Greg Cottrell gave an interesting lesson on Tibet and The Olympics...He talked and the class discussed a little about the Nature of Freedom, the Meaning of Human Rights, the Desire to Govern, and the Intuistic Part of Culture.
He discussed a little of the history between Tibet (country who wants to be free and govern themselves) and China (want to govern and use Tibet for demographic resources). Due to the invasion of China in 1950 and the successive leave/exlie of the Dalai Lama in 1959, Tibet has had its governing done from India where the Dalai Lama resides while the Chinese government still seize control over physical Tibet. (Hence the "Free Tibet" stickers and demonstration posters)
We also discussed the purpose of the Olympics and whether or not political/religious/cultural customs of an Olympic host country should be under examination. Consensus was that the IOC should give the bid to a host country not based on whether or not that country is willing to change, but just as the country is - did they really expect China to "work on" their human rights issues after they had accepted the bid for the Olympics...
Have something else to add? We'll share it in class next Sunday...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Seasons of the Church
The lovely Lana brought us a cool lesson Sunday fresh off of a wild Saturday night at the class Luau and the Journey concert. That's some stamina.
The lesson was a good reminder of why we do what we do in the church...deepening our experience of our worship. You usually know what season you are in by the weather. In the church we have Advent - preparing for Christ's birth, Christmas - 12 days of it in the church, Epiphany - the revealing of the good news to the world and/or arrival of the wise men, Lent - repent...after a good mardi gras, Easter - the mother of all seasons...Resurrection!, Pentecost - the coming of the Spirit, and common time - that's right, a lame name because we don't know what else to call it...we're just kind of waiting around for the next season to come. Some church's call it summer vacation.
The colors change for each season and are displayed in the stoles the ministers and choir wears, the banners around the sides of the church, and the linens over the altar. It may seem kind of formal or old school, but if you think about the meaning of each season when you encounter the colors, your worship can be enhanced and better informed. It's not that God really changes, but that we focus on a different aspect of our relationship to God throughout each church season. God is a real and active participant with us in our lives in the form of the Father (Advent and Lent), Son (Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter), and Holy Spirit (Pentecost)...and with us even in the "common" times...
The lesson was a good reminder of why we do what we do in the church...deepening our experience of our worship. You usually know what season you are in by the weather. In the church we have Advent - preparing for Christ's birth, Christmas - 12 days of it in the church, Epiphany - the revealing of the good news to the world and/or arrival of the wise men, Lent - repent...after a good mardi gras, Easter - the mother of all seasons...Resurrection!, Pentecost - the coming of the Spirit, and common time - that's right, a lame name because we don't know what else to call it...we're just kind of waiting around for the next season to come. Some church's call it summer vacation.
The colors change for each season and are displayed in the stoles the ministers and choir wears, the banners around the sides of the church, and the linens over the altar. It may seem kind of formal or old school, but if you think about the meaning of each season when you encounter the colors, your worship can be enhanced and better informed. It's not that God really changes, but that we focus on a different aspect of our relationship to God throughout each church season. God is a real and active participant with us in our lives in the form of the Father (Advent and Lent), Son (Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter), and Holy Spirit (Pentecost)...and with us even in the "common" times...
Friday, August 8, 2008
Fellowship
It's a really funny word and it seems to get applied to everything from gray-haired ladies covered dish get-togethers to the Builder's Class Luau...and all things in between. But fellowship in the context of believers in Christ has a higher purpose. It's not that we have to have communion before we karaoke. It's not that we need to make sure we pray before every meal we have at these functions. The real meaning of fellowship is that we have a deeper relationship with each other - a responsibility towards each other - a connection that is put their by God.
We are called together to worship, to play, to share food, drink and fun. And, we need to recognize that the element that makes it all possible is God's gift of Love to us. He gives us the capacity AND the responsibility to love each other.
Sometimes, that love makes us go do things for another person when they are in need. Sometimes, that love calls us out to listen when someone needs an ear. Sometimes, it means sharing a beer and shooting the bull. And sometimes it means asking God what He is calling us to do to show His love to our brother and sister...and doing it.
Fellowship may be the one "ritual" in which it is most easy to SEE God in this world. In these acts of Love, we get a glimpse of something that is un-wordly and very Godly. It's like watching the wind by seeing how it moves the trees. In a relationship with another person, you can really FEEL the Spirit of God at work and SEE God's hand working through another.
We are called together to worship, to play, to share food, drink and fun. And, we need to recognize that the element that makes it all possible is God's gift of Love to us. He gives us the capacity AND the responsibility to love each other.
Sometimes, that love makes us go do things for another person when they are in need. Sometimes, that love calls us out to listen when someone needs an ear. Sometimes, it means sharing a beer and shooting the bull. And sometimes it means asking God what He is calling us to do to show His love to our brother and sister...and doing it.
Fellowship may be the one "ritual" in which it is most easy to SEE God in this world. In these acts of Love, we get a glimpse of something that is un-wordly and very Godly. It's like watching the wind by seeing how it moves the trees. In a relationship with another person, you can really FEEL the Spirit of God at work and SEE God's hand working through another.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Angels...8/3 Lesson
Ashley Kitchens brought us a very non-cliche lesson on one of Christianity's cliche images - angels. It's one of those topics that's a little weird and a little scary. Throughout Christian art (think Sistine Chapel...etc) and popular western movies and TV (Michael, Touched by an Angel, It's a Wonderful Life), angels have been depicted in one way or another. That depiction versus the Biblical references to them was the topic of our lesson on Sunday. Some are good and some are bad. But how do we know what is right?
As with most things spiritual and Christian we can use three basic tests... Is the idea/belief/action supported by God's Biblical Word? Does it fall in line with Christ's example as revealed in the Bible? Does it glorify and lift up God and not man? Think about the "angel" examples you know of...how do they stack up?
In the Bible there are accounts of "fallen" angels that are working at cross purposes to God's plans in this world. We considered their role in the chaos and confusion that exists in this world...how their messages don't bring glory to God, but strive to push us toward following our own selfish goals and desires.
There are several different roles that the good angels play in the Biblical stories...protectors, providers of provision, messengers, encourager, and many more. One of the dangers is not seeing past the "angel" to the One who they are representing...God and His Son. Does this whole "supernatural" thing kind of scare you? It does me, but then what is God and Jesus and this whole Christianity stuff, but some really BIG, OUT OF THIS WORLD idea. Jesus wasn't just some humble little teacher, and God isn't some little benign clockmaker that wound up the world one day. According to our beliefs (and according to logic...see CS Lewis Mere Christianity), we are in a world that is locked in a battle for the hearts of men. We are either working for God or against...but we are living "in enemy territory" - again CS Lewis... There are forces at work, we are a part of the battle, what we do really matters.
So thanks for a good lesson Ms Ashley Kitchens...you got us thinking a little bit about the darker and lighter side of this life...in a supernatural sense.
As with most things spiritual and Christian we can use three basic tests... Is the idea/belief/action supported by God's Biblical Word? Does it fall in line with Christ's example as revealed in the Bible? Does it glorify and lift up God and not man? Think about the "angel" examples you know of...how do they stack up?
In the Bible there are accounts of "fallen" angels that are working at cross purposes to God's plans in this world. We considered their role in the chaos and confusion that exists in this world...how their messages don't bring glory to God, but strive to push us toward following our own selfish goals and desires.
There are several different roles that the good angels play in the Biblical stories...protectors, providers of provision, messengers, encourager, and many more. One of the dangers is not seeing past the "angel" to the One who they are representing...God and His Son. Does this whole "supernatural" thing kind of scare you? It does me, but then what is God and Jesus and this whole Christianity stuff, but some really BIG, OUT OF THIS WORLD idea. Jesus wasn't just some humble little teacher, and God isn't some little benign clockmaker that wound up the world one day. According to our beliefs (and according to logic...see CS Lewis Mere Christianity), we are in a world that is locked in a battle for the hearts of men. We are either working for God or against...but we are living "in enemy territory" - again CS Lewis... There are forces at work, we are a part of the battle, what we do really matters.
So thanks for a good lesson Ms Ashley Kitchens...you got us thinking a little bit about the darker and lighter side of this life...in a supernatural sense.
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