Hopewit

Jasper Our congregation is meeting over a bag lunch today to decide whether or not to pursue the possibility of covering the south-facing roof with solar panels. Obviously, the work and expense that that would take, the possible compromise to the roof, the appearance of the structure as it is mean that there needs to be a compelling reason to proceed with such a project beyond saving money. It would take years of reduced power bills to recoup the cost of such a project. The compelling reason for considering the solar-panel proposal must link to our overall convictions regarding our calling as a congregation. Whether or not that calling includes earth care will certainly weigh in on the discussion. It’s possible that some of us will see environmental concerns to be overblown, their urgency exaggerated in comparison to, say, economic challenges. Some will probably express the view that climate change is potentially so great a threat to human, animal and plant life that to ...

Today, I’m pondering the speculations of theologian N.T. Wright on the nature of evil in Chapter 6 of Surprised by Hope. I don’t think I’m alone in the puzzlement that inevitably assails non-theologians or amateur theologians or “ordinary Christians” when reading “the great ones.” Nevertheless, we probably all have understandings/misunderstandings of the great theological concepts, impressions that shape our images of us in the world, us under God, us with our neighbours. Most head-scratching for me is how past and current theology seems never to have abandoned the reliance on treating evil (or heaven, or hell for that matter) as a thing , or spiritual forces as personalities . Unless, of course, our sages have and continue to assume that belly-scratching pew sitters can only understand the God of whom Jesus spoke as a loving but intolerant, bearded man on a heavenly throne.  Emmanuel Kant is supposed to have said that “only a scholar is qualified to evaluate anothe...

Where in the World?? "He owns the cattle on a thousand hills . . ." “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life (possessions?)—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (I John 2: 15-17) It seems evident that at the time of the writing of the John letter, his audience was a young church struggling to survive, almost as a Jesus-cult under siege. The letter draws severe lines in the sand regarding conditions of faithfulness, even using the term “Antichrist” to refer to those who have left the fold (1 John 2:18 & 19). Acknowledging what audience the writer(s) had in mind is critical; modern-day Christians not experiencing persecution, not looking toward an imminent rapture should proba...

When it's really, really dark, any light will do.   Suppose a king of an unnamed country becomes ill with cancer and is desperate to know if he will recover or die. And suppose he hears that a wonder-working seer is passing through the countryside and decides to send his chief servant to meet the seer and ask him if there’s a chance he might recover from his illness. The seer accepts some gifts of courtesy and gives audience to the chief servant who puts to him the question of the king’s chance of recovery. Naturally, the see-er sees far more than the immediate question but tells the servant, “Say to your master the king that he will recover.” But then the seer begins to weep and the chief servant asks why he’s crying. The seer says, “I foresee that you, chief servant of the king, will yourself become a wicked king that will attack my people.” Chief servant, of course, asks, “How can that be since the king will recover and I’m just a servant?” The seer sa...

"Wonder what the earth-people  are up to today?" said the Martian. So what do we think of these statements? Climate changes and natural catastrophes have wiped out the dinosaurs and numerous other animal and plant species over time. If history is predictive, homo sapiens will sooner or later arrive at a place where changes or catastrophes make their continued existence impossible, and we might well go the way of the dinosaurs. Climate change and environmental degradation are quite possibly the early stages of changes that will lead to human devolution,* mostly because humans appear incapable of collectively mustering the energy and commitment to do what they must to ensure a future for the species. We seem to be predominantly “eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die” people, particularly in the over-developed parts of the world. The current, worrisome climate changes have clearly been hastened by CO 2 emissions resulting from years o...

"What are you doing, son?" "I'm packing some justice & mercy into a Canadian Tire pail. What does it look like I'm doing?"     Once upon a time, people would part with the words, “God be with ye.” But just like we now shorten our greeting when we meet from, “I wish you a good morning” to “Mornin!’,” “God be with ye” became “God by ye,” and finally, “Good bye.” The progression from “God” to “Good” is significant, and for many it may appear to be a backward step theologically. But let’s not get caught in the trap of having the definition of a word overrule our understanding of what GOODNESS (or GODNESS) is, or is meant to be. Words are servants to thought and imagination, not the other way ‘round. All scriptures, all religions since the beginning of human consciousness (I suspect) have had but two end goals, first, that GOOD shall prevail. That the harmony, the justice, the mercy and the generosity that constitute the everything o...

“ He will be a master of deception, defeating many by catching them off guard as they bask in false security. Without warning he will destroy them. So great will he fancy himself to be that he will even take on the Prince of Princes in battle; but in so doing he will seal his own doom, for he shall be broken by the hand of God, though no human means could overpower him.” (Daniel 8:25, the Living Bible) “ He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.” (Daniel 8:25, New International Version) “ And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many : he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:25, King James Version) So here are three versions of ...