Fourth Sunday of Advent
Theotokos

“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;
They have laid siege against us;
With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.
But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
Therefore He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne a child.
The the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.
And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
And He will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth. Micah 5:1-4

Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joyh. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:39-45

Intro: Like other Christmas scenes taken from scripture,

The moment Mary entered the home of Elizabeth has inspired countless paintings
– from the rigidly posed figures in ancient icons
• to Renaissance realism and many of today’s cheesy illustrations and graphics
– all of these paintings tell a story
• yet each one is like a still frame extracted from a video
• the backstory adds depth to the single picture

Previously, an angel had visited Zacharias and then Mary

Both were frightened at first
– both were given an impossible promise
• both were baffled by what they were told
• and both asked a logical question given their circumstances
◦ yet the old priest was punished for asking,
◦ while young virgin was graciously answered
– though questions look similar, they’re not the same
• Zacharias: By what will I know this? (v. 18, literal)
• Mary: How will be this? (v. 34, literal)
◦ Zacharias’ question had to do with knowing, Mary’s, with being

I know many Christians share in common my struggle with faith
– our spiritual growth stalls or stops at Zacharias’ question
• we hesitate to commit to God’s will unless we first know how it will work
◦ that if we don’t understand what he’s doing, we can’t move forward
◦ we expect everything we are led into to have a rational explanation
• if we aren’t given a map or travel itinerary, we postpone making the journey
◦ before we jump in, we want details and we want certainty
– I easily relate to biblical characters like Thomas or Nicodemus
• when Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again”
◦ he did not ask the Lord, “Can we do that right now?”
◦ instead, he asked, “How can these things be?”
• he could not imagine the method or mechanism of rebirth
◦ but he didn’t need to know
◦ it was something that could happen to him, not an accomplishment of his own

By contrast, Mary did not ask for a rational explanation
– she was prepared to accept her role and was already on board
• basically, her question was, “What’s the next step?”–i.e., “How do I get pregnant?”
– she jumped over Zacharias’ question and Nicodemus’ question
• she went straight to belief and surrender (vv. 38 & 45)
◦ she accepted what she was to be
◦ “may it be done” translates the Greek genotmai, “to cause to be”
• God wanted her to be something, not merely know some things
◦ he wanted a willing partner

This next point may surprise you

God doesn’t consult with me or seek my advice
– and he doesn’t bother to explain everything to me
• if I waited for explanations, there would be long delays
◦ by the time I had the information I wanted, the opportunity would be long past
• we feel like it’s is so important to know,
◦ that we won’t cooperate with God unless he tells us how and why
“How is God going to help with my bills?”
“How is he going to fix my circumstances?”
“How is he going to put my marriage back together?”
– what do we t think we will gain by knowing?
• comfort? the illusion of control?

I’ve said it before: Continue reading →

Third Sunday of Advent
A Song of Joy

Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O Israel! 
Rejoice and exult with all you heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away His judgments against you,
He has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
You will fear disaster no more.
In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not be afraid, O Zion;
Do not let your hands fall limp.
The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
Zephaniah 3:14-17

And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”
Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”Luke 3:10-18

Intro: The verses from Zephaniah belong to the traditional cycle of Advent readings

What was Zephaniah’s ministry and message?
– the nation of Judah had been misled by two corrupt and violent kings
• the whole society, top to bottom, was in desperate need of reform
• their current king, Josiah, was only eight years old when he began his reign
– the word God gave Zephaniah was for the king, judges, priests, prophets and people
• God’s discipline had been harsh–and could be even harsher
◦ but if they were ready to return, he was ready to receive and restore them
• Zephaniah advised and encouraged both king and people to seek the LORD

An interesting feature of Zephaniah’s short book is the way it is organized
– Mary Douglas refers to it as “ring composition”
• a literary form that was characteristic of many ancient writings
• the end of the story (poem, etc.) comes back around to the beginning
◦ a distinct theme that occurs in the opening is repeated at the end
◦ in complex rings, everything matches up, from start to middle and middle to end:

1 – 2 – 3–3 – 2 – 1

• frequently, this form places the key theme in the middle

[This is just for those of you who read these notes from my Sunday talks] The main headings of David Dorsey’s analysis of the literary structure of Zephaniah are as follows:
a coming judgment upon the wicked of Jerusalem (1:2-6)
b coming judgment of corrupt leaders (1:7-13)
c Yahweh’s judgment of all the nations (1:14-18)
d CENTER: call to repentance (2:1-3)
c’ Yahweh’s judgment of all the nations (2:4-15)
b’ coming judgment of corrupt political leaders (3:1-7)
a’ coming restoration of Jerusalem and its fortunes (3:8-20)
(The Literary Structure of the Old Testament, Baker, 1999, p. 313)

– the book begins and ends with a series of “I will” statements (made by God)
• only in the beginning, they are all negative and at the end they are all positive
• several other details strengthen this connection between beginning and end
◦ e.g., the same Hebrew word used in the first sentences recurs in the last sentences
(translated remove in 1:2-3, but translated gather in 3:18-20)

We’re fortunate to land in the book’s pleasant meadow
– the passage above is an invitation to rejoice for what is on the horizon
• how does this fit the Advent theme?
• we are reminded to approach Christmas with joyful preparation

This is not first time I’ve come to a topic I have no business addressing

Forty-two years ago, I settled into scripture to prepare a sermon on our love for God
– all at once, it seemed that God spoke to me, gently but clearly:
“You don’t love Me, you know”
• I did not reply, but immediately and quietly chose another topic to talk about
• later on I had to come back and face a bitter truth
◦ wondering, “Well what am I doing in ministry?” I realized, I loved to teach
◦ the inner conflict this raised eventually resulted in an important change in me
– I am not a joyful person – I lived through too many years of depression Continue reading →

Second Sunday of Advent
Preparing for Christmas

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.” Malachi 3:1-4

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Anna and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the LORD,
Make His paths straight.
Every ravine will be filled,
And every mountain and hill will be brought low;
The crooked will become straight,
And the rough roads smooth;
And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ” Luke 3:1-6

Intro: I noticed a city crew working one night a few days before Thanksgiving

They were hanging Christmas decorations on street lights
– now this is one of those things some of us love to gripe about
• rushing the seasons
• not only merchandisers, advertisers and local city governments,
◦ there are those OCD types who have their Christmas shopping done by October
– maybe those who anticipate the next season have the right idea
• just the wrong reasons
• both of our biblical passages have to do with preparation for Advent
◦ they tell of a messenger appointed to deliver the Advent announcement
◦ as it turns out, John the Baptist is that person

Let’s explore a little deeper into John’s message (vv. 7-9)

John’s rhetoric has all the earthiness of a desert dweller
– vipers, fruit, stones, axe laid at root of trees (and in vv. 16-17, water, fire and wheat)
• all these are allusions to basic elements
– in Matthew’s gospel “brood of vipers” was aimed at Pharisees and Sadducees
• what a word picture!
◦ but was it a fair analogy? does it really describe the ultra-religious?
• yes, because fanatical, dogmatic religion can become venomous
◦ it can run too far in the wrong direction, become more serpent than Spirit
◦ a painfully clear example of its bloody violence occurred this last week in Redlands

John called people to prepare themselves for God’s next great work
– this entailed baptism, which symbolized purification
• for their part, they needed to repent (make a dramatic change or turn)
• for God’s part, he would forgive their sins
– sin is not simply a matter of breaking a rule (like one of the Ten Commandments)
• to misrepresent God, to twist the truth or misuse his gifts are forms of sin
◦ creativity used for evil defaces the image of God in a human person

C. S. Lewis referred to a type of sin that was “a distortion of an energy breathed into us–an energy which, if not thus distorted, would have blossomed into one of those holy acts . . . . We poison the wine as He decants it into us; murder a melody He would play with us as the instrument. We caricature the self-portrait He would paint. Hence all sin, whatever else it is, is sacrilege.”

• John’s work was to let people know they could start over
◦ that the past that haunted or enslaved them could be erased
◦ if they were ready to change, God was ready to forgive

A message like John’s invites self-examination

Notice how John had people asking, “What should we do?” (vv. 10-14)
– a huge piece of life is missing for many people
• apart from self-examination we do not catch the deficits that diminish who we are
◦ there’s lots of introspection with therapists and the self-help industry
◦ but not a lot of serious personal interrogation like Paul recommends:

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test. (2 Cor. 13:5)

• even a simple self-examination each evening could be spiritually beneficial Continue reading →

First Sunday of Advent
Life Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness,” Jeremiah 33:14-16 

There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Be on guard, so that you hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:25-36

Intro: There are three things I need to explain about these passages:

1. It was not my choice to use these particular verses for my talk today
2. Thousands of churches around the world are reading the same verses
3. Both passages belong to an Advent tradition that has been observed for centuries

The Jeremiah passage: the promise of a coming Messiah

The reign of King David was seen as the beginning of Israel’s golden age
– eventually, God would give Israel an ultimate king
• “branch of David” was one of his symbolic titles–David’s dynasty was the tree trunk
◦ Israel’s ultimate king would replace every human government
• through the Messiah, God’s would establish universal justice and safety for Israel
– think of it, perfect justice! An idealistic dream come true
• many convictions overturned in the last decade by advanced DNA testing
◦ those and other judicial errors reveal the fallibility of human administration of justice
◦ we frequently mess up in the collection, examination and evaluation of evidence
• If ever I’m in court for crime I didn’t commit, I don’t want to be judged by a jury of my peers
◦ I want a jury of exceptionally perceptive, well-educated, brilliant and fair-minded individuals

However, Jeremiah could not see that the Messiah’s mission would involve two installments
– from his location in time, it looked like one historical event
• it is not unlike the way we talk about the Roman Empire
◦ as if it were a single, monolithic period of history
• we overlook the details and developments of its rise, evolution and fall
– the first installment of Jeremiah’s prediction is our Christmas
• the first Advent (or coming) of Jesus
◦ he announced that the kingdom was “at hand” (near and already present, Mk. 1:15; 14:41-42)
◦ in Jesus God’s kingdom (dimension) entered our world, but as mystery, hidden (Mt. 13:11, 33)
• those who experience the kingdom willingly sacrifice everything for it

The Luke passage: Jesus’ describes events relating to his return

Instructions are interspersed with predictions of cosmic signs, fear, dismay and perplexity
– how his followers were to respond to these things
• both in the future when they happen and now
– Douglas Coupland wrote an intriguing series of first-person vignettes: “The Dead Speak”
• each author reports his or her experience of a nuclear explosion
◦ a typical introduction: “I was by the fridge in the kitchen when it happened.”
• it got me thinking about how a report of Jesus’ return might read

I was walking Kona in the hills near our home when it happened. From childhood I had naively believed there would be a literal trumpet sound, perhaps amplified a million times. It was more like the concussive blast of cosmic thunder, an infinite-sized sonic boom. The universe shuddered–not in a rolling or jarring motion like an earthquake, but the way a person shivers when panicked or a child trembles with excitement.
And then the infusion. Every molecule, every atomic particle in the universe charged with alien energy.  Only the new fundamental force (if that’s what it was) did not come from outside space and time, but from within–the essence that thrust space into existence. In that instant, the four-dimensions of the universe dimmed in the radiance of another dimension. Invisible until this moment, the kingdom of God was unveiled. Totally foreign, unnervingly strange, and  yet I responded as if it were entirely natural. I whispered, “Of course,” just before being swept into the nothingness that is everything.

◦ whereas Coupland’s vignettes end with phrases like, “and then I was dead,” Jesus said,

. . . straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

– so “Christmas” comes twice in history and what Luke presents is the second Advent Continue reading →

Christian Creativity
Hanging On to the Creative Vision

When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amonites are living in the  hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” Numbers 13:25-31

Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in the wilderness!” Numbers 14:1-2

Intro: There are episodes in scripture, when I come to them, though I know what happens, I hold my breath

– the decision before the characters will determine the fate of the nation
• I want to yell and warn them, “No! That’s a bad idea. Don’t do it!”
◦ they have so little to gain and everything to lose — God’s companionship, their welfare, their destiny
◦ but they never listen to me, and so the tragedy follows (just like the last time I read it)
• of course, I can’t change their past any more than I can change my own
– this report of the spies and Israel’s response is one of those episodes

It seems to me that Moses set the spies up for failure
– in chapter 12:17-20 he told them what to look for:
• the people (are they strong or weak, few or many), the cities (large or small, open or walled), etc.
• it comes as no surprise that the spies found what they were looking for
◦ strong people (even giants! 13:32-33), fortified cities and a land that “devours its inhabitants”
– God responded to Israel’s moaning by giving them exactly what they said (14:28-29)

It is as if he said,
“Okay, you’ll get everything your faith is able to grasp and what you have imagined possible. I will reward you to the limit of your creativity.”

• but God made an exception for two of the spies, one of whom was Caleb

But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. (14:24)
This, because Caleb had tried to calm and inspire the people
. . . do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them and the LORD is with us; do not fear them (14:9)

• Caleb had creative vision – he could see the promise as if already fulfilled

Creativity’s greatest resource is faith

Faith inspires and encourages creativity
– if you know there’s a way through, you’ll look for it
• faith is biased in favor of positive outcomes
– I’ve experienced the ease and joy of working with people who can!
• when teamed up with Rick Founds, I’d often ask him for something extra – perhaps unusual
◦ he would smile and within a few days, he would have it ready for our next event
◦ working with Rick spoiled me
• with other creative artists who followed Rick, I would first have to convince them they could! 
◦ it was not that he was more talented or creative
◦ he simply had more confidence in his talent and creativity

Where faith falters, creativity declines

Creativity is not irrepressible, it can be blocked Continue reading →

Creative Christianity
Informed Intuition

For all who have lived without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. Romans 2:12-16

Intro: You may not recognize the name Walter Cannon

Or know that he was one of America’s outstanding physiologists
– but you’ve probably heard a term he invented: flight or fight
• it refers to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system
– in his book, The Way of the Investigator, Cannon included a chapter on “The Role of Hunches”

Walter Cannon, “As a matter of routine I have long trusted unconscious processes to serve me . . . .”

• he found that insights would come to mind when awake in the middle of the night
◦ this, he said, was the only value he could find for insomnia
• this is how he describes the way flight or fight came to him one night
◦ he had been closely observing the many changes in the body that accompany intense emotions
◦ there were so many and they were so varied that they “seemed unrelated”

“Then, one wakeful night, after a considerable collection of these changes had been disclosed, the idea flashed through my mind that they could be nicely integrated if conceived as bodily preparations for supreme effort in flight or fighting.”

The hunch is one form that intuition can take
– a hunch can be strong confidence in a suspicion, conclusion or theory that you cannot prove
– other forms of creativity include:
• epiphanies – a sudden moment of revelation or realization
◦ an idea, solution, new perspective or insight into a situation pops into your head
• gut feelings – impressions that are more visceral than rational
◦ “I felt it in my bones,” “Something about him felt off”
◦ you know something, but you don’t know how you know

Creativity is frequently moved forward by intuition
– our own intuitive voice can help guide us to answers, insights and solutions
• you have experienced intuition, though you may not have recognized it as such
– this is an important subject, but I admit my inexperience with it
• so we will be exploring intuition together

In Paul, theology and psychology intersect

Of course, Paul did not use the terms–theology and psychology
– in part, because they had not been bifurcated into two different “specialties”
• he perceived innate human capacities as both spiritual and psychological at the same time
• it was due to a certain innate capacity that unbelieving humans had to “suppress the truth,”

because that which is known about God is evident within them . . . . (Ro. 1:18-19)

– therefore we come up against an odd situation:
• Gentiles who had not been exposed to God’s written Law, were nevertheless living according to it

Our passage indicates that there are two ways we come to know God’s will Continue reading →

Christian Creativity
Creating Beauty

Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. He has also put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach,of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs. Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the LORD has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.”
Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work and perform it. Exodus 35:30-36:2

Intro: I enjoy the Bible; its collage of stories and songs, laws and letters

All the different parts are required to fill out the horizon of our knowledge of God
– but still there are snippets of scripture tucked in odd places that fascinate me
• I’m going to share two of them with you
• the first is this announcement that Moses made regarding God’s sanctuary

The Old Testament heroes–Moses, Samson, David the prophets–had something extra
– they were “filled with the Spirit” – divine energy flowed through them
• so that God was acting directly in the world through human agents
– what first surprised me, then fascinated me about our passage–it wasn’t only the heroes
• God likewise empowered artisans! — they too were filled with the Spirit
• only they were not empowered not for battle, leadership or prophecy
◦ but for artistic design and skilled work to construct God’s sacred tent

We have seen that creativity is not magic nor does it come to us from the outside
– made in God’s image, creativity is one of the qualities that defines the human person
• nevertheless, there are times when God joins someone in the creative process
• and when that occurs, creativity does come from the outside
– the Latin roots of the word “inspire” literally means “breathe into” or “spirit enters”
• God is always involved in creative inspiration, but normally his involvement is indirect
◦ in the case of the artists Moses named, God’s inspiration was direct
◦ and this is true even though much of their work was (technically) not “religious”
• we need to rethink what it means to be Spirit-filled 
◦ and the sort of activities in which being Spirit-filled is relevant

Two lists highlight creative inspiration

First list highlights internal capacities
– wisdom – the appropriate application of information (always practical)
– understanding – comprehending how things work–nature, society, relationships, etc.
– knowledge — or know-how Continue reading →

Christian Creativity
“Inventors of Evil”

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:5-8

Intro: A few years ago I published a book on postmodern popular culture

After reading it, a professor at USC told me, “What you’ve described is ‘postmodern-lite’”
– he went on to explain, “You left out all the hard stuff – the dark side of postmodernity.”

He was right, and last week I was guilty of the same omission when talking about creativity
– I have to admit that the exploration of creativity excites me
• through creative eyes, whole world is enchanting — or becomes re-enchanted
• when against the wall, creativity imagines and then finds or designs a door
◦ creativity is free rather than caged, open rather than closed, flexible rather than rigid and curious rather than jaded
– so, yes, it’s true, what I described last time was “creativity-lite“

If we endeavored to treat every moment creatively, the result would not be breakthroughs, but chaos
– for example, when driving it is okay in being creative to find a new route to work
• but it is not okay to experiment with something new and different at every intersection
– it is not necessary to reinvent everything!
– and though we associate creativity with making things, it can also be destructive
• our scripture today provides just such an example

The story of the Flood hits close to home

We may have difficulty with it historically or geologically
– but the idea that humankind can bring down its own demise is all too familiar

Helmut Thielicke described one of the ways God made humans to differ from other animals: “None of them can decide whether they wish to become fish, birds, or elephants. But to man the chance, and the burden too, has been given to decide for himself whether he wants to become human or inhuman, whether he wishes to realize or sabotage his destiny.”

• many voices today echo Noah’s warnings
• if we continue blindly on our present course the consequences will catch up to us
– by making us in his image, our Creator put an awesome gift in our hands
• we can use it to build a better world or spell our doom Continue reading →

Christian Creativity
Introduction

Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. Genesis 4:19-22

Intro: This fragment of text reminds us that creative genius sometimes runs in a family

Of all the “required reading” we were assigned in high school, the one book I actually read
– Aldous Huxley’s Brave New Worlds
• I later learned about his brother, Julian Huxley, and grandfather Thomas Huxley
◦ both were famous scientists
• Aldous had a step-brother, Andrew, who won a Nobel Prize in medicine
– then there were also the James brothers
• Henry James, the novelist and his psychologist/philosopher brother, William James

The the backdrop for our story is a family tree
– not often, but occasionally a gem glimmers in one of these boring genealogies
• we know Lamech only through his sons and his obscure poem
• I wonder if it was the poet in him that encouraged the creativity his children displayed
◦ usually, that is all it takes to release a child’s inner genius
– for a few weeks I want to explore creativity

Let’s zoom-in on these ancient inventors

Each one is identified as a “father” (founder) of a trade or craft
– each innovation moved society forward
– there is a simple pattern in the text: two items are connected with each of their names

Jabal, “those who dwell in tents and have livestock”
– if we’re honest, this is the last place we’d look to learn about creativity
• today’s tent-dwelling bedouins live the same as their ancestors centuries ago
• how much creativity required is required in setting up a tent or herding sheep?
– however, if until Jabal humans had lived in caves or mud-brick and stone huts,
• a home with mobility would have been a huge innovation
• spend week on farm or ranch and you’ll see dozens of innovative uses for baling wire
◦ farming and ranching require a great deal more creativity than city folks realize

Our Reflexion community began with a few of us meeting informally on Sunday nights
– a few months ago, I opened a discussion on creativity
• immediately several people announced, “I’m not creative”
◦ but I knew better – I reminded them of what they told us previously
◦ experience at their jobs, with family or during travels
– we tend to associate creativity with the arts or scientific inventions
• but if you can express an idea in speech, you’re creative
• words are the raw material of speech
◦ to embody a thought they must be combined, arranged and modified
◦ we are creative, but it is a quality we may have to nurture Continue reading →

A Weary Spirit and A Broken Heart

You were tired out by the length of your road,
Yet you did not say, “It is hopeless.”
You found renewed strength,
Therefore you did not faint.
. . .
For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:10 & 15

Intro: My thoughts today were inspired by several experiences this past week

First, in our meetings Wednesday and Thursday, listening to God speak through the Scriptures
– I was reminded of the importance nurturing our passion for God
• and how that passion is expressed in worship

Another moment of reflection occurred during a conversation with a friend
– he had visited his father who lives in one of the Bible belt states
• his dad belongs to a gospel quartet” that was invited to sing at a “revival”
• I remember the revivals of my childhood
◦ on week out of every year, Dad would hang a revival sign in front of our building
◦ he would also invite a lively evangelist to deliver emotion-charged messages
◦ then we would wait for sinners to pour in, get converted and the church to grow
(that part never happened)
– tent revivals have a long history in North American culture
• the one my friend attended was in a tent set up next to small church building
• he described the exciting atmosphere and how “inspired” it felt

The third trigger was a Facebook invitation I received to join the group “Revival Call”

Then, on Friday, my daily reading brought me to Isaiah 57

Conservative Christians take concept of revival for granted

However, the word “revival” never occurs in scripture
– we do see examples of what could be called revival
• periods or “seasons” when God brings to life the spirit of his people
– in the Old Testament, this is usually linked to a resurgence of devotion to Law
• being static and stable, this represents a return to that which does not change
• but it also included a fresh energy for worship
◦ restoration of the temple, renewal of sacrificial ritual and (from David’s time) a music revival
◦ in fact, there was a “revival theme” in their music:

Give thanks to LORD for he is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting
(2 Chr. 513; 7:3, 6; 20:21; Ezra 3:11 (Neh. 12:24, 46) & even future revival, Jer. 33:11)

– NT: Pentecost in Acts 2 – then in other places

In American history, tent revivals find their roots in the “Great Awakenings”
– these were periods when the nation’s churches experienced spiritual renewal
• this renewal was accompanied by many conversions and significant societal change
• depending on how you count them, there have been three or four Awakenings
– it was as if the Church had been a slumbering giant, needing to be awakened and put to work
• to some extent, they came when truth had been intellectualized and needed to be infused with passion
◦ what Jonathan Edwards referred to “Religious Affection”
• or when social conditions needed fixing–e.g., slavery–or during national crises–e.g., the Civil War

Revival, then, meant new life, renewed passion, and a return to the church’s sense of mission
– churches emerged from their buildings and into world

Isaiah was thinking of a different sort of revival: personal revival Continue reading →