New Address for Blog

For those of you who have followed this blog... I'm moving it over to http://livingthequestions.wordpress.com.

The blog is moving because I have now made the transition from lay to clergy and am no longer at Trinity (they amazingly let me graduate...).  So please make the change with me and follow me over to WordPress.

So, I'll begin posting again now after a hiatus and look forward to hearing your comments on my running commentary on life and faith as it continues at livingthequestions.wordpress.com.

God-O-Meter

For those of you wondering where the 2008 Presidential Candidates fall on the God-O-Meter, here's Belief.net's take on it:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godometer/index.html

Watch This!

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Right and Wrong

I've had a lot of conversations lately with people who are struggling with what is right and what is wrong. Quite a few have primarily been wrestling with what is right particularly given their Christian faith. In essence they want to know what is a sin and what is not.

So I've been thinking (as somebody who is always looking for the right answer, looking to do what is right), sins are not purely checklists of things which are wrong. Sin is purely relational and I don't think we often get that (myself included). It isn't about following a list of things set out in the Bible as sins (although many are... but more about that later) and knowing that we are right and good... it's about being in relationship with one another, right relationship with one another.

Now, let's go back back to those items listed in the Bible as sins, as I said above, many are still sins. So now thinking about the relational framework, let's take adultery as an example. A woman cheats on her husband, commits adultery with another man (or even another woman). The problem is not only that it is adultery, but that she is in a relationship that is supposed to be characterized by trust and love (her relationship with her spouse or partner) and she has gone outside of that relationship, sharing a level of intimacy with another person. That breaks the trust with her spouse/partner and creates a huge rift in their relationship. But you may be saying that is only if he finds out... not true. The adulteress act causes her to constantly have her guard up around him, hoping he doesn't find out. She is not able to fully be with him, fully giving of himself, because she's always trying to make sure her act isn't found. It is entirely relational.

Every law, every command from God is not about setting up rules for us to follow but really about making sure we have the best possible relationships with one another. If I lie, if I cheat, if I steal... those cause relational problems with those around me. But, I will also argue that it isn't that cut and dry.

Let's say that I lie to a robber, telling them that there isn't anybody else in the apartment when a friend is down the hall. Maybe an extreme case, but if the robber takes my word and leaves, I have potentially protected my friend. But if sin is relational, it wasn't wrong for me to lie because I protected a friend from potential harm (especially from a robber).

While I'm sure that's a pretty easy case when most would agree, I think that as the cases get more and more difficult, we really want to do the right thing but aren't sure how to do that. So I argue that we begin to think more for ourselves, think more about relationships and what relationships are going to be hurt, how they are going to be hurt, if we take particular actions. I believe that if we begin to do that rather than following a list of "approved" sins, then we will be far better off. But perhaps I'm just in my own little world... =)

New TV

The last piece of my big graduation gift arrived today... The 40 inch flat screen pictured here. =)

Birthday Adventures Part Three (Final)

So after returning home from the cemetery (see the previous two posts), I didn't do much for two hours but watch TV and try to take a birthday nap (that didn't happen, I was too highly caffinated after Starbucks).

Then in the early evening I went with several good friends to TGI Fridays for dinner where they sang to me, brought me ice cream and gave me red balloons (which I proudly wore the rest of the night).

After a small weather mishap, we were able to go play mini-golf... My friends were kind enough to let me win on my birthday (but I will note that Jes King had the most hole-in-ones... And Ladona had the highest score... John gave up at several points... And Andrea was our rock).

Following golf, we hit a few rounds in the cages (what kind of cages? you may ask.. Well, we all wore helmets... Padded... Hopefully not with lice).

And with that I am now off for some quality sleep before churchy church tomorrow... Which I think my brother, Kevin, should attend... Yes, You Kevin!!!

Birthday Adventures Part Two

More from the day...

After leaving Starbucks, we proceeded to Trinity Lutheran Cemetery (not to be confused with Trinity Lutheran Seminary). On the way there, we were behing a manure truck which smelled horrible, and then raced a Porsche (who do you think won?).

Upon arrival at the cemetery, we took pictures while Jes' tummy groaned. After seeing the dead people (most were named Rausch), we left in search of a bathroom. In good Christian love, the kind people at the Lighthouse Christian Bookstore of Marysville allowed us to use their potty. I looked around and decided very quickly that 95% of everything in there was cheese.. Not provolone, but swiss.

Now we are on our way back home... More adventure updates forthcoming.

Birthday Adventures Part One

It is now 2:30 PM on my 26th birthday... Here's what I've been doing...

The day began while finishing watching the movie Lars and the Real Girl with Jes and Ladona.

I then took a short sleep beginning at 2:00 AM until 8:00 AM. Then we went to the Grill and Skillet for brunch, I had french toast, hashbrowns, and coffee.

Then we went shopping at the JC Penny Outlet Store (where I bought nothing) and the Eddie Bauer Warehouse Store (where I bought green stuff).

Now I have Starbucks and we're on our way to a cemetery... More later.

Love

Since finishing classes and then a vacation in Florida, I really haven't had a whole lot to do (waiting on a job...). I've done a fair amount of reading, but I must admit that I've also watched a whole lot of TV. I'm pretty used to watching whichever shows I've recorded due to the limited amount of time I had in my schedule. But now that I have almost an unlimited amount of time, I've been flipping channels and that means I've also come across a fair amount of junky TV.

In the last couple of days I've flipped through Vh1 several times and often noticed that they've been doing a Bachelor marathon. So I've been watching every now and again and then tonight, with nothing else to do, I watched a few episodes.

Now, I recognize that the Bachelor has been on for many years and it's not a new phenomenon, but I've been intrigued by the whole process. For those of you not familiar with the show, the premise is that there is a bachelor who starts with 25 single women and through a process of dating and interaction selects one woman from the group to whom he proposes. But as I've watched, I've wondered how this is actually supposed to work. Part of marriage is about being able to be intimately vulnerable with your spouse and I cannot imagine anybody being able to do that fully with cameras recording every move. I will note that this is probably why no bachelor (that I know of) has every actually married the woman he's proposed to at the end of the show (the only one that has worked was actually a bachelorette, Trista and the man she met on the show, Ryan).

But beyond the ability (or lack thereof) to be vulnerable, one comment by a woman on tonight's episode struck me. In a one-on-one conversation with the bachelor, following a question of whether she was really interested, this woman told him that he was everything she wanted in a man. She didn't say that she wanted him, instead said that she wanted a projection that he fulfilled. I think there is a distinct difference between the two - the difference between wanting to be with one particular person as opposed to an idea that one particular person happens to fulfill.

I think in the end that's when real relationships happen (both romantic and friendship), when we want to be with the person that's in front of us, not when we want to be with a projection that person happens to fulfill. Because it is in the moment when we want to be with that person that we no longer view them as an object that fits something we want. It is then that we are truly in relationship, recognizing that no other person can take their place even if they have similar qualities.

So why do the relationships on the Bachelor never seem to work out? I think there are many reasons, but this may be one of them. But what about the rest of us who enter into relationship without cameras and the rest of the nation watching? Are we doing so because of something the person represents or because we truly want to be with that particular person?

Just some thoughts... =)

Recent Purchase

Here's my purchase for the night... =)

Bumper Sticker

I saw this in the parking lot where I had dinner tonight. =)

Amen

Here's a video for one of Kid Rock's new songs, Amen. I'm interested to know what you think.

emerginglutherans.org

It has been a very long time since I've posted anything here... I plan on getting back into the groove with blogging now that schools over.

So now that school is done (yes, I am a seminary graduate), I invite you to check out an ongoing project that is the result of a group independent study: http://www.emerginglutherans.org.

We also have a blog, something I've started writing for as well... you can check that out at http://www.emerginglutherans.org/blog.

I look forward to continuing conversation!

Kate

Lunch View

My view from where I ate lunch today... Just thought I would share. =)

Language

I've been thinking a lot about language lately. Most of this has been fueled by an independent study with a group of fellow seminarians studying the emerging church conversation. As we talk more about what the church looks like in a postmodern context, much of the conclusions we come to are centered around language.

Add to all this the fact that my other independent study is further work in Greek by translating Romans as well as leading tutorials for the Hebrew 1 students. What you get is a seminary student who is thinking (perhaps way too much) about language.

But today I had another thought stimulus. I was reading Organic Community by Joseph R. Myers and he has a whole chapter about language in the book. In the chapter, he discusses how we are a noun-centered culture but are currently shifting to a verb-centered culture. In a noun-centric culture, the noun or the subject is what the entire sentence focuses on and the rest of the sentence supports the noun. However, Myers argues that we are starting to shift to a focus on the verb, the action. This shift also places everything in relationship as motion or movement is always in some sort of relationship.

This is also key as much of those studying postmodernity are learning, language is finite and therefore it can be difficult to describe things that seemingly do not have only one meaning. I.e. when I think about a spoon and then talk about a spoon with another person, even though we'll both have a general idea of what a spoon is, we may have different images of the spoon in our head. I may be thinking of a plain silver spoon while my friend imagines one with a plastic handle. It's a simple example, but hopefully you understand what I'm talking about.

So it is with language and postmodernity. In today's context, we are reluctant to name something concretely with one term. Instead we opt for multiple nouns and focus on the verb.

So now to the thought stimulus. Taking all this reading about verb-centered versus noun-centered language into account, I began thinking about my translation of Romans. I have noticed that Paul used infinitive verbs over and over again where an indicative verb would have worked just as well (at least in my mind). Now, the understanding is that using an infinitive (often as an indicative) is a sign of more sophisticated Greek... but I began to wonder if my desire for a clear subject and a finite verb is a symptom of my modern mind (the part that is modern). Is it that even the Greeks (or perhaps more the Hebrews as Paul was also a Judean...) were a bit more verb-centric? Perhaps the use of the infinitive in Greek is a way of indicating the action and the relationship it sustains is what is most important. Thus, the verb stands on its own as opposed to describing the noun/subject and really the noun/subject helps describe the verb. Maybe this just isn't the case at all and I'm making it all up... =)

Does any of this make sense to anyone other than me? Is anybody as excited about this as I am? Or am I just being a dork (probably)? =)

Thoughts?

Yes We Can

Today has truly been Ash Wednesday.

It wasn't just Ash Wednesday because of the liturgical calendar or because I was reminded I am dust and to dust I shall return as the gritty, grimy ashes were placed on my forehead. Today was also Ash Wednesday because I was reminded in very real ways of just how human we are. Friends were either mourning a death this morning or in surgery. Others were struggling with emotional responses to illness. Some have suffered some real difficulties and it seemed like today was the day that all came to bare.

Today has truly been Ash Wednesday.

But in the midst of it, I was reminded that even though I am but dust, even though we are but dust, God calls us out of that and into relationship. God's promises continue to give us hope. I was reminded especially by a music video put together with Barack Obama's victory speech in South Carolina a week ago or so. So I pass this along... and hopefully you'll watch it regardless of your political leanings. I like the messages of hope and unity as we look to the future of not only this country, but for the world and the church as well.

An Update and Some Thoughts

A good friend recently reminded me that I had not updated my blog in the time post-surgery. My ankle is doing nicely and progressing. I have been out of the splint and off crutches for about a week and a half now - back into the boot. I see my doctor this Thursday to get my stitches out and hopefully be out of the boot. Pain is minimal and I haven't really been taking any painkillers - occasionally I'll take some Tylenol but that's it for the past week or so.

The new semester (and my last as an M. Div. student) started today and as part of that I have been engaged in much theological thought in the past several days. I had an experience last night that made me pause and gave me some room for thought so I suppose I will share with you.

I was at a Super Bowl party hosted by some friends of mine. All the people in attendence were Trinity students until two people that I as well as the party hosts know, but are not seminary students, walked in. I talked with them for a bit and so did my friend John - but then I pulled back and watched. Nobody talked with the newcomers even after they were introduced. Granted, there was a football game and commercials on TV - but even as we headed into halftime and people moved from their seats and were talking to others near these two people, nobody engaged them. Here are a bunch of leaders in the Lutheran church and we can't get outside of ourselves, outside of our comfort zone, to welcome the stranger. I bet money there are very few people outside of the three of us who already know them that could tell me who the two are and what they do for a living. I felt horrible because in contrast, when I first met them, they were nothing but welcoming to me and engaged me when I was the stranger in the group. I think we as Lutherans have a lot to learn from them!

So now as I contemplate the nature of the church and what it looks like, I think hospitality is going to be a big piece I carry into my future ministry. Teaching people to be hospitible. Making sure that I am and holding myself accountable - always looking for the stranger and making sure they are no longer a stranger. Even if there is a big game on TV - I can take a few minutes out of my life to ask a few questions and get to know somebody. What's more important, the game or a relationship with a person?

Just some thoughts...

Kate

Surgery

I had surgery on my ankle this morning. Now I'm hanging out with some friends this weekend.

Since I have posted pictures of my bandaging in the past (particularly when I first injured myself), I thought I would post a picture of my huge bandage post op. I'm looking forward to next Thursday already because I'll get it off then. =)

Kate

Vantage Point

I absolutely love the previews before movies. Some people don't care if they see them or not, but I really enjoy getting to the theater with enough time to see the trailers. I suppose the reasons I like them are exactly what the movie studios are hoping for - I am usually entertained and it helps me figure out what movies I want to see in the next several months. But I love them anyway.

So when my brother and I went to see I am Legend last week (good movie), I was excited to sit and watch the trailers before the film. One particular movie caught my eye. I had seen the trailer once before and it intrigued me then, but in some ways the concept of the movie grabbed me for different reasons this time.

The movie, Vantage Point, is an action movie about the assassination attempt on the American President. The tag line for the film early in the trailer is, "8 strangers, each with a different vantage point, each with a piece of the puzzle." This got me thinking a bit about faith and life in general (of course...). (If you want to watch the trailer, click here)

I have been thinking a lot lately about how our particular perspectives of God are not complete - they are only perspectives and cannot encompass everything God is. If we were fully able to describe God, God would no longer be God. God is the one Truth, but we all only have part of the picture.

What if we approached our faith from that perspective? What if the other Christian traditions have a perspective that is just as valid as ours but only different? Sure, there are probably things we are wrong about just as there are things they are wrong about... but what if we can respect each other's faith as an authentic attempt at understanding the Truth? What if we listened to one another seeking to learn from the other's perspective? What if we approached church and faith like this?

Then I started reading Peter Rollins' book, How (Not) to Speak of God. He makes many of the same claims and puts more language to what I had been struggling with, what I had been thinking about. He constructs a whole theology based around this very notion (and I think very solidly too). This theology emerges out of postmodern thought and as we think about how to be the church in the world today, I think Rollins has something very valuable to offer to the conversation.

But again, I do think faith should be approached from the idea of perspectives and vantage points. None of us has a lock on God, none of us has a clear idea of who God is. We only see what we can given our limitedness (and God's infinite nature) and our given context.

The final tag line in the trailer for the movie says, "If you think you've seen it all, look again." Maybe we should all look again at what it means to be Christian.

Just some thoughts. I would love to hear what you all think.

Kate