Something Beautiful
renewing and emergingArchive for December, 2007
Drew Theological School, Fall 2007
I’ve finally posted my work from my first semester at Drew on the “reflection” page. Generally, seminary students have to write a number of reflection papers in which we wax nostalgic about our “spiritual journeys.” That probably doesn’t interest you very much, and most of that content makes it’s way to the front page of my blog anyway.
There’s a number of papers from my Church History class with Dr. Virginia Burrus. Also, you might find interesting the funeral service I prepared for myself. Check out the lyrics I wrote to the tune of Be Thou My Vision.
We’ll see what next semester brings.
John of Damascus
I’m so mired in homework these days that my posts are largely reduced to quotes from
significant people in Christian History. That may actually be more valuable to you in the long run.
For those of you fascinated by emerging liturgical forms, consider this polemical nugget from iconophile, John of Damascus:
“Perhaps you are sublime and and able to transcend what is material… but I, since I am a human being and bear a body, want to deal with holy things and behold them in a bodily manner.” (The Orthodox Faith IV. 16.)
YWAM Denver
A friend of mine sent me a link to the NY Times article about the shooting at the YWAM base in Arvada, CO right about the time that Kat was calling me at church to tell me about it. There’s not a lot information yet, so I’m not even sure if the people I know there are still alive. That’s a very eery feeling.
Today in church, we lit candles to remember those loved ones who have gone on ahead to God. I’m reminded that the holidays–Advent and Christmas for Christians–aren’t always joyous occasions. For many, these times bring up gut-wrenching memories of loss and tragedy. We wait for the coming Christ to bring peace and hope to our distraught world, and tragedies like the shooting at the mall in Omaha and the YWAM base in Aravada remind us that we’ve been waiting a long time.
There’s no pasting a smile over a grief-stricken heart. I just believe that God lies down in the ditch beside us and mourns as we mourn, cries while we cry.
