Thursday Theology

Honestly, I sometimes read the bible from my current perspective and wonder how I ever could have read it any other way. I read this week's gospel passage in the lectionary schedule and all I can see is how religion is once again used to justify inaction.

You should probably read it for yourself -- Mark 2:23-3:6.

If you've ever wondered how someone can go from preacher boy to non-religious, it pretty much comes down to today's religious community being too similar to the religious community of Jesus' day. Where Jesus used love and compassion to guide his actions, religion used rules and laws. Where love says you can, religion says you can't.
Not much has changed in 2,000 years, even for those that claim to follow Jesus. It's why I refrain from identifying as a Christian. Most Christians don't seem to be very Christ-like.

Today there are even communities that pass laws that make it illegal to give water, food, or money to people that are in need. These aren't religions making rules, these are governments making laws.
How have we become so unloving as a people? How has letting this happen in our communities become so normal?
Wouldn't it be better if Love became our normal response instead of rules (religion).

I want to share a story about one of my friends -- one of my people.
He found himself on the governing board of his homeowners association and there was a particular lot in their subdivision that was badly neglected. The person living there was renting and neither the renter nor the homeowner was responding to letters to take care of the property and clean up the mess. While they were discussing what action they should take against the responsible parties, my friend suggested that maybe they just need some help. He said that where he goes to church (The Venues) they teach that we should love our neighbors and help them when needed. 
And so he and some others that he recruited went and took care of the property.
That is why he is one of my people!
That is what following Jesus looks like!

I know that loving your neighbor can be difficult. Sometimes it's hard work. Maybe that's why we make rules and religions so we don't have to.
What if we just let love be our guide?
What if we really asked ourselves -- What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)?

John

Wednesday Wisdom -- a question

A recent Facebook post asked the question -- What is the first thing you notice about someone?

So -- What is the first thing you notice about someone?

It's weird, but for me it is their energy.
I've never really considered myself to be an empath. I certainly am not very empathetic. But as I have become more contemplative I have also become more aware of the energy that comes off of other people. I don't see it in weird colors or anything like that, it's just a feeling -- like a frequency vibration. Some frequencies resonate in a very positive, uplifting way; some are more negative. Some are healing, while others are hurting. Some are very guarded and cautious, some are afraid.

Oftentimes I can sense when a person's energy level is low and needs to be recharged. Some people are energy thieves -- they steal energy from others without consent. There are always takers, givers, and those that simply share with others.
I think there are energy frequencies that go well together like sound frequencies that harmonize to make chords or musical patterns. Some, not so much.

Some people make you feel better just by being around them. 
Others you tend to avoid.
Sometimes you can feel that energy just by reading their words, sensing their virtual presence, or even thinking about them. When those are positive experiences, you have found your people.

On a side note,
I know there is a difference between sensing feelings like an empath and understanding feelings as in having empathy. And I don't really know if this energy thing is a characteristic of an empath or just some bullshit that I've made up in my head to explain why I am drawn to certain people and not to others.

Anyway, that was my answer. It probably wasn't what they were expecting.
What's yours?
What is the first thing you notice about someone?

John

Who Am I (2024 version)

So I've been thinking...

I know most of my current readers come from my Facebook friends. I don't think many come from my Twitter (does anyone really call it X?) followers. And I doubt that I have any that just follow my blog.

If you are one of the most from Facebook you know that I have been struggling to put together a bio for a collective that will launch in a couple of weeks. It is a group of people that are flipping the tables on traditional religion that has hurt, disenfranchised, and abandoned so many people. For many years I was a part of such a religious organization.
Damn, I hope that I didn't hurt too many people. I know that I led some in a different direction than I now travel and hope that they can find their way out without too much trauma. The few years that have past since then seem like an entirely different life.

In fact, one friend recently mentioned to me that he had been talking to people in our current church community and not many people know that I used to do magic. 
That's probably not a bad thing.

Anyway, I've been thinking about this bio thing and this is what I've come up with.
There are few (if any) people from my previous evangelical life that will read this. For those of you that know me well or have known me for a long time -- your comments are welcome.

My name is John Hill.

I spent my career as a full-time air traffic controller and a part-time Southern Baptist Evangelist. I spent more than twenty years preaching revivals, crusades, or filling pulpits throughout Missouri. I used magic to share the gospel at camps, schools, and family events. I served as Camp Pastor for kids’ camps, youth camps, and a couple of college retreats.
I also preached or performed in Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, South Dakota, and Florida.
I served as an officer and a deacon in a local Southern Baptist church and on the Associational Executive Committee.
I was a member and officer of the Fellowship of Missouri Baptists Evangelists, even serving as Vice President and President, and I spoke at many evangelism conferences around the state.

When my beliefs of God loving all people began to clash with the evangelical belief of God condemning everyone that didn’t see things exactly their way, I was forced to part ways.

To be clear -- I am still a follower of Jesus and a believer in what he taught.
I unashamedly believe in God, but that doesn’t mean I have all of the answers.
I struggle to be a good guy. I struggle to make good choices. And I struggle to love all of the people that God has created -- some more so than others.

Although I still attend a church occasionally, I am much less religious than I once was. I no longer feel the need to convert anyone to think like I do. In fact, I am more interested in hearing others' life guiding thoughts and philosophies than sharing my own.

Perhaps there is still value in sharing my past experiences and perspectives on life, religion, the bible, etc. With all of my heart I believe that this collective of people and perspectives will help others that have been hurt by churches or religious people, or are just trying to navigate our God given spiritual desire to connect with our Creator. John

P.S. The Who Am I (2024 version) title comes from having two previous posts Who Am I and Who Am I (again), as well as other posts that gave a glimpse into my being. Here is a more recent (4yrs ago) version of a past John.

Thursday Theology

This week's gospel reading is a familiar one for most of us. John 3:1-17 is the story of one of the day's religious leaders coming to Jesus in secret to ask questions.

When I read this passage today I think, "Some things never change."
Even 2,000 years ago you couldn't ask questions that challenged what was the accepted belief! Nicodemus was a "teacher of Israel" and had to come to Jesus in secret to ask his questions and find out what Jesus meant by his teaching.

I guess that's what religion does. It establishes what you have to believe in and is not open to learning anything else. It is not to be questioned nor debated any longer. There is nothing new to learn.

I wonder if this was the beginning of Nicodemus's deconstruction. I wonder if he began to question what he had been taught and what he had been teaching. I wonder if he ever voiced his questions and concerns out loud. I wonder if he was ever told you can no longer be a teacher; you can no longer be trusted to teach The Law. 

A place where it is not safe to ask questions is not a safe place.
Here is some BREAKING NEWS: Most churches are not safe places!
It's probably safe to say that most religions are not safe places.
I think it is safe to say that not one liturgical church will be preaching about the deconstruction of Nicodemus this weekend. 

It's funny how we can read a passage of the bible over and over without questioning what we know about it and then life happens and we interpret it differently or see it from a different perspective. Maybe the best practice would be to read it from Jesus' perspective. He recognized that Nicodemus was trying to understand heavenly things from an earthly perspective. Even as mere mortals, we have to try to see things from God's perspective.

What is God's perspective?
Love.
Love is God's perspective.
That changes a lot of what I've learned about the bible.

Maybe this picture from artist David Hayward will help:

You can find or purchase more of David's art here.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 Perspective matters

But people can still be wrong

John

The Value of Presence

I received a pretty cool text message yesterday morning. It came from a friend that missed seeing me at church yesterday morning. The thing is, I was there and had actually been looking to see if he was there, as well. I had slipped out at the end of the Q & A time, but was waiting to see him as he exited when I read his text.

There are a few people that I really do enjoy being in their presence. There seems to be a healing or uplifting energy about them that impacts the people around them (at least it does that for me). I think that maybe there is a kind of frequency harmony between their energy vibe and mine that just feels right. 
Do you have people like that in your life?
Maybe you are that person to someone else?

It isn't always easy to know what kind of impact your presence has on other people. (And by impact it might be something small like just feeling a little better after a brief encounter.) Although there have been a few people that have expressed something like that to me, it is nice to think that there may be others, too.
And maybe it isn't an energy thing. Maybe it has more to do with being kind or just having a gentle and loving spirit. Maybe it has to do with listening and caring. 
Maybe not. Gentle, loving, and caring aren't typically listed in my strong suits.

I am a hugger. I think that hugging is the best way to share, give, or even take energy if that's what's needed. Not everyone feels that way. Sometimes a simple handshake, fist bump or pat on the back will do, or even just a nod or smile to acknowledge each other's presence.

Sometimes the downside to presence is just having to be around people.
sigh

John

Something different

I decided to have my morning coffee on the front porch this morning. It's a pretty quiet street and still an enjoyable morning coffee spot. The lots across the street are wider and not as deep as the lots on our side. That means the houses are a little farther apart and the trees at the back of the property are much closer to the street. It also means there are more audible bird sounds sitting on the front porch vs the deck in back.

I'm not sure if school is out yet or not. I think they have one more week. This morning (Saturday) seems to be absent of kids and adults on our quiet little street. The weather is going to be much warmer (mid 80s, 29-30c) for the next few days, so I need to make an earlier start to get some yard work in while it's not uncomfortable. There is plenty to do. I could work a few hours every morning and never be finished, but I think I'm okay with that. The extremely poor soil here is quite challenging when it comes to decorative gardening. It also ends up being a little expensive.

I'm looking for an area in the back to start a native grasses and flowers meadow. It should be pretty. It should be weather resistant. And it will be less to mow. My hope is to start a relatively small area that spreads naturally, year by year. It will be good for all of the pollinators. It will provide some cover for the little critters like rabbits, and field mice. And it will provide food for the birds.
Longer grasses and natural meadows also keep the ground temperature a little cooler and that's good for the environment, too.

I doubt that I'll make the front porch coffee a regular morning thing, but I might try spending more time where I can see and be seen by the neighbors as they make their way up and down our street. A cool drink and an afternoon cigar on the front porch doesn't sound bad.
And it gives me the opportunity to yell, "Get off my lawn!" should kids or pets stray onto our little slice of the Ozarks.

John

Friday Morning at Mudhouse

I decided to venture out to the local (Ozark) Mudhouse coffee shop for this morning's coffee. I have a library book and a half charged Chromebook that is connected to my phone's hotspot. The local wifi wasn't connecting well and it's probably better using my own hotspot anyway.

It would appear (as in magically) that I've let myself be talked into a magic gig for the kids at church. The date is yet to be set, but I'm pretty sure it's happening. Time to dig out the old stuff and work on a kids' show.
Sacrebleu!

Magic has been a fun hobby in the past. After leaving the evangelical world I haven't really had a venue for performing and so I have let those skills and my fondness for performing fade away. It's time to start practicing again, at least for this one gig. I am not up to the marketing and promoting that would be necessary to get the paying gigs again. If I were to re-enter the field in any way, it would likely be through doing school programs around science and math stuff, or using some of the making good choices stuff I've used in the past.

For now it is still a couple of months away and I can plan something simple and entertaining without having to do the whole evangelical thing. 
(heavy sigh)

I'm not sure if this qualifies as something good or not, but that is what is going on in my world this morning. Tell me something good that is going on in your world.
Let's make it a Good Friday!

John 

Wednesday Wisdom

 

An attitude of gratitude can make a big difference in our perspective of life.
Be well, my friends!

John

Monday Meditation

Learning to quiet the mind and engage in fruitful meditation takes practice. The link between mind and body is real. A stressed body can make meditation more difficult and a strong mind can relieve the stresses that impact the health of the body.
The Eastern world has been aware of this for centuries, while the West is just learning that the two practices go hand in hand. From the East we get mindful physical practices (like yoga and Tai chi) that bring the body and mind into a harmonious practice.

My thoughts this morning seemed to be focused on the fact that I have greatly neglected the physical part of my health and need to do something about it. Just being more active would be a step in the right direction. 
Speaking of steps, my past practice of daily walking has long since vanished and I find it difficult to motivate myself to re-engage in it, An old friend used to tell me that movement is motivation -- you just have to get started. Maybe I'll go with that.
Walking and meditation work well together. I could bring my mala and make it a mindful practice or just pop in my earbuds and listen to some good music while I walk my way to better health.

That's it.
I'll finish my writing, finish my coffee, and I'll take a walk and continue my meditation.

Do you have a regular practice for your physical health?
Do tell.

John 

Fun Fact Friday

Hmmm...
Since I've not experienced this, I must deduce that I've not had the actual real deal pumpernickel bread.

John

Thursday Theology

I'm not going to lie. This week's gospel reading is tough for me to look into. It is Jesus's prayer for his disciples and is found in John 17:6-19. Go ahead and read it.

At first glance it is pretty straight forward and simple -- Jesus praying for the protection of his disciples as they carry on in the world that he is now leaving. I think the next verse has to be tied to this if we are to understand what it means for us that continue to follow the teachings of Jesus-- 20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father. are in me, and I in you, that they may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

What makes this tough for me is that I have pretty much come to the place where I have given up on the idea of needing to share my faith with others -- at least for the purpose of converting them to my way of thinking. In this text, Jesus seems to make a bit more of the teaching what he taught kind of discipleship.
I get that. I'm just not convinced that I'm the guy for that anymore. 

I've written about perspective before. Perhaps the perspective that I've had in the past needs to change where this text is concerned. So much of my previous preaching and teaching had to do with convincing people to accept that Jesus died for them so that they could go to heaven when they die. That's actually a pretty good reason for wanting others to believe what you believe if you also believe that everyone that doesn't believe that is doomed to eternity in some kind of everlasting lake of fire.

But what happens when your eternal perspective changes?
When heaven and hell no longer hang in the balance?
Does one also lose the motivation to teach the message of the teacher?

It doesn't appear that Jesus is giving me that option. Apparently, living a life that follows his teachings is its own reward -- a kind of heaven on earth deal.

Damn!
I've got to say that this new perspective stuff isn't all it's cracked up to be. I don't think I particularly like what I'm getting out of this today. 
I'm going to have to do a bit more pondering.
Also that needing protection thing is disturbing...

John

Wednesday Wisdom

This Wednesday Wisdom's meme is a good reminder for me. I think too often people are waiting for special occasions and miss the joy of using the things that they would enjoy in the moment. Or doing things that they would enjoy in the moment. 
I'm not sure I would agree with "Don't ever..." but you get the idea.
When you stop and think about it -- postponing joy now so that you can have joy later is a silly concept.

How will you treat yourself today?
Be joyful.

John

Something to think about...

"Whose life have you had a huge impact on?
You have incredible influence."

That is the morning prompt for today's gratitude journal.

To be honest, I rarely actually write in this online gratitude journal. I usually just ponder the prompt for a moment and move on to whatever attracts my attention next. I find today's prompt to be interesting and really something that is unknowable.

I doubt that I've had much impact on most of the people I've encountered along life's journey, and would be greatly surprised to have had a huge impact on anyone.
As a preacher, I had both the opportunity and the calling to share what I believed about God, the Bible, salvation, etc. That was, perhaps, the most influential time of my past. The Gospel Magic gig was a big past of my ministry and message and had its own way of reaching people. Even so, I wouldn't say that any impact or influence was mine. I was just the messenger.

That life seems like it was something from the distant past, even though it was only a few years ago. I guess I've just removed myself from it so completely that it feels like it was a different lifetime. Outside of that, I don't know that I've ever really been in a position to make a huge impact on someone's life. I rarely do much or say much that is noteworthy.
In the same way, I can't really think of a name or person that has made a huge impact in my life. I think there have been many that have shaped and reshaped the way I think and who I am, but it is difficult to think of someone that might be the primary person.

What about you?
Can you think of people that you have made a huge impact in their life?
Is there someone that has made a huge impact in yours?
How (and Why) would one even go about trying to have a huge impact on somebody else?
Hmmm...

John

Inspired (but still working on motivated)

On our recent travels to Mexico we met an inspiring young friend of our daughter-in-law. 
This brilliant young woman apparently regularly takes on new hobbies or interests, pours herself into learning them, and then moves on to learning something else. At the time we were together she was learning to play the piano. She had purchased a small portable keyboard and would practice playing as she made time for it.

I'm thinking that I should do something like that with the abundance of time that retirement affords me. 
There are three things that come to mind that I should work on:

1)  A few different friends have been on me to re-engage in magic. It is an incredibly fun hobby, but requires a good amount of time and practice if one is going to perform for audiences. Maybe I need to adjust my mindset from the past standard of a semi-professional performer to sharing some simple and amazing entertainment with a few friends. That simple kind of change in perspective might help me work on performing at a slightly different level.
    It would also force me to work on a different genre of magic than I have done in the past -- close up magic vs parlor or stand-up magic.

2)  Learning Spanish. It's just something I need to do.

3)  Last summer I bought a ukulele with the idea of learning to play it. I worked on it for a few weeks and set it aside. I'd probably prefer to take up guitar playing again, but the uke was affordable and I really don't see a reason not to go ahead and learn it.

I plan to make some regular time for each of these activities/learning experiences. 
I have a local friend that will encourage me in the magic department, and may have a person or two that I can converse with in Spanish. I don't know of anyone that can help me with the ukulele so I may be on my own with only YouTube to help me with that.

How are you growing your mind?
What are you learning?

John

A Friday Two-fer

It's another dreary day in the Ozarks. Apparently the local weather hasn't gotten the word that it is no longer April and the daily showers and thunderstorms are continuing into May.

In a little bit I will be venturing out for the third time in the past week to meet with someone for coffee, brunch or lunch. I'm becoming a regular social butterfly!
Plus I actually went to church on Sunday! So much people-ing! Add a tooth extraction and a haircut into the week and I have been out of the house pretty much every day.
What is going on?

I've been thinking about friendships and people interactions lately. I don't know that many people would share my own assessments of friendships and family relationships. I do realize that close family relationships seem to be more rare than they should be and many people just don't have loving relationships within their natural families. 

To me -- family is family, and friends are friends. 
Ours is a pretty tight family -- from parents to siblings, to spouses, kids, and cousins. It's kind of a birthright thing and so it is a limited kind of relationship.
I know that some people consider close community relationships to be "family," but I've always thought that being chosen to be a friend is its own kind of valued relationship. There are many chosen friendships that are much closer than familial relationships.
While I might not have any control over who my family is; I have complete control over who my friends are. So do you.
And friendships aren't always reciprocal. I might consider you to be my friend and you may not consider me to be your friend. We each get to make that choice for ourselves. You can't refuse to be my friend any more than I can demand to be yours.

However, we can be friendly (or friend-like) to everyone.
We can treat people with respect and dignity, and we can live in community with people that we don't always agree with. Sometimes that might mean avoiding each other's company. My own preference for being alone is rarely about avoiding certain people and more about just being more comfortable without other people being around.
It's weird that one can be around a lot of people and still feel alone (like at a ballgame or event) and that's a good thing for me, or one could be around a lot of people and feel lonely (like a party or a church gathering) and that's a pretty sad thing.
Being alone and being lonely are very different things.

I'm not certain what inspired this little rant today, but maybe you know someone that is lonely and can reach out to them today.
Or maybe you have a friend or family member that could use a word of encouragement or a reminder that they are loved.
Or maybe I just needed the reminder to be more friendly to people.

Have a grand weekend!

John 

Friday Fun Facts

Did you know ... ?

The most siblings to reach the age of 100 is 6 and belongs to the Clarke family of Ireland.

It's weird how lifespan becomes more of a thought as you age. 
100! Geez, I'm not even 2/3 of the way there yet.

John

Thursday Theology

This week's lectionary reading is kind of a no brainer.
John 15:9-17

Love.
If you want to follow Jesus, love.
If you want to live in Jesus, love.
If you want Jesus to live in and through you, love.

The problem is how some people define love.
Some people call abuse - tough love.
Some people call neglect - tough love.
Some people have never known real love and love is whatever makes them feel good for the moment.

Following the command to love can look way different than loving like Jesus loves.
Maybe it's not such a no brainer after all.

Hmmm...

John

Lighthearted Wisdom for this Wednesday

 Looking for a polite way to tell someone they're not as smart as they think they are?

John