Hearing the Story Anew

I am still savoring the wonderfulness of this past Holy Week,
with its effects lingering on and delighting my soul. Before this
Holy Week I realized that I was forgetting the Story that had
captivated my life all these many years.

I remember that last Advent (the four weeks before Christ-
mas) I was thrilled as I heard God's promises again, eagerly
awaiting the birth of the baby Jesus. And, oh the joy of Christ-
mas Day, and how it swept me on into Epiphany (January 6).

But, as I had done many times before, I started to forget the
Story, that is, until Holy Week. Something clicked in me on Palm
Sunday, and I sensed my heart getting more in tune with God's
redeeming grace. Over the days of Holy Week I started remem-
bering the Story again and I sensed that my heart was gradual-
ly being tuned by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

On Monday of Holy Week I listened on my IPod to the Story
put to music and sung by the likes of Michael Card and The Sec-
ond Chapter of Acts, some of my favorite vocalists and song-
writers. During the next two days the Story was visualized for
me. On Tuesday a small group of us walked through Jesus' walk
to the Cross and on Wednesday a colleague led us through a Jew-
ish Passover Seder, tying it to the life and death of Jesus.

On Thursday I attended a Maundy Thursday service. As we
took opportunity to focus our attention on Christ's death, the
sanctuary was cleared of Christian imagery and the lights were
turned down. We then all left in silence, preparing ourselves
for the great event of the next day.

On Good Friday the Story started coming to a climax. Good Fri-
day is good because by His death on the cross Jesus has won for
us the victory of salvation. At the church I go to, I was able to
hear reflections on the Story of Christ's crucifiction and the ef-
fects of His death on us today. Later that day at the same church
I joined with others in renewing our baptismal vows and taking
the first communion of Easter. As we pondered the redeeming
work of Christ on the cross at the end of the service, the organ-
ist let loose with a beautiful, awe-inspiring voluntary that that
filled the sancturary with praise and honor to God. It was breath-
taking and inspiring!

I'll write soon about the events of Resurrection Sunday. But
now I want to stress that my heart was being tuned in order
to praise God for all the great things God had done through
Jesus Christ.

Until the next time, peace.

Divine Choreography

I often view lively, biblically-based, Spirit-inspired faith to be
like a dance. It is not so much choreographed steps that we
men and women dance, but a divine choreography, the Dance
of God. Jesus Christ, the Son, dances; God the Father choreo-
graphs; and the Spirit of God animates and invigorates, enabl-
ing the Dancer, Jesus, to dance the Dance choreographed by
the Father. All we can do is watch and marvel at God's glorious
Dance.

Every year for countless generations, we and our ancestors
have watched the the same Dance unfold. During Advent, the
four Sundays before Christmas, we hear the promises of the
coming Dancer, and wait in eager anticipation and expectation.
At Christmas we joyfully celebrate the Dancer coming to dance
among us women and men who knew not how to dance the
dance of life.

It was on a Friday nearly two thousand years ago that the Danc-
er got out on a dance floor outside a city gate of ancient Jerusal-
em and danced the Dance that not one of us could ever dance.
He died. He was buried. But the Spirit raised Him from the dead.
Out on the dance floor He went, dancing the dance we could nev-
er dance.

The Dance did not end there with the Risen Dancer dancing the
night away in Jerusalem of yesteryear. We continue through the
year to remember Jesus' ascension to be with the Father (this
year on May 17) and the coming of the Holy Spirit with power
at Pentecost (May 27). But even then the Dance is not ended,
for we eagerly await Jesus' coming again in glory.

Please do not take me too literally or seriously for what I now
write. But I often envision the Triune God out on the dance
floor, taking great pleasure in dancing the Dance. All around
the dance floor there are multitudes of us who believe that we
are not good enough dancers to go out on the dance floor to
dance the night away. But I see the Triune God inviting us out
onto the dance floor to join in God's Dance. And I hear the Tri-
une God saying to each one of us: 'Dance, my children, dance!'

Continued blessings to you and yours.

Starting to Descend

This past week I experienced what felt like the girding up of my
loins for the final stage of my dissertation writing. I wasn't real-
ly expecting it, but I wasn't surprised when it happened. During
the past three weeks I have submitted my introduction and sixth
chapter. My advisor was pleased with both submissions, and we
agreed that I had turned a significant corner. I am several days
away from finishing my eighth chapter (chapter seven is done),
and I have already written a significant portion of the final chap-
ter. I expect to have that done by early May. I will submit a qual-
ity draft of all the chapters to my advisor in early June. Based
on his evaluation, I plan to submit my completed dissertion for
examination no later than September 1.

Late last December I flew from Frankfurt to Denver, a twelve
hour flight. I enjoyed chatting with my seat companion during
much of the time in the air. Even though it was long flight, it
was a good one. About an hour and a half out of Denver the pi-
lot announced when we would be expected to land and what
the weather was like in the Denver area. I had been having a
good time, but I was excited about reaching my destination. I
felt a burst of energy and I had a grin on my face as well as a
smile on my heart.

That's how I feel now, only more so. And rather than being a
passenger on the plane, I am the pilot of a Boeing 747 Jumbo
jet. The control tower has just reported that they have picked
me up on their radar. I look at the check list of things I need
to do as we prepare to land. It used to be a lengthy check list
at the beginning of the flight, but now it has gotten shorter. All
that I need to do is follow my submitted flight plan and keep
checking off the things that need to be done. There is still a lot
to do, but the end is now in sight. I am working very hard, but
I am having fun doing it!

So, dear friends and family, if you have an occasion to remember
me in your prayers, please pray for me.

All the best to you and yours.

Decompression, a Parade, and a Long Conversation

This past Thursday I turned in a draft of my seventh of nine
chapters. I worked on it quite intensively, so I was relieved to
submit it to my supervisor. I needed time to decompress be-
fore I start work on the eighth chapter on Monday. I have been
doing reading for fun, walking, listening to radio programs on
my IPod, and doing light chores that I had neglected.

Today, Saturday, I took pleasure in the annual Kate Kennedy
Procession. Nothing much is known about the Lady Kate, and
legends about her abound. But there has been a procession in
her honor for many centuries now, celebrating the return of
spring to Scotland. Today was a glorious spring day that accom-
panied the 2007 edition of the Kate Kennedy procession. How
I enjoyed it!

The procession has been organized by the Kate Kennedy Club,
and it has three purposes: to preserve university traditions, to
encourage university and town relations, and to raise funds for
local charities. The highpoint each year for the club is organizing
and conducting the procession. The procession promotes and
proclaims the collective memories of the town and university.

The procession of selected students representing just over
eighty significant historical figures of the town and university
process through the three main streets of the town. There are
colorful figures from the early Scottish church, the War of In-
dependence, the founding and long history of the university
(since 1410), the arts and sciences from the university, the
Scottish Reformation, Royalty, the National Covenant era,
revolution, reform, and the town, each figure or group dress-
ed in the colorful attire of their era. There was a bagpipe and
drum marching band at each end of the procession. I loved
the history, pageantry, and especially the bagpipers. The mu-
sic really stirred my heart and I wanted to get out on the street
and march with them. It was all quite fun!

Since the procession was relatively short, I viewed it from var-
ious places in the town. I was waiting for the procession to come
to my new vantage point when a Scottish guy I had seen around
town for the past few years came up and started to chat with me.
People say I am easy to talk to, so I do have plenty of occasions
when people I don't really know come up to me and engage me
in conversation. Over the years I have had many memorable
conversations. It seems to happen when I least expect it, but
I really enjoy it.

He started talking to me about political stuff in the US that was
in line with British public opinion and the British press. Many
times I sense a degree of hostility from British people and the
British press in regards to the president and various policy is-
sues. Politically I am conservative, and when I hear such talk I
usually roll my eyes and move on. But I was really annoyed, and
I went after him.

I sensed that he realized that I was not like most Americans liv-
ing here in St. Andrews. I would characterize most of the Amer-
cans, ever since 2000, as being in a state of moaning and groan-
ing, and mourning, that is until the US elections last November.
As I replied his eyes got bigger and he seemed to think more
carefully about what he was going to say.

But I really respected him because, even though he realized
we held contrary positions, he didn't walk away but convers-
ed with me for over an hour. He recognized our disagreement,
but he listened to me. In all of this he never told me that I or
anybody else with my views were evil, stupid, or a Christian
right wing idiot. He didn't go ballistic on me! I firmly believed
he was wrong, but I would never have considered him evil or
warped. We listened to each other and had respect for one an-
other.

We both got so caught up in our discussion that we didn't take
the opportunity to watch the parade going by. But it was worth
it.

The Italian Connection

I had wanted to write about my Holy Week, Good Friday, and
Easter Sunday, but that will wait until later. I would like to
share with you about my dinner conversation at evening meal
today. I was eating and chatting with three delightful Italian
students over the evening meal just a few minutes ago.

For three weeks now I have been taking my evening meals
at Deans Court, the postgraduate accommodation just be-
hind the building where I have my office. I have now been in
St. Andrews for three and a half years. Deans Court was where
I stayed my first two years. Each of the fifty postgraduate stu-
dents has his or her own room, and three meals a day, five days
a week, are provided. I really enjoyed my time there because
I made friends from various countries of the world. I have to
admit that I wish now that I had not moved out because I did
enjoy it so much. I have so many happy memories there and
friends whom I remember fondly.

Two good friends of mine, Michael from Slovakia and Alan from
Scotland, were at Deans Court when I lived there and had also
moved out the same time I did, but had continued to take their
evening meals at the residence. Three weeks ago I talked with
the administrator and asked if I could take my evening meals
there. Ever since she gave me her ok, I have never regretted
being back there.

The food is good (the chef is a good cook); it costs me about the
same (if not less) than cooking for one on my own; I get vege-
tables, fruit, and a good variety of food; and I have very interest-
ing table companions. It has been a very good deal for me.

I have tended to be one of the last ones to leave the dining room
each night because I get caught up talking to people (and I am a
very slow eater). Tonight I found myself sitting across the table
from three Italians (one from the north, one from the south, and
one from the middle). Two of them are doctoral students in phil-
osophy and the other is a Masters student in history. I asked
about whether Italy ever had much in the way of colonies. What
followed was a history lesson about the Italian city states and the
reasons why Italy never really had an empire. Then they told me
about the distinct differences between their respective regions. I
really enjoyed the conversation and listening to each one share
about his affection for his respective region.

I left well-satisfied with good food and excellent table conversa-
tion.

What to Do About What Was Done

Last week I was experiencing a tension, perhaps even a con-
flict, in my life. I was going through a time of sustained clarity
of mind and an abundance of energy. I was able to write a sub-
stantial portion of the next chapter of my dissertation. I had
such a momentum going that I had planned to turn in my next
chapter early next week!

The tension arose when I realized that this week was Holy
Week. For many centuries now the Church has seen fit to set
aside special days to help God's people prepare their hearts
for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, the high point of
the Christian year.

But sadly, I felt that Holy Week was taking me away from
concentrating on getting more of my dissertation done. I just
did not want to be bothered by all kinds of Holy Week activities
that would distract me from what I thought I needed to do.
God seemed to be interfering with my plans. I sought ways to
blow off the events of Holy Week.

But God slowly and graciously confronted me, questioned my
reading of reality, opened the eyes of my heart, and changed
my attitude. I sensed the change of my heart at church on Palm
Sunday. In a variety of ways those of us there all participated
in the drama of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem and the events
that led Him to death on the Cross. Through the preached
word we pondered Christ's suffering on the Cross in our place,
and later we were nourished by sharing in His death at the
Communion Table. I noticed that my heart was slowly soft-
ening and loosening its controlling grip on the agenda of my
life.

Later that day a friend and I went to see the movie Amazing
Grace. The movie powerfully portrayed how God's amazing
grace brought to life a dead-hearted slave ship captain and
won the life-long allegiance of a member of the British Parlia-
ment who committed the best years of his life to abolishing the
slave trade and reforming British society. What impressed me
was not the amazing things these two men did, but that their
lives were anchored and grounded in God's amazing grace, that
is, what God had done through Jesus Christ's death on the Cross.
I was moved by what I saw in the movie.

I am letting the rolling wave of Holy Week wash over me. So
far this week both Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer have
centered on the passion of Christ. On Tuesday a small group
of us prayed and walked through Jesus' own walk to His death,
pausing for times of prayer, devotion, and reflection on what he
had done.

Last night children and adults gathered for a messianic inter-
pretation of the Jewish Passover Seder. The Passover Seder
is arranged around four questions, each asked by a different
child. All the answers focused on what God has done to liber-
ate the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Since that act of
liberation so long ago, Jewish people throughout the centuries
have reclined at the Passover table and identified themselves
with their ancestors whom God had delivered some 1500 years
before Christ.

I have often associated Moses with the Exodus, but he is never
mentioned anywhere in the Passover Seder. The focus, however,
is on God and what God has done to liberate God's people. The
beautiful words spoken during the meal are full of blessings upon
God's Name, remembering what God had done to rescue Israel
from slavery, and crying out to God for God's continued deliver-
ance and blessing. The meal stretched my heart, making it in-
creasingly capable to hear again and remember what God had
done for Israel in the Exodus, and what God did for us by means
of a greater exodus, Jesus' death on the Cross.

It is Maundy Thursday as I write this, my heart is growing in-
creasingly aware of all that God has done through Jesus. Tonight
at church there will be a choral eucharist and Stripping of the
Sanctuary, followed by a time of waiting in silence. It will be a
precious time to contemplate and ponder all that God did all so
long ago. More importantly, in a way I don't quite understand,
we are there in the Upper Room with Jesus and the disciples,
and then at the foot of the Cross. It is my sin, it is all of our sins,
that put Jesus Christ to death on the Cross. He died to set us free
from the bondage of sin. Oh, how I need to remember that.

Tomorrow, Good Friday, especially the afternoon, will be a time
to remember, to wonder, and to ponder Jesus' death. It is sad
to say that I often get caught up focusing on what I am to do
rather than looking at what God has done. The Christian faith
is not a religion of dos and don'ts, but a relationship with the
Living Lord based on faith in what God has done through Jesus'
death on the Cross. I mourn that I often forget that. Let us pon-
der all that God has done for us through Christ's work on the
Cross.

Blessings to you and yours.