More than I ask or imagine. . .

This is Your Brain on Stories.... Any questions?

 

I remember those "Partnership for a Drug Free America" commercials, about your brain on drugs.  A powerful metaphor for me watching as a kid.  That may be why I became a Waffle House cook in college, hmm...

But a recent article from the NY Times suggests that metaphors, fiction, and imagination are interpreted as real experiences for those who read them.  Here is an except

The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life; in each case, the same neurological regions are stimulated. Keith Oatley, an emeritus professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto (and a published novelist), has proposed that reading produces a vivid simulation of reality, one that “runs on minds of readers just as computer simulations run on computers.” Fiction — with its redolent details, imaginative metaphors and attentive descriptions of people and their actions — offers an especially rich replica. Indeed, in one respect novels go beyond simulating reality to give readers an experience unavailable off the page: the opportunity to enter fully into other people’s thoughts and feelings.

This is helpful to show how we are shaped and learn through story.  Metaphor also provides rich texture for our imagination and the shaping and forming us into different people after we have read a story. I have experienced the magical world of Harry Potter and faced evil, so now I can face evil in my own heart with the same bravery.

Several questions and connections rise to the front of my mind, What stories am I giving my sons?  What stories made me who I am? Why are we so rationalistic in our communication of theology instead of imaginative?  Can vast reading help us become more compassionate people? And quickly, this blog could get really really long.

My take away is a question too. A question that I must force upon myself is: Do I teach to encounter people with God's Story?  I hope too. In fact, that is my prayer.  I want sermons and sacraments to not be metaphors for something else, but the real thing, an encounter with Christ.  Sort of like a college student who worked at Waffle House frying eggs as a high because the metaphor got into his bones.

What I Saw in Orlando: The Theology Project #fellowshippres

Below is the Theological Foundation session at the Covenanting conference of the Fellowship of Presbyterians.  I many ways I felt as though I had come home theologically with an emphasis on a Reformed and Sacramental Theology of Mission. The vision of this group is be the church in a new way and committing to foster further theological reflection. They take seriously to be Reformed and always Reforming.  There is also a call to be pastors in a way that takes seriously that endeavor.  The demands of pastoral ministry together with theological reflection and applying it to new frontiers will be draining.  To meet all of these demands, the Church must recover what Eugene Peterson calls the Contemplative Pastor in community.  

I need this type of community to read Scripture deeply and often, to read Historical theology, and to have accountability as we pray for our congregations, traditions, and our families.  This new order is like the orders of old where, like Franciscans, we commit to a way of life to bring renewal to the world-wide body of Presbyterians.  

I hope you get a chance to watch this 40 minute video, but if you cannot please was from minute 30 on to understand this way of life, this new order.

 

Jerry Andrews & Laura Smit: The Theology Project from Fellowship of Presbyterians on Vimeo.

Barth Dogmatics: The Doctrine of God

So if reading Calvin is choclate milk, then reading Barth is drinking Scotch.  Too much is dangerous and it is so powerful you have to stop and go. very. slowly. through the work to even taste the various flavors.

Last year a group of bloggers began reading the Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth.  I would have love to start but I was in between ministry calls, moving and expecting a new baby so that may have been crazy.  The most contraversial part of the Dogmatics is Barth's view of Revelation, but I skipped that.   I am beginning with the other bloggers on the doctrine of God, at the same time reading Calvin.

Section 25 is on The Fulfillment of the Knowledge of God.  The summary probably from Torrence says: The knowledge of God occurs in the fulfilment of the revelation of His Word by the Holy Spirit, and therefore in the reality and with the necessity of faith and its obedience. Its content is the existence of Him whom we must fear above all things because we may love Him above all things; who remains a mystery to us because He Himself has made Himself so clear and certain to us.

This first section was only about the first sentance above.  Barth wants to say that God is the object of our study but that in no way limits him or controls him.  Knowing God is only by the Revelation of the Word of God (Christ). However as we study God, he is studying us as well.  He is not limited by our study, but we must remember that He is outside what we can comprehend.  He also starts to the ground work for how faith are the eyes of understanding through relationship.

All in all a good chapter because with all theology we must understand that God will always be outside of our understanding. We can know him truly but not completely.  At this point, I am reading Barth through Calvin and Van Til, but that could be that I need to come to terms in some senses with Barth.

 

Calvin's Institutes: the Prefatory Week One

Calvin is there reason I am Presbyterian.  I remember reading him in college and thinking that this man was not the cold Scholastic I thought he would be. In fact, reading John Calvin was like drinking Choclate Milk, smooth and sweet showing me beautiful vistas of God's goodness. 

I will be reading a chapter or so a week and finish whenever I finish.  I am not in a rush, I want to understand in a new way what this work is about and how Calvin does theology.  I read the Institutes before seminary 10-12 years ago, now I hope to see new things as a pastor and father. 

What is embarrassing is that I never have read the Prefatory before!  But what a great historical work that is.  Calvin writes this to the King of France as an exile pleading with the King that he and this movement are innocent of the charges being brought against them.   

He addresses briefly the charge of schism and the authority of the Pope.  I find this especially important in our modern world. Unity is prized in many circles, but the fact remains that people are divided in their own churches.   So what then should the unity be based on?  The Word being purely preached and the sacraments rightly practiced.  There is the unity. Of course the follow up questions can be legion: What is the Gospel?  How Pure? what is rightly?  Are they sacraments or ordinances?  However, I get the feeling that all of the Institutes are all about answering all these questions.

So my reading will be guided by that statement of Word and Sacrament and how that guides the Institutes.

Prayer, the Water, and the Cup: Curse turning to Blessing in the Cross

Today, I have been reflecting on prayer, that strange and, yet, very simple, action that we often take for granted.  I reflected on unanswered prayers, and the prayer that seems the most common is about my sin, as I continue to learn repentance.  I so often pray that God would take away my sin, not just forgive it but that I would no longer struggle with it.

The thought came to me, what would life be like then if that prayer was answered.  Ideas of tranquility, serenity, and ease bounced around my mind.  But then, those things look nothing like the Cross of Jesus.  Then as I mentally kick myself for having prayed this silly little prayer. I am reminded of Christ's prayer in the Garden.  "Let this cup pass." In some ways this prayer is largest unanswered prayer in Scripture. The prayer here is the beginning of Jesus Christ becoming a curse for his people.

Whether it is the struggle with sin, disappointment, or even suffering, we find ourselves in the same Garden with Jesus, being baptized in the same way he was baptized on the Cross, drinking the cup of the wrath of God to the dregs. Then, by his power all those things become life, fruit of the Spirit, baptism for the remission of sins, and the cup of blessing and fellowship.

So somehow, these prayers are about finding myself in Christ and shaping me into him so that I become by grace crucified as a living sacrifice. God calls us into his death therefore he will also call us to his glorious life in his victory over death.  So then, my words, my posture, my participation in the sacraments and my story is all wrapped in His Death.  Perseverance then is perseverance into death, so prayer is working life into that deadness.  It is the battle zone in the fight for life.

Well, if I'm accused of being a Barthian, then I should probably read him.

Q: "So now that you are PCUSA, does that mean you are a Barthian?"

Me: "What does that mean?"

Q: "You know, you cannot Predicate."

Me: "What does that mean?"

Q: "The impossibility of the contrary, right?"

Me: "Oh man, I guess I should read him"

Well, so I will now read him.  I remember my Church History professor saying how much he appreciated the Historical nature of Karl Barth.  So today, I opened up my new books and put them on the shelf. 

Now debating whether to join the conversation at Storied Theology..... Stay Tuned.

Stop your Convicting Jesus Powers, Eugene Peterson. It's too much! But I do need it.

Casually reading Eugene Peterson is oxymoron. I tried to do that with his book The Contemplative Pastor.  I happened upon this paragraph, and it hit a little to close to home.

"It was a favorite theme of CS Lewis that only lazy people work hard. By lazily abdicating the essential work of deciding and directing, establishing values and setting goals, other people do it for us; then we find ourselves frantically, at the last minute, trying to satisfy a half dozen different demands on our time, none of which is essential to our vocation, to stave off the disaster of disappointing someone." p 19.

Wow, let's just say that has made me reevaluate what it means to be an un-busy pastor.  Thanks be to God that He gives me little windows like this to see my sin and trust in Christ for radical forgiveness. Now, I can see it, own it, and turn joyfully to live my vocation.

At Last, You Can Give Kindle Books to Anyone With An Email Address.

Well, everyone knows that I am a Kindle fan.  Good reason as well is how Amazon continues to make the Kindle the leading E-book readered.  They announced today that anyone can send an ebook from the Amazon website to their Kindle via an email address.  Also, the books can be accessed by Android, iPod, iPad, and Computer Desktops, so all you need is a registered email address.

Good Job Amazon keep it up expanding markets!  Check out the Amazon Website for more details.

Harry Potter and the Anticipation of a Story

I love Harry Potter.  One of the greatest series that I have ever read, and I am thrilled that Deathly Hallows will be made into two movies.  In fact, if anyone worries about the magic of HP, please read some books from John Granger or his blog.  Here is the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

Two new deals from Kindle

Two links this morning from Teleread:

One is the new Kindle DX
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/IJgDJ6oTcik/

The other is a one day only $150 special on the Kindle http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/teleread/ezFR/~3/_2PloUODQmo/

Have a great day!