Epiphany Continues

Worshipped this morning and sat through 2 annual meetings - actually, they were bifuricated annual meetings. In attempting to get more participants, the practice developed in previous years of holding one session following the 8 a.m. service and then another session following the 10:45 service. The HUGE assumption made is that no changes, nominations, or resolutions would be made at either session from the floor. If this happened, there would be big problems and probably another congregational meeting would have to be rescheduled in the future. It was a classic case of "we have done it this way before" and have consoled ourselves by saying more people attended the two sessions as compared to the time when there was only one session. Spell us "quiet Lutherans."

Speaking of spelling (which is really the reason for this blog entry), I was given by one of my Rosie's Diner 10 a.m. coffee cronies a piece he had pulled off the internet. It had a special appeal to those, like my wife, who enjoy "word games" and involved shuffeling letters around from one word or phrase to spell another. Example: Presbyterian can be rearranged to spell, "Best in prayer". I wonder how many Presbys know that? Or George Bush can be respelled as "He Bugs Gore". And my favorite was "Eleven Plus Two" rearranged to spell, "Twelve Plus One." Maybe I'm "Johnny come lately" in discovering this blurb. But it seems to me Epiphany's message also seeks to rearrange the assumptions and understandings people made before the time of Christ....and afterwards...regarding God's plan for salvation and the recipients of God's grace and mercy.
Why should the Son of God get baptized? Why was the good wine saved until last? Why would Jesus alienate his home town folk to the point of they wanting to throw him off Nazareth cliff? Jesus didn't just rearrange spellings - he threw all the conventional religious assumptions up for grabs. Which reminds me....I have more than a few patterns of behavior which need to be rearranged....patterns like prayer, Scripture reading, use of my time, etc., etc., etc. What about you? Yes, it is much easier to sit quietly in the pew and let the world go on as is. There still are a few more weeks of Epiphany to find some answers or surprises. As for spelling, I'm stumped. Dean is Dean

Epiphany Challenge

To quote "American Idol" judge, Paula Abdul...."Anybody can be famous now...it's like a disease." That makes me think twice or more about this blogging stuff...am I "sick" in doing this? Is it funny or tragic to watch the Idol "wannabes" parade across the TV screen only to be insulted, rejected and leave the stage in tears as if they heard for the first time in their lives that they can't carry a tune across the room, let alone before an audience. Now for my "Epiphany Challenge" - is it not the task of the church to make the Babe in Bethlehem known to all the world during this Eiphany season - to let people know they really are "famous" in the sight of the Lord - that by the grace of God, I am acceptable to my Creator, even though Simon C. might think otherwise? No, we don't have a YouTube clip to show or a link to a blog page written by Jesus. We have only a book called the Bible and testimonies from people like you and me about a God who has made Himself known through one who grew up as a carpenter's son in a town called Nazareth. I read that many of those who audition for "Idol" have trekked across the country and have been rejected more than a few times. What keeps them from walking down the block on a Sunday morning to Fifth Lutheran by the Gas Station to hear the "good news"....I am loved.....I am somebody....God does not make junk? Now that's a challenge to consider for the new year.

Epiphany Questions

Am back from church this morning. Have been leading an Adult Forum series highlighting the five modalities of responses Christians have made to society over course of history as described by H. Richard Niebuhr's book, "Christ and Culture". Personally, it has been a real rush....haven't had a chance to do this for a long while. Participants have been not only attentive, but also involved in the discussion and with questions. But this raises for me not an "epiphany moment", but an "epiphany question." Do we always have to have something "new" to capture people's attention or are there "old" resources overlooked, rejected or ignored which have the potential of providing "epiphany moments" for people today in helping them understand their faith and how their faith equips them for living in the world today? After all, H. Richard's stuff has been around for awhile, but you would have thought I had exposed people to the latest religious guru of the day and that this book should have been a hot seller at Borders. Why do worship services have to be promoted as "contemporary"? Isn't all worship "contemporary" in dealing with the present moment and questions and concerns people bring with them on any given Sunday morning? I continue to chuckle when references are made to "new hymns" being used in Lutheran worship services which are, in reality, "golden oldies" the Methodists or Baptists have been singing for years. Maybe my "epiphany moments" depend upon the "epiphany questions" I am willing to ask myself. Or maybe this all is senseless jargon that is of interest and concern only to me. But that's why I am blogging, right? To sort our and single out issues of faith and living which are "current" and "contemporary" to me and my journey.

Another Epiphany Moment

The guys at Rosie's Diner (we meet at 10 a.m. for coffee most days) were in an uproar today arguing about the age-old question, "How much is enough?" You've seen the headlines about the bonuses paid by Wall Street firms - the severance package given to ousted CEO of Home Depot. How much is enough? Tonight, the President of our country will tell us how much is enough in terms of troop strength and funding if we are to be "victorious" (his word, not mine) in Iraq. Will Tiger Woods be enticed to play the last few tourneys of the PGA Tour if the prize money is jacked up to $10 mil? How much is enough?

Now for my Epiphany moment. I now know....I have enough! I don't need any more. I'm safe in the arms of Jesus and the ELCA pension fund. We obviously have more than enough stuff. Why else would there be boxes stacked from floor to ceiling on three walls of my garage? I gave the seminary over half my books when I retired, but I still have texts in my bookcases I have not read, or if I did, it was a long time ago. I HAVE ENOUGH. I don't have to get embroiled in any more arguments. We have three wonderful kids - each with a wondeful spouse - and six incredible grandchildren. WE HAVE ENOUGH! Now I await another "Epiphany" moment...where do I go from here? What do people who have enough do in their remaining days. I'm sure there are a host of people willing to give me answers to that question. I'll let you know when I arrive at my answer to that question.

Epiphany Moments

Epiphany - to make manifest - to reveal or make known. Epiphany is the current church year season. This "blurb" is the result of an "epiphany moment". My son-in-law made known to me how to access this blog page he had set up for me when they were here for Christmas. Until he sent his instructions via e-mail, I was still in the dark and not in the light. I could see "Peterson's Patter" but couldn't do anything about it.

What "Epiphany" moments would you desire for '07. Would it be your Dr. giving you a new medication which would alleviate some pain or discomfort or diminish some kind of health risk you face? Would it be the discovery of a job opportunity which fits your skills and interests and allows you to get out of the "dead end" position you now occupy. Is it your child discovering
and using the "big people's potty" and no longer needing diapers? Is it a moment of finally accepting God's grace and mercy about a "secret sin" that has hovered over your head and poisoned your heart for who knows how many years?

Some might contend every day and every moment are "epiphanies". They might well be. The key is whether we recognize and accept them for being such moments, especially when it comes to our relationship with Christ. I look forward to the coming year as a time for being more alert and having higher expectations regarding epiphany moments. What about you?
Are you looking for them also?