What about the front porch looking out?

Staying in the North Park, Chicago neighborhood with @millielundgren on Christiana Avenue. The view from anyone’s front porch looking in is precious, because it reminds of the gift of the family home.

The view looking out also is also precious, because it reminds us of our neighbors, friends, church, immigrants, strangers and others.

That’s the Best thing about the City. Ha?

So here’s a pilot post on good comments, that might continue, if…  anyone eggs it on.

From Scot McKnight’s post today about Smith’s book on Biblicism comes comment #25 from Mark:

I’m Lutheran and we view the bible as “The Living Word”. In this sense interpretation is somewhat ambiguous. In studying the greek and hebrew we loose much of the meaning in translation and there is ambiguity in translation.

That being said there can be right and wrong ways to interpret scripture and that is why studying theology , church history and interpreting scripture in community is important.

To read scripture is not to look for right or wrong, good or bad. It is looking for the mind and character of Christ. We read scripture to know Christ. When we reduce the bible to a map or rulebook it loses it’s power. When scripture can have multiple interpretations (within reason) it becomes alive and relevant to God’s people.

Comment by Mark — August 29, 2011 @ 10:14 am

Why is this a good comment?

Kinda makes me want to be Lutheran… Where there are right and wrong ways of interpreting scripture, encouraging people to show themselves approved by knowing something about theology and church history and interpreting in community. And… “We read scripture to know Christ.” That’s good stuff.

And… “Scripture is the Living Word.” Good stuff too.

This comment is so good, it makes me want to be Lutheran.

Peace,
Katie

Here’s what I mean.

The rule says: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

The rule does not say: Do to others as they would have you do to them.

We are responsible to extend kindness on the simplest terms: To treat people in a manner consistent with our own preferences. We are not responsible for reading other people’s minds and making sure we interact on their terms.

Have you ever gotten into relational trouble because you treated people exactly how you prefer to be treated, but they expected you to understand them well enough to treat them as they prefer?

Likewise… Have you ever been hurt, because another person treated you just as they prefer to be treated and they simply did not understand what you need or want?

How might our relationships be different if we lowered our expectations and simply followed the Golden Rule?

• part 1
• part 2

His topic was resentment. John admitted that the theme was an unusual choice for a retreat-style devo.

As the Spirit would have it, this message struck a chord with the whole room. Here’s what I wrote down:

• Resentment starts with hurt feelings.
• “Resentment kills the dream and tears the team apart.”
• Comparison contributes to resentment.
• When we resent someone, almost everything that person does seems suspicious or irritating.
• “Resentment is the poison you drink hoping your enemy will die.”
• “Do you want to be well?” (Cured of resentment?)

John’s devo was two parts. The whole second part is focused Bible wisdom that helps us get off the road of resentment and onto the narrow road that leads to life– free from resentment.

Check it out:

part 1
part 2

Here it is…

as described in the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter six:

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.^{[a] 5} Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

¹⁰ When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, ¹¹ houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, ¹² be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

¹³ Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. ¹⁴ Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; ¹⁵ for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. ¹⁶ Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah. ¹⁷ Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. ¹⁸ Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors, ¹⁹ thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.

²⁰ In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” ²¹ tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. ²² Before our eyes the LORD sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. ²³ But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. ²⁴ The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. ²⁵ And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

I just saw the sun rise—further south on the horizon than any sunrise of 2010. 4:48 pm, the sun will set—earlier and further south than any evening in 2010. Tomorrow, the sun moves one click north for rising and setting, and tomorrow is a few moments longer than today.

Winter solstice, shortest day of the year, reminds me that we don’t have time.

I remember where I was when I realized that the adage, you have time, is false. Was sitting in Gates auditorium in Denver, listening to a good writer dispel the myth. She said, “If you think you have time, You’re wrong. You don’t.”

We don’t have time because… Time is God’s, not ours. Time is fleeting; it disappears. Time is uncertain; we don’t know where we will be or what we’ll be doing next. We have no idea how much time is left.

Is time short? Nope. Time is simply unknown and unowned. It’s not ours; it’s God’s.

Sounds scary, but not really. We have now. Now is enough, and there’s always enough time.

This Prayer for Grace from the Book of Common prayer helps me every day:

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.†

Have a blessed shortest day of the year. If there’s enough time today, there is always enough.

Joseph shows us what God means by “righteous” or “just.”

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way:

His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph; but before they came together, she was found to be with child—by the Holy Spirit.

Joseph her husband was a just man, but was unwilling to put her to shame; so he resolved to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:18-19)

So what is God’s justice according to Joseph?

Walter Wangerin Jr. draws these conclusions…

He decided to divorce her quietly. “Evidently one’s rights do not define one’s righteousness.” So righteousness is not self-centered.  She has (by all appearances) wronged him, but he knows her sin owes God—not him. A righteous person does not view justice as something he or she receives for damages. A just person does not seek punishment to satisfy; nor does God.

Nevertheless, Joseph resolved to divorce Mary. His righteousness is not self-centered; it’s also not centered on Mary or romance. It honors God and God’s ways, and it is “tempered by mercy.” Keep the law? Yes. But protect life—Mary’s life. No accusation, no trial, no shame, no execution.

So what is righteousness? Two things according to Wangerin. “… the obedience we owe to God and the mercy God grants us to grant others.”

Here’s the good news:  This kind of righteousness produces peace on earth—between nations, in families, in marriages, at work, at school, in friendships…

Imagine what our lives would be like if we treated one another as Joseph treated Mary.

First. I came to the meeting behind on mucho deadlines, wishing I could stay in my office and work. Then the big turn. Bryce and Jess led two songs of worship, and the whole room warmed up with the presence of God. I thought, “good meeting.”

Then John led us in a time of ministry updates. There is no better way to spend a Wednesday afternoon than hearing good reports from loving leaders who are making a difference in the world. Stuff like: serving dozens children with special needs every weekend, drilling wells in Haiti, organizing a gift drive for children in-need that empowers their parents, preparations for our 6 Christmas eve services, training more Stephen Ministers for one-2-one care, observing World AIDS Day…

And I thought, “good meeting.”

Then I was responsible to lead a prayer time. The meeting had gone longer than I expected, and I was tempted to hurry things along and get us out of there. Whatever! Everyone gladly gathered in circles and prayed hard. 20 minutes later we were sent out with another song… you and I were made to worship. you and I are called to love. you and I are forgiven and free.

This was a good meeting… because where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:30

• The way we talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator.
• The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us.
• Get in the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how staggeringly impertinent they are.
• There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs and God will fulfill His purpose through your life.
• One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

Loathing or discounting our own substance (mind, body, heart, work or history) is to say, “God doesn’t know God’s own business in me. God is unable to express God’s self in me. The promises of God are hopeless in me.”

Chambers point: To take this view of ourselves is to waste grace.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:10.

I am obligated to take (and speak) God’s view of myself lest I squander grace and slander God.

Creamed Turkey over Mashed Potatoes

• Purge the fridge and gather the good stuff.
• Start the mashed potatoes—a few russets in a kettle full of plenty of salt water. (Don’t worry about the salt. The potatoes taste terrible without it. And most of it goes down the drain anyway.)
• In a large, heavy kettle… sauté onion, celery and red bell pepper in ¼ cup butter.
• In a medium sized saucepan, simmer celery leaves and junk veggies from the crisper.—like mini carrots, broccoli, mushrooms or whatever you have. Add kosher salt and chicken base to the “boil.”
• Now get your leftover turkey, and chop up 2-4 cups.
• When the large-kettle, sauté is tender, whisk in ¼ cup flour, and toast it for a bit– keeping it safe from heat with a fast moving wooden spoon.
• Then smash the junk veggie boil with a potato masher, and dump it into the sauté, and whisk like mad. This makes thick gravy.
• Add some potato water to thin it a bit.
• Now whisk in some heavy cream—leftover from Thanksgiving, of course. ½ cup is about right.
• Then add chopped parley left from “mandarin salad” on Thanksgiving Day.
• Simmer the mixture to reduce it and thicken it. Slowly. No high heat once the cream is involved.
• Drain and mash the potatoes with ½ stick of butter and some scalded milk.
• Serve creamed turkey over smashed potatoes in a soup plate.

This is what the country folk do on the Monday after Thanksgiving.