Lost in the Mix

So … I have come out of the catacombs with Ords, and working on some things for this coming weekend with my birthday. For some reason I do lots of thinking when under stress … most of the time not directed the thing I need to be working on. While I was working on my Exegesis paper I had a bunch of random thoughts that went through my head and I put into another word doc to think about later. I thought I would share some of them with you.

--- What is the theology of the end for a NCD, as that may provide the end target/result.
This came out of one of my systematics class. Where theology is not built from creation and then move linear through time, but rather you start with the end and work backwards. I think what interests me here is that there is acceptance of a final goal, and what that looks like. Some of this I think extends to any ministry that I would get into. I think what I take away from this is that if I know what I want a ministry I am given to look like is that I won’t build programming or sub-structures that isn’t part of that view.

--- The First Jars album spawned the growth of guitar playing Christians who wanted to be that cool … discuss
Ok … music helps me work through stuff and got some stuff, but I keep going back to that first almost ‘unplugged’ album. There is something about that album that just … dwells … in someone. Maybe it is some of the songs, or maybe some specific songs, but they sit with people and are not always ‘difficult’ songs to play, and can be done with very basic skills. (shush don’t tell anyone else they are easy to play)

--- Why is it that the questions asked are not of the pastoral nature, but more academic?
This was in reference to the exegesis questions that I was answering. Paired with this question was a statement of ‘The sermon I feel God calling me to preach from this text have nothing to do with the issues raised in the questions.’ Along with a statement of ‘Can you give me a bibliography of the works used for seeking the questions asked?’

A little frustrated? … Only about as sarcastic as my response of … ‘Are you Sherlock Holmes?’

I think more the issue is that the work is done with such a hypothetical situation that it is almost a waste of time. Part of me wanted to fill out another review sheet after taking the Exegesis exam and basically go: ‘WTH!’ That probably would have been without clarity of thought, but I have been known for that and been right up until the point I realized I was wrong. Still … I have no framework for a congregation, sure ‘make up your own’ would be an interesting and if it wasn’t for the fact that I am graded on this I would probably put down: ‘My church is a congregation of mindless drones who do what I say and have no idea how to transmit academic understanding to action in the world.’ So I had fun taking a shot at Tony Campollo (who I’m still not a fan of to this day, but he doesn’t care), and raising the question of the phrase ‘do not let the sun go down on your anger’ in the context of the Artic and Antarctic.

--- QFT: “Of the three characteristics that Ephesians says should mark Christians, unity, maturity, and morality, the third is the most overt and easy to distinguish. A major breach of unity is, of course, visible when it eventuates in a church split, but underlying attitudes between Christians are less easy to observe. Maturity by its nature is gradual; neither maturity nor immaturity is always apparent. Immorality, on the other hand is often glaring, especially when expressed in gross acts and sadly, when committed by those in leadership.” (Liefeld 111. Italics mine)

(QFT = Quoted for Truth, geek thing … deal)
Two things here. One: Church unity or disunity is easier to see than Liefeld gives churches credit for. I’m sure there is a correlation between unity and the different between the apparent age minus the actual age of the Sr. pastor. Two: Everyone loves a good scandal. The reason it is so glaring is that people want to know more, like flies in a compost pile. I wish it wasn’t so, but people don’t let go of stuff easily either. I think more than anything we have forgotten what forgiveness really means (and yes I realize that I might be a hypocrite just by writing this blog with that statement in it, let me blow off some steam in ignorance).

Ok … I’m done … I feel better now. I know I sometimes throw a barrage of ideas out here, and I think sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one thinking some of this stuff. As a final word for this addition of Minstrel rants: What is the rhetorical shape of this post?