...look away, sing for salvation...

To whom it may concern,

It didn't used to be this way, but I have a hard time getting any work done without the proper music playing in the background. And by proper music I mean something melodious without being terribly distracting, (cue Black Eyed Peas's "Pump It"). Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time reflecting on the works of Calvin with "Turn up the radio, blast your stereo, right now. This joint is fizzlin, it's sizzlin, right."

Right.

Anyway, I blame the ADHD I don't have on the fact I need something playing in the background...but this something can't be just anything. Cue the most awesome collection of study music I have put together:

Sufjan Stevens
Damien Rice
Amos Lee
Andy Juhl
Coldplay
David Gray
Allison Krauss
Edith Piaf
Feist
Brandi Carlile
Billie Holidy
Hey Marseille

Can I just take a moment to highly suggest you check out Hey Marseille (P.S. Seattle-based!) sometime soon? Why yes I can, this is my blog and I shall do as I please...thus sayeth me.

Anywho, if you're on the lookout for some beautifully evocative "folkestra" please give them a listen. I actually bought their album on itunes, which means they must be something special considering the last time I purchased off itunes was probably two years ago. An added bonus is the album is wonderfully and intentionally organized from beginning to end. From the first "Marseille" to the last "Goodbye Versailles" it's rather lovely.

Cheers,
Joelle

Some thoughts on creational law...

Hey Whom,

A review of Albert M. Wolters’ Creation Regained:

“On the one hand, the law is fulfilled in that the shadow is replaced by the substance, and Jewish law is no longer binding for the people of God. On the other hand, the law is fulfilled in that Christ reaffirms its deepest meaning (see Matt 5:17). In other words, insofar as the Mosaic Law is addressed to a particular phase of the history of God’s people it has lost its validity, but insofar as it points to the enduring normativity of God’s creation order it retains its validity.” (Wolters – 40)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is a common misconception that in the Bible there are actually two distinct Gods, therefore two distinct Laws. Not only is this idea Humanistic, but it is becoming more and more pervasive in the modern church. God and Law of the Old Testament seems to dramatically contradict the “new” God and Law of the New Testament. Yahweh of the Old Testament is a God of war, bloodshed, and condemnation. Jesus of the New Testament preaches “love your neighbor,” “turn the other cheek,” and “your sins are forgiven.”

How can these two versions of the “one true God” be reconciled? In Albert M. Wolters’ Creation Regained the answer can be found within a Biblical worldview based on God’s creational law. By “law” Wolters is referring to the “totality of God’s ordaining acts toward the cosmos,” not the Mosaic Law nor the New Testament. This law goes beyond the Old or New Testament and instead encompasses both; this law is the “revealed will of God” and “encompasses the whole range of created reality.” (Wolters – 16)

 By approaching scripture in this way, through this reformational worldview, clear connections begin to form between the Old and New Testaments and the consistency of a gracious God is quickly apparent. By the same token, yes, Christ with his grace came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament, but the essence of the law is not invalidated. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill them,” said Christ, quoted in Matthew 5:17. Continuing in 18-19, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

It is clear within scripture, Wolters is stating, that we are still bound to the Law, the Law of Christ. Yet this idea is often resisted. Is it not often preached that Christ frees from sin? Christians are now free from the bondages of sin and Mosaic Law! Yes and no, Wolters claims for “in Christ we are journeyman builders—still bound to the architect’s explicit directions, but with considerable freedom of implementation as new situations arise.” (Wolters – 41) Bound to the law yet free in the law. It sounds like the biggest oxymoron out there. Yet the truth Wolters writes of becomes clear with his emphasis on the consistent order of the law, its beautifully creative design, and the redemption of the law that comes through Christ.

Yet, what does that mean for me? What does that mean for you, the reader? Where do we fit in this equation? So what if this creational law of God is beautifully designed? If I am bound by it why do I sin? Why is this world wracked with the sins of man if God’s order is so divine and perfect?

The fall of man from God’s law is the key to the question of “why?” The Fall has rendered what God first created as good to dust and ash. “The fall of man was the ruin of the whole earthly realm,” Wolters states. Yet, “the atonement of another man, Jesus, salvages the whole world.” (Wolters – 72)

It is this key distinction on the redeeming work of Christ that transforms a burdensome law into a freedom-inducing life. While man first destroyed his bond with God, it is Christ who has salvaged this creational covenant. Because Christ has restored his creational law I am restored, for I am included in this creation.

Wolters thoughtfully emphasizes at once Christ’s redemptive grace and the beauty that was before the Fall. It cannot be said enough that before the Fall what God created was good. It wasn’t the rough draft or a “better luck next time” creation. It was the final draft and yet, man turned from this beautiful tome.

If only one concept is to be brought away from Creation Regained it ought to be that Christ has not forsaken his creational law, or his creation. This story of redemption encompasses all of creation, from beginning to end. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

How much greater is the magnitude of God when one considers all of creation is redeemed…and I am included in that creation? Everything, and Wolters does stress everything, comes under God’s Law. From Genesis to his return, all of history will come under the scrutiny of this perfect law. Knowing this is the cornerstone to Wolters definition of a Biblical worldview. “A recovery of this dual emphasis in Scripture—in a word, cosmic re-creation in Christ—as the foundation of our Christian analysis and reflection can help us look with fresh eyes at a world we would have been conditioned to interpret in humanistic categories.” (Wolters – 115)

With this worldview firmly in place, we are enabled by God’s grace and mercy to face this fallen world head-on. Wolters’ charge is to not deny the relevance of Scripture in the face of modern humanism and readily points to Christ’s redemption as enabling both Scripture and ourselves for this task.

With the words of Isaiah fresh in my mind, I can confidently attest that by grace, “The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 50:5-7)

There is no shame in creational law through the lens of Biblical worldview. There is only freedom, enabled by grace, stemming from Christ, who hung on that tree so that his creation may live.

 
 

Saved by grace...yet living on performance...

Dear Whom,

*Note: Transforming Grace  is require reading for one of my classes (Gospel and Life)...the following is a brief bit of writing based on the first few chapters...bear with me as I lazily copy and paste:

In Chapter 1 (The Performance Treadmill) it has been underlined in the book I am borrowing: “He not only purchased your forgiveness of sins and your ticket to Heaven, He purchased every blessing and answer to prayer you will ever receive.” Wow, I honestly had not thought of God’s grace in this way before...if it wasn’t already underlined I would do so myself.

As this semester progresses I am realizing just how much I live on a performance treadmill, certain that I must do the best I can to replace my “debt” to God. I was fairly secure in my walk that I had gotten this beat, that I understood God’s grace and what that looks like in my life. Yes, I acknowledge and thank the Lord for his grace and provision, yet I am painfully realizing that this is not reflected very well in my actions. I am constantly kvetching to myself how I am not good enough…what I failure I am for God’s kingdom.

Bridges points out that this is rooted in two things…that I am afraid if I relinquish control to God that I will slack off AND that I don’t really believe that I am bankrupt. While I agree with the second point, the first point caught me off guard. I have often thought this, that if I rely on God’s grace that I will “slack off,” yet I hadn’t quite read this in print before. What a thing to realize…that even my effort to not slack off is tainted by this selfish center on ME. Even my desire to “do good work” is tainted without Christ.

The debated relationship between grace and works is a long one, to which I am the last person to say I have the best answer. But, it is a question that is currently at the forefront of many minds at my home church, so I have been wrestling with it a lot this weekend.

Bridges’ use of the performance treadmill was helpful for me to sort some things out and form an analogy of my own (note, I do not claim any copyright of this, haha):

I love running, but I hate running on a treadmill. The only thing that keeps me going on that thing is the belt and motor…and my trusty Brooks…and I’ll admit, sometimes the handrails. I am not powering that treadmill, rather, it is powering me to run. God’s grace/the Holy Spirit is that treadmill belt and motor (and the treadmill is the Christian life?). It is by God’s grace that I am running…that I am fulfilling my purpose on that treadmill.

Can you imagine what I would look like running on a treadmill barefoot without the belt going? Sure, I’d be running, of sorts, but not as God has intended. I daresay I would look pretty stupid. And I’d probably fall off.

How ridiculous. Yet, spiritually, I do that every day.

What about you? What does your treadmill look like? How do you combat the urge to unplug the treadmill and go at it yourself?

Glow.

To whom it may concern,

Do you know what a "balloon glow" is? I didn't until last Friday, so it's ok if you don't. Not knowing what such a thing was I had to google it before setting out to Forest Park. Basically it preceeds a hot air balloon race, involves large crowds, music, food, firework (of course), and many children wielding lightsabers. It took a whole lot of will power to not purchase one myself, haha.

The following is a little taste of the night. Enjoy.

 - Joelle

Lightsaber action.

How now shall I blog?

To Whom It May Concern,

Tuesday marked the due-date of my first paper of the semester (see previous post). It's most certainly not the most well-written paper I've ever put together, but perhaps one of the most heartfelt.
I'm just glad the first one is out of the way.

In other news, I'm still baffled as to this whole blogging thing...I'm clutching at the idea that this will somehow benefit myself. Not convinced, but acknowledge that I'm extremely rusty when it comes to writing for the eyes of someone else other than my own...

Because I'm rather exhausted (and a little lazy) I'll simply end with a few things on my mind/what I've discovered/whatever catches my fancy in the next few minutes. Enjoy.

1. If competitive enough 2nd, 3rd and 5th grader boys will cry when their kickball/soccer/Frisbee team loses (even if there isn't a score). I've yet to learn how to console crying boys. Do I hug them? Just a pat on the back? Or turn this moment into a lesson on being a good sport? In all my years of working with kids I've never had to deal with such sporty passion. Will keep you posted.

2. Hulu. Where did this come from? How did I not know about this? Will I be able to resist the infinite entertainment possibilities at my fingertips? Please imdb "Glee." Now.

3. I've never really considered myself a t-shirt kind of girl untlil I recently discovered Threadless. I now realize I hadn't yet found the right kind of t-shirt for the type of girl I am. Problem solved now. Yay. :)

4. Tomorrow is 4 pm Ultimate. Enough said.

5. Coming up with five items is proving more difficult than it should. Methinks I ought to get back to my "History and Theology of Christian Worship" homework. More on that later. :)

Boo on the waste of a blog. But blessings to you nevertheless.

 - Joelle

Letter Of A Doubter

“Doubting Thomas” – Nickel Creek

“What will be left when I've drawn my last breath,

Besides the folks I've met and the folks who know me,

Will I discover a soul saving love,

Or just the dirt above and below me…

Please give me time to decipher the signs,

Please forgive me for time that I've wasted,

I'm a doubting Thomas,

I'll take your promise,

Though I know nothin's safe,

Oh me of little faith…

~~~~~~~~~~

To Whom It May Concern,


Hello. My name is Joelle and I am a “Doubting Thomas.” I’ve known this for a while now and it hasn’t been easy to accept, but accept it I have. It has taken some time to get used to the idea, considering the stigma attached to this title. I’ve gone through all the stages. I’ve denied it. I’ve acknowledged it with much humiliation. Then came the weeping, the shame, some anger…then acceptance.

I had it all wrong, you see. I thought it shameful to lack belief such as Thomas, to demand physical evidence that Christ had risen from the dead. Does it not say “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” in John 20:29? Thomas was less of an apostle, less of a man, less of a Christian than the others for he only believed after seeing Christ for himself.

And I was just like him. I still am just like him.

I want to touch Christ. To see him, touch his wounds, and bow before his physical presence. But that’s not such a bad thing. In fact, it’s what Michael Williams claims most profoundly in Far As The Curse Is Found as very good. Thomas was incredibly right to want physical evidence. The rest of the disciples received physical evidence, such as Peter and John witnessing Jesus’ empty tomb, or Mary who also saw the Lord. “Jesus Christ bodily risen from the grace, was the crucial item that moved them to believe,” Williams states.

In John 20:28, Thomas finally exclaims “My Lord and my God!” He touches Jesus’ wounds and cries what we all ought to, what I ought to. Turns out I was wrong…it’s ok to need evidence. In fact, it’s right and good to desire God reveal himself.

“Will I discover a soul saving love, or just the dirt above and below me?” sings Chris Thile of the bluegrass band Nickel Creek. Today there are a constant slew of questions on the airwaves, the internet, and the written word. Amidst this age of information a very basic question is, to many, left unanswered. The safety and security of many rests in the need to know there is a God…with soul-saving love.

Why do we think it was anything but the same for those in the ancient Far East? Israel made it a habit of forgetting God’s covenant, slipping into idolatry, and then complaining when things started to go downhill. She forgot...she doubted. Abraham and Isaac, two of Israel’s most revered forefathers, place their wives in danger to save their own skins from powerful kings. “Rather than following God’s lead, responding faithfully to his initiative, both try to force the fulfillment of God’s promise by devious means,” Williams writes. “Both fear the power of kings more than they trust the promise of God. If there is a moral message in the response of the patriarchs, it is the proposition that often the greatest threat to the kingdom of God is the people of God.”

“The people of God.” He held them in his palm yet they forgot his promise. The 21st century is not any different. Fear and doubt reign though Christ is revealed every day. He is revealed within scripture, through the beauty of creation, in his promises kept…and in those still to come.

Adam and Eve doubted. Abraham doubted. Isaac doubted. Moses doubted. I doubt today. But you know what God does? He could throw his hand in the air with a huff and exclaim, “I’m tired of revealing myself to you! Won’t you ever get it?” But he doesn’t. Instead he continually reminds us of his promises. His promises begin with Adam and Eve, Abraham, and Moses. When he reveals the covenant name of “Yahweh,” to Moses he is saying “I am the one who keeps promises. I am the one who is always faithful. I am the one who is there for my people. I am the one who is here for you. I am the one who acts on your behalf.”

This covenant doesn’t end in the Old Testament but simply continues into the New Testament as well. In Mark 9, the story of the man and his demon-possessed son is told. He pleads with Jesus to heal his son, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us.” This man confesses to Jesus himself that he lacks belief….that he doubts.

Jesus heals the man’s son. He could have said no because this man doubted, but just as he did with Moses he does for this man. “I believe; help my unbelief!” cries the man. And that’s just what Jesus does. He helps his unbelief.

Do you see why I am proud to now call myself a “Doubting Thomas”? I could just as well call myself “the doubting father,” “Doubting Moses,” or “Doubting Abraham.” Though I doubt, it is backed by the need for truth, the desire to know God, and confirmation that I somehow fit in His Story. Guess what? I do fit in that story; God fulfills my desire to know him, and reveals his truth daily.

And what is his truth? That Yahweh redeems…that Christ redeems…that God redeems. He redeems and provides…and reigns. Despite my continual doubt, my constant need for reassurance and “proof,” he has kept his covenant! Just as Thomas exclaims “My Lord and my God!” so should I. Every day. From the streets of St. Louis.

What about you? Do you doubt? I’m sure you do. It’s ok…but do you think it might be time to confess “help me with my unbelief!”? What is the worst that can happen? That God will say “YES” to your cry? May it be so!

Thanks for listening “Whom.”

 - Joelle

Too Beautiful To Live

To whom it may concern,

Only three blogs in and I'm about to reveal a very kitschy thing about myself. I love talk radio. How much? I chose it over music (which of course I love). Back home, KIRO (97.3) would most likely be streaming from my computer, car radio, or my little hand-held for places I could not take my computer comfortably. I have yet to discover a STL replacement, thus have been consistently streaming KIRO in my little room.

However, even if I manage to find a STL station that rivals the excellence that is KIRO, I will not forgo my first love. It's a security blanket of sorts, enabling me to not lose contact with what ticks in Washington. Yes, I have been following the Kent teacher's strike (so not awesome), Ron and Don's new t-shirt design (rather boring), and even "Gardening with Ciscoe" (oh so awesome). (Note: did you know my dad knows Ciscoe? My claim to fame.)

However, yesterday marked a significant loss to my talk radio life. The best show to ever make it to the airwaves, TBTL (Too Beautiful To Live, for you non-acronymers), has been booted from KIRO's lineup. I waited until today to write anything about it considering yesterday marked something much more devastating than my losing a radio show. TBTL would be the first to say that their move to a podcast should never be compared to 9/11...it's simply an odd coincidence that their last show was yesterday of all days.

For those who have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, I highly suggest you check out TBTL here. Newbies be warned, TBTL is like a fine wine, getting better with age. If your taste in TV shows consists of Seinfield, The Office, or Arrested Development then you will most certainly "get" TBTL. You are in for a treat. It was (and is!) a breath of sublime fresh air amidst the rest of "serious" or "real" life. TBTL dwells on what really matters, despite how inane it might be. This is a much more eloquent blog on why TBTL matters.

If the remembrance of 9/11 is still bogging you down, or just life in general, I suggest you make TBTL's podcast a regular part of your day. Everyone needs a little self-deprecation humor, chats about nothing (yet, everything), and bands such as Hey Marseilles all the time.

Rawr,

Joelle

Soggy seminary...

To whom it may concern,

Seminary Sundays are the the pits. Ok ok. I retract that statement. The seminary Sunday that was today was pretty miserable (better?)...but it shouldn't have been. After a rather successful visit to The Kirk with some new buddies, a free lunch sitting on the burgundy carpet outside the packed gym, and some laughs on the way home, this Sunday was looking like something wonderful. But after a rest in my lovely white-walled room (I’m in desperate need of photo frames) I awoke to a downpour outside. Rain. Missouri Rain.

In theory I don't have a thing against Missouri rain. The air is warm though fat sheets of rain are ferociously hitting the pavement. The constant hum of crickets is silenced for a time…I can imagine each little buggy is hunkered under a leafy umbrella thankful for the rest to his legs. (They’re at it again tonight btw…the rest did them good apparently.) And when lightning slashes through the sky I can only watch in apprehensive wonder (after giving up on a good photo for the 100th time).

But Missouri rain is not Puget-Sound rain. It’s not batting against the eucalyptus tree against the house…or tinged with the salt of the Sound…or ruefully reminding me that summer is nearing the end. It even smells different after a hard rain. Instead of the scent of freshly clean dirt I catch a wiff of…warm moisture, ha.

Different is usually not a negative. I know this. But today the difference matters. Tomorrow it most likely won’t. I’ll be over it by then.

Actually, I'm getting over it now. I have to, for I've been meaning to write on something a little more important than my rain snobbery. Today marks my third perusing of a STL church and as I hinted last week I’m enjoying the search (despite today’s morose mournings). I’d like to modify my wording though…instead of a search (it's not a church chase afterall), I’d rather view it as a time of observation, a time to grow in maturity and faith, and a time to worship with a new sort of freedom. I'm free to observe the Lord's work from New City-South City to The Kirk and how that is manifested in song, word, and prayer. I'm free to fellowship with complete strangers, yet we're bound by the blood of Christ. And I'm free to look past "worship styles" or sermon topics or communion methods and simple say "here I am Lord. Comfort me. Teach me. Mold me."

Already the Lord has reminded in these three Sundays that it's not in a church that I will find solid footing. It's not the in seminary. It's not "fitting in." It's not getting over the minute differences between Missouri or Washington rain. It's in his Word, his Life, and his Fellowship that I can only find a sure foundation. To borrow from a favorite hymn of mind: "In Christ along my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song..."

Amen? Amen. :)

What do you think? How have you found solace in a particuarily soggy day?

Looking forward to your thoughts, Whom.

Sincerely,

 - Joelle