JCD’s on a Geneva Journey: Rumination #4

Today we all went by coach (that’s a flash bus) into the Geneva headquarters of the WCC**. The place is massive and impressive. Though it’s more than a place, it’s a living community of mission.

There we heard and saw “lots” through various sessions, presentations, Q&A’s, targeted-publications, handouts and visual media. I’ve much to think about and integrate, but not ruminating on that tonight . . .

Tonight it’s the people I travelled with; those I ate lunch beside, consumed coffee and pastries with in the breaks that have my “ruminators-attention.”

I’m asking myself . . .

• “What makes different people, ones with whom I hold common interests and mission commitments; interests and commitments that bring us significant distances to be together, most inspiring when we interact in the casual aspects of well planned and executed informational event?”

So, three thoughts I’m “chewing over” . . .

• Could it be they’re not only different, they are distinctive?

• What makes the difference between distinctive and different?

• How often do I grasp in the casual-encounter what I missed in the formal-presentation?

Well, I’m now off to ruminate and rest . . .

 

** World Council of Churches

JCD’s on a Geneva Journey: Rumination #3

Today we got to hear the General Secretary of The World Council of Churches** address our meeting. He said lots of good, interesting, and challenging stuff. He got me thinking (aka “ruminating”) right from his opening statement . . .

• “Today the challenge is not merely about knowledge; we need people who will act on what they know.”

Good statement; but I, and probably you've heard or said something like his statement’s general idea before—so what got me ruminating? Simply it was the spirit and context of his speech that gave it traction. He talked to us . . .

• Talked about things we already know (hey, I’m in a room of smart people from around the globe) . . .

• Talked about truths we already believe about God’s call to His church to bring His kingdom of justice and peace into situations 

• Talked about situations in the nations where neither justice nor peace are evidenced . . .

• Talked about people have “a right-to-hope” and Christ’s church has “a responsibility-to-act” . . .

• Talked about this reality; the Triune God who has called us to act with Him through the permanent presence of Jesus’ resurrection—to act on what we know . . .

When he was saying we, we could clearly grasp the spirit and context of the “we” was in the room, and beyond the room; the “we” is Christ’s church.

So what am I chewing-on (aka “ruminating”) . . . 

John, "we already know enough to act; for Jesus’ sake, let’s act  . . . "

**Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit

JCD’s on a Geneva Journey: Rumination #2

Today, along with over forty other persons from “around the globe” I got to share in an ecumenical experience, great!  Now both I and you already know what the word experience can mean, so what’s ecumenical about?

Is it a posh term, theological jargon, or one of those words I’m at times accused of “making up”? Well, no, no, and no.

• It’s the term is most widely connected with religious unity, specifically Christianity experiencing her inherent unity. The original Greek root word, oikos, means “house,” and that grew into the word oikoumenikós, which means “the entire world.” Today it most often refers to bringing people of diverse Christian groups or “communions” together.

Ecumenism at heart is not the mere idea of unity inherent in the Christian faith. It is the intentional pursuit and experience of that unity; experienced, not for its own sake, but for “God’s sake”.  At its’ heart ecumenical experience is being the people of God together, doing the work of God for the purposes of God, by acting in the ways of God, as we progress in the mission of God in the earth.

The mission of God catching our souls and calling us to heart and action is a journey of peace and justice; being globally involved in God’s mission.

Today we were thinking and feeling, yes; but how?

Peace and justice as journey in the earth . . . that’s a big one, eh?

But then, how big is God?

Well, that was my day, that’s what I’ve been up to . . . what your day been about?

On a Geneva Journey with JCD: Rumination #1

Today at Geneva was a free day, so with two other Kiwis here for the meeting; I journeyed into the city. 

Upon arrival we asked; “wadda-ya-wanna-see”? 

Stopped briefly, quickly, and easily we made three calls, then off again; now we’re journeying with purpose.

First stop was at the Reformation Wall, a monument honouring many of the main individuals, events, and documents of the Protestant Reformation by depicting them in statues and bas-reliefs.

Looking at the “big-four” filling the monument’s middle, someone said. . . 

• “what’s different between them and church leaders today?" “I mean them and us . . . "

They’re all . . .

• Wearing hats
• Sporting a beard
• Guys (aka Male-type-persons)
• Not showing their feet
• Holding Bibles

Which one got my attention, leading into a brief “on-the-spot” rumination?

Well, I’m not telling you—so ha!

So why not you have a look at (1) the wall pix, (2) our list and make a call, (3) ruminate, and (4) reflect on “why you made your call” . . .

It’s not always what we think that matters, but why we got to think about it in the first place

If you wish respond or interact, use the comments section below . . .

PS – the “big-four” are; Theodore Beza (1519–1605), John Calvin (1509–1564), William Farel (1489–1565), and John Knox (c.1513–1572)

Looking under my summer thinking-cap . . .

It’s a great summer here in the Southern hemisphere . . .

Had my thinking- cap on, not to guard against the sun . . . but to ruminate on some aspects in news, letters to editors, and those “user-friendly articles” that proliferate in the holiday reading season . . .

Ruminating on “the Right of Free Speech”

• “Free speech is a great principle, but it sure helps if you’ve got something worth saying.” 

Ruminating on “letters to the editor”

• “Its one thing to have an opinion, another to give it; but its really helpful if those its given to can actually get it.”

Ruminating over article on “tips for disciplining children”

• “Discipline is not a synonym for punishment; it’s the systematic and supported practice of formation.  It’s an open-ended and ongoing practice. Too often punishment is a stopping-point, whereas discipline’s an ongoing starting-point.” 

Expect the “take-away factor” when reading and ruminating . . .

Expectations are only met, if you have them in advance. Reading and expectations naturally belong together. Expect to see, hear, and frame thoughts and understandings as you read. 

For example, this morning I read and ruminated on Psalm 77  . . .

13 Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

 16 The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Reading, reflecting and ruminating in my reading, I read the passage thinking about it in a “bunch of ways”—the majority simultaneously  . . .

• historically,
• linguistically,
• analytically,
• topically,
• synthetically (to bring ideas into a some kind of integrated whole), and
• experientially . . .

Then I spoke to myself, “too much thinking JD!!” and asked a question—"so what’s the Psalm saying about God, and to me?”

Simply, what’s its take-away feature? . . . Forget all the “lly’s” . . . what’s the trust God and keep going factor?

I reminded myself, “Because scripture is profound, it’s also simple”—when reading I expect to see, hear, and frame thoughts and understandings in the reading journey . . . stuff to take into my day . . . 

Today’s take-away factor . . .

“While God knows the way, I must make the journey”

Now, on with my day—chewing on my “take-away” . . . 

Past ponderings, can still be a present voice . . . (#3)

Please re-join me again, in my ongoing pondering . . . as I think along about thinking, and crystallise some thoughts . . .

Pondering is ruminating by another name, and more. See we all ponder when we think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. Essentially, to ponder means, “to weigh in the mind, reflect, and consider with thoroughness and care.” Taking time to read the scriptures and pondering in the reading process is a great and intentional long-time habit.

Some time back along with lots of other folk at our church, I spent “40 days with Jesus.” Over that time, we engaged in daily readings of the life of Jesus. We read the text and daily note commentary, prayed a focused prayer, and pondered on what the “sound of the reading was voicing to us.” I then wrote what was the heart of my daily “hearings.”

Now, a couple of years hence, I’m still hearing—so, here’s the last of three posts considering some of the “ongoing ponderings of my 40 days of Jesus’ journey ” . .  .

• “Allegiance to Jesus can cause division.” Should my allegiance to Jesus cause division, I must remember; “JCD, don’t reciprocate into self-justified mutual-alienation!” I can still choose to be open to those who are becoming “closed to me.”

• “Faith’s an essential in my ongoing journey of “rediscovering the revealed Jesus.” I don’t merely review my existing knowledge and notions of the Jesus I know; I keeping meeting the Jesus I have never known. Hence, faith’s an essential.”

• Responding to Jesus is a "new starting point;” It’s joining a journey of response - aka “encounter”.

• Through walking more and more in Jesus’ love, I will build less and less barriers.

• I can develop a passion to seek people – knowing the Jesus who lives in me has both passion for them and ability to save them . . . when I reach out with Jesus (and the Spirit) I engage in “Jesus seek-n-save-mission-method” - together we seek, solely He saves!!!"

• If I have a heart for people and a passion for the right, God’s character forming in my character directs me in the wisdom of His ways. I will know what to do; I then have to choose to “do that wisdom!”