Feb 17 2006

Random Thoughts on Simplicity

Category: Uncategorized — dryvetyme @ 18:32

All thanks to Shane Claiborne,
Inspired by Mark 10:17-31,
and
All apologies for how unfocused these thoughts seem.
I just started writing as these ideas and impressions flooded my mind.

What is Simplicity?
it is more than basic, because Christ astounds us.
It is beyond complex, because Christ confounds us.

It compels us to create and seek for solidarity.
It effuses compassion.
It demands that we reach beyond ourselves and
threatens to overwhelm us.

The call of Christ confuses us, enrages us, focuses us, propels us, and brings us to our knees, so that we are ultimately sent out to love all of our neighbors.

Simplicity begs us to realize that, in order to truly study the Gospel, we must fully live out the Gospel. In order to truly study about God, we must be the Church that God has always called us to be and become.

Thus, just like love, simplicity is quite difficult, but ever so necessary. And it does not, has not, and will probably never make sense to us.

What is Simplicity?
It is wild.
It is passionate.
It is earthy.
It is organic.
It is from the grassroots.
It is one and it is all.
It is beyond us, all around us, and includes all of us.
It directs the Church.
It bewilders the Church.
It loves and asks us to love as well.
It is Christ, though His ways are far beyond ours, yet are ours as well.

Repent.
Restore.
Tikkun Olam…

Feb 15 2006

Genesis 17:1-8

Category: Genesis All Over Again — dryvetyme @ 18:08

Details, Details, Details – Which is Exactly What Abra(ha)m Wants
Or
Papa’s Got a Brand New Name

“Names had power in the ancient world. By naming the animals, Adam demonstrated his mastery over them. In a similar way, God’s changing Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah signifies both a reiteration of the covenant promise and the designation of these people as God’s chosen servants.” (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament; p49)

“There are no parallels in the ancient world to covenants between deity and mortal, though certainly gods are known to make demands and promise favorable treatment. In most of these cases kings report their care of the sanctuaries of the god and then tell how the deity responded with blessing. But these fall short of a covenant relationship initiated by deity for his own purposes.” (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament; p49)

“Covenant: a contractual agreement associated in the Bible with the agreement between Yahweh and the Israelites that promises land and children in exchange for exclusive worship and obedience.” (The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament; p813)
Continue reading “Genesis 17:1-8″

Feb 14 2006

Prophets, Messiahs, and Black Sheep

Category: Uncategorized — dryvetyme @ 14:36

At the risk of offending some and causing others to think more than they care to sometimes, take a peek at this wonderful cartoon created by Mark Fiore and posted at Mother Jones Magazine Online.

Enjoy and Discuss!

Feb 08 2006

Genesis 16

Category: Genesis All Over Again — dryvetyme @ 21:10

Haven’t I Seen This on “The Jerry Springer Show”??
Or
Hagar’s Bogus Journey

I read through this chapter and simply had to feel sorry for Abram and Hagar. I don’t mean to blame Sarai for everything that happens here, but it really is hard not to look at the events of this chapter and wonder what Sarai was thinking throughout all of this. Both Abram and Hagar did exactly what they were told and suffered for it – Sarai blamed Abram for the problems of the household and Hagar ran away, out into the wilderness. Now, I’m not letting Abram slip off the hook here, since he should have been wary of what Sarai proposed and how it didn’t quite match up with the promises of God that Abram had heard so far (as recent as last chapter). But I do question Sarai’s motives and actions throughout this chapter.

The chapter begins with Sarai being rather impatient with God and the fulfillment of what she and Abram had been promised. She felt that, since she can’t bear children, there had to be some way that she could start a family. So, in order to be a mother and begin populating the world according to God’s promises, Sarai offered up her Egyptian servant Hagar (possibly comparable to Eliezer’s standing with Abram) to become Abram’s second wife and bear his children. This was a common arrangement during the patriarchal and monarchical periods of biblical history, both within Hebrew culture and within other cultures as well. Specific examples include Hammurabi’s Code mentioning this type of arrangement, as well as Rachel and Leah giving their maidservants to Jacob (Israel) for procreation purposes in Genesis 30.
Continue reading “Genesis 16″

Feb 07 2006

Fully Engage Your Senses and Intellect.

Category: Uncategorized — dryvetyme @ 14:31

I want to give credit to my friend Erin for posting this first. This speech of Bono’s is worth reading, watching, and listening to. Regardless of your opinions concerning Bono’s ego and “megolamania”, I feel he truly has something to say and says it well. Please read, reflect, and share your thoughts. Thank you.

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