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Category: Following Jesus

George Macdonald and a new kid on the block

Published by mhelbert on January 14, 2012

It’s saturday morning. This week, as I’ve written in my journal, has been full of stuff that has made my brain hurt. So many thoughts and musings have been doing the macarana inside my head. It’s been exhilarating and a bit frustrating at the same time.
One of the exhilarating moments came as I read a small piece by 19th century Scottish author and minister George Macdonald. He is one who C. S. Lewis stated had a great influence on his own conversion and literary direction. In the piece Macdonald commented on Mark 8;1-21. The encounter described was after Jesus had fed 4,000 and had a run-in with some Pharisees. On a boat ride, Jesus made a comment about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. The disciples, ever on top of things, assumed that Jesus was upset because they had not brought bread on the trip. Jesus responded with a rather heated reminder of the feeding of the multitudes, not once, but twice. He finished with, “Do you still not understand?”
While many folks look at this and think that Jesus was upset because they didn’t realize that if he could multiply food for thousands, he was capable of taking care of the needs of 13 people. But, Macdonald took a slightly different angle on this. He wrote that the miracles of the feeding revealed God’s own compassion. The stories were not to reveal Jesus’ power, nor to confirm his role as a great prophet. It wasn’t even to confirm Jesus as the Son of God. It was to show that “God cared for His children, and could, did, and would provide for their necessities.” The miracles were an experiential lesson that the disciples needed to study and learn from.
One thing that I noted was that, if Macdonald’s take is viable, and I think it is, then what should the response of Christ’s followers be today? If Jesus chose to feed people to reveal God’s care and provision that is driven by God’s own character and compassion, should we not, in God’s name, do likewise? Feed the poor and hungry; clothe the naked; support the widows and orphans; comfort the sick and down & out…yeah, I think so.
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Also, today I’d like to encourage anyone who may stop by here to check out a new blog at http://morvensblog.wordpress.com/
Morven Baker is a counselor in Ashland, Oh. She is also married to one of my professors from ATS. I checked it out, and she is not blogging because she is the wife of an Old Testament scholar. She is doing this to help give voice to, well, let’s hear her words:
“I am a counselor who works with women.  For a long while now I have wanted to have a safe place to post well researched articles or educational links, as well as my own personal thoughts, that I felt might be helpful for my clients, the brave women who have survived abuse as children and/or adults, the real heroines of the stories.   Perhaps this place might be helpful for my friends, family and colleagues who really care about what I do and are my constant cheerleaders.  I also wanted a  place where readers, if there ever are any, can share their responses and know that their thoughts and feelings are respected and valued.”
 Welcome, Morven!

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Occupy this thought…

Published by mhelbert on January 10, 2012

I was reading Brian McLaren’s blog this A.M.
He posted a link to another blog post entitled, “http://joeboydblog.com/2012/01/05/a-personal-confession-re-occupy-movement/“
I found the perspective Joe Boyd refreshing and not a little bit convicting. While I agree with some of the objectives of the Occupy Movement in the U.S., our lifestyle in general comments loudly to the rest of the world. It seems like we are saying, “More! Give us more!” while much of the world is crying out, “Just a little! We want just a little!”
I know that I am working toward simplifying my life for the express purpose of releasing more for me to give. I would encourage others who read this, or Boyd’s post to consider doing likewise.

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Last day…What’s next?

Published by mhelbert on December 31, 2011

I’m sure that many folks are taking today to reflect on their accomplishments of the past 12 months, as well as to look ahead to the next. Why not? I’ll take any excuse to reflect for a moment. A bit of self-indulgence that is actually culturally acceptable.
2011 saw me finally graduate from Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. Don’t believe me? I have the diploma to prove it. The journey began in 1973 when I first felt a sense of call. I pretty much ignored it at went into the marketplace to chase the elusive American Dream. It was in 2006 that I finally heeded the prompting and, miracle of miracles, was accepted at ATS. I can’t thank the folks there enough for this life-transforming experience. But, I wrote about that earlier in the year here.
I have always been healthy. No major issues. However, in 2011 I had 2 surgeries on my right hand. And, in all of the preparation for that, the medical pros missed a dark critter lurking just beneath the surface. In November, I had a heart attack. According to the docs, it was a pretty bad one. I have been on the mend for the past couple months, and actually feel really well. I guess if I had listened and started the diet and exercise stuff earlier, I would have probably avoided the MI. Like I’ve written before…I’m a slow learner.
Looking forward…
The most important issue I face is to recover a relationship with my son. This is a matter that I will not detail, but it has been a painful struggle. For any parent, estrangement from a loved one is difficult,
(putting it mildly ). Especially, one who is deeply loved. If you ever read this, I am deeply sorry, son.
I have been having serious thoughts about starting a new project in one of the more economically struggling areas near my home. I think this is a direct result of the work I did in school. When I started seminary I was primarily interested in the real disconnect between the popular worship music industry and good, orthodox theology. The stuff being offered as “true worship” music is mostly fluff and ‘feel-good’ clap trap. Sorry if I offend anyone, but even a cursory look will reveal that. Anyway, I digress. As my time at ATS progressed, I became more and more concerned about how we can be involved in the work of the reign of God. Do we simply need to provide dogma and doctrinal ‘truth’ to the culture? Or, do we need to engage the culture as Jesus engaged 1st century Palestine? I think the latter. This may take the shape of activism in ecology, economics, politics or wherever God’s people find themselves in everyday life. It make also take the form of benevolence: food kitchens and pantries, homeless and battered women shelters, work against the growing slave trade in the world, and other work to better the human condition. I would like to see this happening more in my geographical area. So, the New Year will find me pursuing this.
However, I must point out that for most of the world, the more things change the more they stay the same. I was reading the prophet Isaiah this morning. The portion I read contained the story of the Israelite king Hezekiah. In the story the king survived a serious illness because Yahweh healed him. The king was granted an extra 15 years of life. During this extra time, an envoy from the king of Babylon showed up to celebrate Hezekiah’s recovery. Hezekiah showed this envoy all of his riches and valuables. Many folks attribute this to Hezekiah’s overweening pride. “Hey, look at all the stuff I have!” Anyway, the prophet came to Hezekiah and revealed that because Hezekiah had shown off all of his stuff, at some time in the future all of that stuff was going to be ransacked and carried off to Babylon. Hezekiah’s response? Sorrow and remorse for being foolish? No. Angry with the prophet and/or God? No. It was, “The word you have spoken is good. There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” Huh?!?! In fact, the writers of scripture captured the same story in 2 Kings 20:19. This must have made an impact on these writers. Peace and security in his lifetime. Let’s mortgage the future against present comforts. Sound familiar? It’s the same today. We are gambling the future of our children and their children against our present comfort and prosperity. The most glaring abuse is in the exploitation of the environment for fossil fuels. The fossil fuel industry is fighting tooth and nail to keep their interests alive, even though we all know that these resources are not renewable and are beginning to run down. Rather than putting the energy and funds into alternative, renewable sources it is more important to be peaceful and secure in our lifetime. This does not even broach the issue of global warming, again a result of the fossil fuel addiction that the world has. So, what will the New Year bring? I hope some common sense. I hope that those people who are expert in these things will step up the pressure on the corporations whose greed and avarice is driving the abuse. I hope that we can learn from Hezekiah’s ill-fated remarks that the future is now.
Last, I wish all who stop by this blog a blessed New Year. May all of your dreams be realized. And, May God Bless You Real Good!

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The more we change, the more we remain the same

Published by mhelbert on December 29, 2011

One of my favorite professors at Ashland, John Byron, posted the following: http://thebiblicalworld.blogspot.com/2011/12/peace-on-earth-good-will-towards-men.html

It seems that even in a sacred place, at a sacred time, those who have set themselves apart for a sacred duty cannot behave any differently than anyone else. It is sad, as well as telling. People are people, regardless of what their vocation. While some may state that hanging their dirty laundry out for the world to see is an embarrassment to the Church. I see it as an opportunity for people to reveal their humanity and humility. Like I wrote in an earlier post, Christ followers are no different than any other people. We still need to work to behave civilly. And, when we don’t, we need to apologize and make appropriate modifications to our behavior.

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Life with Jesus on the Ground

Published by mhelbert on December 21, 2011

Read the following that I found over at brianmclaren.net.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-raushenbush/shane-claiborne-new-monastics_b_1156525.html?ref=religion

Back in the 1970’s I was a part of  a community of Christ followers who desired to live radically for Jesus. We were part of the Jesus Movement of that day and chose a communal way to live that out. So, I can readily identify with these New Monastics. Following Christ is active. Follow is a verb. There’s no such thing as Couch Potatoes for Jesus. The last few months this has been driven home me in many ways. Hopefully, prayerfully, the future will see more “lived faith” than discussed theories of faith.

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