How can I blaspheme? (poem)

I look upon your cross
a body broken
deserted by friends
forsaken by God
scorned by all.
How can I blaspheme?

Upon the cross I see
the lips that accepted the kiss of a traitor
hands that reached out to give curing touch to a leper
feet prepared for death by the tears and hair of a prostitute
I join the oppressor and say "Surely this is the Son of God."
How can I blaspheme?

Yet I surely blaspheme
when I turn your passionate love into platitudes
your new way into a continuation of our desires
your gift of grace into a free pass
a relationship with a living God into self-analysis.

Shake me.
Mould me.
Stir me.
For I must proclaim.
Lord, grant me the courage not to blaspheme.

At A Glance: Your Cross

At A Glance: Your Cross

A great poem, well done Josie! Have been asked to write 250 words for church newsletter for Easter - am seriously considering submitting this in your name.

God has a sense of humour

Yesterday I was unwell, but still able to participate in worship. It was great the way the leaders gathered around me - any part of the service that I had written a full text for was handed out (including the Eucharist - having accredited lay presidents in the your congregations is a real benefit). Basically I was just asked to do the children's address and sermon.

At the first service, there was a concern about me having to drive between congregations, so I preached from a chair and microphone out the front of the pulpit. I was more dependent than ever on the list of dot points that I use as my prompts, but I felt like I had wandered everywhere. At the end of the sermon I commented that it probably wasn't the most coherent of sermons, but I heard one of the congregation mutter under her breath "Wow, that was really powerful." Really powerful? I must admit to a moment of outrage. I could not have felt less powerful. My body had let me down (I know, I had let my body down first) and I was unable to enjoy the full scope of my vocation, I was sitting down as I was too weak, and felt like I was having to suck ideas through a straw. Yet God still uses this to great effect. If I ever take my contribution too seriously, I need to remember this moment.

At the second service, I was a lot more relaxed about taking a seat for a service I had written, and I relaxed and enjoyed the liturgy as I would if I was attending a service someone else had written. This, in itself, is a good reality check for a liturgist as it lets you see if the movements of worship work the way you envision them. Then I found myself noticing features that I had not even planned, particularly in the Eucharist section where lay presiders (like myself) are limited to using approved resources. I was able to make connections as to why some of my instinctive (or spirit-led) selections were so appealing to me at the time of selection. I came out of that service with a great deal of energy.

So, once again God acts through my frailty. Why should I be surprised?

Youth and Children as a reality check

Sometimes I think we just get too accustomed to the Biblical narratives. There is nothing like the response of a young person to a biblical passage to shock and awe us anew.

I can remember once getting a youth group to perform a dramatization of the parable of the talents for a Presbytery meeting where I was leading the Bible study. At the end of the run-through a young woman was visibly shaking with anger... "Are you going to explain this to us? You need to explain this to us! The others all gambled and Jesus went off at the one who played it safe!"

Yesterday the RE lesson for grade 7 was based on the story of the prostitute (and, yes, that is the title used in the resource) washing the feet of Jesus. As soon as I used the title a boy's hand went up, "are you allowed to use that word in school?" After reassuring, I moved on and after talking about Jesus allowing this woman to wash his feet I asked the class if they would let that sort of person get that close to them. A girl in the back row visibly cringed and shrunk back into herself. I think she gave the right answer, as did the rest of the class in quite strong voice immediately after. I'm not sure that I have enough love to let the prostitute wash my feet either... I can only hope God continues to teach me how to love.

Why do we preach?

I was reading some of John Wesley's "An earnest appeal to Men of Reason and Religion", and some of it really struck home. If interested, it was found on pages 390-391 of John Wesley Edited by Albert C. Outler:

"...you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach? What is it good for?" I replied, " I do preach to as many who desire to hear, every night and morning. You ask, what would I do with them? I would make them virtuous and happy, easy in themselves and useful to others. Whither would I lead them? To heaven: to God the judge, the lover of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. What religion do I preach? The religion of love: the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel. What is this good for? To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: to make them like God, lovers of all, contented in their lives and crying out at their death, in calm assurance, 'O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ' (cf I Cor. 55.57). "

So, why do we preach?