On an Unexpected Entry

In which, at long last, we have something to discuss.

It’s been a long time since I last wrote anything. There have been a number of reasons, not feeling motivated to write being among the top. But this morning I woke up and felt the need to write. In particular I felt the need to write about Jesus. Today is Palm Sunday and across the world priests and pastors and teachers and believers read what is commonly know as “The Triumphal Entry.”

Growing up I was familiar with the text, mainly for the fact that at church they would give all the kids palm fronds to wave around. I would usually just pull the leaves off of them and was lucky to have anything left by the time we headed home.

A few years ago¹ I was asked by my community-mates to prepare a short sermon/discussion about any text I wanted for a spring retreat² we were taking. The retreat happened to fall on Palm Sunday that year so I dug into the passage of Jesus’s entry as told by John. What I learned was amazing and beautiful, as a result this became one of my favorite passages in the Gospels.  

To get us rolling here is the relevant text that I want to discuss³:

The next day a huge crowd came to the festival, having heard that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. So they got branches of palm trees and went out to meet him and were roaring:

‘Hosanna [literally, O please save us now]!                          Blessings on the One Who Is Coming in the Name of the Lord!      Yes, the King of Israel!’

But Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written in Scripture:

‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion;                                          Look! Your King is coming,                                                       Sitting on a donkey’s colt!’

Four short versus, and yet, there is quite a lot going on here. First a little historical background to set the stage. At this point in history the people of Israel were under Roman rule. While there were some Jewish leaders in positions of power they didn’t do much of anything without the say-so of Rome. And this situation was not a new one for the Jewish people. They had be toiling under the rule of various people for many years. But there was hope in the Messiah, it was believed that one day a Messiah would come, throw off the shackles of bondage, and free Israel.

People wanted a leader. A revolutionary. A king. And many of them found this in Jesus. So they decided to announce that fact in a very obvious way, that sadly isn’t as obvious to us now. When the passage starts we find that, upon hearing that Jesus was approaching, the people gathered palm fronds to waive around. This may seem like simple way to get a parade going, but there is a deeper meaning going on as well.

Palms, at this time, had an extremely patriotic mean. They were used when the temple was rededicated, and more importantly when Israel rebelled against Rome two previous times the rebels printed coins with palms on them. Simply put; the palm was a symbol of rebellion and of war.

Maybe you think that we are reading too much into this. Perhaps the people just didn’t have time to pick up confetti and signage so they went with the most available thing? Perhaps, but let’s look at the next little section, when the people start chanting. The first two lines are quotes straight from Psalm 118. The last line though? They added “Blessed is the King of Israel.” And that is a large addition. They were calling for Jesus to take his place as a new King of Israel and cast off the Roman rule. They want him to enter with sound and fury, a great warrior and rebel.

Jesus, being Jesus, responds in a beautiful way.

“But Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it…”

Horses are majestic creature, they are graceful and when you stroll into town on one there is a high likelihood of looking like a boss⁴. Donkeys on the other hand are more awkward, they tend to jostle their riders. It’s tough to look regal on a donkey. A grown man riding on a young donkey? Even tougher. Jesus very consciously chose to ride in on an animal that would downplay his grandeur. He took on a role of humility, certainly not the role of warrior or rebel that the people were hoping for. In fact, culturally, his choice of ride said exactly the opposite.

When a king rode a horse his purpose was one of war, he meant to conquer. When he rode a donkey he was coming peaceably. Jesus was sending a clear message to those who wanted him to be a conquering hero, that wasn’t his way. He wasn’t going to be overthrowing anyone, at least not in the way people hoped. Jesus wasn’t out and out deigning his role as a king, he still entered in a kingly fashion, but he wasn’t your typical king.

There is a very strong nationalist vibe going on during the beginning of this passage. The people wanted Jesus to be their king, the king of Israel, a king FOR Israel. When I think about this moment, this point when people loudly cried out for Jesus to be just for them I think of a lot of the voices that I hear in this country today. Often I hear politicians, church leaders, and talking heads bring up how the United States is “God’s country” or that we are blessed or in some way specially set aside by God. In the passage when the Israelites waved the palms a close analogy would be a group of people waving American flags as Jesus entered the city.

Certainly there are people out there that would have no problem with this. However, I believe that Jesus, through his actions, pushed back against this view. Jesus didn’t come as a warrior king for one nation. He is a peaceful king for all nations.

Please don’t read this to mean I am taking a negative view of patriotism. That is not my intent. However, patriotism wrapped up faith, and in Jesus, is something that I think is dangerous and is something that we need to avoid. As we enter into Holy week I hope that you will think about this passage, envision the palms not as the symbol of one nations, but of all nations. When celebrating the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus join me considering all of our brothers and sisters across the globe.

Ironically the Pharisees bring it all together in verse 19 when they say ‘See you’re getting nowhere at all! Look! The whole world is going after him!’ Jesus came for all of us so that we may all have the opportunity to know him.

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¹ I can't believe it's been two years, what the what.

On Paul's Prayer

In which a warning is given, serious issues are discussed, and maybe some heresy.

Content warning:  This week I step back from the cavalcade of absurdity that is the norm for this blog.  Some of you may be disheartened to hear that, for others you may be thinking that it is about time.  For those of you in the first category don't fear, I will try and think of something extra ridiculous for next week¹.

I'm not really big on New Years resolutions.  I really couldn't give you a good reason.  In thinking about it the only thing that came to mind was that it reminds me a lot like Lent.  For a lot of people they seem to make these resolutions because it's the thing to do, and often they can barely make it a week.  With Lent people tend to give things up, not because it is supposed to signify there giving something to God but because it's just what you do.  Now I just read what I typed and it sounds very judgmental, which is not really what I was going for.  I think that, if even for a week, people try and eat healthier, or give up swearing, that it is a good thing.  But for me personally, I didn't want to have a resolution, or give something up for Lent unless I felt called to do so.

Long story short, this year I still didn't make any resolutions but I did make some goals for myself.  Which may be splitting hairs over the difference between the two but I'm okay with it.  My first goal was to exercise consistently.  It is something that I have tried to do in the past and failed at repeatedly, so I decided to kick things up a notch and threw down cash money on a gym membership at the Sportsplex.  So far I have been successful, now I just have to keep at it.

My second goal is to spend time everyday in prayer and reading the Bible.  It might not seem this way based solely on my writing here but my faith is the most important thing to me.  It plays a part in everything I do.  How I interact with people, where I live, what I do with my time.  It defines who I am as a person.  I am a different person when I am spending time with the Lord.  I don't think that it is a coincidence that my consistency at the gym is synchronous with my consistency in the Word.

Paul is probably my second favorite guy in the new testament²; he really brings it in his letters to various churches.  And despite what the Catholic Church may tell you when it comes to defining early Christianity he is probably the most influential person whose middle initial isn't "H."  I took a class on Paul when I was in college, which is really when I began to appreciate his writing more, and I wish that I remembered more of what I learned in it.  But no worries because I have something even better to share with you about Paul.

Please note:  I apologize in advance for any offense that the following paragraphs cause you.

One of the last things I did while I was on staff with Young Life was to attend Winter Institute, a two week intensive training session.  We spent 8+ hours a day in lectures discussing such topics as, child development, developing theology, cross-cultural interactions, and a variety of other topics that have since dissolved from my brain.  While I was at the training I was rooming with Josh, a staff guy from Ft. Wayne, and two staff guys from Texas.  One night when we were all hanging out, and feeling especially smart (or maybe stupid because we'd been in class so long), we started talking about all of the messages that Paul preaches in his letters.  After a while we were able do boil everything Paul says to the churches into one simple, easy to remember phrase.  It certainly didn't cover everything Paul wrote, but it was the best we could come up with.  The more that I thought about it the more I liked it.  Here is was we decided.

"Paul says, 'Don't be a dick.'"

Now again I apologize for the language, and if this is the last you read of my blog I understand, thanks for coming around.  But time and time again Paul was urging Christians to not get caught up on petty issues.  To love the Lord, to love Jesus, and to love each other.  So I think it works well.

What does all this have to do with my goal of being in the word, or of the title of the post for that matter?  Let me tell you.  The first Pauline letter that I read this year was Ephesians.  No other letter that Paul writes has this message to put aside petty differences more than his letter to the church at Ephesus.  The first day of reading I came across a prayer that Paul wrote out for the church and thought to myself that it was pretty neat.  So I underlined it so that I would remember it.  Two days later I was reading chapter 3 and there was another prayer that Paul wrote that seemed to dovetail with the first very well.  I decided to see what they would look like back to back so I did some copy and paste magic and found that they flowed together perfectly.  I first changed the personal pronouns around so that it would be a first person prayer.  Then I realized that it would just as well as a corporate prayer.  That's when it became this:

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for we who believe.  For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.   Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen³.

I have really been digging this prayer.  I think it is perfect for the community I live in, for the small group I am a part of, for the church I attend, and for the Church universal.  I try and pray it every morning before I leave the house.  And I hope that as the year progresses it becomes less of something I say and more of something that is always on my heart.

Blessings!  And remember, Paul says, "Don't be a dick."
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¹ Maybe double footnotes?
² Psst...number one would be Jesus.
³ Ephesians 1:17-19 & 3:14-21

On Giving Thanks and Calling Fools Out

In which thanks are given, future events considered, and fools called out.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I don't know when that happened.  Sometime while I was a college it just sort of became one that I loved.  Part of it, I am sure, is that being away from home made me appreciate my family that much more.  So the long weekend spent at home became that much more precious to me.  Watching movies with my dad.  Eating home cooked food.  Playing with the dog.  Disc golf with Sarah.  Long talks with mom.  I am so thankful for my family.

Getting to see my family was not the only catalyst for Thanksgiving moving up the ranks of holidays.  I think another big reason came in the fall of 2002.  At the time I was living with Nick and Tim (Street not Felton) and we decided that we wanted to have all of our friends over for a Thanksgiving dinner of our own.  So we moved furniture around, brought in some extra tables, bought a huge turkey¹ and told people to bring a side dish and come on over.  It was a blast, there was so much food, we were packed in elbow to elbow, and it was amazing.  This last weekend I went over to my friends Jodi, Laura and Julia's for the seventh annual Thanksgiving dinner (see picture below). 

Seven years, that's pretty crazy.  By my count there were four of us there that were at the original dinner, and yet it was still going strong.  I love and miss all of those friends that were at the original Thanksgiving, especially those that I don't see often or have fallen out of contact with.  But at the same time I love all of the new friends that I have made over the last few years of being back in Bloomington.  I am thankful for my friends.

Speaking of huge holiday parties the Sunset Hill community (the Feltons, Roses and myself) went back and forth about having a Thanksgiving dinner for ourselves.  We decided to wait and instead have an epic Christmas potluck before we all head out of town².  Our hope is to pack the house with our dearest friends, eat way too much, laugh a ton, and maybe watch a Christmas movie³ and/or sing Christmas carols.  We already have our turkey waiting in the deep freeze, and I will start collecting paper to cut up for telephone-pictionary.  Our hope is that this party is so big we are finally forced to spread the good cheer to the upstairs annex (if for no other reason than to force Tim and Carrie to clean their dang room).  The last four month of living in an intentional community has been such a blessing.  This Christmas party will hopefully paint a great picture of how we want to live, loving and caring for each other and having our doors wide open to those who want to come.  I am thankful for this community of believers.

One group of people I would love to see join us for the Sunset Hill Christmas Potluck Extravaganza are the members of my small group.  I have loved spending time with them Thursday evenings, getting to know one another as we investigate the book of Genesis.  Even more fun was hanging out [read: playing telephone-pictionary] with them outside of small group, and I hope that that happens more often.  Like at a giant Christmas potluck.  They are all so awesome.  I am extremely thankful for my small group.

Speaking of abrupt topic shifts, you may have noticed that the last seven blog postings of mine were all uploaded during what most people would consider "work hours."  The reason behind that is simple, they were all written while I was at work.  I'm even at work right now.  This sentence...written at work.  But that will all change in about two and a half weeks.  I am leaving the cushy, yet low paying, job of in-school suspension monitor so that I can take over for a counselor at Eastern Greene middle and high schools who is going on maternity leave.  What will that mean?  Certainly less reading will get done, my fantasy football team will probably not get as much attention, I will not be able to answer emails with as much frequency, and my blog may become less frequent.  On the upside (though you may consider some of those things on the upside already) I will actually be utilizing the masters degree that I worked for 3 years to obtain.  I am thankful for the job opportunity that I had at Jackson Creek and the people I have met, but I am also thankful for the opportunity to return to Eastern.

So the best part of this whole blogging thing is that I get to see updates about my friends Sarah and JC and their super funny son Luke.  I have been terrible about making it up to see them and this way I am a least a little connected to them.  That's the wonderful part about the internet, staying update about friends' lives, thoughts and reflections.  With the in mind, welcome to:

The Great Blog Call-Out of 2009.

July 15^th, 2009 - Jon
August 3^rd, 2009 - Seth
August 10^th, 2009 - Colleen
October 1^st, 2009 - Dan
October 28^th, 2009 - Sara
November 10^th, 2009 - Kristen

This was the last time these people posted.  Kristen has only been absent for two weeks, so that's not too bad.  But the rest of you are on notice.  I am especially disappointed in one Seth "they call me death" Rowe, who claims to enjoy writing, but I think he just says that to impress people (it doesn't Seth).  So share something with us, a thought, a poem, a recipe, a picture, something.  P.S. Good work Carrie for posting furiously over the last week.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

 ¹The next year I learned two things.  One, the only huge turkeys you can find are frozen, and two, you can defrost a huge frozen turkey in a day if you keep it in a bathtub full of water.
²The festivities will be help at our house on Sunday December 20th, if you are in town, or want to come into town for the fun let me know.
³My vote would be for the greatest of all Christmas movies, Die Hard.