Yesterday was a bad prayer day. I did the early morning office but then went to study and couldn't get online for the rest of the day, so I punted. Pretty lame. I definitely felt a void in the day.
This morning I did matins and lauds and look forward to rejoining my routine.
Thoroughly enjoyed our conversation this morning...thanks, everyone.
Contemplating God's rebuke through Hosea to Israel that they did not "know" Him. They had not bothered to "know" their God and thus prostituted themselves to the god of self-sufficiency, self-entitlement, self-gratification and, therefore, complete unfaithfulness...I want to know my God!
I did the early morning office and the BCP morning office just now. I'm contemplating going to mass for Ash Wednesday, but have so much to do that it feels frivolous. Isn't that terrible?
Yeah, I skipped out on an Ash Wednesday service as well.
My morning has been thrown off a little bit because we had a guy come out to fix our internet. It's better now, by the way. We'll see what else the day has in store for me.
In honor of Lent, I am trying to read my bible every day AND blog--we will see if I can do the blog part! :)
I am reading right now about the Hebrew language in the Old Testament and the voice. It really inspired me to really dive into the old testament with a different perspective. As I read more and more, i am learning that the Bible is actually FUN to decipher. I am looking forward to what God shows me during this Lent season.
I did early morning prayers when I awoke and the BCP morning office when i began to work. I'm meeting this morning with the folks I'm starting this ministerial order. looking forward to the day.
Okay, Tim...question for you..(or Scott) You talk of non-violence all the time and I get it- I really do. But today, I read Genesis 9 where God confirms His covenant with Noah and he says that anyone who murders another must die and that anyone who takes another human life that that person's life will be taken by human hands as well...Now I am confused. That sounds pretty violent to me. I certainly don't believe it-that we should murder murderers but isn't that a contradiction to what Jesus preaches? (I am feeling vulnerable as I go to hit send on this...just so you know!)
I did early morning prayers and the Daily office from the BCP today. I'm trying the Friday Fast - yikes. I'm going to be a bear today.
Sara,
That's a really good question that is not easy to answer. I would say Genesis 9:6, when read in the whole context of Genesis 1-11, is working to establish a fundamental principle about the sanctity of human life. To kill another person who is made in the image of God is a serious thing. I would read that verse to mean this: Those who take it upon themselves to kill another person will answer to God for their actions. Genesis 6:9 establishes the principle that God will require a reckoning from those who shed the blood of their fellow human beings. It also contains the warning which Jesus echoed, that those who live by violence risk dying by violence.
I choose not to live by violence, as far as it is possible. If killing is neccesary, by me or on my behalf, in the cause of the greater good, then I consider that a cause for regret and repentance
Violence in the OT is hard... I think that the armies, prophets and judges of the ancient Jews who killed in war and justice did so in the certainty that they were doing God's will, but I do not believe that modern Christians can share their certainty.
That's why I don't think it contradicts Jesus - although very conservative fundamentalists would totally disagree with me. Jesus said of himself he came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. I take that to mean he took faith in God to a "total person" level, not just a "follow these laws" level. Paul called this the "law of faith."
For Jesus' teaching on the subject look at Mt. 26:52 "all who take the sword will perish by the sword."(NRSV) This is a very similar verse which seems to indicate that the natural response to violence will be more violence. Violence escalates and you reap what you sow. But there in that moment, in the gospels, he's admonishing his followers to reject violence. This is especially important given the fact that his own blood is about to be shed, only he will not take his revenge, he will forgo it and in the process, forgive even those who kill God's image bearing creatures.
I have absolutely no idea if that helps. But I'm a nerd and I loved thinking about that verse and having to decide how I would read it, so thanks for the question!
I am in the Old Testament once again and find myself continuing to have question after question. No wonder so many people read the New Testament more frequently! HA! I am going to stay committed however. Onward I go!
Read John 12:20-32 today where Jesus predicts his death. I really enjoyed this passage today. Taught it to the jr. high kids. It is just a further reminder of strength for me as I continue to try and change my narrative. I loved it!
Also, I have my prayer beads hanging on my bathroom door/wall. It reminds me to say the Jesus prayer when I wake up and when I go to bed. Not 100 times but it reminds me of my sin and allows me to spend some time talking to God about that each day.
Also, my mom's tumor is shrinking! I keep forgetting to mention that. Thanks for your prayers.
each week we will have a new post through which to interact. you can post comments as often as you want under each week in order to share what you are reading, disciplines you are engaging in, or encouragement to each other.
12 comments:
Yesterday was a bad prayer day. I did the early morning office but then went to study and couldn't get online for the rest of the day, so I punted. Pretty lame. I definitely felt a void in the day.
This morning I did matins and lauds and look forward to rejoining my routine.
Peace,
-t
I prayer the Jesus prayer this morning. Felt like I needed to center myself.
Thoroughly enjoyed our conversation this morning...thanks, everyone.
Contemplating God's rebuke through Hosea to Israel that they did not "know" Him. They had not bothered to "know" their God and thus prostituted themselves to the god of self-sufficiency, self-entitlement, self-gratification and, therefore, complete unfaithfulness...I want to know my God!
I did the early morning office and the BCP morning office just now. I'm contemplating going to mass for Ash Wednesday, but have so much to do that it feels frivolous. Isn't that terrible?
Yeah, I skipped out on an Ash Wednesday service as well.
My morning has been thrown off a little bit because we had a guy come out to fix our internet. It's better now, by the way. We'll see what else the day has in store for me.
In honor of Lent, I am trying to read my bible every day AND blog--we will see if I can do the blog part! :)
I am reading right now about the Hebrew language in the Old Testament and the voice. It really inspired me to really dive into the old testament with a different perspective. As I read more and more, i am learning that the Bible is actually FUN to decipher. I am looking forward to what God shows me during this Lent season.
I did early morning prayers when I awoke and the BCP morning office when i began to work. I'm meeting this morning with the folks I'm starting this ministerial order. looking forward to the day.
-t
Okay, Tim...question for you..(or Scott) You talk of non-violence all the time and I get it- I really do. But today, I read Genesis 9 where God confirms His covenant with Noah and he says that anyone who murders another must die and that anyone who takes another human life that that person's life will be taken by human hands as well...Now I am confused. That sounds pretty violent to me. I certainly don't believe it-that we should murder murderers but isn't that a contradiction to what Jesus preaches? (I am feeling vulnerable as I go to hit send on this...just so you know!)
I did early morning prayers and the Daily office from the BCP today. I'm trying the Friday Fast - yikes. I'm going to be a bear today.
Sara,
That's a really good question that is not easy to answer. I would say Genesis 9:6, when read in the whole context of Genesis 1-11, is working to establish a fundamental principle about the sanctity of human life. To kill another person who is made in the image of God is a serious thing. I would read that verse to mean this: Those who take it upon themselves to kill another person will answer to God for their actions. Genesis 6:9 establishes the principle that God will require a reckoning from those who shed the blood of their fellow human beings. It also contains the warning which Jesus echoed, that those who live by violence risk dying by violence.
I choose not to live by violence, as far as it is possible. If killing is neccesary, by me or on my behalf, in the cause of the greater good, then I consider that a cause for regret and repentance
Violence in the OT is hard... I think that the armies, prophets and judges of the ancient Jews who killed in war and justice did so in the certainty that they were doing God's will, but I do not believe that modern Christians can share their certainty.
That's why I don't think it contradicts Jesus - although very conservative fundamentalists would totally disagree with me. Jesus said of himself he came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. I take that to mean he took faith in God to a "total person" level, not just a "follow these laws" level. Paul called this the "law of faith."
For Jesus' teaching on the subject look at Mt. 26:52 "all who take the sword will perish by the sword."(NRSV) This is a very similar verse which seems to indicate that the natural response to violence will be more violence. Violence escalates and you reap what you sow. But there in that moment, in the gospels, he's admonishing his followers to reject violence. This is especially important given the fact that his own blood is about to be shed, only he will not take his revenge, he will forgo it and in the process, forgive even those who kill God's image bearing creatures.
I have absolutely no idea if that helps. But I'm a nerd and I loved thinking about that verse and having to decide how I would read it, so thanks for the question!
I am in the Old Testament once again and find myself continuing to have question after question. No wonder so many people read the New Testament more frequently! HA! I am going to stay committed however. Onward I go!
Read John 12:20-32 today where Jesus predicts his death. I really enjoyed this passage today. Taught it to the jr. high kids. It is just a further reminder of strength for me as I continue to try and change my narrative. I loved it!
Also, I have my prayer beads hanging on my bathroom door/wall. It reminds me to say the Jesus prayer when I wake up and when I go to bed. Not 100 times but it reminds me of my sin and allows me to spend some time talking to God about that each day.
Also, my mom's tumor is shrinking! I keep forgetting to mention that. Thanks for your prayers.
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