broken eikon

Hey everyone,

If you are interested, this will tie into the Church history we have been studying lately. This was from a magazine (not sure which one), but I got it from a pal at school, detailing a few of the versions of Christianity that were around from 1st to 4th century, but for one reason or another is not what we ended up with. Proto-orthodoxy is what became our “orthodox” faith. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that we are right, just know that we won. There is a difference. Anyway, enjoy, its kindof fun.

Lost Christianities

Hey all, as per a request during Eikon’s mission group, I am posting some selected texts from Ignatius of Antioch (martyred, 110 C.E.). Pay attention to his comments regarding the bishop, and views on marriage.

If thou lovest the good disciples (rhetoric on the move!), no thanks are due to thee on that account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks by gentle applications (very cool).

Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before thee is immortality and eternal life,of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for thing, and my bonds also, which thou hast loved.

Let not widows be neglected.

Do not despise either male or female slaves, yet neither let them be puffed up with conceit, but rather let them submit themselves the more, for the glory of God, that they may obtain from God a better liberty. Let them not long to be set free [from slavery] at the public expense, that they be not found slaves to their own desires.

Flee evil arts; but all the more discourse in public regarding them. Speak to my sisters, that they love the Lord, and be satisfied with their husbands both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner also, exhort my brethren, in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the Church. If any one can continue in a state of purity, to the honour of Him who is Lord of the flesh, let him so remain without boasting. If he shall boast, he is undone; and if he seeks to be more prominent than the bishop, he is ruined.

Give ye heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you. My soul be for theirs that are submissive to the bishop, to the presbyters, and to the deacons, and may my portion be along with them in God!

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus informs us that Kingdom living involves letting go of our anger and contempt for others. I realized while I was preparing to preach about that, I had someone who was angry with me, and part of the problem was my anger and contemptible attitude. Therefore I

was convicted to “leave my gift at the altar” and reconcile with this person. I tried to call him, but I had the wrong number, so I emailed him. Here is the conversation:

On Apr 27, 2009, at 4:08 PM, you wrote:

Mr. X,
My name is Chad from Lone Star Comics in Fort Worth. I was told from
Cass, our manager, that you came in and let him know of your
displeasure with my service. A week or so afterward, I saw you
outside the store, and you called “F-You!” and gave me the finger. I
could not figure out why you had such a hostile attitude towards me
or what I had done to offend you. A few times you mentioned my
poilitics, but I didn’t remember having a conversation about that.
It took me a little bit, but I believe I do remember having a
conversation with you sometime. At any rate, I wanted to apologize
to you for any rudeness I may have given you or any way in which I
was disrespectful. I hope you can forgive me for my poor choice of
words and poor attitude towards you. This is coming from me, not
Lone Star. Thanks.
Chad
from Lone Star

His response was a follows:

Hi Chad,

I was the one that was too harsh the other day. I was not in a very
good mood and even if I have issues with you on the political side I
should not have yelled out.

I think we do not mix well but I have found that people can often find
common ground after events like this.

Yes I do accept your apology and I offer you mine as well. We should
just take a step back.

Thanks for taking the time,

X X

I wrote back that I look forward to seeing him again and that there is a firm handshake waiting… Apparently Jesus knows what he is talking about.

Ok, so school has switched more into study for finals and papers mode, not as much lecture stuff, so I have been memorizing more than reflecting. Also, life in general has been more hectic than not lately, so I took a bit of a break from blogging. I will make sure to let everyone know next time. I have a few thinks to blog about, but don’t expect anything consistent until after school is done in a couple weeks.

There is a charity fundraiser going on called mustache may. Shave the mustache till may 1, then don’t shave again till may is over. Never rocked just a mustache before. Think this might be interesting.

Rush Limbaugh has switched sides! The end times are near! Check it out here for yourself!

So this one time I was hanging out with a girl for a week. The soundtrack to the week was Bob Marley. I really dug this girl, but she ignored me/talked about the guy she liked all week. So for a long time I didn’t give Marley a chance because she introduced me to him and it made me think about that week.

However, there is a rummage sale this week at the Presbyterian church, and someone was selling a “Legend” cassette (Marley’s greatest hits) and since I only have a cassette player in my car, I bought it. I must admit, now that I am going through my Bob Marley phase (as Joseph calls it), I really resonate with a lot of his stuff. The below example is… well an example. The language is foreign, certainly not the Queen’s english, but the heart is really on target. His songs seems to mix criticism of colonial Christianity with African American liberation motives with a srong hebraic understanding of God, but also some messianic themes. Here is a song called Redemption Song. Enjoy.

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.

But my hand was made strong
By the and of the almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.

Wont you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
cause none of them can stop the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? ooh!
Some say “its just a part of it:
We’ve got to fulfill de book.

Wont you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

If the US would require the nations we have free trade with to assume human rights standards roughly equivalent to ours, then it wouldn’t be so cheap for companies to outsource. This is because if workers weren’t treated like slaves in these countries and/or paid so little, then it wouldn’t be so cost-effective to set up shop there. Then companies would bring their work back to the US or at very least workers would be paid better.

“Love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah”

I have been listening to Cohen’s Hallelujah for a few months now, and always this line gives me pause. Is this what love is? Its funny because on the face of it, I want to disagree. Isn’t love our victory march after all? Then I think otherwise. Love would never declare victory. In the context of the song, to be so hurt and sad, yet to praise God, even through cold and broken prisms, is very much how I feel much of the time. Perhaps love will win. But it wont be like winning a war. It will be like people putting down thier weapons, realizing how many of thier own family they have killed with them. The way of God can and will bring about peace, but in our world now, there is so much brokenness and loss, I can barely squeek out my praise sometimes. But squeek it out I do. Hallelujah.

Every once in a while I think I want a tattoo. I have no theological qualms about it, but my wife thinks it is sexy and I kind of like the idea. The only problem is, I grasp how permanent it is, and if I am going to get something, I want it to be meaningful.

So… any ideas as to what I should get if I get one?