Where would you like to live?

Where would you like to live?   So here are 3 options: you choose (1) would you rather live in Egypt–it’s like being in exile, the only prayer is one for deliverance. But is that, that bad? Several times during their wilderness wanderings, the people desired to return to Egypt! (2) What about the wilderness? Life is predictable–same food and drink every day. Sounds boring, but it’s certainly safe. Would you trade variety for safety? Life goes on, but without major, outside influenced disruptions; i.e., not too many enemies desiring to fight to take away your corner of the wilderness. (3) Finally, what about living in the promised land? What was so great about that? Cute Canaanites, idols under every tree, and hard work. Temptations and struggle, what a life.

Which one would you choose? Or better, which one have you chosen?

God’s Reaction to My Behavior

I just finished grading the former prophets’ class presentations concerning God’s reaction to Israel’s “doing” (or not) the Torah. I get concerned when I put God into a nice neat box, but in this case it maybe ok, sort of. Torah is simply “instruction for living.” What behaviors, what type of behavior God expects from those to whom he said: “I am your God; you are my people.” Now that they had these instructions–many would have been those traditions long held and already in process–as individuals, families, clans, tribes, and finally as a nation, they either obeyed or disobeyed. The community had the responsibility to monitor and address the extent to which Torah was followed.

But what about God reaction to Israel’s Torah adherence? A survey of the Pentateuch demonstrates a simple, yet profound relationship between people, God, and their mutually binding Torah. The covenant renewal ceremony illustrates the basic principle: if Israel obeys, God blesses–after all he wants them to obey so why not encourage them to do so?  Secondly, if they chose to disobey, he “curses,” or to use a more theological term, zaps them–but even here it’s because he loves them and desires their return to Torah obedience.

Now it gets more complicated. The golden calf story from Exodus demonstrates that God’s commitment to his people extends beyond mere tit for tat, lex talionis. Guilty though they all were, God chose to be merciful– in spite of their disobedience. In this case, disobedience brought blessing–the opposite of above.

Finally, an example from the wilderness journey further complicates. Israel left Egypt, carrying water with them; 3 days later the supply ran out, but an oasis conveniently appeared. Ugh! it was contaminated. As we all know, the issue gets resolved, but not as could have been: Israel complained about the lousy water (Wouldn’t you have done the same?) rather than seeking divine help or searching for alternatives. The lesson, though, derives from God’s action: he did this to test them. The bad water was not a “curse” because of their disobedience, but a test to mature their faith. The writer requires us to assume their obedience walking up to the well. Thus this situation mirrors that above, God reversed the “normal” behavior-reaction association: when God tests, obedience brings a curse.

All this leads me to conclude: when Israel obeys God often blesses but may curse–a test, and when they disobey he curses but may bless–his mercy. God is unpredictable! No box with him.

Just My Type by Simon Garfield

330 pages about type–fonts–a fascinating read. How many of us take the time to “look at” the font that we use with out word processor, or email, or facebook? How many take the time to select a favorite font with which to craft their work? How many care? Well this is a good, non-techncial introduction to the world of fonts. And a very large, ever growing world that is. More font designers work now than ever, new fonts appear every day. I only hope that during one of my future, millennial-long job assignments, I get to design a (hebrew) font.

First Blog: Psalm 88

Psalm 88, perhaps is the most depressing of psalms. For instance, the last verse: “God has taken away friends and lovers, such that the only remaining confident is darkness.” With a friend like that, who needs enemies? So it can be understood why many commentators propose that the psalmist is on death’s door, hoping that God would hear and extend his life.

But whether death or deep despair, what strikes me is that the psalmist, in spite of his dire circumstance, continued his dialogue with God. A one way conversation would be a better way of expressing the words of the psalm, as there is no indication, as in all of the other lament psalms, that God has responded, let alone heard these insistent and tenacious cries. But then, could this not be an adherence to Paul’s admonition to “pray without ceasing”?

So I ask, when does one give up? Or better, when does one give up on God?

What does this psalm teach us? Here’s an initial thought: should the fact that God doesn’t answer deter the supplicant from his constant prayer? Does God give psalm 88 to encourage those in terminal situations to maintain dialogue in spite of and throughout the circumstance? When there is no hope, is there no God? Could not his silence, his non-responsiveness become his word of provision? Does this help explain Jesus’ words–of course his quoting a psalm–”my god, my god, why have you abandoned me” to mean that even in abandonment, God is there, God is near, God hears, and perhaps cries in silence?

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Towles takes his readers to NYC in 1938, as seen through the eyes of those who have, those who pretend to, and those who want. How Katey negotiates those with whom she shares, encounters, desires, lives and works tells more than a story of care-free, wealthy society. What we strive for, desirous though it may appear, often disappoints in the end. Values exceed value. Happiness may neither be purchased nor inherited. Success comes to those who prepare, experiment, and risk where most remain content. But there always remains a sense of what could have been, if…

Against Calvinism by Roger Olson

After Walter Brueggemann and NT Wright, I enjoy reading Roger Olson. His Story of Christian Theology, Mosaic of Christian Belief, and How to be Evangelical without being Conservative I have read several times. (Interestingly, these books lie on my shelf at home instead of the office.)

As with the bible versions debate, which should not be a debate at all, the Calvinism vs. Arminianism discussion should be relegated to the museum. Why continually bring up old arguments that have not nor ever will be proved one way or the other. Of course for many these are salvation issues–you are not in if you do not follow Calvin. These and many theological arguments that by necessity extrapolate biblical information can never be proved, merely supported one way or the other. The only problem of course is that both sides use the same verses to “prove” their point.

Then there are those who chose to reduce Calvin’s prodigious work to a 5 letter acronym: tulip. How sad–I wonder what Calvin would have thought. Because theology attracts weird interpretations, some claim to be 4 point Calvinists–faded tulips, or 3 pointers–wilted tulips. Oh my. Would that we could spend more time reading and trying to understand the words of Jeremiah.

As for Olson, well it’s a good read. He has me convinced–I am now a “3 point” Arminian: Yes to God’s sovereignty, No to divine determinism; Yes to election, No to double predestination; Yes to atonement, No to limited atonement.

Maid: a novel of Joan of Arc by Kimberly Cutter

Picking two similar novels off the new fiction shelf at the library was mere coincidence. As Minnie Vautrin–the hero of Ha Jin’s Nanjing Requiem–Joan of Arc lived a heightened life in perilous times, accomplishing more than most could imagine, but dying before victory was achieved. Whether leader or mascot, Joan enabled the disorganized French army to succeed in several victories over the English during the bleak days of the 100 years war.

  All was accomplished because she followed the words she heard from Michael the archangel and saints Catherine and Margaret. Based upon a series of visions she was able to convince a succession of military and political leaders that she had been sent by God to deliver France. Unwavering faith withstood doubt after doubt until she was granted command of a small army to lift the siege at Orleans. Many would join–why? just because–but victory was hers.

Betrayal inevitability followed, martyrdom the expected end. Does such faith always harbinger subsequent defeat and death?

Nanjing Requiem by Ha Jin

Ha Jin’s historical novel tells the sad, oft repeated story of an invading army’s conquest of a defenseless city: what happens afterward is not nice. Minnie Vautrin, the story’s main and real character, is my new hero. An American missionary in Nanjing China in 1937, she chose to remain as dean of a Christian women’s college in spite of the Japanese invasion. Working under impossible conditions, she maintained the campus as a refugee center for women and children. Initially the conquerors, as to be expected, sought out all Chinese fighting-age males–whether solders or not–and killed or confined any suspected of being in the army: many of the college’s younger male employees were taken away. Secondly, of course, were dean Vautrin’s charges, the women. How could she protect them all? Most telling was her tacit agreement to allow “known” prostitutes to be taken from the campus by the Japanese. Of the 27 taken out of the 1000s of women housed on the campus, several turned out to be neither prostitutes nor desirous to go. But were taken anyway–in spite of Minnie’s protestations. Three years later, when the event surfaced in a local newspaper, Minnie could neither explain to her superiors nor manage her overwhelming grief over her inability to prevent the atrocity. Soon thereafter–still prior to Pearl Harbor–she returned to the USA, confined to a psychiatric hospital. Within the year, she committed suicide. For her it was not good enough to say that she saved  more than 98% of the women who entered the college grounds–the Chinese awarded her their highest accolades. She never was able to overcome the loss of the few. At what cost do we compromise? At what cost do we not?

Sacred Space

Israel had the ToM, the temple–they went there, they wanted to worship there, they loved to feel the presence of yhwh there. Christians are the temple–the spirit dwells within. Sorry to say, there is nothing automatic about the intimacy of God’s presence within. Do I have to “invite” God in in order to experience him? Why does he not invite me more frequently to the service? Sometimes I wish that I had, as ancient Israel, a place to go.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Through my daughter I received a suggestion to read McDougall’s journey into ultra-marathon running. 20 pages later I was hooked on the story; by the end of the book I am tempted to try wearing bare foot running shoes. For 30 years I have run 2 or 3 times a week, 3-8 miles on the average, on sidewalks or pavement. When combined with the hills of Endicott, my workout enables me to release the stress that accompanies my teaching/administrative job.

Reading the book coincided with the longest, non-running stretch of those 30 years, 8 weeks and counting.Perhaps it’s time for a change; thus my interest in keeping the well padded new balance’s on the shelf, while trying out the letting feet be feet shoes.

Of course, the book concerned a race, a 50 miler in the hills of Mexico’s copper canyon. Scary what these people do as they race along, forever and ever, in the bleakest terrain. I may dream of that, but give me a sidewalk any day. Rain or shine, cold or hot, it’s just fun to rack up another mile, another wave to a passer-by, another almost accident. Teaching drivers to look both ways prior to pulling out is a, somewhat hazardous, goal that I have set for myself. Non-racing runners, like myself, would enjoy this fascinating read.