Palm Sunday Sermon 2009

First, let me just say -- Thank you!

My thanks to each of you for your prayers and support throughout my three month sabbatical. It was an enormously helpful time, both for me and my family. And we are very grateful.

Now, stating the obvious…I have to say,

Palm Sunday is truly an amazing experience, isn’t it?

And, especially this year! When Holy Week, impacts our spiritual life in a whole new way. Regardless, it’s been a very long Lent for many folks here in Lower Fairfield County.

We long for a Savior. And not just on Wall Street…”but that would be very nice, thank you.” But, what we long for is the Joy of Easter to shine once more. We need the sudden surprise of good news. We need Easter.

Well, the Mark community understands this…but makes it very clear – that any hope of a Bullish Resurrection has got to run its way through a field of disappointment and even death.

It is…as if Mark is saying to us…from across the ages…we have a lot of ground to cover before that refurbished stone is rolled away.

So, the Passion and Death of Jesus the Christ remains the focus of our Christian faith.

During some of the last three months, I focused on the popular topic of –“Technology and Faith.” Everyone seems to be writing about it today. So, I started a Blog, too.

People who have Blackberry’s, iPhone’s or some other PDA, are becoming more and more fascinated with this new ability to send each other Links… Links to videos, Links to newspapers, Links to photos.

Links are flying all over the place these days… especially on Facebook and Twitter.

Some people are fascinated by Links to the past… Something which might give understanding, even some degree of certainty, as to why things are… as they are. And this is a good thing, I believe.

But whether you are a “techy” or not, I actually believe most folks come to Church, because they are searching for a new Link, if you will, in their life.

A Link...to trust when it hurts. A link to something we might even worship, or believe in.

When I send email links to friends, it’s my way of saying: Hey, look at this. It’s important.

Week after week that’s what we do here at Christ Church, isn’t it? We share links which reveal the Bible story… the drama of God’s involvement with this earth, and His people.

So, we hold up these stories and say, Hey, this might change your life. Check it out!

But unfortunately, for many… these God links simply go unopened. Lost in the trash bin of life.

But here on Palm Sunday morning…God’s Link is not discarded. In fact, it opens up very nicely for us, on the big screen. We can see it clearly…experience it, and believe in it – the transforming power of God. But the truth of the matter is…even with this insight, this belief… I can still separate myself from the Goodness of God.

St Paul says, “I don’t know why I do the things I do”…but, whatever the reason, it is still called Sin. So, when Jesus rebukes his friends—for their spiritual A.D.D.—I know how hard it is to stay awake, and follow Him every day.

And then when Judas, turns Jesus in, I am afraid to look around for fear that I can discover how easy we can betray our values, our friends, our family.

The story of Jesus’ life is a Link to the complexities and the failings of the human spirit. This is not a missing link. These failings are always with us. They are all landmarks on the very geography of our souls.

And so, today…just like so long ago, Jesus extends his wounded hands to us, and links his story, God’s Story…to ours – yours and mine.

We are linked to God. Forgiven, and redeemed, in spite of our sin. Easter Morning is coming isn’t it?…I can feel it. I know it. But for now, Good Friday has its strong grip on us…doesn’t it?

So, let us journey this week, all the way to the Cross, stumbling and falling along the way. But when we get up and repent, let us never forget that out there waiting on that lonely Hill is a New Link. A Link to Eternal Life. Amen.

Anglimergent

Today, I discovered an excellent new resource called Anglimergent http://tinyurl.com/5vcow2 And on their website I found the following helpful link. I really do recommend watching Brian McLaren's recent keynote at Diocese of Washington (Seattle) http://tinyurl.com/dmcujs

It is an excellent approach for those interested in a better way forward (Evangelism). It's not short, but is well worth the time.

NYT Magazine article still has me pondering - see what you think!

Molly Worthen has written a fascinating article entitled: Who Would Jesus Smack Down? and it appeared in the Jan 11, 2009 New York Times Magazine. Isn't the title alone something to step back and ask, "what is this?" So, from a journalistic/marketing standpoint, it worked perfectly for me, as I immediately turned to read it.

I recommend reading it, especially if you are now curious like I was. It has much to say about fridge (dare I say, radical) popular faith trends in communities around this country. However, I must say at the beginning, this piece is deeply troubling to me, as I wrestle with my own faith and belief systems as an Episcopalian/Anglican.

Now, I am sure Mark Driscoll and his religious movement at Mars Hill in Seattle must believe they are being faithful to what they see/interpret as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But I can not understand completely where and how these beliefs take shape, i.e. how they got where they are today. So, I am looking for help from others who might like to read and share your thoughts.

A few conservative blogs have recently responded to Driscoll and they are generally pleased with Worthen's take on his ministry/theology at Mars Hill. However, there is wide agreement among other blogs which I have noted, who are obviously very critical of his provocative sermons. Sermons, which often have titles such as "Biblical Oral Sex." Now, that is a sermon title! Anyway, there is much to be read and compared to here in his work, and I would welcome references to more moderate/mainline Christian commentaries on this and related subjects.

What is my interest? Well, today I write because I find this story continues to stir up in me disappointment and confusion as to what appears to be taking place in our American Religious communities, i.e. especially Christianity. So, I ask myself -- what are the historical, political, sociological, and cultural dimensions to this experience today? In other words, where the heck are these theological/ideological trends in American Christianity coming from? And why does it seem to be getting even more polarizing, darker and complex?

Clearly, there is much to respond to with Driscoll's use of scripture, his Christology, ethics, and very stark views around soteriology, etc... Also, Whorthen reveals some insights here into Driscoll's personal background, and perhaps there is something to be learned by these clues. He is the oldest of five, son of a union drywaller, and was raised Roman Catholic in a rough Seattle neighborhood. He was married at the age of 19, and says he was called by God to plant churches at age 25.

Driscoll's view of Christianity (his interpretation of the Bible) is being recognized and followed now by many across the Seattle area and other parts of the country. This fact alone is fascinating to me as Seattle does not appear to me to be a hotbed of American evangelical thought. Certainly, I am in no way implying that his faith community are sinful people and wrong; and that I offer the only "correct" way to truth, as the enlightened (saved) disciple. Rather, this seems to be their interpretation of the Bible's views on election (one chosen or predestined). I believe strongly in religious freedom in this country and celebrate diversity of thought and practice. However, I do continue to be filled with many challenging thoughts and feelings around these issues/trends in ministry and theology.

Clearly, we can see the historical roots of movements like Driscoll's in America with swings left/right (Jonathon Edwards, Great Awakening, rise of Fundamentalism, etc...). But as a moderate (broad church) Anglican, I now want to ponder some of these events in the coming days here on my blog. I believe now is the time for our church and others to take a hard look at ourselves and ask: where have we failed to completely respond to the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth? And equally important, where must we now change or die (as Bill Spong, and others so correctly point out!).

Finally, the Letter's to the Editor were no help to me either, especially my fellow Episcopalian's response. In fact, they made me even more compelled to begin something here on my blog in order to try and make sense of things.

Once again, please consider reading this article and offering up any insights as you see fit.

Every blessing,
Mark

Heading home from Martha's Vineyard

It has been a wonderful week of sea, solitude, and sleep - such a
blessing! Feel very thankful this morning to the Hornblower family for
their kindness and to Cheri and my girls for helping make this happen.

The highlights are many, here are a few:

Walking on beach with Emma
Meeting Cheri and Ella at the ferry
Lunch with Edie Radley
Church together at St Andrew's
Teaching Emma Gin Rummy
Phone chat with Roberto in Austin
Long walk with Bebe to sand dunes
Starting my first ever blog
Experiencing island life in new way

Looking forward to a nice lunch with Chris Epperson in Providence
today and then the ride home.

I miss Cheri and the girls.
God is very good to me!
Mark

First blog

The fog is unbelievable this afternoon on MV.