An Amazing Story on Mother Angelica

I find this story truly inspiring.

From "God’s Little Trojan Horse on Crutches": Raymond Arroyo on Mother Angelica. Arroyo is the author of Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles by Raymond Arroyo.

In 1981 when nobody gave this woman a chance, the bishops’ conference had already announced their plans to start and launch a cable network the year after she launched hers. They had millions of dollars at their disposal, they had scads of consultants: they had the theology they believed the contemporary church ached for. And yet, here was this little nun in Birmingham, Alabama, with no broadcast experience, no letters following her name except for the religious order that she belonged to, and $200 in the bank and she kind of bumbles into television.

She’s faced with the quandary of having to buy a satellite dish, which costs about $1.5 million but she doesn’t have the money to do so. After conning a RCA vice president into sending the thing down to her, the satellite is delivered that day in ’81 and she has to present the deliveryman with $600,000 at the point of delivery or they can’t deliver the satellite.

She goes out to greet the delivery man, and she’s stalling–she’s taking the guy on a tour of the monastery, she’s handing out cookies, anything to keep him from asking for the money. Finally, he asks for the $600,000 and she says–"Let me go pray for a minute, I’ll be right back." She goes into the chapel and she kneels down and as spouses are wont to do, she kind of tried to make her spouse feel guilty. She says, "I thought you wanted this satellite Lord and I wheeled and dealed and I got it for you and now I’m having a little problem, we need this money or I’m going to have to turn your satellite away."

And she kind of waits for the money to fall from the ceiling and it doesn’t, so she decides to get up and turn the delivery truck away. And as she walks out, one of the sisters comes running out of the monastery and says, "Mother, there is a man on the phone and he’s very insistent, he needs to talk to you and he won’t get off the line." She said, "But, I got big business out here, Sister." She says, "I know, but he’s very insistent." So she says, "Oh, give me the phone." So she talks to this guy. It’s a businessman calling from his yacht in the Bahamas. He read one of her little spiritual books she had written, a little mini book, tracts on the spiritual life, years before. He’s calling because this book changed his life, helped him reconcile with his family and he’s calling to make a donation to her book ministry, a donation of $600,000. She says, "Can you send it right now?"

He wired the funds in. That was the down payment for the satellite that to this day continues to beam EWTN all over the country. I saw the transfer papers. I didn’t believe the story myself. I pulled the records and there it was. Pretty astounding stuff. Her story is replete with things like this.

The Great Ommission - Part 1

No product that is marketed today can turn you into Jesus. It is not the shoes that make someone like Christ. It isn’t what they drink. And it isn’t what they wear. It isn’t all the Jesus junk you can buy at stores. We often think that the very act of becoming a Christian makes us like Christ. To some extent this is true but not completely.

We throw around that title, “Christian” with some authority. But the word “Christian” is used only 3 times in the NT. Let me introduce you to another word. That word is “Disciple”. Disciple occurs 269 times in the NT and it isn’t just about the 12 we normally think of. The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, for disciples. A disciple is someone who is devoted to becoming exactly like Jesus Christ. A disciple stands on a road with the fulfillment of the kingdom of God in sight, struggling down the path to make it there. Being a Christian is the end result of a lifetime of discipleship. Acts records that the first people to be called Christians were not new converts, but disciples. These were people who were devoted to growing in Christ. They were willing to give up their lifestyle for Christ. They were willing to give up their selfishness for Christ. They were willing to suffer persecution for Christ. They were willing to die for Christ. They were worthy to be called followers of Christ. They were worthy to be called Christians.

It isn’t easy to be a disciple of Christ. When Jesus was around, people would come up to him and tell him that they wanted to follow him. Basically, he told them to drop all their concerns, drop their ambitions, drop their comfort, and drop their enjoyable lifestyle and then follow him. The disciples knew what it meant to follow Christ – they would go with him, learn from Him, obey him, and imitate him. They knew what they would have to do and what it would cost them. They knew that being a disciple meant that they must lay their lives down, and take up a cross instead. That they would have to take up a lifestyle that would be tough, that would be costly, and that would be painful. Why did they bother? Why should we bother? Why even consider discipleship if it hurts so much? Won’t it ruin our life on this earth? Is it worth it?

Most of the time, we answer, “No, it is not worth it. It is not worth leaving the comfort of the life I am enjoying.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a book called The Cost of Discipleship where he attacked easy Christianity and cheap grace. But I want to turn that around and attack the problem from the other end. What are the costs of nondiscipleship? What happens when we do not seek to be like Christ and settle for easy Christianity? What are those costs? There is a quote I have posted by my workspace as a constant reminder. It is by Dallas Willard. He says,

“Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated by love, faith that sees everything in light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life that Jesus said he came to bring (John 10:10).”

The amazing thing about these blessings of discipleship is that they are engrained in our very being. We cry out for these, yet we often fail to grasp them because we seek them from the world, from ourselves, and from other people. But their true fulfillment cannot be found there. They are found only when we become like Christ.

I Killed Osama Bin Laden

During World War II, the teachings of those who were nonviolent were misconstrued, as they are today, by war-supporting theologians like Reinhold Niebuhr. Niebuhr gave a "spiritual" backbone to the people who wanted spiritual justification to go to Europe and fight Hitler. This stance made him a popular prophet for the people and their leaders.

In the process, Niebuhr misunderstood nonviolent people as arguing "that nonresistance, or forgiveness, is a means of overcoming evil in an enemy." Nonviolent people are still stereotyped as believing we can win victory over the enemy if we just love. G.H.C. MacGregor answered that argument in a lengthy eight-page article in Fellowship, June 1941, Part 2. I would like to share just one small yet key excerpt: "The disciple's aim in nonresistance is not to overcome evil in another, but to discipline his own life and make it more worthy of the Kingdom." MacGregor's teaching is true in our time like it was true in the time of World War II. The people of God are supposed to live lives worthy of the Kingdom. Whether these lives transform those around us is not up to us. We are not the Holy Spirt; we are only followers of Jesus trying to live out faithfully his tough teachings.

We can have victory over the enemy if we love everyone, but I think the nonviolent individual and the war supporting individual are talking about two different enemies, one physical and one spiritual. To the radical follower, the teachings of Jesus on loving our enemies and turning the other cheek do not concern an earthly victory, although that can be the outcome. Earthly victories are not our focus when confronting evil; our focus is to be faithful to following Christ no matter what the situation or the cost involved.

Yesterday, I found an essay that was published in Fellowship, September, 1940. I imagined reworking it into an essay about killing Osama, hence the title of this post, but I just did not have the creative power. I will let it stand on its own. I pray that it will impact you the way it impacted me.

I Killed Adolf Hitler
A Confession
By J. Carson Pritchard, a minister from Rhode Island

I have made several attempts on the life of Adolf Hitler. I remember the times--most of them--and most of the places. Naturally Hitler denies that I have killed him or tried to kill him. Hitler denies my attempts in the very best possible way; by refusing to die. I remember the first attempt I made on his life. Hitler remembers that time well. We were both younger then. He was a corporal. The Central Powers were making their last great stand. I tried then to take the lives of all the Hitler family--father, mother, cousins, all. I tried to take the life of his leader, the Kaiser. Considering the thoroughness of my plans and attempts they should all have died. They didn't. The last time I made an attempt on his life was a few Sundays ago about 11:15 in the morning. Several Sunday school superintendents had tried earlier in the day but they were as unsuccessful as I. That is; we killed him, but he refused to die.

I murdered him in my heart. I presume that my prayers lacked point; they did not lack fervor. My prayers must have been of such small bore that they were ineffectual in murder. The power behind them probably wasn't strong enough for such long range work; had I been nearer with just the Channel between instead of the whole Atlantic ocean I might have been more successful. My prayers should have found their murderous way into his heart. As it is the murder remains in my heart just as a dud shell remains in the barrel of the gun. Sometimes the explodes in the barrel and kills the gunner. I tried murdering him in 1918. I failed then. I have failed again 22 years after. My prayers must be dud.

I'm not confessing murder because I haven't murdered him--yet. No one can find a single dead body. They have to find the body before they can try a man for murder. They couldn't even get me for attempted murder because they wouldn't find an instrument of violence in my hand. This prayer gun is so much like a pop gun. I would just be laughed out of court. Anyway, I'm a pacifist and besides that Hitler is still alive.

I don't murder people in cold blood. I don't seem to be able to murder them in the heat of spirit either. I had this murder in my heart in 1918. I couldn't get it out of the barrel then. I tried to aim that murder at the Germans then. Instead of getting it in their hearts it didn't even get in their hair.

I've even tried to learn German. I thought that our God, being an English speaking god, might not be well enough informed about the real needs of those fine German people who have been corrupted by their leader. I learned a few of the simpler words of German before I gave that up. Now that they have German gods over there I may be able to do them more damage. The Jews will keep Yahweh informed. The English will keep the Anglican god informed. Now if I can draft the German speaking God we may be able to hit them a crushing blow. We should be able to blockade their source of spiritual supply.

I had quite an argument with a man about all this. He is probably a German himself or else in their pay. He was condemning my prayerful warfare on three counts; (1) that I was supposed to be a neutral and should not engage in such attempts until I declared my prayful war, (2) that I was an avowed pacifist and this murderous hope was incompatible with my pacifism, (3) that Germany had a real score to settle with the British and since England made the rules years ago Germany was playing its own game by its own rules. This man is wrong as you can see. I excuse him on two counts; (1) he is not well informed and, (2) as I said he may be in the pay of Germany (in their Fifth Column, or is it Sixth?) or else he is a German.

He was a Lutheran and as he had a great regard for Holy Scripture too, I thought I would justify my prayful warfare by a quotation from Scripture which clears up this whole matter. So I referred him to Matthew 9:4 which says that I should do the works of my Father while it is yet day. Now anyone with the least imagination knows that a German victory would be equivalent to night. The sun would set on the British Empire and all that we hold of value. Too, we know that the will of God is in this case. I turned to that verse for him. I had made a slight error! That verse was John 9:4. Before I could make that little correction he had me read Matthew 9:4. It says, "Wherefore think ye evil in your heart"? I couldn't see any connection whatever between that and needing to get Hitler out of the way of peace. Our argument broke down then into one on Biblical criticism.

But right now, I've got to do something before this murder spreads further over my body. It's like a disease that runs its course and then settles in the extremities of the human body. It was in my heart. It spread to my mind. Now murder may be settling this very minute in my fingers. Then I might have to confess a moral suicide instead of this moral murder!

Interview with N.T. Wright

Entertaining but also informative interview of N.T. Wright by Colbert about what "heaven" is going to be like based on Wright's new book Surprised by Hope. Some intriguing thoughts. Let me know what you think (probably having not read the book).

Napoleon on Violence and Making an Empire that Lasts

Here is some wisdom from Napoleon:

The more I study the world, the more I am convinced of the inability of force to create anything durable. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I myself have founded empires; but upon what did those creations of our genius depend? They depended upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love and to this very day millions would die for him.

Reprinted in The Reporter, Vol.2, No. 16, February 15, 1944

Do You Hear What I Hear?

What are the sounds we associate with Christmas? The ringing of bells. "Ho ho ho". Carols. Children laughing. The crunch of freshly fallen snow. These are among the most pleasant sounds of the season.

The more jaded would suggest that ringing of the cash register is more descriptive of the season. Perhaps also would be the smashing of piggy banks, the scraping of the bottoms of out barrels, and spoiled toddlers crying for more.

But there is more. Can you hear it? The hushed whimper of a father in prison who will not be seeing his children this Christmas. The hunger pangs of the homeless. The clanking chains of the enslaved and oppressed. If you listen closely, you'll be reminded that it will be a blue Christmas for many hurting and lonely people in our neighborhood and around the world.

Don't stop. There is more to hear. Keep listening. Do you hear it? There among the moos and baas of the barnyard comes the cooing of a baby. A baby has born both a peasant and a king. Amongst the parties, the commercialism, and cries of the broken comes song sung by and army of angels.

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

God's favor has been given to us in the form a of baby. But not just in any baby, but in Jesus (the name means the LORD saves), Emmanuel (God is with us).

As followers of King Jesus, we believe that these were the best sounds of the season.

We also believe that Jesus is the answer to those other sounds as well. He is the answer to consumerism by infusing meaning deeper than a dollar. He teaches grace and goodness.

He is the answer to hurting and broken. The Prince of peace, the bringer of restoration.

Do your hear what I hear? It is the call of King Jesus. He calls us to join him. He invites us to a life with deep meaning. He requests we join him in bring peace, joy, and love to the world.

95 Theses Rap

I have been working feverishly on a paper, learning German, and add to that preaching at church on Sunday, so I don’t have an original post for today. However, I have a great video for all of you Church History nerds out there, brought to you by the good folks from Yale. They have spoofed Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” to convey one of the great events of the Reformation – Luther’s 95 Theses. You can check out the work on their website at http://www.95thesesrap.com/. Enjoy.

If You Voted Obama, You Better Do Penance or You Will Go To Hell

In a follow up to the church taking a stance against Obama post from my personal blog the the other day, here is the granddaddy of all prejudiced churches.

No communion for Obama supporters

It's down to one issue.

Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exits constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.

And here is another quote:

In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same.

The Great Spiritual Questions

I find myself being more theological than faithful at times. I am ready to join in on a discussion on whether God knows the future, is the King James Version a better translation, why did God create a system of substitutionary atonement, or any other such grand theological conversation. But in the end, they all seem to be distractions to what really matters.

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

None of the answers to the "great" theological questions really change whether I am faithful or not. They do not influence whether I give up Christ for a drunken orgy, my own personal financial gain, or a night of television. I can argue, and even have the right answers, but it really does not matter in the grand spiritual panorama.

Maybe those sort of discussions have some sort of role, but they should never move into the realm of spirituality. They are purely matters of trivia and debate. What really matters is whether I love my neighbor, am I faithfully living out what I know I need to live out, and am I helping shine the light of God. Great theological consistency is never a substitute for faithful living.

Radical Homosexual Activist Group Interrupts Worship Service

I was sent this article. It read more like a fear-and-anger-filled rant to me, so I sought out Lansing State Journal's account.

I live by this credo: Do not fear(Luke 12:4-7). What happens when a community of faith operates in fear? It fails to continue to be a community of faith, that's what. You cannot both trust God and fear the things of this world. Fear God, and no one else.

So, I rebuke the sort of fear-mongering I see in the Wold Net Daily's article, which seems to subtly promote physical retaliation to non-violent (though offensive) protests.

I call for us to set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated. Now is the time for us to put to death every reaction which is born from our earthly nature; the anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language which do nothing to heal. It is essential that we become completely clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We must model the same persistent forgiveness that the Lord has for us. Bottom line: we must love, love and love. Nothing else is acceptable for a people called to reflect who Jesus is, and what He is like.

Just because an enemy tries to incite a riot does not mean that we oblige. That's not the Way of Jesus. He says to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us that we may be sons of our Father in heaven. We do not bash back. We love back.

Modern Theologians

I studied Erasmus in class last week. He was known especially for his Latin translation of the Bible in 1516, the first new Latin version of the bible since the Vulgate (produced by Jerome in the fourth century CE). Erasmus’s Paraclesis, the preface to his edition, calls for the translation of the Bible into all vernacular languages so that humble plowmen, farmers, weavers, and “even the lowliest women” could read or recite the Bible in their native dialect.

Erasmus lived during the Reformation and one issue of the time was that of various clerical abuses in the Church. Thus his call to make the scriptures available and accessible to the unlearned was a call to dispense with the control that the clergy had over the laypeople.

The following excerpt from his Paraclesis represents a wonderful ideal of all of God’s people reading, interpreting, and living out the tenants of the Bible. It also serves as a warning and reminder to me, as one seeking to become a “professional theologian” not to take myself too seriously. More than that, Erasmus implores us to pursue God, not just information about God.

“For I fear that one may find among the theologians men who are far removed from the title they bear, that is, men who discuss earthly matters, not divine, and that among the monks who profess the poverty of Christ and the contempt of the world you may find something more than worldliness. To me he is truly a theologian who teaches not by skill with intricate syllogisms but by a disposition of mind, by the very expression and the eyes, by his very life that riches should be disdained, that the Christian should not put his trust in the supports of this world but must rely entirely on heaven, that a wrong should not be avenged, that a good should be wished for those wishing ill, that we should deserve well of those deserving ill, that all good men should be loved and cherished equally as members of the same body...And if anyone under the inspiration of the spirit of Christ preaches this kind of doctrine, inculcates it, exhorts, incites, and encourages men to it, he indeed is truly a theologian, even if he should be a common laborer or weaver. And if anyone exemplifies this doctrine in his life itself, he is in fact a great doctor. Another, perhaps, even a non-Christian, may discuss more subtly how the angels understand, but to persuade us to lead here an angelic life, free from every stain, this indeed is the duty of the Christian theologian.”

Jesus For President

Shane Claiborne spoke at chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary Tuesday, Election Day, and had some great things to say. They have to change the mics early on, making some of the audio rough to start with, but they get it ironed out about 5 minutes in. The sermon is about 30 minutes long, but well worth the listen/watch. Enjoy.

A Prayer for President-elect Barack Obama

First of all, I praise the God of mercy and healing for working so powerfully in the lives of people in this country that they could look beyond the color of a man's skin, and an odd-sounding name to elect Barack Obama. It is a miraculous transformation of hearts that would never have happened without God's Holy Spirit working through his church.

I also breathe an 'Amen' in recognition that Jesus is as much on his thrown today as he was eight years ago, and sixteen years ago. His term will never expire, and no power is beyond his reach.

King Jesus, may your hand be on our next President. Keep him safe from all who would do him harm, especially for those would seek to harm him physically.

I pray that you surround him with loyal and trustworthy allies. Fill his cabinet with wisdom and integrity.

I ask that you would bring healing to this country through him. Press upon his heart the needs of a country beyond the desires of his party. Through your Spirit, clothe him with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

Bring to ruin all plans to churn up hatred and fear for political ends. Let the liars and biggots and fear-mongers be forever silenced.

Help all of those who have put their hope in any politician see the error of their ways and return to you, the Forever King. Amen

Communion Meditation

Around the time we celebrate Easter, the Jewish people celebrate Passover – a festival commemorating God’s saving act in freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This feast is a serious time, but there is also an element of celebration as they look forward to God continuing to act on their behalf.

For the Jewish people, a proper celebration of the Passover would take place in Jerusalem – surrounded by fellow believers and in the glorious temple dedicated to God. Unfortunately a “proper” celebration of the Passover has not taken place for almost 2000 years, since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. With no temple in Jerusalem there is no place for the sacrifices to occur. In addition, with the cost and difficulty of returning to their homeland, most Jews celebrate the Passover in their homes, with their families. And as the feast comes to a close, they raise their glasses and say simply, “Next year in Jerusalem.” With these simple worlds they express a hope that next year, things will be different. That perhaps God and history will move in a direction that favors a full celebration of one of their most significant and cherished holidays.

And as we gather around the communion table we are in a similar position. This thing we call the “Lord’s Supper,” is not really a supper is it? A small piece of bread and a sip of juice would not be much of a Thanksgiving dinner would it? No, it is not a great feast like we normally think of around holidays. Though a wonderful experience, it pales in comparison to the great banquet God has prepared for us. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:12, now we see a poor reflection but one day we will see the full extent of God’s love face to face. What we do around this table is meaningful, but only because it points to a fuller, more realized feast that we will celebrate with the risen Savior in the presence of God.

So as we partake of this simple meal, may we do so with hope and expectation. Jesus has instituted this meager meal not as our last supper, but to tide us over until we celebrate the great banquet in heaven. This meal reminds us that we have placed our hope in the one who has overcome sin and death in our place. Bound up in this meal are all of our expectations of greater things to come. So as we partake, may we, with all the hope we can muster, say together, “Next time, in the New Jerusalem.” (Rev. 21:2)