Reflections on Spiritual Songs

Inspired by McLaren's mysticism, I picked up my collected works of St. John of the Cross, which includes some remarkable poetry. Normally, I'm not a poetry type person. I tend to enjoy a beautiful novel or short story. But, this stuff is an exception. St. John was a Catholic mystic from Spain who lived in the 16th century. One of his more well-known works is The Dark Night. Here's one poem in particular that I love.

A lone young shepherd lived in pain
withdrawn from pleasure and contentment
his thoughts fixed on a shepherd-girl
his heart an open wound with love.

He weeps, but not from the would of love,
there is no pain in such affliction
even though the heart is pierced;
he weeps in knowing he's been forgotten.

That one thought: his shining one
has forgotten him, is such great pain
that he bows to brutal handling in a foreign land,
his heart an open wound with love.

The shepherd says: I pity the one
who draws herself back from my love,
and does not seek the joy of my presences,
though my heart is an open wound with love for her.

After a long time he climbed a tree,
and spread his shining arms,
and hung by them, and died,
his heart an open wound with love.

Reflections on Mystery and Poetry

This weekend I started reading Brian McLaren's A Generous Orthodoxy. I really want to get a handle on the Emerging Church conversation that's currently going on, so I plan on reading a series of books on it. I'll give some of my impressions along the way. So far, I've been enjoying McLaren's book. I went into it expecting to be shocked and outraged, but it actually has been been uplifting and even convicting at points. Maybe I'm more emerging than I think?

Anyway, he writes one chapter entitled, "Why I am a Mystic/Poet." I knew I was going to like it right off the bat. He basically says that Western Protestantism has reduced the faith to a series of organized and managable systems (i.e. systematic theology). The attitude is that anything we can know about God, we can know through reason. Phooey, says McLaren. We have distilled all of the mystery out of God, Christ, and the Church. Rather, some things can only be expressed with the wonder and heart of a poet. He recommends that all theologians should also be poets. Amen.

As I reflected on this a bit more, it struck me. This is why Christian art/music/film/ literature sucks! We've lost the mysterious poetic heart of the faith. At one time, the Church produced some of the greatest literature, poetry, and art in the world. Now, the best we've got (at least from the Protestant tradition) is Thomas Kinkade. It seems to me that this mysterious heart will take a long time to be revived. I think it's starting to happen (slowly) in the music world. But, I look forward to the day when I can watch a Christian movie that bestows awe and wonder like Glory or Lord of the Rings.

Reflections on Long Weekend

Four day weekends go so quickly. The weekend seemed to just fly by unfortunately. Friday was fun though. There's nothing like an afternoon game at Wrigley field. Cubs versus Braves. We ended up leaving in the 9th inning with the Cubs on top 5-3. After we left they proceeded to give up 3 runs and lose the game. Way to go Cubs. Regardless, it was a relaxing afternoon.

After the game, we went downtown and checked out Fourth Presbyterian on Michigan Avenue. What a great church. We found out that they hold a Taize prayer service there the last Friday of every month. We're determined to go to that hopefully next month.

The rest of the weekend has been pretty uneventful. Saturday we read all day, and yesterday we grilled out with our friends Neal and Meryl. Alas, tomorrow I have to go back to work. Amazing how fast four days of relaxation can pass by.

Reflections on Fours Days Off

After today, I'll be enjoying a much anticipated four-day weekend. Kathi and I are heading down to the city tomorrow to catch a Cubs game. Despite the Cubs' woeful season so far, it's going to be wonderful to watch a game at Wrigley. Man, the Cubs are bad. Anyway, then Monday is sweet, sweet Memorial Day. Four days of reading, relaxing, and sleeping in. Chicago Cubs in Hebrew...priceless!

Reflections on Simple Prayer

I came across a wonderful prayer the other day. It comes from the Guide to Prayer devotional book, and it reads: Lord, give me eyes to see, and ears to hear, and the faith to respond to your words of guidance and love. So simple, and so perfect. It reveals the true heart of a servant. This prayer has helped me to move my eyes away from the chaos around me and inside me. It's so hard to believe that God actually takes joy in my prayers. He responds to them out of His love and grace.

God did show His face to us yesterday. We received a support check from a friend that covers the entire amount of our candidate orientation next month! I felt very undeserving. But, it was a reminder that He is with us and is calling us to ministry. He really does respond out of sheer grace.

Reflections on Spiritual Ramblings

I really need to fall in love with the Gospel again. My mind and my heart have been so assaulted by so many ideas and beliefs that it's hard to see the Gospel as the life-giving path that it really is. I fell like I'm stuck in a massive grey area where every exception or special case seems to strip the Gospel of some of its power. Life is so big and confusing - one jumbled mess. People are so complex and intricate. It's hard not to let the Gospel get watered down in my heart when confront with all of this. Am I making any sense?

Back in the early days of his ministry, Billy Graham was confront with challenges to the Gospel, for which he had been working so hard. He had to come to a point where he stepped out in faith and simply believed that God's Word was true. He was determined to stare right in the face of Jesus and never look away. It was then that his ministry began exhibiting power. Truly, the world will pass away, but the Word of the Lord will stand forever.

Reflections on City of Big Shoulders

Now that I have some new-found reading time, I picked up The City of Big Shoulders by Robert Spinney again. I'm really loving this book. It's the only concise history of Chicago I could find, and it is awesome. As I'm reading it, my conviction that Chicago is the greatest city in the world continues to be bolstered. It makes me want to move down into the city and become a tour guide. It has also given me some perspective on the current immigration issue.

Between 1880 and 1920, millions of Europeans emigrated to the United States. Unlike the waves of immigration before, this period mostly saw people from southern and eastern Europe who spoke little or no English. This was the so-called "New Immigration." These immigrates mostly moved into ethnic enclaves in the major American cities taking unskilled low-paying jobs such as meat-packing or other manual labor.

The dominant Anglo-American population at the time characterized these immigrants as anti-American, lazy, atheist socialists, and there was considerable discrimation toward them. But, in actuality these families simply wanted something better for their children (which was the exact smae position the Anglo-Americans were in a few generations before). Indeed, the children of these immigrants excelled and eventually integrated into the mainstream of American society.

Now we're in a similar position with Hispanics in this country. These families for the most part want the same thing we want for our families. It seems that many of us do have some unspoken prejudices toward Hispanics, which manifests itself in apprehension toward welcoming these people into our country. Now, I'm not suggesting "open boarders," but allowing immigrants, legal or illegal an opportunity to gain for their children the same things our grandparents gained for us.

Reflections on Parched Souls

As I was driving to work this morning, I was listening to some worship music. One particular verse that stuck out to me went, "When the nations crumble, the Word of the Lord will stand." The reason it stood out was that I saw in my heart that I really didn't believe it. Of course, there was affirmation in my intellect and will, but something inside me couldn't grasp and hold on to it. I realized that it wasn't just this one verse. There was so much about Jesus that my heart hasn't wanted to apprehend.

These past few months, I've seen how my heart has withered and hardened toward God and His truths. The very essentials of faith have seemed so distant and foreign. God actually accepts me and wants me know and experience His love for me? His truth will outlast any belief or thought the world has to offer?

This is what happens when a Christian is separate from his/her life-blood; namely, the Word, prayer, and fellowship. The verse in Hebrews is so real to me:

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. -Hebrews 3:12-14

It's recovery time now. The good news is that there is no place from which Jesus can't rescue me. He is my Good Shepherd. He sees my heart more fully than anyone, and He will restore me by His grace. That is the essense of the Gospel.

Reflections on Culture Clash

So, normally I wouldn't even bring up this topic, but I read something really interesting regarding The Da Vinci Code controversy today. According to BBC News, Muslims in Mumbai have joined with Roman Catholics in protesting the release of the movie in India. They believe that the movie insults one of their most honored prophets and should be banned. Muslim leaders in India have declared that the contentions presented in the book are blasphemous to both Muslims and Christians. Strange bed-fellows indeed.

Islam actually does have a uniquely exalted view of Jesus. He's accorded honors that other prophets, including Muhammad, are not. For example, Jesus is described as the "word" from God, Muslims believe he performed many miracles (check out surah 3.49 for a unique one), and they affirm the Virgin Birth. The rub is Christ's divinity, which Muslims vehemently reject as idolatry.

So, back to The Da Vinci Code, I haven't decided whether I'm going to see it. I remember the comparable controversy that surrounded The Passion of the Christ, and I had hoped that those who were against it would at least see it before they condemned it. Perhaps we, as Christians, should extend the same respect to this movie. Maybe it's a renter. What do you guys think?

Reflections on Ten Thousand Words

Finished! Finito! Fini! Terminado! Fertig! Today I turn in my Masters Integration Paper into my advisor. Praise the Lord, it is over. I actually get to go home tonight and do nothing. I'll be able to pay attention to my wife again (thank you for your patience, my love). I can read for pleasure once more! It is indeed a great feeling. Generally, I'm happy with how it turned out, but it could have use a bit more work. Here are some final statistics on the paper: 35 pages, approx. 10,000 words, 48 footnotes, 21 citations, and the blood, sweat, and tears of four months.

Reflections on Birthday Wishes Unfulfilled

I just cannot cut a break. I was hoping I could watch the Reds win a game for my birthday, but alas. It didn't help that the Phillies' pitcher took a perfect game into the seventh. Final score: Phillies 2, Reds 0. Regardless of the loss, it was a great time with Brian and Karin. Check out some more pictures here. Unfortunately, Randy and Sarah weren't able to make it. Sarah came down with a bad case of stomach unpleasantness. We missed them.

Speaking of Randy Surface. Here's a guy that can't cut a break. We have concluded that Randy has is own baseball hex. Growing up, he was never a sports kinda guy. Was always indifferent or even repulsed by baseball until he spent a year in France. He came home resolving to like baseball. It's been his intention ever since to attend his first Major League game.

About four years ago, he came up to Chicago and we went to Wrigley to see the Cubs. Well, we happened to go to the game that Daryl Kyle died, which was cancelled before it started. Last year, he came up and we tried our luck at a Brewers game. We got the wrong start time and ended up arriving at the stadium around the eighth inning. Now this weekend his wife gets sick. We just can't figure out why God doesn't want him to see a baseball game.

Reflections on Road Warriors

Kathi and I are heading out on the road again this weekend. This time it's my parent's home in Dayton, Ohio. We hope that this will be a chance to love and minister to my family, namely, my mom and grandmother, both of whom are sick. We're also hanging out with Brian, Karin, Randy and Sarah on Saturday as we take in a Reds game in Cincinnati. That'll be a good time. But, it will be in the midst of heartache. I pray so much that we will be a blessing to my family this weekend.

On an unrelated note, I just started going through a One-Year Bible reading plan. I've never liked the idea of trying to stuff my Scripture reading into a daily schedule, but my pastor's been pushing it the last couple of weeks. Actually, I've really been enjoying it. Without something like this we tend to gravitate to our favorite passages and neglect the whole counsel of Scripture. I was challenged by some hard wisdom in Proverbs yesterday:

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
-Proverbs 15:1, 4

Reflections on Family Cares

We found out this week that my grandmother has cancer. They're still determining how serious it is. This comes right after recovering from hip surgery as well as a mini-stroke. Please pray for her. I love my Granny. She's such a vibrant and joyful woman. It's hard on her spirit being burdened by all this illness. Kathi and I are going to visit her this weekend while we're in Ohio.

As they say, when it rains, it pours. Last week I got a call at 3am from the hospital in Hamilton letting me know that my mom had been admitted and was going into surgery. She had to have an emergency appendectomy, which they did just in time. Apparently her appendix was close to bursting. She's back home recovering now. We're just adding this to her list of mild to moderate medical malladies. We joke that her medical file must be the size of War and Peace.

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Reflections on Spiritual Anorexia

It was a rough weekend for Kathi and I. Please be praying for us as we are sorting out so many different things right now. Kathi in particular is emotionally exhausted and numb. As for me, I'm really struggling with my spiritual nurishment right now. The last few months have been so busy that I have neglected reading the Word and communing with God. The best way to describe it is spiritual anorexia. I feel thin and hollow. Pray that Kathi and I would committ ourselves again to the reading of His Word and to prayer.

Reflections on American Materialism, Part Three

You are not going to believe this! This past week several evangelical Christian groups gathered in Washington D.C. to pray for lower gas prices! Prayer vigils were held at local gas stations to petition God Almighty to lower the price of gasoline and relieve the burden on the American consumer. According to ABCNews, "They say they're sick of the rising gas prices and believe it's time to ask God to step in." You can read the entire article here.

Unbelievable. I'm uttely dumb-founded. Has the church gone off the deep end? I feel like we're all going crazy! Aaaggghhh!

Where in Scripture are we guaranteed by God a nice comfortable existence with low fuel costs, flat-screen televisions, and vacations to Branson, Missouri? Indeed the exact opposite is true. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are assured by God that walking with Him will cost us everything! We have no right to our very lives let alone $1.50 a gallon at the pump!

There are millions of people around the world in abject poverty. Hundreds of thousands of Christians are being mocked, slandered, and killed for their faith. And, this is what we pray for. I am ashamed.

Reflections on Sweet Normalcy

Ah, normalcy. Slowly you are showing your sweet face again. Tonight is my last class, and therefore my last 12-hour day. I'm also turning in the paper that I had due in my Islam class, which is one more monkey off my back. Now it's time to hunker down and get the thesis done.

Most importantly though is that I'm starting to spend time in the Word again. My communion with God has been severely lacking the past two months, and it has shown in my heart and life. If anything this period has just exposed how undisciplined I really am in these areas. I'm so thankful that God's grace is for me.

Reflections on May Day

On this date in 1886, the American labor force displayed its collective strength by holding a strike in favor of the 8-hour work day. To commemorate this historic event, I too have taken the day off of work as a sign of unity toward my socialist brothers and sisters. For too long has the Man been holding us down. For too long has he required us to complete 40-page Integration papers! But, we will not take it any longer! Like Che and Castro and those brave workers from 120 years ago, we will fight! I'm not going to go to work today, and I'm going to finish my Masters Integration Paper, and I'm going to do a half-assed job at that! Solidarity!

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