Arvo Part: Passio

I have a personal tradition: during the Triduum, I like to listen to music for the Passion. Some years I listen to Bach's Passion or Beethoven's Passion. This year I am listening to my all time favorite composer: Arvo Part (last name pronounced like "pear" with a "t" on the end). He is Estonian, a 20th Century composer who does a lot of work based on minimalist and Eastern Orthodox works.

Part's music holds a sense of mystery and openness - it's hard to explain unless you listen to him. So, give him a try.

In our house, we usually color eggs on Holy Friday. Don't know why, it's just a tradition. I really get tired of eating boiled eggs...

Those are my traditions for Maundy Thursday, Holy Friday and Holy Saturday. What traditions do you have?

Peace,
Pr Tim

"Crood" or fearful: How do You Choose to Live?

Annie and I, Luke and Sophie took a day off to the movies on Monday, 25 March. I recommend seeing "The Croods" in 3-D. Not only is the animation great, the movie has a good theme: how one deals with change concerns more than inconvenience - whether we change is a question of life and death.

Epha, one of the main characters refuses to live a life of sameness, of caution - a life based on fear. She exclaims at a pivotal moment that living in fear is "not living, it's just not dying!"

It makes me think about my life. How often am I content with "just not dying" because I am afraid to live? It's not just a matter of answering the right question, though.

How many friends and influential people in my life keep me thinking that "just not dying" is normal? You see, to live is to change. Life always involves change; every moment of every day is change. You are not the same person you were when you began reading this blog post just seconds ago.

Epha, one individual in a prehistoric cave dwelling family, realizes that change is inevitable. As a matter of fact, she show us a deep human reality: when you and I choose to live in fear, the oldest, least developed part of our brain takes over. You and I, in reality, become those cave dwelling Neanderthals who could not see any further than the mouth of their cave.

That's a difficult truth to accept, but look around at what is happening around us. Is everything remaining stagnant, or is the world dynamic? If we are honest, the call to change seems fear-filled, but it takes a lot more energy to make sure our little corner of the world remains the same.

Remember when Jesus called us to "take up our cross", and remember when he reminded that his message "brings a sword" that divides? What does he prepare us for but change? It's inevitable, it's a natural step in the right direction. The only question now is: Which fears can we release in order to help us go forward?

Peace,
Pr Tim

Would Jesus Eat Mashed Potatoes and Noodles?

Culture is such a powerful motivator in everyone's life. As a matter of fact, it's so powerful that one often acts under its influence without even knowing it! For instance, do you like mashed potatoes topped with noodles and gravy? It's cultural. I would never have thought to do such a thing.

When I lived in South Carolina, I often ate chicken and dumplings - something we even eat in NW Ohio. But did you know that dumplings in the South are not made of biscuit dough! They are more like egg noodles! Yeah, I know, I was shocked, too, the first time I was served dumplings!

I say all of this to remind myself as much as you, that often what we pass off to others as "christian ways" or "the way things are done" our ways may be nothing more than cultural manifestations of beliefs. Is Jesus a tall white guy with a beard or did he look more like Arabs or Palestinians today? Why is it so important for us to believe the former while dismissing the latter? Is it because we want God in our own image?

The first book of the bible makes it clear for us: God was not created in our image, but we in the image of God were created. What difference does that make, you ask? Well, a big difference, thank you! The image of God must transcend gender or ethnicity. It goes beyond my personal or cultural beliefs, so that everyone can be included in God's "plan" (whatever that means). You see, I get nervous when someone claims to know some plan that God is supposed to have. Usually that person's knowledge of such a plan is based on nothing more than that person's small world. If I do not somehow fit into that world, I am outside of God. It seems to me that scripture - especially the Gospels - proclaim a God who is not bound by cultures or personal beliefs. Thanks be to God, because Jesus' message would just have been for the people of his time and place. Indeed, his message goes beyond all boundaries.

I guess the big question now is, "Would Jesus eat mashed potatoes and noodles?"

Peace,

Pr Tim

Family Changes Everything

Senator Rob Portman of Ohio changed his views on gay marriage recently when his son "came out" to him. No matter one's religious or moral beliefs, one has to respect Portman for not turning his back on his son. If he accepts and loves his son, wouldn't it be duplicitous of him not to change his political position?

In Augustinian terms, duplicity is the inconsistency between what one says and that which one does.  For instance, if I say that I believe that cats are good luck and then mistreat everyone I find, my actions do not match with my beliefs; if I say that walking under a ladder is bad luck and then seek out ladders under which to walk, I am either crazy or duplicitous. Of course, for St Augustine, there is a deeper concern: when one's actions don't match one's speech, there is a hidden, twisted desire that is lurking about. Duplicity belies one's tendency toward sinfulness.

Sometimes we are duplicitous in order to save our own skin: "If I tell others what I really believe, if anyone knows what I truly desire, they won't like me." Or, in the case of Rob Portman - "they won't vote for me." Sometimes we are duplicitous because we willfully want to deceive someone: "I don't want so-and-so to pal around with my friend, so I will speak ill of my friend in the presence of the unwanted other." Sometimes we are even duplicitous in order to be "nice": "Oh, that dress looks great on you." In reality, the dress is the wrong color and definitely needs to be another size.

I respect Senator Portman for standing by his son and for standing firm on his position. He will, no doubt, suffer much criticism from his new-found position. It is unfortunate and in the utmost of bad taste, not to say, unchristian-like behavior, when someone attacks his son - as has been done in the news lately. Let us pray for the Portmans that their love for one another as a family will continue to grow. Let us not be caught up in the ad hominem attacks that do nothing but lead to more hatred and violence.

God's peace,
Pr Tim

On the History Channel there is a new series on the Bible. Have you seen it? I have not. Life without cable or satellite is not without its drawbacks. I will have to wait for it to come on Netflix or on Hulu. If you have seen it, I would like to know your reaction. Did you like it? Did you not like it? What was done well or not so well?

I ask this question because I think it helps us to understand a little about how we view the Bible. Is it necessary to keep every word exactly the same and tell a story from it without any embellishment? Is it ok for a movie to take "poetic license" when retelling the story of the Bible? Our responses to this question may help us see what is most important to us as followers of Jesus when we hear, tell or discuss arguably the "greatest story ever told."

Take the question a step further. How many of us take the time to read the Bible daily? How many of us have actually read the entire Bible? What did you get from reading it entirely? Do you learn something different if you read it in small portions that may skip around or concentrate in certain areas? How can we discuss scripture if we do not answer these questions for ourselves?

Scripture, it seems to me, has a prominent place in our lives because it helps to inform us how God has acted in the past and can act in our lives today. Additionally, because it was written by a community of believers and because that community continues until today, it helps to form us into a specific people who follow after a specific God who has specifically chosen to be with us, to live, suffer, die and rise from the dead.

So, what do you think?

Pr Tim

Well, since my last blog post (too long ago, I must say) we have gotten a new website, updated the audio-visual system in the worship space and gone live on the internet with every worship service! Now, this blog, which was formerly a semi-private one has gone public on our congregational webpage! I need to explain a bit about the blog.

First, this blog was started as a tool of continual learning for a handful of people who attended a discipleship class on Sunday mornings after worship. I posted in the beginning things that directly related to things we had learned in the class together. Then, the posts evolved into other areas - emerging church, theology and personal reflections on scriptures.

Second, the blog was meant to be for a small group. When writing for a specific group, one usually knows the group well enough to know what to say and how to say it. The blog posts, then, have been pointed at deepening the learning of things we experienced together in the discipleship class.

Third, the blog was intended to make all of us in the group to think. Too often in modern society, we don't have to think because we can pick up a computer and know what to think by "googling" a question or struggle of the day. Those who followed the blog knew that the posts were not always easy to digest in one, quick reading; one had to ponder the reflections over coffee or even discuss them with others. These are not "be all - end all" answers to life's deepest, darkest questions. These posts are the thoughts and reflections of a fellow pilgrim in the midst of life's struggles.

Finally, my desire is now to change up the blog a bit. I want to expand the audience of this blog. I also want to blog more regularly and get anyone who decides to read the blog to respond to the posts. You have found you way to this point and I invite you to comment on the posts. We follow some simple rules:
    1.  All posts must be cordial in nature, no personal attacks on anyone. Any posts that do not reflect the     nature of cordial discourse and discussion will be deleted.
    2.  We respond in a timely manner. Once a new reflection comes up, we end conversation on the previous one.
    3.  We do not monopolize the conversation. Sometimes it is good to sit back and listen to other comments. Usually, one comment per person is sufficient.
    4.  This blog is not about making sure that everyone who responds believes the right thing, nor is it my job to make sure to correct erroneous thoughts.

To that end, welcome to the pastor's blog "Expecting the Unexpected".
Peace,
Pr Tim

Voila, the latest newsletter article for our church newsletter. I process through talking especially during difficult or challenging times. Aren't these rather difficult times politically, economically, even ecclesiastically? It's good to know, at least for me, that God isn't just a Prozac pill that makes us happy and joyful all the time - because I am not always in a good humor! God, instead, meets us in the midst of everything and promises to be with us in the reality of struggle. There's something powerful in that promise for me. If we are all honest, we all struggle and those are good news words for all of us! Anyway, read on...

Arise! Your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you!

The Prophet Isaiah 60.1

Light; darkness: that’s what this time of year is about isn’t it? Since the beginning of November, when we changed our clocks back to Eastern Standard Time, evening seems much darker. As we approach 21 December, the morning sun even rises later – making our mornings dark as well, and our days shorter.  When I first lived in Northwest Ohio, back in 2000, a parishioner at Salem said something that I have never forgotten. It’s good to share our stories so that we can, as a community, deepen our faith in God and our love for one another.

I remember that I had commented to Gene that the days in Toledo seemed shorter than in South Carolina – where I had just lived for almost 5 years. He got a smile on his face and said, “Easter will have a new significance for you here in Toledo.” I did not, at first, understand what he was saying. Of course, every day was filled with new events and much significance. Every day, I met new people, learned something new about ministry; why such an odd statement?

Well, needless to say, when Easter Sunday rolled around, I had forgotten Gene’s words. The “busyness” of planning and implementing Lenten services, extra classes, funerals, emergencies, extra choir rehearsals, preparation of final exams for my final months of internship, all of it kept me too busy to notice the simpler things – like God’s presence.

When I awoke on Easter morning, I went, as usual to worship and then a meal afterwards. It wasn’t until the meal that I was able to relax and take in what had happened in the past few weeks and months. And then, Gene walked up to me, hugged me and said, “Happy Easter!” I remembered his words so many months before and I remember feeling a sense of regret, because I had let so much opportunity go by me – opportunity to stop and listen to “God with us”.  Easter did hold a special significance for me that year and it still does – especially since I have moved back to NW Ohio.

Truly this is a darker time of year. It’s darker in many ways, not just in the amount of sunlight that we receive during the day. It’s also a darker season because so much clouds our vision from the reality of life – from the “reason for the season” as someone once said. It’s no wonder to me that there is such a let down, almost like a depression that sets in on our culture on 25 December: we have seen trees since 1 November and heard Christmas music played all around us since the same time. Everywhere, everyone is grasping for every straw she or he can in order to find meaning in life; and yet, no one wants to struggle with life itself – we want “comfort and joy” and we want it right now.

In holy wisdom, the Church has given us a season of struggling with the challenges of life in a meaningful way – a way that gives impetus to our hope and gives us courage to go on. In Advent Season, the time of waiting for the Light of the World to come to us, we proclaim to the world that struggle is real, that suffering is hard and that there is hope in the God who makes promises to us – even promises like becoming one of us, living with us, suffering for us and rising for our salvation. The difficult part for us who now live in a time after Jesus birth, life, death and resurrection, is to hold off until the 12 days of Christmas and to allow ourselves, body, soul and spirit, to slow down and listen to the struggles within us as God deals with each one and overcomes the evil in our lives.

In a culture that increasingly seeks distractions to keep from seeing reality and confronting struggle, Advent is the season for the Church to proclaim, prophetically that there is another way to life. In a book I read recently, Can You Drink the Cup?  by Henri J M Nouwen, I read the following words that help to sum up what I have said:   “Entertainment is everything that gets and keeps our mind away from things that are hard to face.” (p. 94)  I wonder, if I had just read those words while in Toledo, OH, if I could have slowed down and listened to God speaking to me? I wonder if I could have allowed myself to face the difficulties of life if I could have understood more fully the depth of the joy of the prophet’s words, “Arise! Your light has come and the glory of the LORD has shone upon you!”  Too much water under the bridge now, but I intend to allow this Advent to be different. I hope you do, too.

God’s peace and light guide you to the Light of the World during this Advent Season,