Category Archives: Theology

Refprmed version of Christianity: hope injected into a broken world

Easy to sing about. Hard to live.

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I have put a challenge out to my Catholic commentators, I would like them to expand on the examples that Mary and Joseph give us. For they were faithful. To each other. Mary became Joseph’s wife, and was loyal to him. She was the mother of our LORD, and raised him well. She remembered his childhood — and that witness is in two gospels. Luke appears to have been fascinated with her.

Mary did her duty. And the idea of preaching this in a women dominated church… strikes me with fear. I can fear the anger ans women will [without thinking} say what lucifer did “Non serviam” (I will not serve, I will not submit”.

For we all have to submit to the will of God. For men, Joseph is an example of a righteous man called to do a most difficult charge. For women, Mary. But the Catholics have exapnded this further, and they have an open invite to post a compare and contrast with modern women here, if they cannot get it onto the high traffic sites.

Out duty is simple. Do justice. Keep the faith. Do not oppress.

Zechariah 7:8-14

8 The word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying: 9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; 10 do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another. 11 But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear. 12 They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 13 Just as, when I called, they would not hear, so, when they called, I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts, 14 and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and a pleasant land was made desolate.

I am aware that the theologically trained and those more skilled in exegesis can unpack this. Let’s have a quick look at what Calvin said…

We now then understand the Prophet’s object. He had said in the last lecture that he brought forward nothing new, but only reminded them of what had been taught by other Prophets; and here he pursues the same subject – that God made more account of uprightness and kindness than of those legal shadows, which in themselves were of no moment.
The judgement of truth, he says, judge. This could not have been extended indiscriminately to the whole people; but by these words the Prophet indirectly reproved the judges, because they committed plunder, either through favour or hatred, so that they decided cases not in a just and equitable manner. We then learn from the Prophet’s words, that judgements were then given corruptly, so that the judge either decided in favour of a friend, or was bought by a price or a reward. As then there was no truth in the judgements given, but false pretences and colourings, the Prophet here exhorts them to execute the judgement of truth, that is, true judgement, when no respect of persons is shown, and when neither hatred nor favour prevails, but equity alone is regarded.
He then addresses the whole people in common, and says, Show, or exercise, kindness and mercy, every one towards his brother. He not only bids them to abstain from doing any wrong, but exhorts them to show kindness; for it would not be enough to do no harm to any one, except each of us were also solicitous to assist our
neighbours; inasmuch as it is the dictate of benevolence to help the miserable when necessity so requires. But we must recollect that a part is given twice for the whole in what the Prophet says: in the first place, he refers only to the second Table of the law, while he includes in general the rule by which our life is to be formed; and in the second place, he enumerates not every thing contained in the second Table, but mentions only some things as instances.

It is however certain, that his design was to show that men are greatly deceived when they seek to discharge their duties towards God by means of external rites and ceremonies; and farther, that it is a true and substantial evidence of piety, when and one observes what is just and equitable towards his neighbour.

So it is not about being “Churchian”, or as alte said, our salvation does not depend on ugly sweaters and gospel songs. We need to be just, and care for our neighbour, while keeping ourselves pure.

Easy to say, Easy to sing about. Hard to live.

What is Zion? What is Babylon?

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Towards the end of the Roman era, the Western Empire became corrupt and unwieldy. Constantine, who converted to Christianity, moved to Byzantium and left the Western, Roman part to others. For in those days the East war rich.

Around that time there was a call to leave the cities — to get out of Babylon — and live in the Church (Zion) which the monks tried to find in the desert. It is a matter of discernment as to who is the righteous community at any one time (Zion) and who is the worldy community (Babylon).

Zechariah 2:6-12

6Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says the LORD. 7Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon. 8For thus said the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. 9See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. 10Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD. 11Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 12The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

The trouble is that our habits of thinking are influenced by the vocabulary and analysis of the West: which includes the language of rights from the American and English revolutions, aggressive naturalism and anti traditionalism of the French Revolution, and the class analysis from the Soviet revolutions.

We forget the ideo of covenant or binding. God bound himself to the children of Abraham. He has bound himself to the church through the blood of Christ.

(and this lack of acknowledgement of covenant has led to a tolerance of oath-breaking — from casual divorce to casual treason). In this sense. the people of the covenants need to consider how they stay out of the world of progressivism — which denies the very idea of God, sin, justice, mercy… and forgiveness.

But we need to be fervent. Because the risk of staying is that our wealth will make us lukewarm.

Revelation 3:14-22

14″And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation:

15″I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. 20Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. 21To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

This calls for discernment. We are in a time of financial crisis, and the very people who made the policies that permitted that crisis now want more power to manage our way out of it. The idea of democracy is dying as collectivism rises again in Europe.

But our loyalty has to be elsewhere. And to these habits of thought, and to these fascist rules, we should not submit. We must leave the resurrected empire — if needed, physically, and be in a place which tolerates us having a covenantal relationship with God, with each other, and within our families.

We must endure… and ignore.

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Yesterday the son wanted to know why Isreal has so many enemies, I reminded him that the Arab nations are not many, but the Muslim nations are: and Isreael is but one. Block voting, and a hatred of Judaism that Muhammed the false prophet had has led to hatred to this day. Then I looked at the paper this morning and saw this.

Green MP-in-waiting Mojo Mathers has accepted an apology from a Conservative Party member who questioned whether the deaf Ms Mathers should be an MP because she didn’t have all her “faculties”

I don;t care that Moju is deaf. I care that she is a leftist princess who demands apologies from people who are not in parliament when she is. She has just become an MP, but she is already infected with the love of power.

Which brings us to today’s readings.

Revelation 3:7-13

7″And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens:

8″I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Matthew 24:15-27

15″So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), 16then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; 17the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; 18the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. 19Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! 20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. 21For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ — do not believe it. 24For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25Take note, I have told you beforehand. 26So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man

Let’s start with the easy stuff. The greens preach a false gospel. The earth is continually being polluted, and we must punish and restrict what we do to rescue this. Quite different from being a careful steward, and being faithful. For we are warned to ignore the false preachers, who call us to see some guru in the desert, or conflate this with some goal — from equality to ecological preservation — that is not ours.

For (and this is the hard bit) Philadelphia is the faithful church. Jesus (who is the one who truly holds the keys of the kingdom) notes that they are faithful. They are called to endure. To keep faithful. To keep the commandments.

An example. In this time of 24/7 commerce, it is very hard to do NOTHING. We are pressured to do something, to shop, to work… every day. If you are a doctor or nurse, you are rostered on. But you need to schedule times of rest. Our Jewish and SDA friends can teach us (again) what we have lost: how to keep a sabbath rest.

For the church of Philadelphia was poor, powerless and without any power or influence. By the standard of the world, it had failed. THey had no special status as disabled, not power to enrorce a tolerence of their lifestyle. Instead they were shunned.

And they had to enture.

As do we.

Mary, the most blessed of women.

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Today we discussed a forbidden topic among the reformed in Church. And that is Mary.

Luke 1:46b-55

46b My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

In the reformation, the doctrines of Mary being without sin and ascending to heaven were rejected. Instead, Mary is fully human, a young Jewish woman, probably in her teenage years, betrothed (and preparing) for a marriage that was arranged with Joseph.

But she saw the child within her as the saviour of Israel and herself. She carried Jesus. We are to note that of all women she is accounted as the most blessed.

But in her lifetime… her husband died (which is what most commentators beleive — Jesus on the cross told John to look after her). Jesus Brothers went on in ministry — but even then, they were martyred. Do the math. If we say that Mary was ay 156 or 17 when she conceived by the spirit of God Jesus, and he lived 33 -34 years, at around my age (51) she was standing watching her first child be crucified.

Mary reminds us that the external signs of prosperity are not what God calls blessed. He chose a woman from the most marginal and dspised region — Galilee — and from a poor family. Mary may have been related to a priest’s wife, but she was going to marry a tradesman. She reminds us that Godly and blessed women still marry, still live within those walls — in fact it is significant that she DID marry — unlike most Female saints, who chose not to. Like most Jews, she was too sensible to see God as her boyfriend, but as the almighty.

If you compare her hymn (which is the text) and the prophets, you can see that see shes that the coming of the kingdom will be about justice. And this justice is something that all will plead for. And although Mary is fallen, she allowed the incarnation, and that makes her blessed.

As we are if we work for liberation, and freedom of the oppressed. Which takes me from Pergolesi to Gorecki, From the mother standing at the cross to a child awaiting death.

Divorces suck.

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Workstation window, Summer morning (today)


The Christmas party scene is upon us. So last night my boss and went to a party run by Zentech. During the dinner, one of the women excused herself. She later told me that she had to check that her two primary age children had been safely picked up by their father, who lives in Australia. She will use her annual leave to be with them in Australia for the last three weeks of the (six week) school holidays.

Which she is not looking forward to. Divorce sucks. For all of us. It is a cancer within our church. It devastates the children in our society. It has affected me. And it is killing our churches.

Revelation 3:1-6

1″And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:

“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. 6Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Ouch. This is aimed at the church. We have to look and consider what are the issues of this age, and reform, publicly repent, and note the correction. Without repentance there is no revival. And there is rot inside the church. There always is: the doctrine of Catholicism or universality implies that there will be those who cause conflict and dissension, who actively inhibit the preaching of the gospel.

This is a matter for prayer and reflection. This costs. Particularly for those forced to be single through divorced and widowhood, where the culture of the world (which is over sexualised) argues for rapid moves to fornication, and does not seem to consider the idea of courting, discernment and having one’s sexual life under a covenant (of marriage).

If Jesus would destroy a temple, and threatened to destroy Sardis, he is capable of destroying us.

Matthew 24:1-5

1As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet

Well, what is my position and response? Last night I felt solidarity with my dinner companion. We both, as a metaphor, have that T-shirt. Dealing with your ex is not easy… and I cannot see myself ever becoming best mates with any partner she has. (And what she does is no longer my business. The covenant is broken and dead. Any spiritual head-ship is broken. And in the end, we will both be held accountable).

This morning I am missing companionship. The boy is asleep (in Dunedin) or in Auckland. And I tell myself that the issues and pain we have when raising children is but a season in our life. For the Psalmist reminds us that we are ephemeral.

Psalm 90

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn us back to dust,
and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.
13 Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands —
O prosper the work of our hands!

One of the ways that divorce destroys is that we see the work of our hands — our possessions — being fed to the family court, and the love of our lives — our children — being torn from us. It hurts.
The idea that divorce is something that is a phase from which you will recover and move into a better relationship.. is wrong. But it is in the church.

And like Moses, we need to pray for mercy… and preservation.

PHOTO COMMENT.
The photo was taken by a logitech webcam. It is the camera you have with you that matters.

Politics makes truth lies.

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Today is the last day of the conference. This morning two very eminent men discussed how the new classification system in draft (ICD-12 in the first talk, DSM5 in the second) there is a conflict between what is known and how symptoms cluster and what people want.

The best example was narcissistic personality disorder. There is no evidence that differentiates this from the other externalising personality types. It was not in the original draft of DSM5, and is not in ICD12 draft. However, in the last month, some senior member of the APA insisted it be added, despite evidence, because it was his career.

The rhetoric is that our classification systems should be driven by evidence. From scientific studies. Preferably replicated scientific studies. However, politics are driving the classification system that will distort the science.

If we allow politics to make the truth lies, if we see ourselves as special, there is a remedy, and he is a cross-grained prophet called Amos.

Amos 9:7-8

7Are you not like the Ethiopians to me, O people of Israel? says the LORD. Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? 8The eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth — except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,

Any privileged we have… as a nation, as a family, as a city is by the grace of God. ANd God holds people, families, cities, and nations accountable. We must not assent to that patriotic lie that our nations are particularly blessed. Instead we should acknowledge that we are accountable. For to whom much is given, much sill be required.

When the first love is broken.

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Today my younger son will be given prizes. He will play at his school assembly. School will break up. And tonight he will travel to be with his mother. Last night we had to pack his bag, and this morning the batter for pancakes, his favorite, has been made.

Being a solo father, at times is painful. Yesterday Kate Scott presented some data on the male and female ratios for depression. It appears that living in a more traditional society increases the rates of depression in women… and substance abuse in women. But it is not marriage that seems to be the big trigger, but divorce.

When I turn to today’s readings I find some challenges.

REVELATION 2:1-2:7
1″To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2″I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. 3I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.”

Yesteday I saw young colleagues come out of a seminar on career development buzzing. They had been listening to each other’s research… and they remembered why they had entered the field at all.
But we tend to forget this. Life grinds. My emotions this morning are being managed… because not only is the son visiting his mother throughout Christmas, but she has come to Dunedin to attend things at his school that I cannot (which is good) and I have to support this for my son’s sake. The marraige is dead, but we stumble on.
God reminds us that he is not like that. He will not fail us. In fact, he will not put the burdens on us that tradition will.

MATTHEW 23:1-12
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2″The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father — the one in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I think we need to be very careful here. In the end, we depend on Jesus. And he reverses the commands…
… which is interesting. At this meeting, I am supposed to be leading. What this means is that I am either running sessions, grading posters, or organizing things that I had not thought we needed to do (good wine for the speakers? Two teleconferences? Find a speakerphone?… Done. To lead is to put the needs of others before yourself, at least in academe.
So we have to continually, continually, refer back to Jesus.
And Jesus was not being that sarcastic when he said the Pharisees sit on the Lar — that their theology was basically correct. But the hardness of the tradition, and the glosses on tradition, we oppressive, and at times contradicted the law. We therefore find our Lord and Master giving one of the most anticlerical speeches ever given.
And we need to follow him, and server, do good, and pray that our first love will be found. Because in this season, I confess mine is shattered.

Why the theologians will be silent.

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This is advent, and it is a busy time of year. One of the better research conferences in my area is starting today. Last night my son was asked if he could join the orchestra for a prizegiving (for another school) tonight

We are looking forward to Christmas. And we tend to forget that this was about a man who could shut up the most brillian people of his time. The Pharisees and Sadducees were brilliant theologians. The teachings from this period, particularly of the main schools among the Pharisees, make up a fair amount of the Talmudic commentaries.

And Jesus quieted them… with a question.

Matthew 22:34-46

34When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36″Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and first commandment. 39and a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

41Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42″What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, 44′The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? 45If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” 46No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

The fact no one would dispute with him is significant. Much of the training in theology involves argument, disputation. Two or more people arguing about what this passage means. Behind that interpretation is a model of what God is like: what is the correct way to interpret, and the place of tradtition. And Jesus quoted a psalm — throwing their model of the messiah into shreds.

We must not fall into the error of the present. Those who went before us were as smart as we are: we are no more enlightened than they were. And, like the pharisees, we hold too tightly to our interpretations.

In the generation before us, this led to another error. Papering over the cracks. There are real differences among believers on what some things mean. It comes down to some basic assumptions on the placce of the church, the word, and tradition. .From those thoughts followed a move to a sacramental theology (for example, the Catholic idea that correct practice is saving), or a conventional theology (which led to the reformed emphasis on the elect — and ultra reformed people sitting contemplating their elect status and not doing good nor preaching the gospel)

In the end, all our theologies reflect some shard of the trurht, leavened with a fair amount of human speculation. We must not let go of our salvation… nor deny the differences. For we are students, arguing over the text.

When Jesus comes, the theologians of this age will again be silent.

This time is not forever.

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Last night Will managed to post into the comments the music I was alluding to. This monring I’m returning he favour with a tune that has over six million hits. And Jeff does not know this, because he is dead.

But his music is simply beautiful. One of the things about this earth is that our time of beauty is ephemeral: when we are young we look perfect, and as we get older we may get wise, but no person attains perfection consistently.

But we at times reflect this. Jeff did. And Jeff is dead. Our myths do not dal with this. God does.

Revelation 1:1-8

1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.

4John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.

8″I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Matthew 22:23-33

23The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, 24″Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.’ 25Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27Last of all, the woman herself died. 28In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.”

29Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32′I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.” 33And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

In the end, our beauty is going to fade. That which see as wonderful and perfect, — even the amrriage that is perfect, and the love that sustains one through life — will end. But God will not end.

After linking to a perfect video at the top, I’m linking to Brooke Fraser at the end. The musical chord sequence, by the way, is identical… but the message is different.

“God is my victory”. Not me. Not my possessions or education. Not my family.

The revelry of the loungers shall pass away

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I slept in, and went to Knox this morning. One of the commentsin the message was that if we ignore the pain and suffering at (what the kitsch song calls “The most wonderful time of the year”) then we miss the point of the gospel, and we cheapen the gospel.

AMOS 6:4-7
4Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock,
and calves from the stall;
5who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music;
6who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
7Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

I have been trying to navigate my way around the difficulties within this time — as a solo Dad, seeing the relationships of my friends implode and reform, and knowing how much pain there is even in a rich country at this time.
There is a reason that the Pogues Christmas song is so popular. It speaks without sentiment. It reminds us of the lost and lonely as did the old carols. We see the Christmas season through a cultural filter of coca cola advertisement, Santa Parades, end of year prize-givings, carols, and a haze of carbohydrates and alcohol.

But that was not what it was like in the beginning.

LUKE 1:57-63
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” 61They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

MARK 1:1-8
1The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in he prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The gospel starts with prophecy — to Elisabeth, Mary and Zechariah — and moves rapidly to repentence.

Repentence. Because the Kingdom is at hand, and is with us. if we do not care for our nation and care for the lost, then we will be judged, and in that turmoil the elite will lose their luxury and be equal in their distress with the poor, and the twittering of the amateur improvising pretty music in their revels will give way.