalator was blocked the elevator worked up to the top floor where the buses were.
Barbara got the very bright idea that Tvias was the same thing as Tiberias in bus parlance. I asked a driver who after consulting with someone who spoke English replied "yes". So I warily got on with DW. We drove on an inerurban bus that stopped a lot to Tiberias. We stopped in a relatively large town called Afula (while I had never heard of). The next stop was Tiberias. I could hardly believe it. It took only 2:15 of while I dozed a lot. DW dozed at the bus station while I read. I finished my Doctorow book, "Ragtime" from leaving Houstonto waiting in the bus station. I gotta go soon so signing off. Probably tomorrow a review of Doctorow.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Clark Pinnock
Clark Pinnock quote: "Most wonderfully the Spirit is God's face turned towards us."
This is probably enough. Clark Pinnock is a great modern Christian writer. Some people might enjoy reading his stuff. Check it out.
The complete quote: "Most wonderfully, the Spirit is God's face turned towards us and God's presence abiding with us, the agency by which God reaches out and draws near, the power that creates and heals"
Peter's first sermon was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
This is probably enough. Clark Pinnock is a great modern Christian writer. Some people might enjoy reading his stuff. Check it out.
The complete quote: "Most wonderfully, the Spirit is God's face turned towards us and God's presence abiding with us, the agency by which God reaches out and draws near, the power that creates and heals"
Peter's first sermon was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Acts 1
Our Life Group was discussing whether it was necessary for the disciples to replace Judas, completing the twelve again.
The commentator explains at least part of the question very well. "Jesus chose twelve to establish the continuity with the old covenant and at the same time to announce the arrival of the new." So twelve was an important number.
But that does not really answer of whether they still needed 12 after Jesus had gone back up to heaven. But it was an important symbol when Jesus was on earth.
The commentator also mentions the expression "continually in prayer". The discples, beginning the new church, we continually in prayer. He asks do our churches know anything about being continually in prayer. I do not think ours does. Some might perhaps. I confess I don't.
But I know that at the beginnings of the renewal at Redeemer Episcopal there was continuous prayer. They met every morning before work, getting up a couple hours earlier than they would need to normally. The Azusa revival at the turn of the 1900's also had continuous prayer. Revival brings continuous prayer and visa versa.
The commentator explains at least part of the question very well. "Jesus chose twelve to establish the continuity with the old covenant and at the same time to announce the arrival of the new." So twelve was an important number.
But that does not really answer of whether they still needed 12 after Jesus had gone back up to heaven. But it was an important symbol when Jesus was on earth.
The commentator also mentions the expression "continually in prayer". The discples, beginning the new church, we continually in prayer. He asks do our churches know anything about being continually in prayer. I do not think ours does. Some might perhaps. I confess I don't.
But I know that at the beginnings of the renewal at Redeemer Episcopal there was continuous prayer. They met every morning before work, getting up a couple hours earlier than they would need to normally. The Azusa revival at the turn of the 1900's also had continuous prayer. Revival brings continuous prayer and visa versa.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Lawndale Annex
DW and I went to an art exhibit opening at Lawndale Annex Friday night. It was mostly paintings but there were some sculpted objects and a couple of videos. Lawndale Annex is in the 4900 block of Main Street. They have ample parking.
We were talking about a painting when we were introduced to the artist. He was a normal looking young man with very short reddish hair. You always think of artists looking artsy in some way. He did not make that effort. The place was packed. There were a lot of the observers who did make the effort to look artsy.
I said something complementary about the three dimensional quality of some the objects in the painting. That got him talking about his motivation for the piece. I tried to act intelligent to keep him going but I had no clue how to react. I could not see where in the painting his motivations showed up.
The canvas was large, maybe three feet by four feet. Lots of the canvas was bare white. There were objects of different styles. Some objects seemed to have a relation to each other. But other things had no relation that I could see.
He did not mention any message, thank God, because I certainly could not see one. He said he was breaking away from realism in previous works. This work was a whimsy. He did not use that word. He said something about making fun, of himself, of his previous work. He called it playful.
But it was stark. There were different kinds of images, some flat and one color, some showing shadows. None of the objects were identifiable. Maybe that is what he meant by playful.
I mentioned to him two flat shapes in the lower right that DW and I thought looked like demons. That reminded him in a previous work he did draw characters from a fantastical SciFi book, I forgot the name. He said that was the geek coming out in him.
He stayed talking to us for a few minutes then politely excused himself to move on. He was so ordinary I do not think I would recognize him again.
We were talking about a painting when we were introduced to the artist. He was a normal looking young man with very short reddish hair. You always think of artists looking artsy in some way. He did not make that effort. The place was packed. There were a lot of the observers who did make the effort to look artsy.
I said something complementary about the three dimensional quality of some the objects in the painting. That got him talking about his motivation for the piece. I tried to act intelligent to keep him going but I had no clue how to react. I could not see where in the painting his motivations showed up.
The canvas was large, maybe three feet by four feet. Lots of the canvas was bare white. There were objects of different styles. Some objects seemed to have a relation to each other. But other things had no relation that I could see.
He did not mention any message, thank God, because I certainly could not see one. He said he was breaking away from realism in previous works. This work was a whimsy. He did not use that word. He said something about making fun, of himself, of his previous work. He called it playful.
But it was stark. There were different kinds of images, some flat and one color, some showing shadows. None of the objects were identifiable. Maybe that is what he meant by playful.
I mentioned to him two flat shapes in the lower right that DW and I thought looked like demons. That reminded him in a previous work he did draw characters from a fantastical SciFi book, I forgot the name. He said that was the geek coming out in him.
He stayed talking to us for a few minutes then politely excused himself to move on. He was so ordinary I do not think I would recognize him again.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Revelation 13
This is sort of a climax here. The beast comes out of the sea. He has ten horns and seven heads.
I really do not have a handle on this. Perhaps too many distractions right now.
In verse 3 one of the heads is killed but then comes to life. Perhaps this is a parody of Jesus' death and resurrection. Anyway this sign causes people to worship this beast.
He is given authority for 3 1/2 years. We think of a Beast like "Beauty and the Beast" a awful looking monster like thing, perhaps like Chewbacca. Both these beasts that speak were good hearted. But I think the beast might be the opposite - good looking but evil. It would be sort of the opposite of those two modern fictional characters.
Call it my paranoia but I suspect the Beauty and the Beast send up was done conscious of the Revelation image. It was a sort of to make a mockery of it. Perhaps people who love this play/movie will object to this. The Beast with a good heart is a great image, even romantic. Still I think the intention of the writers originally was impious. That does not mean it cannot be used for good.
That's a weird aside. But this is a serious problem. We often do admire the wrong things. This beast that does amazing signs and speaks with tremendous authority is often wrongly worshiped. On can think of Hitler in the 20th century and Napoleon in the 18th (?) century. Both spoke with authority and had great followings.
But John certainly had Roman authority in mind here. Perhaps even specifically the head that died but then came back to life could refer to Nero who killed himself but whose policies were mimicked by Domitian. The heads could refer to successive Roman emperors.
The emperors were considered like gods and they were worshiped in temples. Those who did not worship were persecuted and sometimes killed.
But we are told to consider the fruits of such men/beasts. We will know when Jesus returns and be the one who is truly worthy of worship. We will not have to guess. We must not be distracted by great signs. Hitler resurrected the German economy and created great things like superhighways and automobiles. I am not sure what signs Napoleon did. The Romans continued to keep the peace and also build great roads and aqueducts. It was considered miraculous at the time. But it was not worthy of worship.
I really do not have a handle on this. Perhaps too many distractions right now.
In verse 3 one of the heads is killed but then comes to life. Perhaps this is a parody of Jesus' death and resurrection. Anyway this sign causes people to worship this beast.
He is given authority for 3 1/2 years. We think of a Beast like "Beauty and the Beast" a awful looking monster like thing, perhaps like Chewbacca. Both these beasts that speak were good hearted. But I think the beast might be the opposite - good looking but evil. It would be sort of the opposite of those two modern fictional characters.
Call it my paranoia but I suspect the Beauty and the Beast send up was done conscious of the Revelation image. It was a sort of to make a mockery of it. Perhaps people who love this play/movie will object to this. The Beast with a good heart is a great image, even romantic. Still I think the intention of the writers originally was impious. That does not mean it cannot be used for good.
That's a weird aside. But this is a serious problem. We often do admire the wrong things. This beast that does amazing signs and speaks with tremendous authority is often wrongly worshiped. On can think of Hitler in the 20th century and Napoleon in the 18th (?) century. Both spoke with authority and had great followings.
But John certainly had Roman authority in mind here. Perhaps even specifically the head that died but then came back to life could refer to Nero who killed himself but whose policies were mimicked by Domitian. The heads could refer to successive Roman emperors.
The emperors were considered like gods and they were worshiped in temples. Those who did not worship were persecuted and sometimes killed.
But we are told to consider the fruits of such men/beasts. We will know when Jesus returns and be the one who is truly worthy of worship. We will not have to guess. We must not be distracted by great signs. Hitler resurrected the German economy and created great things like superhighways and automobiles. I am not sure what signs Napoleon did. The Romans continued to keep the peace and also build great roads and aqueducts. It was considered miraculous at the time. But it was not worthy of worship.
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