Moses and Israel

I was reading through the book of Exodus this morning when I had this thought: Does the narrative of Moses’ birth and youth [Ex 2:1-10] foreshadow the narrative of the ‘children of Israel’ (i.e., that which follows in Exodus)?

A few observations:

• Moses was born as a foreigner in a hostile/oppressive environment (Egypt).  The children of Israel were also ‘born’ as foreigners in that same environment.  (Though the ‘children of Israel’ technically started with the sons of Jacob, the community didn’t really start to develop and grow until they were in Egypt)
• Moses was seen and heard crying by Pharaoh’s daughter, and she had pity on him  [Ex 2:6].  The children of Israel are seen and heard crying out by God, who comes down to deliver them [Ex 3:7-8].
• Moses is rescued from water among reeds (as a baby in a basket in the river) [Ex 2:5-6].  The children of Israel are rescued through water (‘Sea of Reeds’/'Red Sea’)[Ex 14].
• Having been rescued, Moses is nursed [Ex 2:9].  Having been rescued, the children of Israel are ‘nursed’ with manna [Ex 16].
• Pharaoh’s daughter took Moses as her son and named him [Ex 2:10].  God took the children of Israel as his children and chosen people.  (Though technically this was already the case).

What do you think?  Am I making too much out of it?  …making something out of nothing?  Have you heard of any such comparisons?

National Parks, Anyone?

I’ve been doing a lot of hiking lately (typically a couple times a week).  Living in Colorado Springs essentially necessitates hiking often… the mountains are just a short drive away, and numerous parks and open spaces are just a short walk away.  The scenery can vary, depending on where you go – though it is always beautiful.  You can zig-zag your way next to a stream, up a mountain.  You can hike among the red rocks.  You can climb amidst the bluffs.

Recently a friend told me about the National Parks Passport Book.  It is a ‘passport’ that you can get stamped at (supposedly) ever National Park, National Monument, etc. so that you can record when and where you’ve been.  We also talked about several parks we’ve been to, and several that we would like to go to.  (According to the U.S. National Park Service there are 391 national parks).

All of this talk has gotten me excited.  I want to wander across the west and visit national park after national park.  …even if it’s just a weekend trip here and there  …or a week or two in the summer.

So I’ve started to create a “National Parks / Places of Interest to Visit” map on Google maps.  Is there anything I should add?  And more importantly, who wants to join me?

Parable Rewrite

Had higher hopes for this… think it turned out quite lame.

There was a man who had two sons.  The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that belongs to me.”  So the father, though quite poor, divided the property between them.  A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to work in his fields.  After several years of working for this man, the son was able to buy his own fields.  Some time later a severe famine took place throughout that country and in his own country, and the people began to be in need.  Now the son had wisely managed his fields and had great excess, so the people came to him to meet their needs.  Dealing fairly and honestly with the people, the son became quite wealthy and was well loved.

Despite his great wealth and reputation among the people of that distant country, the son experienced an ever-growing sense of emptiness.  So he set off and went to his father.  While he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.  Then the son said to him, “Father, I have been gone these many years and have grown wealthy and powerful, yet that land is not my land, and the people are not my people.  I have deserted you and my family; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”  But the father quickly called out to his wife, “Get our sole calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”  And they began to celebrate.

Nouwen Quote

“The illusion of power must be unmasked, idolatry must be undone, oppression and exploitation must be… confronted.  We cannot suffer with the poor when we are unwilling to confront those persons and systems that cause poverty.  We cannot set the captives free when we do not want to confront those who carry the keys.  We cannot profess our solidarity with those who are oppressed when we are unwilling to confront the oppressor.  Compassion without confrontation fades quickly into fruitless sentimental commiseration.”

- Henri Nouwen, Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life, 124.

I’m Ready.

I’m growing anxious.

I am tired of doing nothing – or at least nothing of any real consequence – with my time.  I need to do something.  I need to be a part of something…  Preferably something new and fresh, yet old.  Something unknown to me that requires experimentation and creative thinking.  Something where I am working closely with others.

A little over a year ago I left my church in New York to begin my seminary career.  At the time I needed to get away from working in a church.  Don’t get me wrong, the church was a great community filled with good people – congregation members and leaders all included.  They were doing (and no doubt continue to do) great things in the surrounding area – from feeding the homeless to visiting imprisoned youth to providing Christmas gifts for children whose parents were unable to.

It was a great community, but I needed to get away.  I could feel myself becoming frustrated and cynical.  I expected (or at least wanted) them to be doing more.  I wanted more teamwork and interaction and integration, and less – what I perceived to be, whether or not correctly – individuality and compartmentalization.  I don’t know if my judgments were accurate or justifiable…  perhaps they came out of ignorance or idealism… perhaps out of love and expectation.

Last Sunday I went to church with my friends Marcus and Jessica and their kids, where Marcus is the children’s minister.  We got there early and left late.  Marcus gave me a tour of the church and introduced me to a number of the staff.  Walking around the church helped me to realize that I’m ready to be involved in a church again.  I’ve healed enough.  Perhaps not completely, but enough.

So here I sit… ready to be involved in a church again.  More than that, I’m ready to help start a church… even though I’m sure I’m not prepared.  I need to be useful.  creative.  involved.  I’m ready to sit down and brainstorm. to find new and old ways of doing things.  I’m ready to build. to grow.  I’m ready to tell the Story. to hear the Story.  I’m ready… though I’m afraid it’s not time yet.

The Waves and the Ocean

Came across this last night:

Assuming the waves could speak, what should they say to the ocean?  Perhaps the most meaningful noise they could make would be the rhythmic, relentless whisper they make as they rise and fall, come in and out of being.  Surely that is a worthy prayer.  Surely those prayerful sounds, if they could be scored on paper, would be worthy of regular rehearsal, for they would remind each wave of the source of its being.  Making those sounds would remind each wave that it was indeed a wave and, contrary to all the wave’s illusions, not something else.”

- Lawrence Kushner, God Was in This Place & I, i Did Not Know, 134.

A New Town

As I write this I am sitting in a Starbucks in downtown Colorado Springs.  I arrived here on Sunday evening – at Colorado Springs, not Starbucks – after a couple of long days of driving.  Despite being 1,000 miles away, I’ve already met my first person from Indiana… an older woman from Kokomo (she noticed the Purdue University shirt I’m wearing and had to inquire).

So far Colorado Springs has been good to me.  I am living with my friends Marcus and Jessica (and their 2 great kids) who have lived here for 4 years now.  …Marcus and Jessica are amazing people.  There are many things I have already enjoyed – particularly the “Dear God’s” before supper.  The kids usually lead us in “Dear God’s” (Prayer)… they say a line, and then we repeat it.  We often pray for “the people with the sirens” and “thanks for mommy; daddy; etc.” and even “help our house.”  Brilliant stuff.

I’ve already noticed a few differences between Colorado Springs and Pasadena… the biggest being that the mountains here have snow on them, while the mountains there have fire.

Of course, the mountains in southwest Utah also have fire on them… or at least they did when I passed them on Saturday.  When I saw it from a distance I first thought it was a storm… then I hoped it was a volcano erupting… but then I realized it was a forest fire.  My drive included other interesting/fun sites – particularly some of the road signs (especially in Utah).  For example: “No Fatigued Driving“, “Eagles on Highway“, and “No Name Road Exit.”

The scenery was also quite amazing… with mountain after mountain; the landscape changing in its browns, oranges and reds; rocks of all shapes and sizes; even some jumping bighorn sheep!  I ended up spending Saturday night at the Lazy Lizard Hostel just south of Moab, UT and Arches National Park.  The hostel was pretty amazing – especially since I only paid $9.80 (after tax) for a dormitory bed.

I got up early Sunday morning to explore Arches… unfortunately my level of exhaustion was much too high to do any serious amount of hiking.  After a couple of short 1-mile hikes I gave in and left the park greatly disappointed.  There was so much to see, but too little energy.  …another time, perhaps.

So here I sit in Colorado Springs… my fourth state in four years.  I’m closer to home, but not there yet… though closer than when I started out.

Grace and Peace and Love.

The Mentoring Project

Here’s a fun little commercial from the folks at The Mentoring Project (a great organization doing some important things).

more about "The Mentoring Project", posted with vodpod

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

In Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl N.D. Wilson takes the reader on a ride through the seasons and rhythms of nature and life.  He explores the experiences we all encounter, from heartache and death to joy and renewal – often making his argument by telling stories about insects, animals, trees, and everything else under the sun (including quarks and leptons!).  Through the journey he demonstrates how he believes it is all connected with God and faith.

I’ll admit, at first I had a rough time getting excited about finishing the book – the opening chapters left me leery about where we were headed (perhaps because of the large number of philosophers mentioned. I’ve never been a fan of philosophers).  However, once I was a few chapters in, I knew I was going to make it.  Wilson’s witty (and often sarcastic) tone and the odd stories about ants and earwigs make this an enjoyable read.  For the most part I appreciate Wilson’s theological views (especially his emphasis on physical resurrection), and find no damaging teaching. It is not one of those books that I will have to read again every other year, though I may flip back through it to pick up some of the great wisdom that is sprinkled throughout.

I posted this review as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Bloggers program.

Creating Drama in Church – the good kind.

What if a church/community created a drama that followed the “Biblical Story”?  A drama that starts in Genesis 1 & 2 and ends in Revelation 21 & 22.  For example, something that follows N.T. Wright’s five-act model: 1. Creation, 2. Fall, 3. Israel, 4. Jesus, 5. New Testment and onward.  (I don’t know who first proposed the idea, but I first encountered it through Wright – that’s why I mention him here).

That is, take each Act and ask, “What is the essence/story of this act, and how can we tell it?”

I’m not talking about a 10-minute skit on Sunday morning, but rather a 2 hour (or longer?) production.  Something that really has the ability to grab a person’s attention and to start discussion.

Is it a good idea?  How could it be done well?  What are the possible positives and negatives?  How could we encourage/facilitate discussion afterward (the next day, week, month, year)?

Surely it has been done before – does anyone know of any examples?