Wow. I feel so badly for these few (see namesigns below)who had to miss class
today.
There is no way to describe what happened today!
Ask anyone who was there!(:
Quiz Thurs: 1)What does your assigned reading in "Leadership on the Line" have to say about seduction? 2)From the Van Der Laan video we showed Tuesday (summarized on Tues post if you missed it) say about WWJP (Why Would Jesus Puke)? 3)From the work you did around the tables Tues (or do alone if you missed,) on Philemon: a)wrestle with Paul's leadership style in Philemon (Doesn't he seem Trumpish or passive-aggressive?) How do you explain that, knowing he was a great Christian leader? b) say something about seduction in Philemon (Find the theme anywhere you can; how you define the term is up to you.) Note: for this quiz, do your best to draw in other course material (From today..see below, or any other day)
i preach=lie for a living
Chris Erdman:
"So many churches have no real
room for the kind of honesty preaching requires. In fact congregations
and their preachers often move in a direction opposed to truthfulness
and become places we experience as contrived, artificial environments
where the raw stuff of real human life is kept out of bounds, despite
the rawness of the texts we read together each ...Preaching is a kind of
truthtelling-even if there are enormous pressures to do otherwise. Rock
and roll, says Bono, isn't much different. There are enormous
pressures to hide, deceive and entertain, keeping us inside a false
world. U2's success may be just at this point. They seem able to name
pain in realistic yet hopeful ways....At the close of "Sunday Bloody
Sunday" {at Slane Castle, 2oo1, video below}...Bono chants, one by one, the names of those killed {in the Omagh bombing}.. This is rock and roll that cuts
through masks and bleed red the passions of the heart..If rock and roll can do this, how much more our preaching? ..Bono: 'Never trust a
performer, performers are the best liars. They lie for a living...You
are an actor in a certain sense. But a writer is not a liar. There's a
piece of Scripture: Know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -Chris Erdman, "Countdown to Sunday," pp. 28-30
- See more at: http://davewainscott.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-preachlie-for-living.html#sthash.13U8bFHD.dpuf
Just like you would at a museum, spend some time pondering this work of art below before reading the links below:
here is the art to ponder before reading the links:
1)Good detailed article detailing the icon, including thougts by Henri Nouwen: Icon of the Holy Trinity
2)See page 12-15 of"Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian LEADERSHIP" by Stephen Seamandshere
Quiz Thurs: 1)What does your assigned reading in "Leadership on the Line" have to say about seduction? 2)From the Van Der Laan video we showed today (summarized below if you missed it) say about WWJP (Why Would Jesus Puke)? 3)From the work you did around the tables today (or do alone if you missed) on Philemon: a)wrestle with Paul's leadership style in Philemon (Doesn't he seem Trumpish or passive-aggressive? How do you explain that, knowing he was a great Christian leader? b) say something about seduction in Philemon (Find the theme anywhere you can; how you define the term is up to you. Note: for this quiz, do your best to draw in other course material (From today..see below, or any other day) ---
--
We had the last two timelines today.
We told the powerful story behind this one: --- SEDUCTION
Video: we should all seduce in life and leadership...?? Watch this:
Philemon: Group work... see questions at top of page on quiz
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,[a] To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister,[b] to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4 When I remember you[c] in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we[d] may do for Christ. 7 I
have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because
the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. 8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet
I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this
as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.[e]10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful[f] both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no
longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially
to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,[g]24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[h]
-- THESES ON PHILEMON: REDUCTION OF SEDUCTION
--
Why WOULD Jesus puke, anyway?
So many are baffled by why Jesus would seemingly rather have us be 'cold' than lukewarm..
makes for some bizarre and forced sermons.
This one on Revelation 3: 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Which SETS fit this Scripture?
We just assume "cold water" obviously = bad, and "hot water" obviously = good." You can google a thousand sermons with that point. It's just too tempting to preach!
But they are likely well-meaning adventures in missing
the meaning and point.
As usual, much of the answer is catching the historical context.
Maybe all along Jesus wanted us to be hot AND cold.
The one sphere of life in which Laodiceans could not pretend to be self-sufficient was their water supply! Laodicea had to pipe in its water from elsewhere, and by the time it arrived it was full of sediment; Laodicea actually acquired a bad reputation for its water supply. Jesus comments on the temperature of the water: they were lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. This does not mean, as some have suggested, that hot water was good but cold water was bad; Jesus would not want the Laodiceans “good or bad,” but only good.
Cold water was preferred for drinking, and hot water for bathing (also sometimes drunk at banquets), but the natural lukewarmness of local water (in contrast with the hot water available at nearby Hierapolis or cold water of nearby mountains) was undoubtedly a standard complaint of local residents, most of whom had an otherwise comfortable lifestyle. Jesus is saying: “Were you hot (i.e., for bathing) or cold (i.e., for drinking), you would be useful; but as it is, you are simply disgusting. I feel toward you the way you feel toward your water supply–you make me sick.”
The Ray Van DerLaan video we showed is not online:
unless you want to pay for it (BELOW). But related audio is here, or read below..
-
Hot or Cold by Ray Vanderlaan
John's warning
Laodicea
is a beautiful location in Asia Minor. Nearby are the great ruins of
the cities of Colosse and Hierapolis, known for their springs, hot at
Hierapolis and cold at Colosse. To the church at Laodicea, in between
the two, John wrote these words: "I know your deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So,
because you are lukewarm;neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you
out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).
What was it about the believers in Laodicea that led John to address
them with those words "to portray their unfaithfulness in terms of hot
and cold water" Could it be that there's more to the meaning of hot
water and cold water than what meets the eye when we first read that
verse? An understanding of the geography, and particularly the water
sources, of these neighboring cities gives us a new understanding of
what this message may have meant to the church of Laodicea and what it
means for Christians today.
Hierapolis
The Domitian Gate: Hierapolis, known for its healing hot springs, was
about six miles from Laodicea. What is left of the entrance to the
city;a gate complex of two gigantic towers and three arches that opened
onto a paved street about a mile and a half long, stands as a testimony
to the city's former majesty. What is most important is not the gate's
size or architecture, however, but what it represented.
Like most city gates of the ancient world, the gates of the Hierapolis
expressed the people's devotion to their deities or rulers. For
Hierapolis, that god was the Roman emperor Domitian, one of the first
emperors to declare himself to be divine. Thus anyone who entered the
Domitian Gate was in a sense acknowledging that Domitian was god-their
provider and protector whom they would honor and obey above all others.
Obviously, the early believers who lived in the Hierapolis had to
choose to serve and worship Caesar (in this case, Domitian) or to serve
and worship the God of Israel. According to ancient church tradition, an
early missionary named Philip, who most likely was Philip the disciple
of Jesus, refused to recognize the authority of Domitian. Philip and his
children stood fast in their declaration that Jesus alone is Lord of
Lords and King of Kings, and they paid the ultimate price. High on a
hill overlooking Hierapolis are the remains of a small building known as
the Martyrium of Philip. The Apollo Temple and Plutonium: Hierapolis was also
the site of the Apollo Temple and Plutonium, where the god of music,
prophecy, and light was worshiped. Inside the temple, a grand fountain
called Nymphia was a constant reminder to the people that Apollo was
supposed to be their source of life. Next to the temple was a mysterious
hole in the ground known as the Plutonium, the Devil's Hole, or the
Gates of Hades. It was believed to be an entrance to the underworld
where Pluto (Latin) or Hades (Greek) lived. Poisonous gases emanated
from the hole and instantly killed any animals that wandered in. But the
priests of Apollo, who apparently held their breath or had some other
means of breathing fresh air, amazed the people by going into the hole
and coming out again unharmed, seeming to have power over death. The Theater: Another prominent feature of Hierapolis
was its theater, which communicated through its architecture as well as
its activities the people's devotion to their gods and goddesses. One
can still see the images of gods and goddesses depicted in the ornately
carved stones. The Baths: By far the most impressive feature of
Hierapolis was its hot springs. The baths of the Hierapolis were among
the largest in all of Asia Minor, allowing hundreds of people to bathe
at the same time. People from distant regions came to soak in warm baths
and seek healing for arthritis, skin diseases, and even abdominal
problems.
Colosse
'
In contrast to the Hierapolis, the ancient city of Colosse was known
for its cold water. Located about eleven miles from Laodicea, Colosse
was built at the foot of Mt. Cadmus, which towered more than nine
thousand feet high. Colosse was known for a purple dye called colissinus
and for its many, ice-cold snow-and-rain-fed streams that rushed down
from the snow-covered peak of Mt. Cadmus. People in the fertile Lycus
River Valley commonly talked about this wonderful, invigorating water.
Founded several hundreds of years before the Hierapolis, Colosse's
inhabitants worshiped many gods, including Artemis, Athena, and Demeter.
The city was in serious decline by the time of Paul and John because of
the growth of Laodicea and Hierapolis. It is known by Christians today
because Paul wrote a letter to the Colossians, which was the home of his
friend Philemon, and his slave Onesimus.
Laodicea
During the first century, the city of Laodicea was the richest and most
powerful of the three cities. Located in the Lycus River Valley on the
main trade route between the Mediterranean region and Persia, Laodicea
was known for its soft black wool that was appreciated throughout the
Roman world; its healing eye salve; and its banking. In fact, an ancient
writer recorded that the city of approximately 120,000 people refused
an emperor's offer to rebuild following an earthquake. The Laodiceans
apparently told the emperor that they were rich and didn't need his
money.
Despite its prosperity, however, Laodicea had a serious problem. Its
water, unlike the healing hot springs of Hierapolis or the fresh, cold
mountain water of Colosse, was lukewarm and full of minerals. It tasted
so bad that it made people sick.
Changing the World by Being Hot and Cold
In light of the water for which the cities of Hierapolis, Colosse and
Laodicea were known, the apostle John might have been saying, "If you
were hot, like the springs of Hierapolis, you'd bring healing,
restoration, and comfort to people who suffer. If you were cold, like
the water in Colosse, you'd refresh and encourage people who are
hurting. Instead, you are lukewarm. You don't do anyone any good and you
make me sick, just like your own water." So he challenged Christians
today to be hot and cold in our daily lives, to bring people the
healing, caring, encouraging touch of Jesus.
We must also be aware of how God prepares people to receive his message
and to make the most of the opportunities he has provided. He uses as
his example two earthquakes, one in AD 17 and one in AD 60, that
destroyed Laodicea before the gospel arrived. Because of these
disasters, the people's faith in their pagan gods wavered. Zeus, Apollo,
Domitian, and Demeter didn't save us, they thought, so who will? They
were searching for someone who could fill the gap. So the message of
Jesus the Messiah took root in fertile ground. And it appears the
believers of Laodicea took John's warning to heart: the church of
Laodicea remained a dynamic community after most of the churches in Asia
Minor had disappeared.
The practicum summary reflection paper (2-3 pages) allows the student to reflect upon his/her experience throughout the semester. Students should briefly review the nature of the practicum, including role and responsibilities, and then reflect upon their experience and how course content was integrated into the practicum. 20 points (3% of overall grade)
Laodicea
is a beautiful location in Asia Minor. Nearby are the great ruins of
the cities of Colosse and Hierapolis, known for their springs, hot at
Hierapolis and cold at Colosse. To the church at Laodicea, in between
the two, John wrote these words: "I know your deeds, that you are
neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So,
because you are lukewarm;neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you
out of my mouth" (
'
