Note from prison #1, Dec 21
Anyone who has opened a Bible soon finds himself thinking about forgiveness. God forgives us, we forgive each other. We forgive ourselves even. Too easy, a daughter will say, and rightly so. For what of forgiveness by the weaker of the stronger?
You have taken all I have, but I forgive you. You are brutish and insensitive, and I forgive you.
Stop! We do not stop fighting back against the terrible reality of oppression and tyranny, but do so empowered by the ability to forgive. What does this look like in practice?
1. Forgiveness involves understanding and adapting to the mindset of the offender.
2. Forgiveness calls us to, as Paul says, not eat meat if it causes our brother or sister to stumble.
3. Do you know how powerful, how deadly, is unrepented sin? When we are in its presence, we would cower but for the power of our faith. Innocuous, deadly sin.
4. Sin is something we are born with, and continue in but that the Holy Spirit regenerate us. How difficult to see our most tragic omissions and commissions. Ooops, I forgot about THAT!
I like my social justice, but it better not interfere with my drinking, free expressions even if only subtle lived out. We deliberately sacrifice a tangible, sacramental part of our life or lifestyle for the riches of forgiveness, better to know the One who forgave us. Belovedness, sexual liberation. Take off that confederate flag and be clothed in the gospel of grace.
Feb. 12, 2014
Cohort responses, Dec 21
As part of an Anglican church in Boston I had the opportunity to take part in a cohort of about twelve churchgoers, including the church pastor and the cohort leader. Inspired by some of the preaching on the church website I am posting here my responses to the assigned questions.
Cohort response #1
<em>Response to an email chain about the psalms being violent. </em>
The bible cares about victory. There is a cosmic battle underway, and the language of some great hymns along with the psalms reflects the reality of being oppressed, needing some help from outside, from some friends, from God. Jesus lived in a world plagued by unbelief, difficulties without and within, and helped us to see the problem for what it is. Men and women struggling with questions of meaning, with relationships, with caring for an ungrateful world. And settling for less than what God intends. Yes, loving our enemies is part of the solution, a breath of fresh air for hearts weighed down. But his solution, what so many have likewise wrestled with in prayer, was defeat. That we might better see God's love for the hurt, the downtrodden, the conscience - stricken, he fought his war for us by taking the place of the Psalmist, facing defeat by an enemy that is crushing but not losing sight of the righteous cause and holy yearning for victory. God cares about the good fight. He gives us the words and sentiment not to lose sight of this. He points us to dying in all its discomfort and a dying savior, that God may overcome. We need help to believe. So I take the revelation of Jesus--his burden--to show us this fight, thereby to fulfill the prophecies of the psalms. Not to destroy the person who cut us off in traffic (who we need to forgive) but to destroy the spiritual principalities that challenge us all and usher in a new world and new heavens. My take on the invaluable and sensitive remarks earlier made! They have helped me today! Thanks for reading
Peace,
Peter
Dec 30, 2014
Cohort response #2
Respond (500-1000 words) to this comment: "I just think all religions are saying basically the same thing. And the important thing is that we just learn to get along in our world." Focus your response in two ways: 1) what are the problems in saying that all religions are the same, 2) how is Christianity unique (and try to articulate this in a succinct but persuasive way)?
As a philosophy major what I think Tim Keller says about this comment in Chapter 2 of "The Reason for God" is that it encompasses two facts. One is the assertion of the claim that we should just learn to get along in our world that itself comes from a belief system. Two is the claim that one's own way of thinking is superior to that of all adherents of religion. The problem then with saying that all religions are the same is that it is pejorative, whether this is apparent on the surface or not. It is denying that any distinction exists, and proposing a kind of primordial soup that one is distinct from. Of course logic is not working here, but what else is new about important decisions that we make. It makes a strong assertion but poo-poos those who make strong assertions in their walk of faith. Saying we should all learn to get along in our world has all kinds of evil in it. First it tells people who may be in abusive relationships that they have to "learn" to deal with it. It tells them that their hope is that their oppressor will "learn" not to hurt them, when clearly that won't happen. The same can be said about oppressive things we do to ourselves, or to others. In other words, do we just sit around and learn things? That is quite a religion, without a teacher, without anything more than the individual. Also it denies that it is difficult to get along by saying "just", and suggests that the speaker is somehow better at this than everybody else. Like he would know what to do about the crises around the world, and no, they are not all about religion. Finally it involves this idea of "our world". It suggests some kind of blue roundish god and eternity best observed in colorful National Geographic pictures.
What makes Christianity unique (and I was sent the wrong book so am waiting for Norman Anderson's book) is that it has a concept of revelation, that adherents will be shown a path that is different from where they might otherwise find themselves or can find by deep thoughts. That revelation can come about from teachers, reading the Bible, and so on. It is based in historical events that can be appreciated by study. It talks about a creation that is a setting for a drama about God's relationship with man. It emphasizes many living roles in that drama, rather than a single blanket statement of what everyone should do. It gives a place for leaders (though they are often tasked with additional difficulties). It helps those who the world has walked over, and need more than "getting along", they need intentional acceptance. It tells everyone that the fruit of their good deeds is not that something magical will happen like world peace but that they will be reconciled to God. And that good deed is simply to believe. If only people associated Christianity, and other religions, with helping people rather than with conflict.
Oct 16, 2014
Cohort response #3, posted Dec 21
Imagine you’re talking to a friend and the conversation veers towards matters of God. Your friend says “I can’t believe in God. Not a good God anyway. There’s so much suffering in the world, and God could stop it all if he wanted, but he doesn’t. He would be responsible for everything bad in the world! So as far as I can see, he either doesn’t exist, or couldn’t good.” What, in a couple of paragraphs, could be your response?
God loves us, and sometimes trials teach us more about him and being like him. This can be hard to fathom when we are witnessing real atrocity in our own life or that of others or of whole peoples. Sometimes we just want to give up. Remember how Hannah was without family, offspring, for so long and through that learned reliance on God through prayer.
No matter how much possibility and things we have expected in life seem poised to fall apart or falter there is something better that we cannot lose. In other words, everything is going to be okay. There will be a judgment and that is a mystery how God could possibly right all that evil has done, but it will happen. It is faith, repentance and faith, that promises us these great things.
Dec 2, 2014
Library problem
MID-LENGTH THOUGHTS ON CIVIL LIBERTY AND TECHNOLOGY
Computer access, such as at a library, should be available to all. What can be done about this? A basic consideration is cameras pointing at the screen or keyboard, but I think that's a separate issue. My concern is with someone local who puts an elementary key logger on a machine, or months later uncovers a temp file with a document in it, uncovers a downloaded file, sees browsing history, political positions, company trade secrets, or a list of friends. I think the major operating systems do this, but they are not tailored enough to the situation of a library in a town.
I wonder if an option could be a USB operating system that a person can buy at any retailer, and sealed hardware in the service establishments (libraries) that allow you to boot your OS and use your drive for temp files, browsing history, etc. But I want something cleaner: a way first of all to browse in a sandbox without any danger of passwords, credit cards, friends lists, political positions, being stolen, etc. And a way to use local software like a word processor without any danger of temp files, etc.
This is a war zone. It is a matter of civil liberties. Because the tradeoff is between the push to give people secure personal computers and laptops, and the push NOT to require toting a laptop around, with all that requires in terms of personal security, access to WiFi, etc.
I am talking about poor and homeless people here, but also everybody else: a company employee may be taking a political stand or looking for work at a competitor, and not trust their work computer or their company laptop. They may not have the spare cash or time to spend on getting a second laptop.
This has to be done now!"
Jan 2014
Note from prison #2
Every school kid should have the experience of really getting into something, of success of which they can take ownership of. They should know personal initiative, say finding a job in a newspaper, applying, taking the subway to the interview, and working there around their school time. This is freedom. The question then is how to best track students. Ideally, a son or daughter of privilege would covet classroom time with the less fortunate, a meeting of the gentle with the victim. But in reality due to curriculum mandates, you either “get it” or don’t, and each week of math class brings a new application of a logical principle you simply did not have the time to understand, or that your teacher only knows through rote practice. I score well on standardized tests but struggled in high school. By “obsessing” over the logic of writing simple computer programs I overcame any learning disabilities and could then one step at a time study other subjects in school. Likewise in English, really getting into James Joyce and Tolstoy I was given a toolkit for approaching other literature. Why isn’t everybody on the test score range given the same opportunity for creative development? In a country where so few take public stands these days for principles once deeply held, the experience of teaching that is rooted in leadership will cause all to sink or swim, create their own world, and never wimp out.
Feb 11, 2014
Note from prison #3
The office of the spiritual overseer. By Peter.
A bishop is associated with a geographical region. There may be competing bishops in regions that overlap each other, associated with different churches. All may always attend services of holy communion. Police are only called for if a congregant is not civil during the service (quiet, only contact is shaking hands at the peace, or embracing at the peace, etc.). All may attend coffee hour immediately after and have the right to speak a few words to the priest or preacher.
The bishop may excommunicate someone by a letter in which he states the charges. This letter states, "you may not partake of communion in this diocese." Remember this is a spiritual understanding. He may still chomp the bread and glug the wine. His recourse is by sharing this with the church body. And he may be given one chance every certain number of days to speak a 30 second confession before the congregation. And if necessary, before impartial judges. He may still attend worship services. If a man does not repent, he may still attend, but will probably be shunned.
Please read Titus 1:9 and others about the spiritual overseer, as I have not had a Bible for 5 days now.
I know of a person who may be looking for an administrative job. I don't know much about the law, but I believe there's all kinds of interesting angles here.
Feb 10, 2014 8:30a
Note from prison #4
What does it mean, keeping the Sabbath holy? Imagine we are like ticks to God, and we sometimes bite and draw blood, or we can miraculously be fed. But we are a marvelous creation. The Sabbath is for living a spiritual life, the life where we die to our sins, and showcase just how friendly we can be to our fellow man. We stay in his words. We sing hymns at church.
Preparing for the Sabbath can so easily be overlooked. Even as through long prayer, the subconscious has been freed of associations and filled to the brim with others -- out with lust, in with love for the miracle of the resurrection; out with unforgiveness, in with the ecstasy of judgment. When John talks about doing the Father's bidding, he is challenging us to be servants of God. Yet those who want him to be some projection of themselves, who submit to no authority, who profane the Sabbath, will face loss in the end.
Date unknown, Feb 2014
Appeal, posted Dec 23, 3:30p
I have no cash to stay where I am staying. Please consider, if you are so moved, making a donation per my about page! Thanks!
Mar 20, 2014 8:23p
26 days to Easter!
What's up?
There are many believers who, at the end or beginning of the day, just avoid learning scripture. And its not a mega-pastor or even the neighborhood cleric who has the best chance of reaching out on this subject. Reading scripture is a personal experience between the believer and God. Its you, their friend, their family, or their neighbor, who can simply say, "I care, let me tell you what I so much enjoy"
It is easy to take for granted that we know the stories of the Old Testament, and realize they are about our lives together and in community. For what is it to be a believer if not looking out for one another, and making visible the "love for the loveless shown". What is the New Testament about if not how we are free from bad feelings about sin because the blood of Jesus has been freely shed. For "all scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim.).
With 26 days left before Easter Sunday take a moment to pass the message along. Forward this email if you don't want to write one yourself! Tell your loved ones to click on youversion.com or pick up your favorite version!
Peter
Feb 17, 2014
Note from prison #5
The sky is dark blue. Midnight approaches when WHAM, a man is caught red-handed. Can one remove this sort of crime surgically? They take him off to a building without windows where his rights are finally read. Why not rather weep? 2750 police and firefighters in Boston make 6-figure salaries. Yet it is the privilege of being an officer that you are serving your community. It is our work to share one another's burdens. When this man is arrested, should we not weep? Should not the community, the arresting officers, the judge, the court-appointed attorney, the parole officers, rather say, "Oh no, have we come to this?" Instead they are prevented from a judge or overseer. Moses appointed 72 elders. This is what we owe to the police. Jesus sent out the disciples without a second tunic to make known God's righteous judgment. In every generation, some take up the mantle of sharing one another's burdens.
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About
My name is Peter Glenn and I am originally from Boston, MA. I am thirty-five years old. Several years ago I was directly asked to learn from teachers and start preaching the Gospel. I am still working on this, helped by writers, etc. It is a great joy to have this calling! This blog is not sermons but some theological thoughts and responses.
My other blogs are
* http://questforrighteous.blogspot.com
* http://calendarthoughts.blogspot.com
* http://pglenn72.wordpress.com
* http://pglenn18.wordpress.com
* http://mathematicsforhighschool.blogspot.com
* http://schoolsuccess617.blogspot.com
Twitter: pglennbverses
http://basictruths87.blogspot.com
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Peter Glenn
peterglenn@gmail.com
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