The Importance Of A New Pope
This week, we witness a very short Conclave. This is the time when the Cardinals all get together for prayer and discernment and conclude with voting on who should be the next Pope. With so much scrutiny, people were hoping for a drastic change in the image of papacy. Some where anticipating a new and young face to bring the church into the 21st century. When those curtains opened up, there were mixed feelings. Cardinal Bergoglio walked out as the first Pope from the new world via Argentina. Though this might not be the change that some were wishing for, it was change indeed. See, what we need to understand is that God's time might not coincide with we call the time of the century. Decisions that the Catholic church makes outlast any universal fade for the time. Now, I'm not saying that I agree with some of their more strict doctrine; particularly on the lack of women in leadership roles but it's not my decision to make. Will these changes that we so yearn for happen? I have faith that they will but the boat of change is slower than what I want it to be and that's okay because when we think of the future of the church universal, we need to understand that our generation; our life time is but a small part of the progression. I know we all want it now but the body of Christ transcends time. I might not see the first female priest in my life time but the church will witness it one day...and I am the church...we are the church. Okay enough with the metaphysics...
My final thought is that while I am not Catholic (though a good chunk of my family is) the exchange of papacy it important for all. Though the leadership of a Christian denomination that I am not affiliated with does not change my day-to-day life, we need to recognize the importance of the path that the Catholic church makes. See, love it or hate it, we would not have protestantism or the evangelical church if not for the Catholic church helping Christianity survive for the 1,500 years prior to the big denomination boom (that's the Reformation). We see our own denominations change periodically (the United Methodist church as only been around since the 60's) but the Catholic church remains that constant (and slow moving) ship that holds the roots of Christianity. So, even if you do not agree with the papacy, we need to understand that were the Catholic church goes, in a way so does the church. We may disagree with the RC's but they remain the stagnant behemoth that is the home of more that 1/6 of the world and, believe it or not, is still growing.
Perhaps, when the far western churches learn to appreciate the antiquity of the Catholic church and the Catholics learn that the protestant church as much to offer then we could maybe one day walk together in transforming the church.
My final thought is that while I am not Catholic (though a good chunk of my family is) the exchange of papacy it important for all. Though the leadership of a Christian denomination that I am not affiliated with does not change my day-to-day life, we need to recognize the importance of the path that the Catholic church makes. See, love it or hate it, we would not have protestantism or the evangelical church if not for the Catholic church helping Christianity survive for the 1,500 years prior to the big denomination boom (that's the Reformation). We see our own denominations change periodically (the United Methodist church as only been around since the 60's) but the Catholic church remains that constant (and slow moving) ship that holds the roots of Christianity. So, even if you do not agree with the papacy, we need to understand that were the Catholic church goes, in a way so does the church. We may disagree with the RC's but they remain the stagnant behemoth that is the home of more that 1/6 of the world and, believe it or not, is still growing.
Perhaps, when the far western churches learn to appreciate the antiquity of the Catholic church and the Catholics learn that the protestant church as much to offer then we could maybe one day walk together in transforming the church.
rEflection
At the beginning of very week, my team and I send out a newsletter with our thoughts on the various ministries that occurred during the previous week. We can it rEflection (get it, the e is capitalized cause it's electronic!) Okay, it's nothing remotely new or even clever but what is important is the purpose of this newsletter. Many times, we tend to turn our church newsletters about all the information one has to know. We try to add other stories but they tend to get lost in all the spam for the calendar. What we have tried to do with rEflection is provide a means of communication that celebrates what we do and to begin conversations about why we do it. This new newsletter also attempts to be a resource for parents to understand what it is that there child is learning and developing when they are dropped off and enter the walls of the church. It is our hope that youth and parents alike learn about the staffs perspectives on ministry so that they can begin to understand our plan; to simply provide opportunities for youth and families to participate in spiritual practices that help them progress in their path of discipleship.
A Response To What Happened In Connecticut
On Friday, December 14, my wife and I first heard about the shooting in Connecticut on NPR. We rushed home to watch the news as we did not understand the full magnitude of the situation. After about 15 minutes, there was no new news and the opinion phase of the news channel began. I decided to do what I could not due during the election season; I turned it off.
Today's political atmosphere demands that we take stands and pigeon hole our selves based on our quick responses. Facebook does not better by allowing anyone to share there opinions with the world as they are forming in ones mind. Because of the present day social media, we are expected to choose sides on everything with only two sides usually being the maximum number of choices.
I want to let all know that there is and ecclesial or pastoral response as well. While placing our rhetoric and beliefs on the television or the internet for all to hear and read might make us feel better, we need to be reminded about the story of Job and his friends who sat with him after Job's world fell apart. They stayed in silence comforting him until they decided to open their mouths. Only then did Job leave. We need to not make haste in our response to incommodious events such as these.
It is my hope, as a minister, that I am a resource so that many would develop the tools to be able to train themselves to respond to the world based on who they are as Christians. I challenge you to take a step back from our initial human responses and change our language to that of hope, love, and prayer.
The brilliance of a pastoral response is that it is something that we can all gather around. A pastoral response can bring the pacifist and the deer hunter together, holding hands and claiming the Good News of Christ at a time like this. We need to represent the church as well comfort those who have lost, pray for those who need, and hope for a new day when Christ comes and says "no more."
Today's political atmosphere demands that we take stands and pigeon hole our selves based on our quick responses. Facebook does not better by allowing anyone to share there opinions with the world as they are forming in ones mind. Because of the present day social media, we are expected to choose sides on everything with only two sides usually being the maximum number of choices.
I want to let all know that there is and ecclesial or pastoral response as well. While placing our rhetoric and beliefs on the television or the internet for all to hear and read might make us feel better, we need to be reminded about the story of Job and his friends who sat with him after Job's world fell apart. They stayed in silence comforting him until they decided to open their mouths. Only then did Job leave. We need to not make haste in our response to incommodious events such as these.
It is my hope, as a minister, that I am a resource so that many would develop the tools to be able to train themselves to respond to the world based on who they are as Christians. I challenge you to take a step back from our initial human responses and change our language to that of hope, love, and prayer.
The brilliance of a pastoral response is that it is something that we can all gather around. A pastoral response can bring the pacifist and the deer hunter together, holding hands and claiming the Good News of Christ at a time like this. We need to represent the church as well comfort those who have lost, pray for those who need, and hope for a new day when Christ comes and says "no more."
The Next Batman Will Be Like An Interim Pastor
This year marked the end of Christopher Nolan's epic Dark Knight Trilogy. We all assume for the time begin that Batman on the silver screen is over but Warner Bros. is already talking about a Batman reboot for summer of 2016. Seems too soon right? Well, considering how much dough Gotham's detective makes for the film company, 2016 can't come soon enough. We to look at a few things. First, we need to be reminded that this was never intended to be the end-all-be-all Batman film series. Keep in mind that there have been 7 Batman movies in the past 20 years and one could argue how many reboots there have been between these films. Also, Batman has become like James Bond. While some of us remember a world where Batman was merely identified as Adam West, Batman is here to stay in the movies. They will be making them forever.
So let me get to my point...
The Dark Knight Trilogy is a gem of a film series. We need to understand that these films are not simply part of the super hero genre. This film series could be understood as the Godfather series of this generation. Listen I'm a huge fan of what Marvel is doing and I love Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man but we need to realize that the avengers will one day be rebooted and the present day marvel films, as awesome as they are, will fall into the summer blockbuster vault with the likes of Independence Day and The Rock. The Dark Knight series will be looked at and studied in film schools for the next unforeseeable future.
Ok, here is my point...
How we see Batman is what Nolan brought to us. We assume that this will be Batman forever and that we are done. But, as the credits rolled at the end of The Dark Knight Rises, we realize that it's over. No more Christian Bale as Batman, no more Gary Oldman turning on the Bat Signal, and, most importantly, no more Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman sharing the screen together. What we assume is the standard is coming to an end and will accumulate in 2016. So, let me first apologize to the next Batman for all the flack he will get for he will be the interim.
We get so used to a pastor, especially if s/he has been at our church for a long time and s/he is good. The next pastor is usually the interim; never intended to extend their tenure past the previous pastors and always understanding that they will be compared to the previous pastor and "the good old days." Our next Batman will be the same. He might even get a sequel and he might even be good. But he will never be as perceived as having the same quality that Nolan's Batman had. Whether or not it's true, we tend to institutionalize our previous perception of yesterday. An example is that poles indicate the American public tend to like previous presidents more than they did when he was in office.
So, I want to apologize ahead of time Batman. I encourage you to talk Brandon Routh on his experience as and interim super hero regardless of how good he was. Do the best you can and perhaps we will appreciate you when the Batman after you comes along in 2019...
So let me get to my point...
The Dark Knight Trilogy is a gem of a film series. We need to understand that these films are not simply part of the super hero genre. This film series could be understood as the Godfather series of this generation. Listen I'm a huge fan of what Marvel is doing and I love Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man but we need to realize that the avengers will one day be rebooted and the present day marvel films, as awesome as they are, will fall into the summer blockbuster vault with the likes of Independence Day and The Rock. The Dark Knight series will be looked at and studied in film schools for the next unforeseeable future.
Ok, here is my point...
How we see Batman is what Nolan brought to us. We assume that this will be Batman forever and that we are done. But, as the credits rolled at the end of The Dark Knight Rises, we realize that it's over. No more Christian Bale as Batman, no more Gary Oldman turning on the Bat Signal, and, most importantly, no more Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman sharing the screen together. What we assume is the standard is coming to an end and will accumulate in 2016. So, let me first apologize to the next Batman for all the flack he will get for he will be the interim.
We get so used to a pastor, especially if s/he has been at our church for a long time and s/he is good. The next pastor is usually the interim; never intended to extend their tenure past the previous pastors and always understanding that they will be compared to the previous pastor and "the good old days." Our next Batman will be the same. He might even get a sequel and he might even be good. But he will never be as perceived as having the same quality that Nolan's Batman had. Whether or not it's true, we tend to institutionalize our previous perception of yesterday. An example is that poles indicate the American public tend to like previous presidents more than they did when he was in office.
So, I want to apologize ahead of time Batman. I encourage you to talk Brandon Routh on his experience as and interim super hero regardless of how good he was. Do the best you can and perhaps we will appreciate you when the Batman after you comes along in 2019...
This Advent Season
As we begin to panic about finding that special gift for someone you love or discern the ethics of participating in a made rush to particular establishments in the middle of the night in order to get that great deal completely disregarding the fact that employees are forced to work at crazy times and for minimum wage, lets remember why we have this season. No, this is not a declaration of the "Reason for the Season." It's a reminder of how awesome the Holy Spirit is. Think about it. While much of the purpose is lost in the media complaining to Target about what their holiday vernacular is, we need to realize that the roots of the Holiday season come from a small community 2,000 years ago signally the preparation of a King they did not expect or understand. From a child being born in a cave to what we have today is an evolutional miracle. Sure, we could get self righteous and let people know how Christian we are because we only attend church services, or by indirectly judging someones parenthood because they allow their children to believe in Santa Claus, or we can take a step back and see the Holy Spirit at work. Remember, the Spirit works beyond our intentions. We do not grant authority of the Spirit based on our purpose. So, as we see people participating in shelters, toys for tots, angel trees, and the Salvation Army; and while sometimes people are not thinking of the born Christ when they do so, we have to believe that the season that came from Jesus still motivates all to do good.