Peripatetics: The Art of Walking
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Psalm 120 is the first in the ancient Jewish worship book called the Psalms of Ascent. Whenever a Jewish family would leave as a group, usually walking, to attend one of the three yearly festivals in Jerusalem, they would sing these songs.
The reality that it's first in the list might suggest that they sang it first for a reason, and I think that reason might be that it deals with the idea not believing lies anymore...changing the way you think about the world around you. Read it through a time or two times and tell me if you think it's about something different.
Mind vitamin for today: The writer is in trouble, so he offers a prayer to God to be delivered from liars. Looking at verses 3 & 4, what is the end result of the "liars" and the lies they tell?
Journal prompt: When he says that he "sojourns" in Meshech and dwells in the tents of Kedar he's saying that he's living temporarily with barbarians (look it up) and people who harass those that are friendly towards God. How does hanging out with those who live with few rules and unfriendly towards God affect your thinking and actions? Can you think of any "lies" of our culture that influence you?
Brent 4:00 AM
Monday, August 30, 2004
Last night's class started out by looking at the book of John, chapter 10, verses 7--15. If you've got a copy handy, maybe read over it and get a little more familiar with it. And don't forget the context of this conversation that began in chapter 9...which was Jesus firing back at the religious leaders of his day who were upset that Jesus was informing society that He was the long-awaited Messiah.
In fact, Jesus had healed a man from a lifetime of blindness...in some ways providing a bit of proof that He just might be precisely who He said He was. In an incredible example of completely missing the point, the religious leaders were bent out of shape that he performed the miracle on the Sabbath (their day of "rest"...but notice nobody denied that a miracle took place). We pick up in this public discourse in chapter 10.
Here's some mind vitamins, if you're inclined towards some "deep thinking" time during the day:
Think about the purpose of doors. Why do you think Jesus might say He was the "door" for the sheep? Who might the sheep be?
Think about the job of a shepherd. What does Jesus say separates the good ones from the bad ones?
Jesus claimed that He came that people could live an abundant life, and that theives have other ideas. Who are the "thieves" in our society? How do they "steal, kill & destroy?"
And, while we're at it, here's a "journal prompt"...What makes an abundant life, and how can this be done in 2004? How do verses 14-15 help you think about an abundant life?
Brent 7:48 AM
Saturday, August 28, 2004
My first introduction to organized religion was far from stuffy. It was deeply passionate. Even at a young age I was completely consumed by it.
I read every available word (which, pre-internet, wasn’t much). There were times when I was encouraged. There were days when my doubts were fueled.
I had a small group of friends walking the path with me. There were times we encouraged each other. There were days when the discussions would get heated.
I remember they hymns. There were times when the slow ones would send chills up my spine. There were days when I couldn’t stop clapping and singing the fast ones, humming them during non-church days.
I loved going to the building on the weekend. There were times when I literally wept with others who were weeping. There were days when I hugged complete strangers, sharing their joy.
I could listen to the happenings on the radio if I couldn’t go on a particular weekend. There were times when you could hear the congregation’s enthusiasm. There were days when you could hear a pin drop in the background.
I respected the leaders. There were times when all I needed to hear was their explanation. There were days when they encouraged me just by the look on their faces.
I knew people in other denominations. There were days we could find things in common and rejoice. There were times when the differences were so pronounced you didn’t want to be around them.
I was misunderstood by people who didn’t have the same passion. They didn’t get it. They didn’t get me. They didn’t get us. But it didn’t matter. I was united to others through a common passion. I was involved in a movement that was bigger than all of us put together. It wasn’t stuffy. It was deeply passionate. I was completely consumed by it.
It was everything organized religion isn’t supposed to be. But then again, college football isn’t an ordinary religion. It is the primary passion in the state of Alabama.
Some of you won’t believe that, or you’ll assume I’m simply given to hyperbole. Trust me on this. There are over 12,000 web-sites that have information about Auburn football (I belong to the more clannish & traditional denomination known as the Tigers). Conversations with friends still turn to the fortunes of my team. The alma mater and fight song still stir my emotions. Jordan-Hare stadium has seen my most polar emotions—last second field goals have induced both tears and euphoria. The roar of the 85,000 people who paid $50 each can be heard in the background of my highlight DVD’s. Head coaches have highly rated post-game television shows to talk about the events of the previous day. I’ve seen husbands and wives fail to talk to each other because they went to rival universities.
People from outside the Deep South don’t understand it. They don’t get it. They don’t understand me or the Auburn Family. It doesn’t matter. I love my Tigers. I still live and die with them, even from 660 miles away.
And I do think an abundant life…the walk with Christ…should have that kind of passion, and those elements, in the mix.
Somewhere.
Somehow.
Some way.
More tomorrow.
Mind vitamin for today (For those of you that keep a journal--here's a prompt! For the rest of you, just think about these during your day): When have you been truly passionate about something or someone? What were the “highs” caused by? The “lows?” Can you have similar experiences in a 2004 walk with Christ? Why or why not?
Brent 9:30 PM
Comments:
War Eagle Brent...maybe this season we'll be better than last. If not...well lets just plan on being better.
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