Jonna Buell

Just left the memorial service of Jonna Buell. The faith-force and fabric of her family--immediate and extended--is powerful. The way that Jesus is the Way of their way is weighty. Solid commitments to Christ in the face of His Apparent Absence speak, sing, and shout something very, very special.

My walk with YHWH was quickened and deepened today. Thank you Jonna and your bless-ed, beautiful family.

A Beautiful, Holy Possibility

This one has been in my top-ten for years:

Let’s think of reverence as awe, as presence in and openness to the world…. Think of those times when you’ve read prose or poetry that is presented in such a way that you have a fleeting sense of being startled by beauty or insight, by a glimpse into someone’s soul. All of the sudden everything seems to fit together or at least to have some meaning for a moment. This is our goal as writers [Jesus-followers? teachers? preachers? mommies and daddies? friends?], I think; to help others have this sense of … wonder, of seeing things anew, things that can catch us off guard, that break in on our small, bordered worlds. When this happens, everything feels more spacious…. I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world—present and in awe…. There is ecstasy in paying attention…. [You] see in everything the essence of holiness, a sign that God is implicit in all creation.
Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird (p. 100)

Just The Two of Us (Not an Open Letter)

The blogging, Facebooking, mass-emailing world is in trouble with Jesus. (I think.) You see, Jesus says if someone has a problem with somebody else, that person ought to go "just between the two of you" and try to work it out. (Matthew 18:15-17).

But we (and I'm speaking of followers of Jesus, who are under Matthew 18's rule) seem not to care so much about this anymore.

>I see all kinds of websites where Christians are launching accusation bombs against other Christians.
>I watch news reports where Christians are happy to blast other Christians they have never met.
>I come across open letters sent electronically, in newspapers, or simply "leaked" (oops!) that go viral all over the Internet, destroying Christians, Christian leaders, and Christian institutions. Often these means of correspondence are couched in "a concern" or "a prayer concern" terms.

It seems to me: (A) Jesus would not approve of these sort of attacks and (B) church leaders--and every Christian--hold responsibility to confront those who (mal)practice in this way.

Even if my theological cargo is orthodox ... if my delivery system is (gospel) unorthodox, I am not following the Way of Jesus.

Writing It Down

Nicole and Audrey went to see family in Oregon for the weekend. So here I am, alone. I've been listening to Jesus music old and new: Pie Jesu by Sissel, Jesus, be the Centre by Frye, among other. Also reading the Passion account in Matthew's gospel, including the anointing of Jesus by a sinful woman, the rejection of Judas, and the Supper.

I am overwhelmed by the humility of Jesus. The resistance against power, position, significance. The way of Jesus is low. Caring for the poor, the broken, the hurting, the cast-aside. Success as Christians is not "how well our worship services came off" but how we visited the incarcerated, the lonely, the poor, and how well we listened to one another. Christians are known for shouting, for telling, for building, for proclaiming--but Jesus also whispers, slows, tears down, and listens.

The Passion leads to compassion. And an unwavering commitment to humility, to brokenness, to hope not born of economics, politics, or, in the church, growth. How often we celebrate God's blessing for bigger offerings, bigger buildings, bigger baptisms, more influence. Perhaps the way of Jesus ought to cause us to give thanks for less, for nothing, for the gift of freedom from progress. And for the gift of simple and quiet ministry to those in the land of suffering.

Open Communion

I'm in.

Sitting here in the living room ... living. Quiet, dark, and cold outside. Nicole and I have Christmas music playing softly in the background. "Silent Night" is going right now. I know, it's November 6. But these musical reflections on The Incarnation of God are so very sweet. History matters. The intrusion of God in human affairs matters. In my 40th year of life I find myself more and more aware that life is short (and 2000 years is really not that much time at all).... Been reflecting on the validity of the gospel biographies and the historical reliability of Jesus as historical human, miracle-worker, victim of the cross, and resurrected paranormal.

I'm in. I buy it. I believe it.

I'm all for honest questions and resisting a faith that is pie-in-the-sky-lies. Cheap answers and puffy, marshmallow religion only sickens the stomach and soul. Overstating and misstating "the case" leaves everyone in a pretty sorry state. Arrogance and ignorance and hyper-orthodoxy destroy.

But tonight: I find myself among the convinced, "O Holy Night" was a night for the record books. It was "Divine."

Quiet Thoughts at the End of the Day