This is the continuation of the series through Matthew. The sermon is available through download, rss feed (over on the right), or you can click here to stream it off the web.
embedded link for podcast
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
SANKOFA 2008
As many of you know, one of our own, Tanden is on the bus experienceing an intense route that revisits many of the key civil rights sites. To read more about his experience, there are two blogs:
Sunday, March 23, 2008
VINDICATION - The Easter Sunday Message
Good Friday Art by Bevie LeBrie
Bevie created this piece during the Good Friday service. There is a poem that is written on small pieces of paper in the center (and circumnavigating the center). The lyrics to the poem are below, as well as some comments and things to consider about this piece from the artist.
NO ONE IS IMMUNE, NO NOT ONE.
TO THE SICKNESS INVADING THE FLESH OF US ALL.
LIKE BARK INFESTED WITH TERMITES.
LIKE A HILL OVERRUN BY ANTS.
LIKE A SUNSET POLLUTED BY FUMES AND US IN OUR RAVES AND RANTS.
UNFAITHFUL TO THE FAITHFUL
ADDICTED TO THE GREED.
SHIELDS COVER BREAKABLE HEARTS
RAVAGING LUSTS WE FEED
HOW DO WE FIGHT THE CONSTANT INVASION OF FLESH AND SIN AND TEARS?
HOW DO WE BLOCK THE ARMY OF DARK AND SUFFOCATING FEARS?
HOW DO WE LOVE WHEN LOVE FEELS FRIGID; WHEN LOVE IS MET WITH PAIN IN ONES EYES?
HOW DO WE PRAY TO ONE WHO SEEMS SILENT TO SICKNESS AND TO THE ENEMY IN DISGUISE?
NOT ONE IS IMMUNE, NO NOT ONE. TO THE IMPURE WATER THAT QUENCHES THE SOUL.
LIKE DIRTY SNOW IN WINTER. LIKE GRAFFITI ON A WATERFALL.
LIKE HAIR IN THE SHOWER DRAIN, STRAINING UNBUFFERED WORDS ON THE WALL.
NO ONE IS IMMUNE, NO NOT YOU AND NOT ME.
NO ONE IS IMMUNE, ESCAPING THE UNCLEAN.
Comments and thoughts from Bevie:
As I was thinking about Good Friday I couldn't help but feel like Jeff when he said that he connects more with Good Friday than with Easter. Both in my own life and in the lives of friends and family--both believers and those who don't believe in Jesus, there is a common struggle. We are all so in need of forgiveness and we are capable of intense hurt toward others. The words of the poem I wrote on the painting stemmed from these thoughts--"no one is immune". Our eyes are closed and we need the reversal in our hearts, communities, nations--of our values, of our interests, of our selfishness, and of the way we pursue peace.
There's a lot of imagery and layers in the painting...the upside down cross and closed eye symbolize that reversal of thinking Jesus lives. The bars represent the bondage of our souls, of our minds, and also of the people who are oppressed. The contrast of white and black represents the contrast between our flesh and the evil in and around us and the truth and message that Christ lived and died for. The unfinished lines and messiness of the brush strokes reflects the chaos of our world the way we attempt to run it. The cross is in the center of all of this, covering some parts, and through others. It encompasses all of our struggle to see what Christ sees and live out the reversal of thinking that he died for.
The open eye began as a representation of people in pain and who have been exploited; but in my mind it's evolved to also represent those whose eyes are opened to the pain in the world and who are able to see the world as Jesus does--to the best of our human ability. The eye has deep emotion in it--which I've seen in those hurting and which I've felt for another hurting. I wonder what the image stirs in other people...
The beauty of art is that the meaning evolves from one to another. My interpretation is one piece, how it impacts another may be different. This reflects the alive nature of art...
Friday, March 21, 2008
March Madness
Hello Maundy Thursday friends. Hasn’t it been an amazing week – the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, a candidate running for the presidency of our country making a major speech on the tragic 300 year history of race relations that still flows in our blood even if it does not always flow consciously in our brains and hearts, the collapse of a major financial institution, the official arrival of spring, the NCAA college basketball tournament start and of course the pilgrimage of Holy Week. On Palm Sunday I mentioned that the narrative preceding Jesus’ non violent siege of Jerusalem records an incident as he is leaving Jericho – two blind men cry out seeking sight- “Let our eyes be open!” I also mentioned that as Jesus approaches the city he weeps and states the reason; “the path of peace is hidden from your eyes”. He was often so very critical of those in leadership and called them “blind guides”. I don’t think Jesus’ days and ours are much different do you? What are we not seeing or refusing to see or are afraid to see? The anger in people of color? The 1.7 billion we spend each day on our defense budget? The greed of the financial institutions that invest our money? The donkey riding, foot washing Messiah who marches on Jerusalem from the east while Pilate and his massive show of force enter the city from the west? The crowds intoxicated on the nectar of nationalism crying out to be saved? I think it very clear that “salvation” (only once mentioned on the lips of Jesus) comes to Zacheaus also in Jericho when his eyes are opened and states; “half of what I have I will give to the poor and if I have cheated anyone I will repay them 4 times”. What am I not seeing? Who am I not seeing? These are the questions of Holy Week for me and I cry out for salvation.
March Madness begins today as basketball teams will be competing on the hardwood courts of our countries 4 regions. Pitt will be the next national champion!!! (I’m blind I know) I invite you to remember and reflect on a different madness – that Jesus was hung on the hardwood of a Roman cross outside the city in a garbage heap called Golgotha. If you are free and able I would love to have you come to our Good Friday service which begins at 8:00PM. If not I hope you will take some time to ponder its meaning for you and for us as a nation and as a global community. And oh yea remember what Mark Twain said about the arrival of Spring; “In Spring I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside 24 hrs”. Its not really going to snow tonight is it…………..one on the journey with you. – Pastor Jeff
PAINTING:
HEALING A BLIND MAN
"I CAN SEE"
BY ALICE PATRICK
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hosanna!
The children and youth of Calvary Baptist Church marching and waving their palm branches to celebrate King Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. "Hosanna! Save us! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Kingdoms Clash
"The human dignity of those who have so little must be protected from the incompetence of the do-gooder."
Greetings friends on the first 50 degree spring day!!! Yea!!! I am feeling like I should be outside but wanted to shoot off a word of encouragement to you as we prepare to enter Holy Week this Sunday.
I just came back from attending the Westminster Town Hall Forum thanks to an invitation from a friend. We heard Jan Egeland, former U.N. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and currently Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution, speak about his perspective on the global family. Although he has seen human suffering at its worst, he called himself an optimist and shared a few stories of tremendous good news and global statistics indicating that things are getting better slowly for the poorest in many parts of our world. He also shared 10 things that he has learned through his work. I will share a few with you that you can use possibly as preface to your reflections regarding Palm Sunday, holy week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter and what these mean for us today. They are worthy of reflection in all areas of our lives I suspect.
- The wealthy must be more generous. The wealthiest nations give 0.18% to global relief and keep 99.82% for themselves. (How much do I give/How much do I keep for myself?)
- Speak the truth always. (This is central to understanding the conflict between Jesus and the leaders of his day and a challenge that I must embrace without fear of the conflict or costs)
- Spend more action on the neglected (remember the beatitudes are not attitudes they are actions!)
- Be ruthlessly self critical in terms of the quality of our efforts. At this point he said something I will never forget; “The human dignity of those who have so little must be protected from the incompetence of the do-gooder.”
I reflect on this again today in light of the news regarding the governor of New York and the language used by the media in telling the story. He is referred to as “client #9”
We are not always capable of knowing the names of those we seek to help – but if we are capable and don’t take the time – if they are nothing more than “clients” I fear we have not protected their human dignity. The donkey riding, foot washing Jesus always did. He even knows my name and yours! Some things to think about. One on the journey with you – Pastor Jeff
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Peace - by Bevie LaBrie
Peace
The Lillies of the Valley, the Daisies of the field;
Change with every season, sleep peacefully and yield.
My Child learn from these; Let my raindrops roll off of you.
My Child learn from these; rest be assured I’ve got my eyes on you.
Peace be still; Peace be still
How precious are your thoughts toward me if I should count the sum of them
How vast are the grains of sand, your thoughts toward me they outnumber them
My child learn from these; let the grains of sand sift through
My child learn from these; rest be assured I’ve got my eyes on you.
Peace be still; Peace be still
Why do I run why do I fight?
Why am I so scared of myself I want to hide?
Why do I run why do I fight?
Why am I so scared of myself I want to hide?
If I were to dwell in the remotest part of the sea
Even there, your hand would guide me
I find rest in the rythmn of your mind
The waves of your ocean, speak to mine
They say…
Peace be still; Peace be still
Peace
Be still.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Politics of Purity
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Brett Farve Retires
Good afternoon friends! Big news in the sports world today as we have learned that Brett Favre has retired after 17 years in the NFL - all I believe but 1 or 2 with the storied Green Bay Packers. I am sure there are a few purple fans today who are thrilled with the news because it gives the boys of fall here in MN a better chance at defeating their number 1 rivals across the river. But for lovers of the game, Mr. Favre’s leaving will itself leave a hole. Without question he was and will be remembered as one the greatest ever to play his position. Make no mistake – I have always enjoyed sports and am a fan though one might find me off the wagon from time to time. Sports are fun (Howard Cosell, as only he could say it, said “sports is the toy department of human life.”) and can be a natural and meaningful tool for building friendships that last a life time. BUT something has gone terribly wrong…. Yesterday Ben Roethlisberger of my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers received a new $102 million contract to play quarterback for the next 8 years! This is just an example of an entire cancer of misplaced values and priorities in our culture. It’s wrong and speaks volumes about who we are allowing ourselves to become. I remember watching the BBC documentary entitled “Why We Fight?” In fact we showed it here at Calvary. Simply, its about war. At the end the question of the title is asked and an answer is given; “Because not enough of us stand up and say ‘No’”. Its probably true that the grotesque amount of money being paid athletes by billionaire owners subsidized by the taxes of the common folk will not change until enough of us get up and turn off the TV and familiarize ourselves again with how Jesus defines greatness and where he calls us to place our priorities and the monies that follow those priorities. Something to think about anyway……..Thanks for the memories Mr. Favre….one on the journey with you…….Pastor Jeff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
