What is this fascination with identifying Paul the Apostle?  Why the controversy about the possibility that some of the epistles were supposedly written by disciples of Paul?  Is it the same thing that compels the search for the historical Jesus?  What drives us to yearn for a physical connection with God and his prophets?  I know one thing: it isn’t new.  Moses – standing barefoot on holy ground – humbly asked “Who am I?” before demanding to know of God, “Who are you?”  Four thousand years on we tend to the same mixture of awe and audacity when confronting our Lord.

The easy answer to all this would be to say that it’s a result of our fallen human nature, our tendency toward and love of the things of this world.  That’s a mistake that has been made before.  If we completely rejected this world, then we would justify abandoning the plight of this world – and that was not the message nor the mission of our Saviour.  Jesus was not an apparation during his life, nor was he a ghost following his resurrection.  He was incarnate – born of the flesh – and raised from the dead in the flesh made whole again and perfect.  Yes, we should turn away from the worldly in the sense of prioritizing that which is most important.  But we should also realize that we are called to join in the Church’s mission with Christ to heal God’s creation, to participate in works of piety and works of mercy as part of what Wesley conceived of as the “means of grace”.

So, we celebrate the fact that ancient bones support ancient tradition and ancient manuscripts testify to eternal truths.  At the same time, we realize that though the time is coming when time shall cease to exist, this is the day that the Lord has made for work.

I’m not going to post the links here, and not because I want to silence anyone’s criticisms (let me know if you want the links, I’ll get them to you).  No, I’m not posting them because I think it will focus us on the problem instead of the solution.  Maybe in a future post we can discuss ways that we can do a better job of supporting those in ministry and those who are training to be in ministry.  For now, I can only say that I have renewed appreciation for Andy, Raigan, Jimmy and – especially – for Kevin.  We need to remember to lift them up in prayer always.  While we’re about praying, we can look to our East and pray on this subject as Bishop Willimon suggests.

In my previous post, I mentioned some thoughts about the use of blogging as part of promoting spiritual growth.  To that end, I’m taking a line (or two) from First Timothy:

6 If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness,
8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 These are the things you must insist on and teach. 1 Tim 4:6-11 (NRSV)

We’ll post about other issues from time to time, but the focus of this blog is the study of scripture and its application to our lives.

Kevin Baker

I know you guys have already read the “Meet Our Writer” blurb in this quarter’s Adult Bible Studies Student Books . . . NOT . . . so you can read about him here!

Kevin Baker has an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, is currently pastor of Reconciliation United Methodist Church in Durham, North Carolina, and has been a United Methodist pastor for fifteen years. You may want to check out Kevin Baker’s blog, Christian Conversations, or the Reconciliation United Methodist’s blog.

As Brian indicated in his email to the class earlier this week, we’re going to engage in a four part series for the month of November on worship, liturgy and the church year.  Hopefully, this study series will not only be informative, but will point the way toward a richer and deeper worship experience for all of us — not just on Sundays, but every day.

Since our study will be focused on connecting us with our Methodist heritage (both radical and traditional) in worship, it seems appropriate that we begin on All Saints Day.  Because we’ll be studying the role of the Church Year and the Lectionary in worship, it also seems appropriate that we’ll end the study on Christ the King Sunday.  In planning this series, I’ve come up with the following rough division for our discussions. 

• A Brief History of Worship
• The Christian Calendar and the Lectionary
• “The Rest of the Week”:  Holy Days and Daily Worship
• Liturgy: High Church, Low Church, Emerging Church

This is by no means a full outline, because we’ll be discussing a lot more — from the role of music in worship and the church year to the Book of Common Prayer to daily devotionals and Lectio Divina.  Remember, the goal is not just information, but transformation — to grow spiritually through study.  Because we have such limited time on Sundays, we’re going to “blog on” through the weekdays and hope that you’ll join in the “virtual discussion” of worship (or any other topic that moves you).

 You know that’s not true.  You can read those chapters now, or go back later and pick them up.  Each chapter can stand on its own.  Here’s something else:  You don’t have to comment on Day 2 on September 11th only!  You can go through any of the posts and add your comments at any time.  (Waiting until 2008 might be pushing it a little bit).

So, don’t decide to be a “Sunday School Dropout” just because you didn’t hear the starting gun.  As Delmar said in O Brother Where Art Thou?, “Come on in boys, the water is fine!”

Commit:  After you decide that you want to transform some aspect of your life, then make a commitment.  Pick a block of time to not only read that day’s chapter, but leave enough time to stop and ponder the questions it raises.  Are they really that simple?  Great, go to the last step.  If not, you’ll need to set aside at least 15 minutes to read and then really think about what the author is trying to get at (that’s 1.04 % of a 24 hour day – 4.17 % of an average person’s free time).

Reflect: Maybe you think the chapter contains more truism than truth.  Okay, then ponder why you think that’s so and try to come up with what it is that you feel is missing.  Maybe something in the chapter reminds you of an experience in your life.  Maybe the chapter leads you into thinking about another idea or thought.  The point is not just to read the chapter, but to set aside time for reflection, meditation – even prayer.

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