Poimen Ponderings

Universe by Hubble

At the center of the universe, there is One, whose vastness spreads throughout the universe and beyond… to infinity and beyond!  How can we compare ourselves with such boundless majesty?  One of our greatest endeavers is to merge with our Creator, the Eternal Sustainer of All Being.  He is ever in the process in forming us into His likeness. 

Loving God, all creation calls You blessed. Your Spirit is imprinted upon all life with Your mystery. You weave an interwoven tapestry of Your glory.  Open our hearts and mind to Your works with all Creation.  Amen.

Christ Child

The Church has focused on the deity of Christ, and understandably so, while professing Christ was fully human, but denying it in fear that it will weaken His image.  Think of this, we learn by mistakes.  From our infancy, we make discoveries by trial and error.  We are not born with aged maturity.  In order for Christ to be tempted as we are, he must have developed as we do as well.  Hebrews 2:8 tells us that Jesus Christ suffered and was tempted.  Honestly, he wasn’t the perfect boy that we have thought off, I am positive that Mary and Joseph had their hands full with him as he explored the world around him.  I wonder what kind of adolescent he was?  When puberty hit, we know he didn’t sin, but did he have a wandering eye for the ladies?  Did Jesus curse like a Phoenician sailor when he smashed his thumb with a hammer?  Did he cry when his earthly father pass away?  We need to come to the conclusion that Jesus was not a robot that we often characterize him to be.  He was fully human, according to most Christian theologians anyway.  What did he say when he was running and his sandals broke, yet again?  Part of the problem of seeing Christ’s humanity is that we casts our ideas of sin back on Christ - a holy good doer archetype.  I wonder, when Jesus was with his childhood friends, if they didn’t have farting and burping contest… no, actually, I wonder if he won or not.

Creation Displays God's Glory

Over time, we have developed a sacred/secular dichotomy that splits hairs on every aspect of life such as in art, worldly/Christian media, clergy/laity, and career/calling. We have come to believe that one component is blessed while the other is left to defend itself. Each Christian bookstore is an example of how we have instituted this separation. One of the most significant compartmentalizing we have done is the separation between the natural and the supernatural.  We may be created in God’s image, but we are still part of creation.  I suggest to you today, that perhaps, all things in creation pray to God - not only humans. continue reading » »

It is no surprise to any of us that our world is changing at an unprecedented rate.  Technology continues to change how we interact with each other.  Machines are becoming more advanced - almost science fiction.  Globalization is becoming more complex every day.  This is easily seen inour current global economy.  Within our culture, there’s this Contemporary Christian pop culture, seeker sensetive, emerging culture, and of course, those traditionalist.  As postmodernism is affecting our culture, our businesses, society’s values, education; the Church needs to be prepared to meet the challenges ahead that our communities will be experiencing.  Although, I don’t believe the Gospel changes for the culture, but it does need to be reframed as culture changes and has dynamic needs.  The Apostle Paul did this very thing in his ministry; he became all things to all men so that by all possible means he might save some.  Here are some of my thoughts about the future …
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We cannot always offer God great things, but at each instance we can
offer him little things with great love. - St. Jane de Chantal

May we live life as a celebration of Your goodness with thoughts tuned in to doing all for the glory of God, our Everlasting King.  May we be the hands, feet, and voice to those in need around us in great and small things.  Amen.