Images of God in the Old Testament

Consider some of the images God uses to reveal himself in the Old Testament:

* A burning bush (Exodus 3:2)

* A pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21-22)

* A glory cloud that covered the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35)

* An angelic male messenger (Joshua 6:12)

* A lion (Hosea 5:14)

* A shepherd (Psalm 78:71)

* A farmer (Psalm 80:8)

* A vinegrower (Isaiah 15)

* A lover (Jeremiah 3:20)

* Even a drunken soldier (Psalm 78:65)

Why so many images? What do they all mean? Why can't God just declare Himself to be God?

The Spoken Word

'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'

Origen says about the first few words of the book of John: 'The Word does not COME to be. The same verb, "was" is predicated of the Word when he "was in the beginning" and when he "was with God." He is neither separated from the beginning, nor does he depart from the father.'

It is interesting to me that the earliest Christian scholars focused upon the word 'was' in this first chapter of John. They find it to be a word of permanence and transcendence, assuring us of the presence of Christ throughout time.

In a similar vein of thought, Ephrem the Syrian comments that: 'Our Lord is called the word because those things that were hidden were revealed through him, just as it is through a word that the hidden things of the heart are made known.'

This shift from the Old Testament, where God spoke through his created beings to speaking through his own son, is commented on at the beginning of the book of Hebrews:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Word in 3D

OK, the texts for tomorrow will be Genesis 1 and John 1, and maybe a few more sprinkled in :-) We will be discussing the image of the three dimensional word found in scripture.

Woman at the Well

It is an interesting story found in John chapter 4 that highlights the importance of the image of water in the New Testament. Jesus comes upon a Samaritan woman at a well, and engages her in conversation. That is interesting in itself, as the woman herself notes when she responds to his request for a drink of water. But then the discussion drifts from well water to 'living water.'

¹⁰Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

Do we understand what living water truly is? Do we live as if we are being nourished by living water? Consider these questions and I will see ya Sunday...don't forget to look at Romans 4-6 as well!

Some thoughts on beer

DeeDee mentioned to me recently that she thought it was time to hear some more about beer (please note the subtitle of blog). So, DeeDee, this one's for you!

For many years now Greg Foster and I have been holding these guy-only events called Strange Brew. The event goes like this: we share a meal that is cooked on the grill (heavy on the meat, light on the vegetables - we are guys, after all!); then we get a cooler of beers from some place like Central Market, which has a great selection. Then we get 'em good and cold and sit around, smoking cigars and tasting beers. Everyone gets a slug of the beer in their 'high class' red solo cup, and we partake together. Then, everyone gives the beer a rating from 1-5.

A few interesting notes...this is not a highly scientific process, because we all have hugely different tastes. Because of my advanced age, when I bought the beers this last time when I went to Central Market I accidentally bought the same one twice. Intriguingly enough, it was the second beer we rated, and it received a bad rating...1.88. Then once I realized my mistake I held it the extra one to the end, and wouldn't tell them which one it was, and we rated it again. This time...2.5! Just shows the more we have the better it tastes!

I would highly recommend the Orval Trappist Ale. It is from a Cistercian Abbey located in Luxembourg, and we actually have rated it before (in '08 according to this blog). We rated it a 2.64 that night, which was the highest rating we gave a beer that evening. I'll tell ya...the monks know their alcohol.

Those present:

* Greg Foster, Host

* Ryan Gibbons, Cook

* Robert Ortega

* Jonathan Pratt

* Corwin Brown

* Jeremy Williams

* Eric Nelson

* Corey Frey

The Top Beers and Cider we rated:

* Orval Trappist Ale - 3.50

* Woodchuck Summer Cider - 3.50

* Shiner Smokehouse Beer - 3.44

* Augustinian Ale - 3.44

* Ace Joker Hard Cider - 3.44

The Average Ones:

* White Rascal Beer - 2.69

* Undercover Shut Down Ale - 2.50

* Redbridge Gluten Free Beer - 2.25

* Klassik Lager - 2.38

* Hop Wallop IPA Beer - 2.25

The Bad Ones:

* Wailua Limited Release Wheat Beer - 1.88

* Undercover Shut Down Ale - 1.88 (First Time)

* Wernesgruner Pilsner - 1.75

* Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale - 1.69

STRANGE BREW NOTES FROM 07-09-10

I love these times at AXIS

This is one of those evenings at AXIS that I love. First of all, there are 24 of us, and it is always better when there are a lot of us. Second, I am looking around the room, and all kinds of wonderful, deep, meaningful conversations are happening. Anthony and Amanda are on one couch having brother - sister time; Stacy, Jamie and Taylor are having a deep conversation about relationships, Deanne and Kimberly are talking about trips they would like to take with their husbands; Corwin is teaching Jeremy Walraven guitar and Eric and Jeremy Williams are having a deep cousin conversation in the dining room.

This is the power of true community. People who might not ordinarily come together, sharing life. We had a very good devo and a lot of sharing and now everyone has settled into companionable conversation.

If you ever want to come and partake (even if you aren't 20 something) - please do! It is a simple formula...eat, hear the word, share life and pray. But God shows up. Sometimes powerfully. I love it!!!!

Borrowing a page from Wild, Wild West

So, the first image in the picture was the temple...Jesus telling the Jews that he would rebuild this enormous temple in three days, as he painted himself, as the new high priest of a new kind of temple.

So this week will look at the image of water, from the parting of the red sea to a new definition in the New Testament...

Take a look at these passages tonight before we study together in the morning...II Kings 5, Ex 12-15, Matt. 3:16, Romans 4, 6, 10.

Fall Retreat

Because Betty and Bill and Donna will be gone most of the month of September, I have scheduled a retreat the 2nd weekend in October. I realize this is a holiday weekend, but I was hoping that this would give us a nice, leisurely weekend together.

We had a wonderful retreat in January, made all the more powerful because roughly 90% of our community was involved. I think there are some important decisions we need to make as a community regarding our future, and it will be imperative to have as many of us as possible present for this important retreat.

So, sound off! Check your calendars, and let me know how that date works in your calendars! Then click the picture, enlarge it, print it and post it on the fridge! Make a solemn commitment to be a part of the present and future of our faith community!

Gratefulness

I love being together with the folks in my faith community. First of all because our relationships have been forged in the fires of real life, and I know that I can depend on you implicitly.

Second, because you are some of the most real people I know of. Yesterday at the end of house church, Nathan decided that he wanted to lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance because it was the 4th of July. He was not trying to make a political / theological statement about war or Christians attitude towards war, he simply wanted to honor his country. He didn't even realize their were two veterans sitting in the room with him, rather this was simply something he had learned and we should do. The most powerful part was that everyone dutifully rose as my eleven year old boy led us in the recitation of the pledge.

It is not only the indulgence of those in my faith community that I am thankful for, but the place my son has been granted within that community. He did not fear condemnation for speaking up and sharing his view. Also, he assumed that a rational suggestion would be followed by those who were older than he, even if the suggestion was made by an 11 year old. Finally, he felt perfectly safe and loved to make his request, and then take the lead.

On our recent trip to Colorado, he told his uncle Greg, "these AXIS folks are like my family." I love that. I am so thankful that he is loved for the quirky kid he is in spite of that quirkiness. He brought us all out on the porch Sunday night to set off those little 'poppers' which spray confetti everywhere. Nobody said boo too him. We just all went out on the porch and shared in what was an important moment for Nathan, regardless of whether or not anyone could care less about fireworks.

For the first time in my life, I feel as if I am restoring that first century Church from Acts chapter 2...42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Temple Part 2

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, religious Jews have expressed their desire to see the building of a Third Temple on the Temple Mount. Prayer for this cause has been a formal part of the Jewish tradition of thrice daily Jewish prayer services. Though it remains unbuilt, the notion of and desire for a Third Temple is sacred in Judaism, particularly Orthodox Judaism, as an unrealized place of worship.

It may be hard for us, who now gather in a living room for our weekly gatherings, to understand how important this site was and is to the Jewish people. So, when Jesus said that he was going to rebuild this in 3 days, that was a truly unbelievable statement.

Consider this poem from the rabbinic teachings:

"As the navel is set in the centre of the human body,

so is the land of Israel the navel of the world...
situated in the centre of the world,
and Jerusalem in the centre of the land of Israel,
and the sanctuary in the centre of Jerusalem,
and the holy place in the centre of the sanctuary,
and the ark in the centre of the holy place,
and the foundation stone before the holy place,
because from it the world was founded."

Midrash Tanchuma, Qedoshim.