Take me to your Leader

We now enter the book of Judges. Feel free to glance over December’s blog entries to refresh your memory of where we left off. By the way, “judge” is translated to simply be another word for “leader.”

Following Joshua’s death, God appoints Judah to replace him as leader. And, as pattern will dictate, the fighting returns, mainly with the Canaanites. Apparently, custom dictated the cutting off the thumbs and big toes of defeated kings before they were killed. Now think about it; can you imagine how that reduces one’s activities, not to mention the humiliation?

Most of Judges is taken up with on-again off-again fighting. Subsequent generations of the Israelites lose sight of what their daddies and granddaddies went through and the covenant with God. They stray big time (no details of how) and each time God gets pissed and sends them defeat at the hands of untold enemies. And in battle, victories are seen as God’s clear intervention, but defeats are seen as a result of their disobedience. God is never blamed. He get all credit and none of blame. Then He brings them another judge (leader) and they straighten up. And of course, these are effective, successful leaders because it is always stated that they had been chosen by God. Any period without leadership and order goes willy-nilly. “…when [each] judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers.” People do not seem able to lead themselves.

Confession #56: This passage clearly speaks to humans’ need for leadership. Whether conductor, football coach, CEO or president, our species does seem to need that role. I wonder why. Shouldn’t true self-actualization mean one can and does govern himself wisely? Oh well. We have just elected a new president in this country, and I think an overriding factor in his success (all policies and resume aside) lies in his inherent qualities as a leader. Temperament, thinking and decision-making process, values, compatibilities, these are what probably compelled many to flip the lever to Mr. Obama. Although I am sure I will disagree with some things he does (I already have some argument with some of the bail-out targets), I feel an intrinsic trust in the qualities above mentioned.

• For a terrific read on leadership, I recommend Elizabeth I, CEO by Alan Axelrod. 

It examines how brilliantly Queen Elizabeth led England in the Renaissance revealed short, entertaining, illustrative anecdotes. 

 

Confession #57: Each of us is put in positions of leadership, large or small, long-term or short-term, whether boss, parent, or community organizer. The Bible offers interesting models to pattern one’s self after or avoid. I think this is a subject worth examining so that we choose good leaders and become good leaders when called upon.  

What's in a word

O.K., kids, back to work! We start first with homework. Your assignment is to ponder, reflect, meditate, research, and hopefully respond to this.

Recently, I got into an interesting debate with a friend of mine who happens to be an 80 year old Jewish woman. She took exception to some modern translations of the Bible. So consider the following:

• What is the difference between, “Thou shalt not kill,” and “Thou shalt not murder?”

• What is the difference between, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself?”

Don’t want to taint your own thinking process, so I’m just planting the seeds for thought and I will return in a few blog entries to tell you what I think, but I hope to hear from you first.

On to another subject. The start of a new year is a good time to trim many things: our waistlines, our spending, and in my case, our DVR recordings. When one is about to tape the Inauguration just to be told “You..are..out..of..recording..space,” it is time to purge. I had saved three editions of Mysteries of the Bible Revealed from the Discovery Channel for more months than I care to reveal, waiting for the right time to watch re-enactments of Exodus, etc. (You see, all things Biblical I can really procrastinate over.) Finally knocked out 2 of them last night – Exodus and Noah’s Ark.

Both explore and attempt to offer scientific, physical proof of biblical events. The first focuses on the 10 plagues of Egypt (See my September 24 blog entry to jog your memory). It was immensely fascinating as they offered sound logic how each plague led to the next. For example, when the waters of the river became toxic, that would have compelled the frogs to leap out of water, then die, breeding the gnats. And so on and so on. It all made great scientific sense. Even the parting of the Red Sea was recreated under simulated circumstances of nature.

Now, does that mean since they could be explained as simply natural events that God is not a figure in them? Or could God have understood the natural order of events (hell, he designed them, right?) and used them to send a message?

Another thing to keep in mind, these scriptures were written long, long after the “fact.” So, let’s say it is true that there was an infestation of locusts. That true story could have been used to teach a lesson, man to man. After all, man has long constructed superstition and myth to explain away inexplicable physical phenomenon.

Confession #55: All around us we are witness to extraordinary events in nature. And if God is not nature, I don’t know what is. Tying these events to “natural” occurrences does not invalidate God’s intentions by them. But neither do these events presume His intentions either.

God's Eye View?

In hopes God blesses our intentions...

Give Us a Hail Mary Pass

Boy, was there a lot of religion on the football field yesterday. Well, o.k., a lot of praying.

I watched more football in a day then I’ve sat through in a month. Back to back with our Arizona Cardinals shocking the world (except for their very loyal fans) by earning a trip to the Super Bowl, AND my husband’s beloved Steelers earning the like.

But oh, the praying. Every time I looked at Polamalu he was making the sign of the cross. Kurt Warner’s usual sound bite attributed their win to Jesus, and others genuflected after every touchdown. But the most poignant display came from a teammate of Willis McGahee’s when he was injured on field and had to be transported off. I don’t know who this player was (with the Ravens) but the entire long minutes while McGahee was being tended to, and all watching held our breaths that he was not a spinal case, this player held a kneeling position off to the side, head bowed in deep prayer. Others did the like on the bench. 

I was moved.

Confession #54:  Don’t know if God is a Cardinals’ fan or the Steelers', or into sports at all. But as they say, prayer can’t hurt. And whether it actually is a mainline to a god who listens, or just gives one the confidence to accomplish the otherwise unthinkable, I say it is a powerful process.

Lawdy, Lawdy, Look Who's Back!

If you are reading this, you haven’t given up on the ol’ virgin here, God love ya! So here’s a headline to chew on to warm us back up to the Old Testament: Green Bible Sparks Debate Among Christians. Oh, this is a good one.

A new edition (as opposed to “version”) of the bible was released in October. Simply put, it highlights in green all references to the earth and environment. It seems there are more than twice these references as there are to love or heaven. It seeks to raise consciousness about Humans’ responsibilities as stewards of the earth. “The Green Bible will equip and encourage people to see God's vision for creation and help them engage in the work of healing and sustaining it.”

Seems like a good mission, yes? Oh, no, say some evangelicals. “I am concerned that many who call themselves Christians don’t interpret the bible literally," said James Taylor, senior fellow of environmental policy at Heartland Institute, a conservative Chicago-based think tank.

Confession #52: Yea? Well, I worry about the ones who DO take each word to the letter, especially when that letter has already been interpreted many times and many ways.

Again I find myself asking WHAT in the world are people so afraid of? People really can’t be good God-fearing Christians and see that role as including a devotion to taking good care of God’s greater creation? Evidently, some worry that such Earth-day activities just distract one from literally following and spreading the word of God. The ultra-conservative among the evangelicals see this as another cog in the “liberal” wheel of moral and political decay. Oh, please!

Now, not all evangelicals are completely loony. Many have been finding common ground with other groups in a shift toward recognizing the need for wiser earth practices and have dubbed themselves part of a Creation Care movement.

Confession #53: I believe the idea of finding a sacredness in how we view and treat the planet we’ve been placed on is a beautiful and wise perspective. We’ve been given “dominion;” with that must come thoughtful and long-reaching care-taking. Later in the Bible, we will read, “God is love.” Seems to me that love must be applied to our greater home.

The First of the New

Happy New Year!

My days have been spinning from the holidays with three grown children back under our roof, and even our little grand-dog.  Joy abounds.

Stay tuned because we will return to the Old Testament within the next day or two.  In the meantime...

May your 2009 be filled with happiness and personal enlightenment.  Be good to yourself and allow the world to be good to you.