Well, it has been awhile since I have written anything, thanks to the busy Easter season. We had a great Holy Week at Avenue so far. We had two great experiential and contemplative services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. They are refreshing because they are different than what we do on Sunday morning. Last night, I was at the sound board for the majority of the service and it was a blessing to take in the service rather than leading it for once.
Andrea and I are both on Spring Break this week. Well, I am off school, but still have work. I am working from home most of the week in order to spend more time with Andrea and Abbie (who know has 5 teeth and is 9 months old!). We are heading to Lancaster, PA next weekend to hangout with our friends BJ and Rachel Whitaker. I have minimal school work to do this week, so it will be a nice change of pace.
In other news, our worship team began recording a CD last week. We did five songs on the first marathon session. I will be posting a studio blog later with details and pictures. We head back to the studio this Wednesday to lay down some more tracks. It's pretty exciting, but really tiring too!
Finally, I hope that everyone has a blessed Easter and that you experience the presence of the Risen Christ in your life!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Moses and Mind-Bending Drugs
So I don't really recommend using mind-bending narcartics to create a more intense spiritual experience. Evidently, at least one scholar believes that Moses was high and in a mind-altared stated when he heard God's voice in the burning bush. You can read the article here.
I'm aware that opiates and other mind-altering drugs have (and are still) used in various religious exercises of different faiths. What I don't agree with the researcher is that Moses had to be high to hear from God. The researcher said,
Basically, the researches believes the event happened (which means it is not legend), but that it was not a supernatural cosmic event. Hence the need for drugs to have the experience Moses had. There are some that beleive that the crowds that saw Jesus ascend into heaven were experiencing a group hallucination.
I think what we see is that we have lost the ability to believe in the supernatural power of God. We have found, through science, that many times there is a quantitative explanation for each event. And while I affirm what science does- it is simply amazing, but science does not mean that God does not work inside and outside the realms of the laws of nature. One should seriously consider reading Francis Collins' book, The Language of God.
Here is my big problem with Shanon, the researcher in the article above...our stance on this comes down to our view of God. First, if God is the Creator of the universe, then God can altar the rules of nature to communicate to His created beings. If God created the sea, then God can part the sea. If God breathed life into humanity, than God can certainly bring a person back from the dead. Miracles occur because God exist outside our concept of time and space. God is transcendant, above and beyond our limitations and boundaries.
Is the God we serve and worship big enough to work in miraculous ways? I believe that God is.
I'm aware that opiates and other mind-altering drugs have (and are still) used in various religious exercises of different faiths. What I don't agree with the researcher is that Moses had to be high to hear from God. The researcher said,
"As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic
event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or
finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of
Israel under the effect of narcotics," Shanon told Israeli public radio on
Tuesday.
Basically, the researches believes the event happened (which means it is not legend), but that it was not a supernatural cosmic event. Hence the need for drugs to have the experience Moses had. There are some that beleive that the crowds that saw Jesus ascend into heaven were experiencing a group hallucination.
I think what we see is that we have lost the ability to believe in the supernatural power of God. We have found, through science, that many times there is a quantitative explanation for each event. And while I affirm what science does- it is simply amazing, but science does not mean that God does not work inside and outside the realms of the laws of nature. One should seriously consider reading Francis Collins' book, The Language of God.
Here is my big problem with Shanon, the researcher in the article above...our stance on this comes down to our view of God. First, if God is the Creator of the universe, then God can altar the rules of nature to communicate to His created beings. If God created the sea, then God can part the sea. If God breathed life into humanity, than God can certainly bring a person back from the dead. Miracles occur because God exist outside our concept of time and space. God is transcendant, above and beyond our limitations and boundaries.
Is the God we serve and worship big enough to work in miraculous ways? I believe that God is.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Catching Up
I have been wanting to post a blog for several days now. I've had one rolling around in my head. But today will not be the day to do it. Maybe tomorrow.
We've had a busy week. There has been something going on every night. I did a wedding on Saturday and saw our High School's performance of Fiddler on the Roof (They did excellent!). Abbie came down with a cold last night, so I was up part of the night with her (superdad!). Andrea had a committment today, so Abbie and I hung out. She was feeling pretty bad a wouldn't take a nap. So I loaded her in the car and drove. She fell asleep. So did I when we got back in our driveway. We snoozed for about 15 minutes just sitting in the car!
Church was decent today. I was so tired from last night that I was kinda out of it. I think I need a week off (I have coming!).
I am hoping to put up a real post tomorrow (or the next day).
We've had a busy week. There has been something going on every night. I did a wedding on Saturday and saw our High School's performance of Fiddler on the Roof (They did excellent!). Abbie came down with a cold last night, so I was up part of the night with her (superdad!). Andrea had a committment today, so Abbie and I hung out. She was feeling pretty bad a wouldn't take a nap. So I loaded her in the car and drove. She fell asleep. So did I when we got back in our driveway. We snoozed for about 15 minutes just sitting in the car!
Church was decent today. I was so tired from last night that I was kinda out of it. I think I need a week off (I have coming!).
I am hoping to put up a real post tomorrow (or the next day).
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