Christmas Light

Darkness covered Bethlehem
Blanketing the shepherd men
in crisp, cool air of night.

Fires crackled in the dark,
Breaking night with naught but sparks
That dance up, out of sight.

Nighttime strangled heather-hills,
Sheep slept sound near dusky rills,
Into that world broke light.

Darkness covered Bethlehem,
Invading house and shed and inn,
And all was shuttered tight.

Unlit stable, shelter warm
Two travelers rest there, tired and worn
No help in fearful plight.

No midwife, no sterile rags
No fire's gleam, just dirty scraps.
Into that world came light.

Darkness covered human hearts,
Like inky clouds in every part,
Tainting every life.

Death and sin had conquered all,
And promises from God seemed small
And not to be made right.

Trusting beasts which could not save
No glimpse of hope, no rescue gave.
Into that world came light.

"The Master Story"

“Borrowed convictions will not sustain you in this life of faith over the long haul.”

-         Dr. Tom Varney

 

Today was the last lecture in my Bible class entitled “The History and Literature of Ancient Israel.”  It was a class that I found to be very profound and motivating as we launch out from the class and continue applying the concepts we’d learned.  I’ve compiled my notes and added some of my own thoughts and interpretations for this posting.  The bulleted points and raw outline are from Dr. Tom Varney, the professor of the class.  I sincerely hope that these thoughts will encourage you as they did me! 

 What are some basic, operating assumptions that govern the way we will approach the Bible in this class?

-     The Bible is a massive collection that requires us to understand the big picture

     -     The Bible is a trustworthy witness to God’s character and purposes in history

     -     The Bible is a dynamic Word that naturally and forcefully addresses real life

     -     The Bible is a “customs agent” that requires us to disclose our personal baggage

     -     The Bible is an ancient library that demands steady practice in skillful reading

 

Three ways of Reading Scripture

1. As simply an ancient text – just like Plato’s writing the Bible has a good moral story, but no authority.

2. As a “modern manual” – the Bible contains the answers for all the questions in life and formulas to fix life’s problems

a.       Dogmatic Approach – These people have a strong passion to be “right.”  This approach will eventually lead to strict legalism and traditionalism.  Proponents of this view are typically quick to fight, and afraid to take an honest, open look at other opinions.

b.Pragmatic Approach – These people have a strong passion to be “relevant.”  This approach will water down the power and fullness of the Bible.  Proponents of this view are typically quick to adjust the Scriptures to meet society today and are very reluctant to embrace “offensive” tenants of the faith.

3. As a “Master Story” – the Bible gives context and meaning to the events and culture we are in today.  This view requires that a Christian take the time to immerse themselves fully in the story.  Participation is key for this approach.  The general storyline goes as follows:

a.       Creation

b.      Chaos – Sin, flood, etc.

c.       Calling – Israel becomes God’s people

d.      Christ – the Gospels

e.      Church – We have some information and guidance regarding this timeframe from the Bible, but only the first 100 years of church history are indicated in the Bible.  This leaves approximately a 1900 year gap where there is no inspired guidance for specific issues relative to various cultures.

f.        Culmination – Part of this is covered in Revelation, this is our future.

 

Because “Act 5 – the Church” has so little divinely recorded history (the latest book written was in about 95 AD), we as disciples of Christ are forced to “improve” the Master Story.  This brings up the question of how do we improv such an Inspired Story, which really is the question of “how do I live as a participating Christian today?”  Since it is clear we are improvising the living of our Christian journey, we must become skilled in the art of improvisation.  In order to be a skillful improviser, one must have prior knowledge of the story he/she is improvising in, he/she must understand the ebb and flow – the motions – of the story, he/she must understand his/her character in order to stay within the bounds the Author intended, he/she must be experienced/gain experience in improvisation, and finally he/she must understand the context (both prior and future) of his/her improvised “act.” 

 

We followers of Christ must learn not just the facts and details, but the literary nature of the Bible and understand that we are not merely referring back to It, but rather continuing its message and Story.  We must immerse ourselves in the community of Journeyers, which extends back to Adam and forward until Christ’s return and beyond.  In order to live successfully as disciples of Christ, we must lose ourselves and become our characters in this Grand Adventure.  The goal of our lives should not be to see “the lesson” in every trial, or “the reason” in all of life’s situations; rather, our sole goal should be learning how to relate to the God, fellow Journeyers, and the lost sheep we find ourselves “acting” alongside.  So to that end, let us embrace our mysterious roles in this dynamic play anticipating wonders because of the Mighty Playwright who directs us.

 

Grace and Peace,

Andrew Powell

Welcome!

Welcome to Journey832!  Thanks for stopping by; in this first post, I would like to share with you the purpose and vision of   Journey832.  Our name is based on two ideas.  First, that the Christian life is a journey - a dynamic experience in which we learn and grow closer in our relationship with God and our imitation of Him.  John 8:32 says "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  This Journey832 blog is dedicated to the experience of discovering and applying God's truth to our lives.  Throughout this site, you will find blog posts from several Christians of varying backgrounds and varying places in their journeys.  Jesus calls the church the body of Christ, and I believe that growing together as a Community is a vital part of the spiritual journey.  This site is not intended to be a platform to promote ourselves individually or to fight about the Christian life.  Jesus calls us to unity, and while unity is not 100% agreement, it is 100% commitment.  Therefore, in the case of a disagreement, objections may be raised and thoughts may be challenged, but there must always be present a spirit of humility that does not judge another nor presumes to know the end-all of truth.  Remember, it is our love for our Christian brothers and sisters that shows the world that we belong to Christ.  Let us not take ourselves or our particular tradition of faith so seriously that we damage the testimony of the Body.  With that admonishion, I encourage you to pick up your backpack and hiking stick and continue your spiritual journey in community with those of us here are Journey832!

Grace and Peace,

Andrew Powell