Bible Study With The Bishops: Martha's Confession, Mary's Accusation

Reading Plan Text for May 1: John 11:24-33

Today we read what is probably the most important of the "I am" statements in this Gospel:

I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (11:25-26)

In response to Jesus asking her if she believes this, Martha responds with the most complete statement of belief John has recorded:

Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world. (11:27)

What jumps out at me as I read her powerful affirmation is that this "most comprehensive expression of faith in all that Jesus is," as Burridge writes in his commentary ( p. 147), comes from the lips of A WOMAN. Burridge says that it is the "female version of Peter's confession" (p. 147), which we read in 6:69. I would argue that Burridge's first statement of it being "the most comprehensive" is the correct one. Martha's confession is not simply a femal version of Peter's, it far exceeds his.

After this conversation, Martha returns to her home and tells her sister Mary that Jesus is asking for her. Mary immediately leaves the house and goes to Jesus. When she meets him, she repeats Martha's reproach word for word,

Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (11:32; see Martha's in 11:21)

Here Jesus' reaction startles me.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and greatly moved. (11:33)

He was "greatly disturbed"??? He waits four days to make sure Lazarus is dead beyond question so that "the Son of God may be glorified" (11:4), and he's "greatly disturbed" by Mary's weeping? Burridge notes

This time, Jesus does not respond with conventional expressions of sympathy or probing questions of faith, as he did with Martha. Mary's distraught position at his feet answers all of those already. When he sees her grief, all Jesus can do is also to be "deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (11:33) Sometimes, "to week with those who weep" is not only all we can do, but also the best we can offer. (p.147)

Another day I might find that comforting. Today, however, Jesus' need to provide a miracle so that he may be glorified rather than go immediately and heal a friend makes this expression of grief surreal and even shallow.

Peace,
Jeffri

It Was Only A Matter Of Time

The Living Church reports

Sufficient legal grounds exist for presenting Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori for ecclesiastical trial on 11 counts of violating the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church, according to a legal memorandum that has begun circulating among members of the House of Bishops.

A copy of the April 21 document seen by a reporter representing The Living Church states Bishop Jefferts Schori demonstrated a “willful violation of the canons, an intention to repeat the violations, and a pattern of concealment and lack of candor” in her handling of the cases of bishops Robert W. Duncan, John-David Schofield and William Cox, and that she “subverted” the “fundamental polity” of The Episcopal Church in the matter of the Diocese of San Joaquin.

The article's author, the Rev. George Conger, also posted the story on his own blog. Conger began trumpeting this line of thought back in March following the House of Bishops' meeting.

The timing of Conger's release of his story--within hours of this morning's release of the Presiding Bishop's letter to the House of Bishops regarding the process related to deposition, inhibition, renunciation and resignation of bishops--is not coincidental.

Nor is it surprising that Matt Kennedy and the usual cohort of commentors at Stand Firm are all over the story. Although the comments have not reached their usual level of vitriol at the time of this writing, I include here Mark Harris' warning regarding Stand Firm.

It was only a matter of time before the conservatives attempted action directly against the Presiding Bishop. The only thing that surprises me is that they waited so long.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Really, Really Dead

Reading Plan Text for April 30: John 11:17-24

As Elizabeth said, "...sometimes, when reading the Gospel of John, ...well, sometimes I just get downright silly."



Jesus does not arrive in Bethany until four days after Lazarus died. The note in my Harper Collins Study Bible says

Jewish belief also held that the soul lingered near the body for three days, so that death was truly final on the fourth day. (p. 2035)

And Burridge notes

This [Lazarus' being in the tomb four days] may be another allusion to the rabbinic idea that the soul would wait for three days until it saw from the change in colour of the face that decomposition had started, and then depart. (p. 144)

Obviously, Jesus wants to make sure that, when the sign is accomplished, no one can doubt that Lazarus has been raised from the DEAD.

Martha, on the other hand, echoes my thoughts of the other day. John also portrays Martha as not fully understanding what Jesus says to her, "Your brother will rise again." She thinks he is talking of the resurrection on the last day. Jesus will set her straight, so to speak, in the passage we read tomorrow.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Just Tell The Story!

Reading Plan Text for April 29: John 11:7-16

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that has trouble with John from time to time. Elizabeth Kaeton in her sermon this past Sunday said

I must confess that sometimes, when reading the Gospel of John, I can get myself so tangled up in his use of words and convoluted sentence structure that I either get frustrated and annoyed or, well, sometimes I just get downright silly. I mean, listen again to this: “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

I confess that as I tried to pray into these words, I was interrupted by the words of another John – Lennon, that is – which buzzed into the quiet of my meditation like a mosquito in the thick of summer: “I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together." That of course, is from Lennon's "I am the Walrus."

Free association being what it is (and, of course, potentiated by a lovely glass of wine) it’s not a far jump from there, to Lewis Carroll’s poem of ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’:

"The time has come/the Walrus said/“To talk of many things/ Of shoes and ships and sealing-wax / Of cabbages and kings /And why the sea is boiling hot/And whether pigs have wings”.

See what I mean? Reading the Gospel of John can lead you through quite a jumble of words and thoughts and lead you to take flights of fantasy.

Do go and read her sermon in its entirety, it is well worth the time.

Today I reached both frustration and annoyance. I want to grab John by the shoulders and shake him until his teeth rattle! I want to shout in his face, "Just tell the story, you fool! Stop making everything so f***ing convoluted!"

Over and over again, John shows us that neither the Jews nor Jesus' disciples fully understand what he tells them. When he tells them "Lazarus has fallen asleep," a common euphemism for death, John has them respond, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." At which point John clarifies the issue for us:

Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead." (11:11-14)

I doubt that either the disciples or John's community were so thick as to miss the use of "fallen asleep" as a way of saying "died." It must be John taking the opportunity to make sure we see that those around Jesus did not fully understand who and what he was (and is) until it was too late. John wants to be certain that his community does not make the same mistake. By this point, however, it is simply overkill.

We can sum up these 10 verses this way:

• Jesus is the light of the world
• Those who don't believe will stumble in the dark
• Lazarus died so Jesus can show who he is

See how much simpler that is, John?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Enter Lazarus

Reading Plan Text for April 28: John 11:1-6

I have a hard time with the story of Lazarus.

When Martha and Mary send Jesus a message to inform him that Lazarus, "the one whom you love," is ill. Jesus responds,

This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it. (11:4)

Who, when they have the means to heal a sick friend, delays and lets that friend die just to prove a point? Burridge's answer is:

Jesus takes his own initiative in his own time and acts when he is ready, hard though that may be for us to understand. (p. 141)

Essentially, God's time is not our time. Sometimes that's the only answer we're going to get.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Stoning

Reading Plan Text for April 25: John 10:30 -42

My ninth grade English teacher ran us through an extensive and varied reading list, ranging from Shakespeare's Macbeth to T.H. White's The Once And Future King to Truman Capote's In Cold Blood--and a whole lot in between. One morning she showed us a short film, The Lottery, based on Shirley Jackson's short story (which we hadn't read). The film was then about five years old, so the "ordinary-ness" of the town depicted in the film wasn't dated to us. Even so, it became quite clear to us that something wasn't quite right about what was going on in this town. The culmination of the story, the stoning of lottery winner Tessie Hutchinson, left most of us in a state of shock. You can see the entire film on YouTube (part 1 and part 2).

I haven't thought about that film in years, but it came to mind when I read today's passage from John.

The two incidents--the stoning of Tessie Hutchinson and the planned stoning of Jesus--have little in common, except perhaps for the mob mentality. In the film, the stoning is a ritual sacrifice, while in John, and the rest of the Bible, it is a judicial punishment.

There are still places in the world where stoning is used to punish transgressors, primarily women allegedly caught in adultery (only rarely is the male transgressor punished, if he is even considered to have been guilty). In some Muslim countries the death penalty for homosexual acts is stoning or hanging, though documented cases have been almost entirely hangings. And then there are the "good Christian folks" who advocate stoning as an appropriate punishment for homosexuals because it's in the bible. So is stoning children for being disobedient, but maybe they'd like to institute that, too?

It's all about power and control. Someone once said, and I can't put my hands on the quote just now, that the best way to judge a society is to look at how it treats its minorities.

We don't seem to be doing a very good job...

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: One More Time

Reading Plan Text for April 24: John 10:19-30

In his introduction to the whole commentary Burridge writes:

Unlike the other gospels which seem to relate only one season of ministry leading to a Passover, John has a logical sequence over several years with three Passovers (2:13; 6:4; 12:1). But time seems to go round and round, to speed up and slow down. (pp. 15-16)

John sets today's passage during the festival of the Dedication, which we know as Hanukkah, that takes place during the darkest days of the year. Burridge says:

The festival's stress on the zeal of good leaders, like the Maccabees, contrasts with the bad shepherds' treatment of the blind man (9:34), while the Lights remind us of Jesus, the light of the world (8:12; 9:5). The setting in the temple porticoes (10:23) recall the other debates in the temple (2:13-22; 7:14-44; 8:12-59), as well as the healing of the paralysed man and the woman taken in adultery (5:14; 8:1-12). (p. 136)

To me, it seems that Jesus and "the Jews" just keep having the same argument with the same result over and over and over...

• "The Jews" are divided as to who/what they believe Jesus to be
• "The Jews" ask Jesus to tell them plainly
• Jesus repeats his assertions and proofs
• Jesus tells them that if they had faith, they would believe
• Some believe
• Some disbelieve
• Some want to kill him

How many times do we have to go through this?

John is using an oral storytelling tool: repetition of a key idea or phrase. However, because he is writing it can be longer than a simple, easily repeatable phrase. Clearly, John wants to make it very clear to his community what Jesus said about who he (Jesus) is and what his relationship is to God.

How many times do we have to go through this?

Until we learn it.

Peace,
Jeffri

The ECL Greenway

The number of plants in our part of the 5th floor grows on what sometimes seems like a daily basis. We've dubbed it the "Evangelism & Congregational Life" (ECL) Greenway. Compare this picture with the ones I took the day we settled into our new spaces.


Angie and Sheryl keep bringing more plants into their cubicles, and I'd been thinking for a while about bringing in some herbs. Since I spend more of my waking hours during the week here in the office, why shouldn't I have my "herb garden" here where I can enjoy it. Plus there's someone to take care of them when I travel, just as I help take care of their plants when they are away.

Sunday I went to Gilbertie's in Westport on the off chance that they would have at least some of what I wanted this early in the season. As it turned out, they had pretty much everything I wanted.

This planter, which I also found at Gilbertie's, has a Grey Lady Plymouth Scented Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) in the center. Its rose scent comes without the allergic reaction I have to roses themselves. In the back left is Prostrate, or Creeping, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'), in the back right is Oregano Thyme (Thymus pulegioides) , and in front English Thyme (Thymus vulgaris).

And on the other side of my desk is a Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla) in a biodegradable pot that is supposed to last about five years.

As you can tell, I picked herbs with strong scents. There's something about being able to rub the foliage and smell lemon, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or rose. It's like taking a short revitalizing break without leaving my desk.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bihsops: The Other Sheep

Reading Plan Text for April 23: John 10:7-18

I jumped the gun a little yesterday. I used the Easter IV Reading rather than the reading from the Lambeth Reading Plan. So yesterday's reading was actually the "I am the door" passage, and today's is the the Good Shepherd. That means I can use another of Lois' quotes from a different sermon: "Little Bo Peep is not the Good Shepherd." At first it seems a silly comparison. Of course, Little Bo Peep isn't Jesus. We know that. However, she is a familiar image in our culture.

Maybe the comparison should be between Little Bo Beep and today's churches rather than her and Jesus. How many times have we heard people lament the state of the church today. "Remember when..." is a common refrain. When the pews were full. When the classrooms were overflowing. When there was a surplus after the bills were paid. Those days are gone. Those people are gone. That culture is gone. It will never be 1955 again. Yet these same people sit and wait for the "lost sheep" to come home.

News flash: They aren't coming home.

The world no longer comes to us. We must go out into the world. We must rethink our idea of what it means to be church. Jesus tells his listeners, "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also..." (10:16)

Who are the other sheep I should be seeking out? How can I be a shepherd to them? How might they be a shepherd to me?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: The Dumb Sheep

Reading Plan Text for April 22: John 10:1-7 (Corrected 4/23)

We began this journey with the Bishops through John’s Gospel the first Monday of Lent, and here we are in the fifth week after Easter. Only now are we coming to one of people's favorite images from this Gospel—the Good Shepherd. And we recently heard this passage read and expounded upon on the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

Lois took the opportunity of Good Shepherd Sunday to address the issue of child abuse. I urge you to go read her sermon. It is a powerful and necessary message.

However, today I am using a quote from her sermon to go in a different direction. In response to the oft heard comment that sheep are dumb, Lois said:

...during my seminary years, while I was in England, I met the daughter of real live shepherds, whose sheep were alone on the moors much of every day, so they had to have their wits about them. It was she who taught me that sheep are not stupid. They are smart. They may seem stupid because if you are making a bad decision, they’ll refuse to budge and even lean on you with all their weight. But they are smart, because the only person they will follow is a person they trust.

There is only one person who is trustworthy enough to be the shepherd, and that is Jesus. So we are all, you and I, sheep in the fold of Jesus, the one and only shepherd.

This is an image of a sheep I can identify with. Yet, there are days when I wonder if many of us aren't being the dumb sheep. We sit and wait for Jesus to find us and solve our problems. When danger comes, we sit passively waiting for Jesus to save us. Frankly, if there's danger, we ought to have the smarts to run, and run toward the shepherd.

It's like the old joke about the man in a town that's flooding. As the floodwaters rise, he sits on his porch. A firetruck comes by and the firemen tell him to get on, and they'll take him to higher ground.

"No thanks. The Lord will save me."

The floodwaters rise, and he is forced to move to the second floor of his house. A boat comes by, and the driver tells him to get in, and they'll take him to higher ground.

"No thanks. The Lord will save me."

The floodwaters rise, and he is forced to move to the roof of his house. A helicopter comes by, and the pilot tells him to grab the rope, and they'll take him to safety.

"No thanks. The Lord will save me."

The floodwaters rise, and the man drowns. When he gets to heaven, he walks up to God and asks, "I trusted in you to save me, and yet you let me drown. How could you do that?"

And God replies, " I sent you a firetruck, a boat, and a helicopter! What more did you need?"

Lois continued:

At the same time, we are all of us, you and I together, the body of Jesus in this world. We are his hands, his feet, and his voice. He is depending on us. We must be trustworthy, as he is trustworthy.

For whom do I represent the shepherd today? And today, who is my shepherd?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: The Nose On Your Face

I've been having connectivity problems with my computer, so I'm catching up by writing in Word and taking the file to the office to post from there. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon.

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Reading Plan Text for April 21: John 9:35-41

The NRSV translation titles this passage “Spiritual Blindness,” and Burridge’s calls his chapter “Jesus Brings both Sight & Blindness.” It could just as easily be described by that old expression, "It's as plain as the nose on your face."

I've always wondered about that expression. The nose on your face isn't exactly clearly visible to you. If you look down cross eyed you can see part of it, but not that well. You could look in a mirror, but how often do you look in the mirror and really see your nose? Unless, of course, there's something specific you're looking for. So even though it's right in front of you, it's not something you can examine easily.

So here we have the Pharisees examining everyone else's noses, so to speak, and not making the effort to look at their own. They have called the once blind man a sinner and shunned him because he would not give them the answers they wanted to hear. Jesus calls them on it, and they protest their innocence. "Surely, we are not blind, are we?" Burridge points out that the construction of this question in the original Greek is such that the Pharisees are expecting an answer of "no." Jesus does not let them off the hook.

What is as plain a the nose on my face today? What do I need to make the effort to examine and see in the light of what Jesus tells me?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: And They Drove Him Out

Reading Plan Text for April 18: John 9:24-34

The Pharisees still have not received the answers they want to hear. They've questioned the man, and they've questioned his parents. So what's their next step? As Burrigdge puts it

They follow the age old police method, getting him to repeat his story in the hope of catching him him out. (p. 128)

Not only do they not get the answers they want, their witness get frustrated with them and becomes firmer in his own resolve. Then he goes on to lecture them in much the same way as Jesus has in the previous chapter! Their reaction, at least to us, is predictable:

"You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. (9:24)

Just who is blind here?

Burridge says:

So this blind man becomes an example for John's original readers who may have suffered a similar fate, and a challenge to us. Are we prepared to stand up for what Jesus has done for us--even under hard questioning and threats of rejection? (p. 120)

LBGTs are familiar with this "similar fate." How many times have we been told we are sinners and then driven out of our churches by the religious authorities? Yet many of us have not gone away. We continue to stand up for what Jesus has done for us and claim our place among his followers.

Peace,
Jeffri

Living Your Strengths - Part 4

Today I went into "Learner Mode" and did some research on the web about the StrengthsFinder Instrument and Living Your Strengths. What I found was fascinating. Several colleges and universities are using Strengths-Based principles for students and faculty. The two most comprehensive that I looked at today were the Noel Academy for Strengths-Based Leadership and Education at AzusaPacific University in California and Baylor University's (Texas) Student Life Calling & Strengths pages.

The Noel Academy has downloadable resources for Faculty and Student Service Professionals. There is a Strengths Themes Discussion Guide, a StrengthsFinder Validity Study, and probably the most interesting in terms of Living Your Strengths, a Spirituality Journey Camper Notebook. Here are the Discussion Guide Questions for my Signature Themes:

• Learner – What are you learning that is exciting to you? What types of things do you like to learn about? Tell me about your last trip to the library? You went to look for a magazine article, went straight to the mag rack, got it, copied it, and left…?? How do you learn best?
• Input – What stimulates you intellectually? Do you have a collection of any kind? What are you most curious about/want to know more about?
• Intellection – You like to think and exercise your muscles in your brain. What have you been thinking about lately? What types of courses/activities stimulate your thinking? Do you spend much time writing/journaling/listing your ideas/reflecting?
• Achiever – Tell me about a typical day for you. What is it like to have this strength? What do you enjoy about your day? What goals are you working toward?
• Focus – What goals do you have for yourself? How do you keep track of how you are doing with your goals? How does your focus strength help you when it comes to studying?

Obviously, these are aimed at an academic community, but they can serve as a starting point.

The Baylor University pages were a lot more interesting to me, especially the Grow Spiritually resources. Here you will find Strengths Inspired Prayer, Strengths Inspired Devotionals, and a Theology of Strengths. There are prayers for all 34 themes but devotionals for only some. Here are the prayers for my Themes:

• Learner: Lord, thank you for the process of learning and self-improvement. Help me find joy in outcomes.
• Input: Lord, thank you for the desire to collect and archive all kinds of information. Help me distinguish majors from minors and when "enough is enough."
• Intellection: Lord, thank you for intellectual discussions and challenges for the mind. Help me give credence to emotions and words of the heart.
• Achiever: Lord, thank you that I have the stamina to work hard and be productive.Help me to "be still and know that you are God."
• Focus: Lord, thank you for allowing me the concentration to prioritize and act on a task. Help me always keep the big picture in mind.

I also found many congregations in a variety of denominations using Living Your Strengths in small groups, leadership workshops, and a surprising number of Stewardship programs. And here's one I couldn't resist simply because of the name: Church Marketing Sucks.

And I'm having the hardest time typing "strengths." I keep typing "strenghts" instead. Mom pointed out that "ght" is the more common letter combination.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Back To The Pharisees

Reading Plan Text for April 17: John 9:13-23

Jesus has done it again. He healed someone on the Sabbath. You think he would have learned by now, doing anything on the Sabbath is a no-no according the local religious authorities.

The Pharisees, having failed before, try to gather all the evidence before confronting Jesus again. First they question the man. Then they question whether or not he really is the blind beggar from the neighborhood. They haul in his parents and ask them if this is their son, and if so, how is it that he can see now. The parents refuse to be triangulated. "Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself."

And there ends today's passage.

Burridge says that the parents "pass the buck," because John writes that they were afraid of the religious authorities' threat "that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out from the synagogue." (9:22) However, Burridge also points out

Yet it did not stop Jesus and his disciples going to synagogue regularly in the gospels and in Acts. The threat makes more sense after the Jewish War and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans in AD70. After Jewish faith and practice was regrouped around the synagogue at the Council of Yavneh in AD85, "the blessing against the heretics" in the services made it difficult for Jews who confessed Jesus as the Christ."

Some scholars believe that John (like Matthew) is writing for people who have suffered the traumatic experience of being excommunicated, perhaps while their parents or families stood aside. (p. 127)

This is a familiar experience for many lbgt folks, especially in more conservative denominations. But even in the more liberal denominations, it has taken a lot of following Jesus, being healed by him, and doing what he asks us to do to bring about the level of acceptance that exists today. In fact, many people, not just lbgt's, have been cast out and shunned by some churches for DOING what Jesus DID in the Gospels. Robert McElvaine talks about this in his new book Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America.

So, if following our Baptismal Covenant, and doing what Jesus did, brings us in front of the modern-day equivalent of the Pharisees, we're in good company.

Peace,
Jeffri

Living Your Strengths - Part 3

This evening I went to the local Borders, and what did I see as soon as I walked in the door? Right there, in the center of the "Just Release" rack, were four books on the "strengths" theme. Two were based on the StrengthsFinder and two were by a former Gallup Organization employee who had been part of that process.

I glanced at Marcus Buckingham's First, Break All The Rules and Go Put Your Strengths to Work. Buckingham, who is now an independent consultant, engages the topic in a slightly different way, so I put those down. The other two books I took to the Cafe and perused while having a vanilla latte.

Now, Discover Your Strengths by Buckingham (when he was with the Gallup Organization) and the late Donald O. Clifton was the first of these Strengths books, published in 2001. The first couple of chapters looked at people--famous and everyday folks--who are working with their strengths. The largest section of the book, like Living Your Strengths, contains descriptions of the 34 Themes. Instead of the scripture passages, there were three quotes from various business professionals for each theme. Following those were "Ideas for Action." Some of these were similar, or identical, to the insights in Living Your Strengths. Here are a couple of the ones from the Learner theme that were not in Living Your Strengths:

• Seek roles that require some form of technical competence. You will enjoy the process of acquiring and maintaining this expertise. (p. 135)
• As far as possible shift your career toward a field with constantly changing technologies or regulations. You will be energized by the challenges of keeping up. (p. 135)
• Because you are not threatened by unfamiliar information, you might excel in a consulting role (either internal or external) in which you are paid to go into new situations and pick up new competencies or languages quickly. (p. 135)

The last section was about Managing Strengths.

The newest (published last year), and smallest, book is Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. In the first chapter Rath talks about "The Path of Most Resistance":

From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to our shortcomings than to our own strengths.

This is quite apparent in the way we create icons out of people who struggle to overcome a lack of natural talent. Consider the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, the 23-year-old groundskeeper at Notre Dame's stadium, who was the protagonist of the 1993 movie Rudy.

While Rudy's perseverance is admirable, in the end, he played a few seconds of college football and made a single tackle...after thousands of hours of practicing. (pp. 3-4)

Rath then goes on to write about his own experience of more than five years of 100% effort at basketball and not even being able to make the junior varsity team.

Again, the bulk of the book is sections devoted to each of the 34 themes. The descriptions of each theme are the same as both other books. Here, the business professionals' quotes, which are identical to those in Now, Discover Your Strengths, are headed "[Insert Theme Title Here] Sounds Like This." However, the "Ideas for Action," also almost identical to the previous book, are followed by a section entitled "Working With Others Who Have [Insert Theme Title Here]." Here are a couple from the Learner theme:

• Regardless of the person's role, he will be eager to learn new facts, skills, or knowledge. Help him find new ways to learn and get motivated. (p. 136)
• Help this person track his learning progress by identifying milestones or levels that he has reached. Celebrate these achievements. (p. 136)
• Encourage this person to become the "master of trade" or "resident expert" in a specific area. This will feed his need for extreme competency. (p. 136)

That last seems to contradict this part of the Learner description:

The Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving fro the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. (p. 133)

In other words, it may work for some Learners, but not all.

Basically, what Winseman and Liesveld did with Living Your Strengths was to take something essentially designed as a personal development tool for the business world and did a little tinkering to make it applicable to the sphere of religion. I am having a difficult time with this constant application of business models to the church. It appears that this is also the theory behind inviting several of us to a seminar with one of the FutureThink authors later this month. At the same time, I have been gleaning some good information from both Living Your Strengths and FutureThink.

Obviously, more to follow over the coming weeks.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Action Prompts Questions

Reading Plan Text for April 16: John 9:6-12

Jesus acts. He spits in the dirt and applies the mud poultice to the blind man's eyes.

The blind man acts. He follows Jesus' instructions to go to the pool of Siloam and wash. He participates in his own healing.

Of course, this being John's Gospel, nothing is that simple. Immediately upon the man's return to his neighborhood, the neighbors begin asking questions. First, they want to know who he is, if he is indeed the same blind beggar they knew. Then they want to know how he regained his sight.

I sense another discourse from Jesus in the making!

However, I want to return to what the blind man DOES. Not only is he not a passive participant in his healing, he takes a risk and follows the directions Jesus gives him. He could have shouted at the jerk who put mud on his face, wiped it off, and gone on as before. He could have ignored the fool who put mud on his face, gone home, and washed the mud off there. Instead he takes a chance that this stranger, whom he cannot see, may actually be able to restore his sight. He risks, and his life is transformed.

Too many times we--I--do not take those risks. What if it fails? Or what if it succeeds? What might happen then? If (a) happens, then (b) could happen, and what about all those risks? Or what if nothing is done? (C) might happen, and what about those risks? And? And? And? Keep looking at the various possibilities and examining each one in detail, and you end up with what I call paralysis by analysis.

Sometimes you just have to take the step off the cliff...

Peace,
Jeffri

Living Your Strengths - Part 2

This morning I read through Living Your Strengths. It's not long--less than 250 pages of large print--and it's not difficult to read. Two sections make up the bulk of the book. Chapter 2 is "Identifying and Affirming Your Talents," which consists of explanations of all 34 themes along with a set of insights "for further understanding of your talents." Chapter 3 is "Using Your Talents for Growth and Service," which discusses "how to apply these talents in your congregation and in your life." Since the StrengthsFinder site only gives you your top five themes (you can order a report, for a fee, of where you fall in all 34 themes), it cuts out down the amount of pages you need to read.

The explanations in Chapter 2 are the same as the ones you get online, so you've already seen the explanations of my five themes. Here are a couple of examples of the insights for the Learner theme:

• You enjoy the process of learning as much as what you actually learn.
• You can get frustrated about wanting to learn so many different things because you fear you'll never be an expert.
• Learner talents are valuable because they propel you to thrive in a dynamic world where learning is a necessity. You can learn a lot in a short period of time.

Along with the insights, the authors provide a list of scripture passages that they feel relate to the theme. The ones for the Learner theme are Daniel 1:3-4, Luke 10:38-42, Ezra 7:10, and 2 Timothy 3:14-17. I suppose you could use these for further reflection and prayer as you explore and learn about your strengths.

Each section of Chapter 3

lists insights, thought-provoking questions, and action suggestions that can help you build on your talents to create and apply strengths--and to grow spiritually and serve God and others in the process. (p.104)

Here are a couple of examples, again, from the Learner theme:

• Participate in a Sunday school or Bible study class. Become an expert in your own religious beliefs and knowledgeable in the history and belief [sic] of other religions.
• Keep track of what you have learned. Create a spiritual resume of all you have learned and done. Share it with others so they may call on you as a resource.
• You can be a catalyst for change in your church. Others might be intimidated by new ideas, new routines, or new circumstances, but your willingness to soak up this "newness" can calm their fears and spur them to participate. Take this responsibility seriously.

A fair amount of food for thought, and probably some conversation topics when each of us "trainees" meets with Suzanne in the coming weeks to discuss our "year of discernment" (that's what they're calling it) about our new jobs.

The last three chapters, and the first one to some extent, all reminded me of Ken Blanchard's (of The One Minute Manager fame) books such as Raving Fans, Gung Ho, and Fish. Or Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese, which was given to every employee at the Episcopal Church Center early in the reorganization process. While looking at Blanchard's website I even discovered one I hadn't heard of called It Takes Less Than One Minute to Suit up for The Lord. I don't think I'm going to add that one to my list. What saves Living Your Strengths are occasional insights such as

One of the most common mistakes people make in their spiritual lives is to focus on the steps to spiritual growth rather than on the outcomes of spiritual growth. (p. 100)

Or

Indeed, developing our talents into strengths requires risk. We must step out, try new things, or take a chance by doing something we may fail at--at first. But if we do not take some risks--emotionally, physically, and spiritually--we will never grow. God expects no less from us and from the Church. (p. 213-214)

In that last quote is something important that the corporate world, and many churches, have forgotten. Failure is part of the learning process. If there is no room for a person to fail, then there really is no room for a person to truly learn. May all of us at the Church Center keep that in mind as we move forward with our new roles and responsibilities.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Light In Action

Reading Plan Text for April 15: John 9:1-5

Finally we see Jesus DOING something--or at least getting ready to do something. He has left the argument with the crowds behind and runs across a blind man. His disciples immediately turn to the question of sin as the cause of the man's blindness. Jesus replies that sin is not involved, but that

he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.

While we might wonder at the capriciousness of God deliberately making someone blind just to make a point, the more surprising thing here is that Jesus is going against the conventional wisdom of his day. Sin is not the cause of someone's illness or disability. What a concept!

What is even more important, to my mind, is that Jesus is not just saying, "I am the light of the world." He is preparing to act on that statement. Not only do we get to hear, but we'll SEE what he is talking about. Finally, action. Not just words.

For some of those students who need something besides words, seeing is believing.

Peace,
Jeffri

Living Your Strengths - Part 1

Last week yet another book arrived on my desk: Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman, Donald Clifton, and Curt Liesveld--all of whom are affiliated with the Gallup Organization. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that the book is published by Gallup Press. This one was given to all three of us "trainees" by our new boss as a part of our development process/year of discernment. She asked us to work through it this week.

The first step, which comes right after the introduction in the book, is to go online and take the Clifton StrenghtsFinder. I had some trouble with my computer at the office, so I brought the link home and worked through the instrument this evening. It is not unlike taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Survey. Or some parts of the SAT's, for that matter. So, after 30 minutes or so, here are the results I was given:

***************

Your Signature Themes

Many years of research conducted by The Gallup Organization suggest that the most effective people are those who understand their strengths and behaviors. These people are best able to develop strategies to meet and exceed the demands of their daily lives, their careers, and their families.

A review of the knowledge and skills you have acquired can provide a basic sense of your abilities, but an awareness and understanding of your natural talents will provide true insight into the core reasons behind your consistent successes.

Your Signature Themes report presents your five most dominant themes of talent, in the rank order revealed by your responses to StrengthsFinder. Of the 34 themes measured, these are your "top five."

Your Signature Themes are very important in maximizing the talents that lead to your successes. By focusing on your Signature Themes, separately and in combination, you can identify your talents, build them into strengths, and enjoy personal and career success through consistent, near-perfect performance.

Learner

You love to learn. The subject matter that interests you most will be determined by your other themes and experiences, but whatever the subject, you will always be drawn to the process of learning. The process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. You are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence. The thrill of the first few facts, the early efforts to recite or practice what you have learned, the growing confidence of a skill mastered—this is the process that entices you. Your excitement leads you to engage in adult learning experiences—yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes. It enables you to thrive in dynamic work environments where you are asked to take on short project assignments and are expected to learn a lot about the new subject matter in a short period of time and then move on to the next one. This Learner theme does not necessarily mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert, or that you are striving for the respect that accompanies a professional or academic credential. The outcome of the learning is less significant than the “getting there.”

Input

You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information—words, facts, books, and quotations—or you might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.

Intellection

You like to think. You like mental activity. You like exercising the “muscles” of your brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, you may be trying to solve a problem or develop an idea or understand another person’s feelings. The exact focus will depend on your other strengths. On the other hand, this mental activity may very well lack focus. The theme of Intellection does not dictate what you are thinking about; it simply describes that you like to think. You are the kind of person who enjoys your time alone because it is your time for musing and reflection. You are introspective. In a sense you are your own best companion, as you pose yourself questions and try out answers on yourself to see how they sound. This introspection may lead you to a slight sense of discontent as you compare what you are actually doing with all the thoughts and ideas that your mind conceives. Or this introspection may tend toward more pragmatic matters such as the events of the day or a conversation that you plan to have later. Wherever it leads you, this mental hum is one of the constants of your life.

Achiever

Your Achiever theme helps explain your drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself. And by “every day” you mean every single day—workdays, weekends, vacations. No matter how much you may feel you deserve a day of rest, if the day passes without some form of achievement, no matter how small, you will feel dissatisfied. You have an internal fire burning inside you. It pushes you to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dwindles for a moment, but very soon it rekindles itself, forcing you toward the next accomplishment. Your relentless need for achievement might not be logical. It might not even be focused. But it will always be with you. As an Achiever you must learn to live with this whisper of discontent. It does have its benefits. It brings you the energy you need to work long hours without burning out. It is the jolt you can always count on to get you started on new tasks, new challenges. It is the power supply that causes you to set the pace and define the levels of productivity for your work group. It is the theme that keeps you moving.

Focus

“Where am I headed?” you ask yourself. You ask this question every day. Guided by this theme of Focus, you need a clear destination. Lacking one, your life and your work can quickly become frustrating. And so each year, each month, and even each week you set goals. These goals then serve as your compass, helping you determine priorities and make the necessary corrections to get back on course. Your Focus is powerful because it forces you to filter; you instinctively evaluate whether or not a particular action will help you move toward your goal. Those that don’t are ignored. In the end, then, your Focus forces you to be efficient. Naturally, the flip side of this is that it causes you to become impatient with delays, obstacles, and even tangents, no matter how intriguing they appear to be. This makes you an extremely valuable team member. When others start to wander down other avenues, you bring them back to the main road. Your Focus reminds everyone that if something is not helping you move toward your destination, then it is not important. And if it is not important, then it is not worth your time. You keep everyone on point.

***************

Most of this is not a surprise, but in work settings--and almost any other setting--we don't spend a lot of time talking about our strengths. It is almost as if it is boastful to do so. Not to mention that Performance Reviews at any job almost always have a "development plan" to work on a perceived--or actual--weakness. According to the flyleaf:

Living Your Strengths shows all members [of a congregation] how to use their innate gifts to enrich their congregations--right now. It teaches you to identify and affirm your talents, and how to use them for growth and service.

I'll keep you posted.

Peace,

Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Frustration

Reading Plan Text for April 14: John 8:48-59

This interminable chapter of circular arguments is finally coming to an end, and Jesus has finally pushed the crowd too far.

"Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am." So they picked up stones to throw at him... (8:58-59)

I am not entirely sure I blame them. Jesus has been pushing their buttons throughout his entire discourse. I see him here as the teacher who, when asked by a student how to spell a word, tells the student to look the word up in the dictionary. Do that enough times, and the student becomes frustrated and soon gives up even trying. Is it any wonder the crowd has picked up stones to throw?

Of course, Jesus is actually answering their questions. The information is there in front of them, but can they understand it? Would you give a first grader a calculus text to answer math questions? This feels like a total contrast to the passage from John read in church this morning, which the Reading Plan won't get to until next week--the Good Shepherd.

I'm not sure what else to say.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Aha!

Reading Plan Text for April 11: John 8:39-47

It has been a long and tiring week, and a couple of times I've been tempted to skip the Bible Study for the evening. But I've done the reading and reflection every night. Many of my postings are short and, at least to me, do not seem to have much "meat." However, as I've said before, these were never meant to be more than conversation starters. It is sometimes discouraging that there hasn't been much conversation around the Lambeth Bible Study. On the other hand, I've also been re-learning that great revelations and profound insights are not an everyday occurrence when doing bible study--especially when doing it every day. It will be interesting to look back on these, oh, say a year from now, and see how what I wrote strikes me differently--or if it strikes me at all.

If you encounter a burning bush every day, it ceases to be an important and significant event.

Today some of the blogs I read regularly have pointed out the poisonous nature of some of the posts, and a majority of the comments by some conservatives, especially on one particular blog site--Stand Firm in Faith. One of the commentaries on the subject is by Mark Harris. Father Jake (here and here) and Susan Russell have also written on the subject.

This evening I had a bit of an "aha" moment while reading the scheduled passage. I finally realized why Jesus, as portrayed in John's Gospel, has been annoying me over the past couple of weeks. Things came together after first reading this comment on Mark Harris' Preludium:

Instead we got repetition of the canard. No evidence. No example. The the broad and repeated claim that the people who disagree with you don't believe in sin.These have become the stock in trade of the "conservative." Why discuss the issue at hand when you can write off anyone who disagrees with a few choice epithets and an accusation of a heresy or two.

Then came this line from Jesus in tonight's Gospel passage:

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. (8:43-44)

The reason you do not hear them [the words] is that you are not from God. (8:47)

Essentially, Jesus is saying anyone who disagrees with him is evil. This evening, that sounds very much like the commentors (and some of the writers) at Stand Firm: "If you don't agree with me, then you are evil, a sinner, and doomed to hell." Not everyone who questioned Jesus was wrong. Take, for example, the Canaanite/ Syrophoenician woman in Matthew (15:21-38) and Mark (7:24-30).

Doubt and questions are NOT the opposite of faith or belief in Jesus.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Language And Context

Reading Plan Text for April 10: John 8:31-38

I read three languages other than English: French, German and Spanish. I speak German passably, French a bit, Spanish and American Sign Language poorly. Language is rich in subtleties and even things not so subtle. Without being immersed in other languages and their cultures, once we progress past the basics, we miss many of the things we take for granted in our native language. Words, and even whole expressions, simply do not translate. So when I read Burridge's comments about the Greek text of John's Gospel, and wishing I could read that ancient language, I have to wonder how much even the best scholars miss when interpreting the texts for us. Then I imagine how much harder it must be for those trying to read, translate, and interpret the ancient Hebrew and Aramaic of our Old Testament scriptures.

In today's passage Jesus comes as close to telling a Parable as he does in John--at least according to Burridge. He tells his listeners that a slave has no permanent place in the household while a son does. Many of his listeners probably make the connection with Isaac and Ishmael, especially since they claim descent from Abraham.

Poor Ishmael. He always seemed to get the short end of the stick. (And how does that expression translate, or not, into other languages! But I digress.)

It is fairly clear to us, 21st Century Christian readers steeped in the context of 2000 years of Christian interpretation, that Jesus' discourse is intended to say that he is the Son of God who will set us free. It isn't clear to those listening to him in this passage. And even with those 2000 years of interpretation, I often wonder how clear it is to us today.

Just how clearly can we understand what Jesus is saying when we read his words in a language he did not speak, read, or write?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Why Do I Bother?

Reading Plan Text for April 9: John 8:21-30

No matter what Jesus says, his audience always seems to respond by asking questions. When he answers those questions, they have more. A good teacher expects more questions, but sometimes it's like talking with a two-year-old. "Why? Why? Why?" Can't you just hear the frustration when Jesus says, "Why do I talk to you at all?"

And John never gives Jesus a break. Over and over again his comment about the crowds around Jesus is "They did not understand..." One wonders about John's own community and their ability to understand what they are being told and shown.

One wonders about our own ability to understand...

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: The Light Of The World

Reading Plan Text for April 8: John 8:12-20

Today's passage contains another of the famous "I am" statements. Compare John's Jesus saying "I am the light of the world" with Matthew's, who says, "You are the light of the world." Matthew is showing an example of how to live life. I much prefer Matthew's "you" because I think it shows us Jesus involved in what he does best: teaching and doing.

John, however, is continuing his treatise on who Jesus is and why we should believe in him. Jesus' discourse continues in the manner of a trial. Testimony is being given and being challenged. Of course, as is always the case in John, the Pharisees don't get it. They continue to take everything literally, even when Jesus, for the first time (according to Burridge), directly quotes the law to them using the phrase "your law.". This isn't about "man's law." It is about divine revelation.

Burridge also continues his explanation that John is building and extended metaphor in which Jesus is deliberately making a connection between himself and God leading the Israelites through the wilderness. This particular thrust of John's Gospel had escaped my notice before reading Burridge's commentary.

One feature of Burridge's commentary that I have not mentioned so far is the little piece at the end of each chapter. Often it is "Prayer." Sometimes it is "for Reflection and Prayer," or "for Prayer and Reflection," sometimes "for Meditation and Prayer," and occasionally just "for Reflection." I always read them, but rarely do I take on the reflection or meditation. This might be something to consider the next time a reflection shows up at the end of a chapter.

Tonight's Prayer:

Light of the World, grant that I may not walk in darkness, but rather know you and your Father in the light of life. (p. 113)

Peace,
Jeffri

Unpacking Into A New Job

Two weeks ago, right after Easter, most of us in the Ministries with Young People Cluster had to pack up our offices. The actual packing week was last week, except that all but one of us was on the road for all or part of the week. Essentially, we had two days to pack, because Easter Monday was a holiday, and those of us in the new Evangelism and Congregational Life Center went on retreat Thursday and Friday. We packed in boxes rather than the plastic orange crates that were distributed during the "official" packing week.

Last Friday they shut down the computers and phones, and the actual move itself began. Over the weekend boxes and crates were moved out, offices painted, offices and cubicles cleaned, and new occupants' boxes and crates moved in. This is what awaited me when I walked to my new work area on the 5th Floor:


Since I started a new job today, only five boxes, my plant, and a file rack went to my new cubicle. Essentially, I'm almost back to the same physical location I started out in almost six years ago. This is the stack of boxes waiting for me in my new cubicle:

You can see my colleague Angie in the cubicle to the left. She and I traveled to Vancouver together to attend the Start Up! Start Over! conference as part of our training for our new positions. She also had to pack in boxes instead of the orange crates.

Also waiting, connected and ready to go, were my phone (with a new extension) and my computer:

May God the Father
be the guardian of this place
and bring His peace.

May his love be shared,
and his will be found here,
and peace between all people.

May the Spirit bring lightness and laughter here.

May He be the strengthener and comforter
in times of difficulty.

May the Lord give peace
but never complacency.

Here may encouragement be found
and relationships strengthened.

Each day, every day,
each going out, and each returning,
the Lord bless you and keep you.

Peace between person and person;
peace between all who work here;
the peace of Christ above all peace;
peace between friends
each day and every day.

I pray for all who work here.
May the joy and peace of heaven
be with with you and around you.
The Lord bless you.

Christ, in our coming
and in our leaving,
be the Door and the Keeper
for us
and all who work within this place,
this day and every day,
ever and always.
Amen.

---Celtic Daily Prayer, pp. 151-152

This cubicle is "backwards" from my old one. I had to do some thinking about how I wanted to set it up. It will probably take some more tinkering as I settle in. So here's the same side of the cubicle where the boxes were:

You can see Angie settling in to her cubicle, and Monna, who used to sit next to me, is back by the windows. And here's the other side of my cubicle:

The corridor outside my office has fewer crates and boxes, but some major stacks still remain to be unpacked by folks who are on the road during the first part of this week. This morning I also moved the files for my old department from one side of the floor to the other. Tomorrow we have to pack up and move an "intern" cubicle that no one had time to deal with in the last two weeks. We'll also have to unpack the "vacant" office where they put all the contents of the former Ministries with Young People's director's office.

I still do not have a clear idea of what my new job entails. However, I have the opportunity participate in the creation of this new position. I've not had that kind of opportunity before, and I'm actually looking forward to the challenge, even if it is a bit frustrating at times.

In case you're wondering about the back left corner of my cubicle, I have a collection of crosses that I've picked up during my travels or that people have given me. Many of them hung on one wall of my old cubicle. As I looked my new space, this corner just sort of presented itself. It became more than just a display area for my collection. It is now my meditation/prayer corner. Along with the crosses are some prayer cards, pictures, and a bible and a Book of Common Prayer. This should help remind me to include prayer in my daily routine at the office.

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of the universe. Your gifts are many, and in wisdom you have made all things to give you glory. Be with us now and bless us as we dedicate our use of this space to your praise and honor. As often as we worship you here, precede us and abide with us. Be known to us in the Word spoken and heard, in fellowship with one another. Give us joy in all your works, and grant that this space may be a place where your will is done and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Savior, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

---The Book of Occasional Services (2003), p. 245

Peace,
Jeffri

Dancing Circles

When I was in high school I fell in with a small group of kids who liked square dancing. They attended a monthly dance that did what is often called "New England" or "Traditional" Square Dancing. Some of the very basic moves used to be taught in grammar school gym classes. I picked it up quickly and enjoyed dancing. I danced regularly through high school but only occasionally in college and after that.

In my late twenties I was re-introduced to square dancing, but this time it was Western Squares. The Times Squares had come to New Haven to help start a new gay/lesbian Western Square group in Connecticut. I remembered most of the moves easily, and for the first time in my life was doing a kind of dancing I enjoyed with the "right" partners. I was dancing with men! And sometimes I even followed (the "woman's" role). While I rather quickly found out that I prefer New England Squares to Western Squares, that dance in New Haven introduced me to a group of people who did what they called "gender free" Contra Dancing. That meant that anyone could dance any role they wished for any dance. In order to tell who was leading and who was following, the leaders wore armbands. Thus the calls for gender free Contras are "bares and bands" rather than "ladies and gents."

I've been dancing with one chapter or another of the Lavender Country and Folk Dancers (LCFD) ever since. I will occasionally attend a "straight dance" and have to continually remind myself "I am the armband, I am the armband..." throughout the evening.

Over the past few years, there has been some concern about the "next generation" of dancers. Most of the dancers in the LCFD when I joined were about my age, give or take a few years. As time went on we would attract new dancers, most of whom were also about our age. Occasionally, a young person would become involved. We heard that the same thing was happening at many "straight" dances. Would Contra Dances cease as we aged and were eventually no longer able to dance?

Lately, however, there seems to be a lot of interest in Contra Dancing among the college age generation. Some evenings at my local dance, the younger crowd far outnumbers us "old timers." It's wonderful to see.

So imagine my surprise when the Globe and Mail delivered to my hotel room in Vancouver Friday morning had the following article on the front page of the "Life" section. It seems there is a new interest in Contra Dancing amongst the younger generation of our neighbors to the North as well.

The circle turns, and the dance goes on. It is not the same, but then it shouldn't be. So we just join hands and join in.



Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With the Bishops: Another Court Case

Reading Plan Text for April 7: John 7:53 - 8:11

It is pretty clear that this passage about the Woman Taken In Adultery is not original to John. As Burridge points out in the his commentary, it interrupts the flow of the story, and its language is different from the rest of John--more closely resembling Luke. Burridge concludes this introduction to the passage by saying

Perhaps God wants this one in the Bible somewhere, even if we are not sure where! Certainly, the story reflects John's account of Jesus being sent not to condemn the world but to save it; furthermore, it fits John's motif of Jesus being on trial and yet still in control. (p. 110)

While the scribes and the Pharisees are obviously using this woman's situation to try Jesus, they do so by trying to make him the judge in her case. Instead, as has happened before, it is they who stand trial in front of Jesus. Even then, they are put in the position of having to judge themselves.

I sometimes wonder why John makes so much use of trial imagery. Several sources say that the Johannine Community was one in conflict, having been expelled from the local synagogue. Could there have been legal wrangling resulting from the expulsion or separation? There is a temptation to relate apply this train of thought to the court cases going on in several places around the Anglican Communion. However, I don't believe one could make a legitimate connection. And even if you did, I think Jesus would probably say "A plague on both your houses, sell the building and donate the money to the poor."

More likely, John uses the trial settings to provide the Jesus portrayed in this Gospel with opportunities to make logical arguments. "Look at the evidence," John seems to be saying, "and believe. "

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Oh, Them

Reading Plan Text for April 4: John 7:40-52

After Jesus' speech in the last passage, the crowd is again discussing who they think he is. He must be the Messiah. But the Messiah isn't supposed to come from Galilee. Their opinion is divided.

The temple police sent to arrest Jesus return to the priests and the Pharisees without him. Why? Because they, too, have heard Jesus and are as divided in their opinions as the crowd is. The priests and the Pharisees are furious. How can the police have been deceived? None of us believe him! And the mob--those common people--they know nothing!

How many times have we heard religious leaders dismiss the thoughts and opinions of those they don't agree with.

Those people don't really know the Bible/Talmud/Koran/Sacred Writing.
Those people aren't true Christians/Jews/Muslims/Believers.
Those people don't know the truth.
Those people...

How many times have we heard religious leaders dismiss very people they are responsible for and to?

Those people aren't educated.
Those people don't know the law.
Those people don't have any expertise in religious issues.
Those people...

Oh, them. They don't count.

Sometimes someone will speak up, like Nicodemus in this passage. And what happens?

You can't possibly believe that.
Are you really one of us?
Maybe you're one of those people.
Those people...

Oh, them. They don't count

I learned a long time ago that those people often have something valuable to teach us. It is a lesson that I need to be reminded of again, and again, and again. I was reminded of it again here in Vancouver. The chaplain for the conference is an Episcopal priest from the Midwest. However, his manner of prayer appeared to me as Evangelical. I've had run-ins with Evangelicals over and over again who consider me one of those people. Yet there have been Evangelical Christians who have taught me many valuable things, including how to look at some troubling scripture passages. The chaplain here is one of the gentlest, non-judgmental people I've encountered. His prayers have spoken to me and brought some new insights. He has connected me, and other conference participants, with God, Jesus, and the Spirit.

Those people don't think like I do.
Those people don't act like I do.
Those people don't believe like I do.
Those people...

Oh, them. Maybe they have something to teach me.

Peace,
Jeffri

Controversey In Vancouver

Sunday afternoon as we drove to our hotel on the bus from the airport, we passed Harbour Green Park, which sits overlooks Coal Harbour. In the park sits a large sculpture of a church, but, as you can see in the photo below, it's standing on it's head, so to speak. Angie and I found it amusing given that we are in Vancouver for a church-related conference. To me, it symbolized what we sometimes need to do with our churches in order to have new life.


One of the speakers at the conference even had a picture of the sculpture in the opening slide of her presentation. Her daughter had found it on a web site about Vancouver, and Jeunee thought it was a good image to use. She didn't know that the sculpture is only a block from our hotel.

Here's another view:

This morning The Globe and Mail carried a story on page 3. At the top of page 3. It seems that the City of Vancouver will be removing the sculpture from the park because some Christians have called it "blasphemous," and some local residents have complained that it interferes with their view of Coal Harbour. The Vancouver Park Board voted unanimously to remove it from the park.

In the article I also learned the title of the sculpture: Device to Root Out Evil. Look at the pictures again. Does the sculpture bring to mind another fairly common object? Think about the position of the steeple. That's what hit me this afternoon when I was looking at the pictures I took. It looks like a power drill. I'm sure there are all sorts of other things that can be seen in it, but that's what I saw this afternoon.

If nothing else, the sculpture has sparked conversation. And isn't that one of the things art is supposed to do?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Hurry, Hurry, Hurry

Reading Plan Text for April 3: John 7:32-39

I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come. (33-34)

When my father was suffering from pancreatic cancer, I don't think any of us really knew how little time we had left together. The doctors diagnosed it late, and they attempted to use a new and experimental chemotherapy. From the diagnosis to death was one month. Four short weeks. The last two days of his life he spent in a drug-induced coma because of the pain. Although I knew the end was near, I left for a business trip. He died that evening, and I came home the next day.

Jesus is telling the crowd, and, more importantly, his disciples, that his time among them is short. Burridge puts it in terms of six months--from the feast of the Tabernacles to the following Passover. Prepare. Make plans. Talk with me.

Talk with me.

I was fortunate. My father and I had healed our relationship about two years earlier, and he and I had a good conversation the last night he was conscious. What had to be said was said, and there was a peace between us.

You will search for me, but you will not find me...

Even now, 15 years later, there are times when I still reach for the phone to ask Dad a question about some project or other I've gotten stuck with. But he's not there. He won't ever be there again. And after 15 years, that can still bring tears to my eyes.

Jesus will not be there, and he won't be ever again. But the crowd, the priests, and the Pharisees do not understand what he is saying, because they are still trying to comprehend the literal sense of his words. For three days he will not be in a place where they can find him. He will come among them again, but also for a short while. Once he is gone, they will never see him again, and they cannot go to where he is--until death.

Prepare. Make plans. Talk with me. There isn't much time. You need to do it now. Time is short. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

The good news is that we can still talk to Jesus whenever we want. And the bad news? It is our time that is limited.

Prepare.

Make plans.

Talk with me.

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.

Peace,
Jeffri

Bible Study With The Bishops: Where Are You From?

Reading Plan Text for April 2: John 7:19-31

Whenever I travel and meet new people, one of the first questions we ask each other is "Where are you from?" Knowing where someone is from helps us get to know the other person. It gives us some context for further conversation. Of course, it can also lead to snap judgements, like "the Ugly American," or "damn Yankee," or "Left Coaster."

Jesus is known to many of the people in the crowd, and many others who don't know him personally know of him.

Yet we know where this man comes from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from. (7:27)

Because they know he is from Nazareth, they "know" he is not the Messiah. Jesus refutes this immediately, and some in the crowd believe him. However, how many simply repeat Nathanael's question:

Can anything good come out of Nazareth? (1:46)

We know where he is from, therefore we know everything we need to know about him.

The geographical "shorthand" is helpful in learning about someone, but it does not let us know the whole person. How many times have we assumed all sorts of things because someone

• Graduated from Episcopal Divinity School
• Graduated from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry
• Is a priest in the Diocese of Newark
• Is a priest in the Diocese of Fort Worth
• Is a member of a parish in San Francisco
• Is a member of a parish in Albany

Didn't we learn anything from Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well?

Peace,
Jeffri

Bishops Write About Their Meeting

Updated April 4 - 7:20 a.m. Pacific Time

Here is what the bishops have to say about their March 7-12 meeting at Camp Allen.

Jack Iker of Fort Worth posted this statement about why he wasn't attending the meeting (I've reprinted it here, because I'm not sure how long the link will be good):

A Comment concerning the March 2008 House of Bishops meeting

In recent years, I have increasingly dreaded the thought of attending another meeting of the House of Bishops of TEC, and I will not be participating in the one at Camp Allen in early March. For a traditional anglo-catholic like myself, the HOB meetings have become a toxic environment, and the “spiritual violence” I suffer there is not good for my emotional or spiritual well being. For me, the small-group table discussions are places of hostile confrontation, not support and affirmation.

I am disheartened that I have been unable to secure a future, safe place for this diocese within TEC and am saddened by the fact that the HOB has been unwilling to make adequate provision for us in response to our appeal for alternative primatial oversight.

The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo IkerBishop of Fort Worth

Note: In the concluding Recommendations of its report on this diocese's appeal, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference said, “The Panel also recommends that the Archbishop of Canterbury continue discussions with the Diocese of Fort Worth and with the Episcopal Church with the aim of securing the place of Fort Worth in the Communion.” (paragraph 17d) The report was published Jan. 8, 2007.

Some bishops posted thoughts during the course of the meeting:

• Kee Sloan, Suffragan of Alabama, on March 9
• Christopher Epting, the Presiding Bishop's Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, on March 9 and March 12.
• Porter Taylor, Western North Carolina, on March 12.
• Larry Benfield, Arkansas, on March 7, March 9, March 11, and March 12.

Here are reflections written after the meeting:

Province I

• Connecticut - Jim Curry & Laura Ahrens

Province III

• Deleware - Wayne Wright

Province V

• Northern Indiana - Edward Little
• Southern Ohio - Thomas Breidenthal & Kenneth Price, Jr.

Province VIII

• Arizona - Kirk Smith (As usual, one of the first to write to his dioceses as soon as the House of Bishops meetings are done.)

In case you haven't seen them, here are the Episcopal News Service--and other--reports on the March 7-12 meeting:

• March 7 Daily Account (ENS)
• March 8 Daily Account (ENS)
• March 9 Daily Account (ENS)
• March 10 Daily Account (ENS)
• Lambeth Invitation Not Possible for Gene Robinson (March 10) (ENS)
• Bishop Robinson's Address to the House (March 10) (ENS)
• Report from Bishops Ed Little, Bruce Caldwell and Tom Ely to the House of Bishops regarding conversations about Bishop Gene Robinson's participation at the Lambeth Conference (March 10) (From the Diocese of Vermont web site)
• March 11 Daily Account (ENS)
• House of Bishops statement on Schofield, Cox (March 12) (ENS)
• House of Bishops statement on the Lambeth Conference (March 12) (ENS)
• House of Bishops resolution on 'waterboarding' (March 12) (ENS)
• House of Bishops consents to deposition of John-David Schofield, William Cox (March 12) (ENS)

I'll keep a lookout over the next few days to see who else comments.

Peace,
Jeffri