There are moments that the words don't reach
There is a grace too powerful to name
We push away what we can never understand
We push away the unimaginable
They are standing in the garden
Alexander by Eliza's side
She takes his hand
It's quiet uptown
Forgiveness
Can you imagine?
Forgiveness
Can you imagine?
Source: Lin-Manuel Miranda - "It's Quiet Uptown", from the musical Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Philipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
Mark Galli
If Galli had one gnawing frustration with Protestant Christianity, it was the ceaseless splintering and divisions. He tried to work toward unity.
It left him exhausted.
Still, Galli takes seriously Jesus’ desire for unity in his farewell prayer.
That left him with a choice, he said — to join the institution that claims to be the one true church.
“True unity requires not just a mental and emotional assent, but actually an agreement to live under a structure, an ethos, a way of doing things together,” he said.
To be sure, the Catholic Church is also beset with factions and theological controversies, but now retired and a layman, he’ll be a step removed from the squabbles.
Source: Religious News Service - "Mark Galli, former Christianity Today editor and Trump critic, to be confirmed a Catholic", Religious News Service, 10 Sept 2020
https://religionnews.com/2020/09/10/mark-galli-former-christianity-today-editor-and-trump-critic-to-be-confirmed-a-catholic/
Alexei Laushkin, Part 2
It wasn’t until my early 30s that I began to re encounter the practices of historic Christian traditions which inform my pursuit of Christ today. Not the form of what seems religious but the living examples and teachings of ordinary people who had given their lives fully to Christ in challenging and complex times.
This rich variety of contribution informs my understanding of the essential unity of the church. Simply that although the stories and witnesses are varied as are their traditions that they unmistakably give witness to a singular Christian experience of Christ made ever more perfect in the life of the believer.
Source: Alexei N. Laushkin - Posted on FB 24 Sept 2020
Alexei Laushkin, Part 1
Why am I an Anglican?
Not so much because of beauty or the stability of the liturgy, but because it puts me in touch or rather opens a window into the historic practices of the saints east and west who like each of us lived into the call to pursue a fully devoted Christian life. Their examples, understandings, and patterns of life past down have strengthened and grounded my own Christian walk.
Source: Alexei N. Laushkin - Posted on FB 24 Sept 2020
Pres + Ang = ?
A few years ago, Bob Ogle, then-pastor of a Presbyterian church, began praying with his church’s leaders that more young people would be drawn into their flock. They occupied a beautiful new building and had a committed core of members, but so far none of their efforts to attract young families seemed to stick.
After months of prayer, Bob met the Rev. Peter Johnson, the rector of a small Anglican church plant in the neighborhood. The two became fast friends and partners in ministry, as Peter’s church began renting the Presbyterian worship space on Sunday mornings for their services. This is nothing terribly new—churches have often used the same space out of need and convenience.
But then something amazing happened. Over time, the two churches began to draw together. Over a summer, they collapsed their two separate services into one shared service. God moved the hearts of the people together and with great humility and diligent prayer, the two churches agreed to become one—Trinity Anglican Church.
Source: David Roseberry - "A Story of Faithfulness from the Bayou: A Presbyterian/Anglican Church Merger", Anglicanpastor.com, 10 January 2019
http://anglicanpastor.com/a-story-of-faithfulness-from-the-bayou-a-presbyterian-anglican-church-merger/
Wisdom from the Early Church Fathers
I realize so much of how I think about relationships is influenced so strongly by Christian formation writers from the 3rd-20th century.
They were writing about how not to let conflict and sin go out of control for centuries and centuries.
It's proven to be such grace, imperfect practitioner that I am.
Source: Alexei N. Laushkin - Posted on FB, 11 Nov 2020
Israelis & Palestinians meet in Turkey
Messianic Jewish and Palestinian Christian disciples of Jesus met in Antalya, Turkey, February 14-17, 2019 for the 5th conference of the Lausanne Initiative on Reconciliation in Israel/Palestine (LIRIP). 27 participants from Israel, the West Bank and Gaza met in Antalya, Turkey, for three days of prayer, study and discussion. Their focus was how to make a difference through practical demonstrations of the reconciling love of Jesus across the boundaries of intractable conflict and the seemingly irreconcilable dividing walls of politicised identities. The group was comprised of Jewish and Arab disciples of Jesus, including participants from Muslim, Orthodox Jewish and Orthodox Christian backgrounds, all committed to working together to achieve peace. Together they affirmed their unity and commitment to work for reconciliation and a just peace in Israel/Palestine.
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Lisa Loden, co-chair of the Initiative, said “We see each other across the walls and barricades of two separated communities. We are divided amongst ourselves and across our communities yet we are here to seek peace and pursue reconciliation. Living in the context of the intractable Israeli –Palestinian conflict, together we are choosing to cross the divides and build bridges of understanding, trust and mutual commitment; to stand together for justice, peace and reconciliation. Our faith in Jesus as Messiah and Saviour of all unites, empowers and calls us to action.”
Source: Lausanne Initiative on Reconciliation in Israel/Palestine (LIRIP) - "Press Release: Reconciled Identities – Israeli and Palestinian Disciples of Jesus Share the Search for Peace", 2 March 2019
https://kehilanews.com/2019/03/02/press-release-reconciled-identities-israeli-and-palestinian-disciples-of-jesus-share-the-search-for-peace/
People of Praise
People of Praise is a charismatic Christian community. We admire the first Christians who were led by the Holy Spirit to form a community. Those early believers put their lives and their possessions in common, and “there were no needy persons among them.”
Jesus desires unity for all people. We live out this unity the best we can, in spite of the divisions within Christianity. We are Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians and other denominational and nondenominational Christians. Despite our differences, we are bound together by our Christian baptism. Despite our differences, we worship together. While remaining faithful members of our own churches, we have found a way to live our daily lives together.
Source: People of Praise - From the website of the ecumenical, charismatic community that Amy Coney Barrett belongs to https://peopleofpraise.org/about/who-we-are/
RBG & Scalia, Part II
It is common knowledge in DC that the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and the now-late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were close personal friends. They shared a love of opera, went souvenir shopping together when they traveled, and rode an elephant in India with Scalia up front. Their families spent New Year's Eve together, and when Chief Justice Roberts announced the death of Ginsburg's husband, Marty, Scalia wept on the bench. When Scalia died in 2016, Ginsburg said, "we were best buddies."
They never spoke politics or ideology to one another because as one seasoned observer said, "there would be no point." Scalia himself would say, "if you can't disagree ardently with your colleagues about some issues of law and yet personally still be friends, get another job. for Pete's sake."
On her part, Ginsburg said of Scalia, "as annoyed as you might be about his zinging dissent, he's so utterly charming, so amusing, so sometimes outrageous, you can't help but say, "I'm glad he is my friend." She said she sometimes had to pinch herself to not laugh when he would say something audacious in the courtroom.
In an era when we are being purposefully divided over political and social differences, and friendships and families are being ripped apart in the process, Scalia and Ginsburg were The Odd Couple. They held the deepest respect for each other and kept their disagreements intellectual, not transactional.
Source: Debbie Staats Sanders - Posted on FB 19 Sept 2020
Rod Dreher on the Bruderhof
I’ve visited the Bruderhof in the Hudson River Valley, and found warm hospitality. If you live in the NYC area, I strongly advise you to go up the Hudson and see them for yourself; they welcome visitors. As an Eastern Orthodox Christian, my religious beliefs are rather different from their Anabaptist creed, but nobody tried to proselytize me. They were just generous and open-hearted.
Source: Rod Dreher - "With the Bruderhof", Daily Dreher eNewsletter, 11 Dec 2020
https://roddreher.substack.com/p/with-the-bruderhof
The Congregation of the Sisters of Saints Cyril & Methodius
Christ gave a farewell address at the last supper and expressed his wish “that all may be one” in the Trinity (John 17:22). The Congregation of the Sisters of Saints Cyril & Methodius boldly attests through its congregational mission statement that we “work and pray for the unity of all Christians.”
We promote cooperation and better understanding, and we strive to develop closer relationships with one another in order to unite people of different Church traditions. Our congregation’s Motherhouse has been located in a rural area of Pennsylvania in the town of Danville for 100 years. We have reached out to all 24 of the Danville Churches as we begin to celebrate this 2019 centennial milestone.
Source: Sr. Jean Marie Holup, SSCM - "The Ecumenical Commitment of a Catholic Women’s Religious Community", Paulist.org
http://www.paulist.org/the-conversation/the-ecumenical-commitment-of-a-catholic-womens-religious-order/
Ginsburg & Scalia
When he learned of [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg's passing, Scalia's son, Christopher, shared the following story from Judge Jeffrey Sutton about an encounter late in his father's life.
"During one of my last visit with Justice Scalia, I saw striking evidence of the Scalia-Ginsburg relationship. As I got up to leave his chambers, he pointed to two dozen roses on his table and noted that he needed to take them down to 'Ruth' for her birthday.
"Wow," I said, "I doubt I have given a total of twenty-four roses to my wife in almost thirty years of marriage."
"You ought to try it sometime," Scalia retorted.
Unwilling to let him have the last word, I pushed back: "So what good have all those roses done for you? Name one five-four case of any significance when you have got Justice Ginsburg's vote."
Scalia replied, "some things are more important than votes."
This is what we have lost: two earnest and caring people who could place all differences aside for the sake of friendship and an abiding love for each other.
Source: Debbie Staats Sanders - Posted on FB 19 Sept 2020
Transformation in ATX
[In] 1998 … then Mayor, Kirk Watson, called together a group of leaders to draft a “Commitment to Racial Reconciliation” in response to a racially charged police event in the city. That document declared the equality of the races and the evil of racism. [It] used much of what had already been worked through by a small group of Christian pastors and their wives in 1996 in writing the “Pastoral Covenant for Racial Reconciliation.”
…
The team consisted of Pastor Geno Hildebrandt … Pastor Rick Randall … ; Pastor [Joseph] Parker … and Ashton Cumberbatch, a lawyer, pastor, and civic leader, both of African-American descent; and their spouses. Ashton Cumberbatch described the document: “It took a year. It acknowledged that racism is a sin and set out some scriptures that supported that. It said that we have fallen short of the glory of God in that area, and it talked about things we could do in our individual congregations, and what we could do collectively to combat that. we presented our document to a larger group that existed at the time - Austin Pastors Prayer Fellowship. They thought there was merit, so we had a signing event. I think originally 65 to 70 pastors signed the document.”
Source: Thana Rolph - "Transforming Austin: A God Story", Chapter 5 "The Deep Soil of Relationship", pp. 43-44
BIshop Harry Jackson
I do not want to go too long without recounting a memory of the late Bishop Harry Jackson.
I can remember that he had spoken out about the work I was doing at the time. The speaking out was particularly harsh. I accompanied a colleague to confront him in person and I will say it was an unforgettable moment. He came in dressed in his jogging clothes (we were in suits). It took some time but we were able to convince him that it was important for Christians to approach their brother and sister in private before blasting them in public.
It took all of us awhile to recognize Christ in each other, but we did. I think that lesson to go ahead and apply Christian teaching and trust that God will show up is something I'll never forget. That I could see Christ in Bishop Jackson is a sign that bridges between Christians of very different types is very possible.
Praying for his family during these times and days.
Source: Alexei N. Laushkin - Posted on FB on 11 Nov 2020, shortly after the death of Bishop Jackson
Betsie & Corrie Ten Boom
"Betsie, don't you feel anything about Jan Vogel? Doesn't it bother you?"
"Oh yes, Corrie! Terribly! I've felt for him ever since I knew - and pray for him whenever his name comes into my mind. How dreadfully he must be suffering!'
For a long time I lay silent in the huge shadowy barracks restless with the sighs, snores, and stirrings of hundreds of women. Once again I had the feeling that this sister with whom I had spent all of my life belonged somehow to another order of beings. Wasn't she telling me in her gentle way that I was as guilty as Jan Vogel? Didn't he and I stand together before an all-seeing God convicted of the same sin of murder? For I had murdered him with my heart and with my tongue.
"Lord Jesus," I whispered into the lumpy ticking of the bed, "I forgive Jan Vogel and I pray you will forgive me. I have done him great damage. Bless him now, and his family ..." That night for the first time since our betrayer had a name, I slept deep and dreamlessly until the whistle summoned us to roll call.
Source: Corrie Ten Boom - "The Hiding Place", Ch. 12, pp 192-193
August 13, 1527
By now everyone was sensing God was doing something new. Pastor Rothe invited the whole community to the Lord's Table on Wednesday, August 13. Zinzendorf visited each member of the community to prepare their hearts for the first time of communion since the months of discord.
Even as Pastor Rothe began the service, some started praising and weeping. God the Holy Spirit was clearly present in a deep and special way. Confession and forgiveness flowed. And when the service officially ended, clusters of communicants continued to fellowship together, savoring God's presence. 'From this day on', wrote one historian, 'Herrnhut became a living congregation of Jesus Christ.'
The new unity was expressed in a community lifestyle of worship, servanthood, love feasts, foot-washing ceremonies, and a 24-hour prayer chain began and was unbroken for over one hundred years! The Herrnhut residents began to receive in prayer a big vision of God's heart for the unreached peoples of the world.
Five years later, this small community of refugees began to send out missionaries to the Caribbean and Surinam, to Lapland and Greenland, to Morocco and South Africa, to Russia and Turkey, to Georgia and Pennsylvania. By the time [their leader] Zinzendorf died in 1760, it is said that this revived Moravian Church had done more for world missions than all the other protestant churches combined.
Source: Jeff Fountain - From "The Little Town That Blessed The World", pp. 39-40
Making the Sign of the Cross
The night before Ash Wednesday, I had a dream. I usually don’t remember my dreams, but this time I did. I was teaching a theology class on making the sign of the cross at the imposition of ashes on the forehead. I then explained to (I assume) my mostly Baptist students that it was the same sign pastors and priests make on babies as they are baptized. Just then my alarm went off, and my lecture was cut short.
Now awake, I pondered the dream. In the Roman Catholic tradition, the sign of the cross is bestowed upon the foreheads of the faithful at confirmation. And on every Sunday, after the gospel is read, worshippers make the sign of the cross on the head, lips and hearts as a reminder to follow the gospel with one’s whole self. Several traditions that anoint with oil also trace the sign of the cross on the forehead.
As I reflected on my dream in a social media post, one person suggested that to make the sign of the cross in the Roman Catholic tradition serves as a prayer to the Trinity. With the mention of ashes, another person asked if I had heard “Beautiful Things” by the Christian alternative rock group Gungor. The song includes these lyrics: “You make beautiful things / You make beautiful things out of the dust. . . You make beautiful things out of us.”
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“What would it look like for Baptists to recover and reclaim the old tradition of making the sign of the cross?”
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Perhaps Lent, the season of introspection and penance, is the perfect time – even for us Baptists – to begin making the sign of the cross.
Source: Kate Hanch - "A case for making the sign of the cross — even for us Baptists (and other Protestants)", Baptist News Global, Opinion, March 15, 2019
https://baptistnews.com/article/a-case-for-making-the-sign-of-the-cross-even-for-us-baptists-and-other-protestants/
Bishop Robert Barron
I want to share a simple story of friendship this month. One of my greatest joys in my work of ecumenism has been the deep and abiding friendships I have been afforded. One of my real friends is the well-known Catholic teacher and evangelist Bishop Robert Barron. If you do not know the ministry of Word of Fire I heartily urge you to tap into their many resources. Yes, it is Catholic. But it is a Christian ministry that exalts the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel. Every Christian will benefit if you are humble and teachable.
I first heard Bishop Barron on Chicago radio about fifteen years ago. As I drove to preach at a church about twenty minutes from home each Sunday I listened to Fr. Barron. I was delighted by his Christ-exalting exposition of the Gospel text for the day. He almost always spoke directly to both my heart and mind. Later, I met Fr. Barron and a friendship developed. Fr. Barron and I have done presentations in many diverse settings, including Catholic and Protestant audiences. I have never shared a pubic meeting with him without being more determined to love Christ better. He once told me I was a Barnabas. I am not sure that is true but it gave me grace to continue in the work of teaching and encouragement.
Source: John Armstrong - November 2020 Friends Letter, 4 Nov 2020
https://mailchi.mp/f0592e0aa9ae/november-2020-friends-letter?e=4c0e810bbb
Yet Another NDE
Lindi heard a Voice [she assumed from Jesus] giving another person a life review, saying, "Let's look at all the things you've done to serve Me, to love other people well; let's look at the relationships in your life and how you've loved them well and therefore served Me through them." Lindi recalls, "What was interesting is it was all about relationships. There was nothing about accomplishments, nothing about our 'successes' - all about how you've loved other people."
Then came the part she had feared, but the Voice said, "Let's look at the missed opportunities to love Me better. Let's look at how you could have loved other people better, and the missed relationships and how you could have loved them better and therefore served Me better." Then the Voice said, "Welcome home, thank you for loving me so well throughout your life."
She realized there's truly no condemnation, and it motivated her to not miss opportunities. She's since started working to free women from sex trafficking.
Source: John Burke - "Imagine Heaven", Ch. 17, pp. 251-252
The Pope Warns The Baptists
Theologian Steven R. Harmon was part of a group of Baptists who met with Pope Francis I at the Vatican last month.
“When we met Pope Francis, we were impressed with his genuine joyfulness,” Harmon said in a university news release. “He greeted us by imploring, ‘Pray for me!’ and we assured him that we do and would continue to do so.”
The pope included a warning during the audience.
“He also said to us, ‘We must find a way to get together, or they will eat us raw!’ We interpreted this to mean something like, ‘If we don’t find a way to live in unity, the enemies of the gospel will eat us alive!’”
Source: Jeff Brumley - "Religion Notes: Baptists hear warning from pope during Vatican meeting"
https://baptistnews.com/article/religion-notes-baptists-hear-warning-from-pope-during-vatican-meeting/