Dear Theophilus

I listen to Christian radio when I get tired of my albums. Don't judge, but it is necessary for me to listen to music to which I can let my guard down. I know it is not good, but I am not going to drive in silence.  Well, tonight they were talking about stewardship and the Bible. The mere sound of the word irked me. Why? What bugs me about it? Driving to the grocery story sans kids gave me some room for introspection. My answer is two-fold: The idea of "stewardship" assumes that (1) there is some discernment that is needed on my part, and (2) that I get to keep some of the thing that is stewarded - which is 99% of the time talking about money/wealth. Newsflash, we don't get to keep it and there is no decision to make. Jesus is pretty clear, " Sell your possessions, and give it to the poor. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven..." (Luke 12 - there are a bunch more, I just like this one. ok?). "J...

Today is one of the days in the church calendar where we celebrate St. John the "Golden Mouth" Chrysostom. His golden mouth led him to be a favorite of the people. Soon, he was whisked away from his church to become a bishop by political leaders based on his amazing speaking, but they were in for more than they bargained. He began a series of reforms where, it is described, that "he swept the stairs from the top down." He called out political figures for corruption. He whippe d his clergy into place. He refused to host the usual lavish banquets and preached against the wealthy as thieves of the poor. With the money he saved from a simple lifestyle, he opened a string of hospitals for the poor. Then he turned his sights to his congregation. The common people absolutely loved him.  As you might suspect, this made him unpopular with the rich and powerful. Ultimately he was exiled from his position for some trumped up theological charges. But the support and lov...

Mother Mary, after reflecting on the coming birth of Jesus, sings this song. This is what the birth of Jesus means according to her: "God has shown strength with his arm;    the Lord has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,    and lifted up the lowly; The Lord has filled the hungry with good things,    and sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1). The social order before Jesus is one where the biggest, strongest, and richest are in power and most valued. The birth of Jesus, Christmas, begins the process of flipping that on its head where now the lowly are lifted up and the hungry are filled. God's economy, God's heart, will become the new norm - THIS is the promise of the Gospel. God's Kingdom, God's economy, is coming and it will be "without end." Which economy are you supporting? Are we taken with confidence, power, and wealth? Or are we invested in the humble, meek, lowly...

Luke 17 contains one of the toughest parables. I have never heard a sermon on it. I did hear one theology professor mention it one time. "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table?' Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink?' Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'" Today's lection contains this passage - Luke 17:1-10. I haven't done any study on it, but the context gave me more than enough for my own meditation. The slave parable is in the context of forgiving our kin disciples as many times as they are repentant. The disciples, who react accordingly to any one who takes Jesus...

One of my favorite artists' rendition of Martin giving his cloak - El Greco c. 1598 During the 4th century there lived a man, son of a soldier, who became a soldier at age 15 in Constantine's wars. He was considering being a Christian but wavered some. One day a beggar, freezing in the cold, caught the eye of this young soldier. The soldier had compassion on the man and cut his cloak in half so that they each had relief from the cold. That night, as the soldier slept, Christ appeared to the soldier in a dream wearing the half cloak he had given to the beggar. The soldier immediately gave himself to a life of faith in pursuit of the Way of Jesus. The soldier demanded that he be released from the military saying, "I have faithfully served Caesar. Let me now serve Christ" and "I am a soldier of Christ, I cannot fight." He was persecuted, thrown in prison, and somewhat threatened with death. When momentary peace came he was released. This man became a ...

This song is hauntingly good. I loved this song even before I dove deeper into the meaning. Incredibly sad, but it has stuck with me even if I don't feel the same way the author did when writing it. There are no chords on the internet for it so I tabbed it out. Here you go internet Sufjan fans. At the bottom is a jpg for formatting assurance. It also has helpful tips like key and playing with a Capo: Arnika Surfjan Stevens C             Dm      Bb                   F                      C                       Bb Arnika might take out the throes that I threw in my head Bruno, your wife shakes her bedclothes as she makes up ...

[Jesus lifts Adam and Eve (and you) from their graves in the Resurrection] the text: John 5:19-29 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. ‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the ...