tag:www.ucth.org,2010://13 2010-07-12T21:47:46Z a welcoming and nurturing faith community on the shores of lake superior Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.ucth.org,2010://13.2374 2010-07-12T21:40:43Z 2010-07-12T21:47:46Z

Roger Anderson, a member of United, an elder, and a member of the Presbytery of Northern Waters Committee on Ministry, spent a week volunteering at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) down in Minneapolis. Here are some...

Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Roger Anderson, a member of United, an elder, and a member of the Presbytery of Northern Waters Committee on Ministry, spent a week volunteering at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) down in Minneapolis. Here are some of his reflections on his time there.]]> General Assembly 2010 My personal highlights are as follows: 1) Serving communion at General Assembly. That was my second time. My first time was in MIlwaukee in 1992. 2) Working the information booth at GA and being at the Narthex entrance of Westminster Church. I had the chance to have short conversations with many people. They ranged from a petroleum chemist for Eastman to several pastors who lived in various parts of the United States. I also ushered for the Wednesday morning service at Westminster.. 3) I spent too much money at the bookstore. Many of those books will to into our church library. The 219th General Assembly is on the internet at ga.219.pcusa.org . Saturday, 3 July I arrived in the Twin Cities about 1:00 p.m. and I was able to ckeck into my hotel in Roseville????? for about $55.00 per night. for Saturday and Sunday nights. That is less that the deals at the downtown hotels at $75.00-$100+ per night. I found a coupon and I was able to extend my stay for Monday through Thursday night at $45.00 per night. I will check out Friday morning. I am parking at the Central Lutheran Church lot. It is located across the street from one of the entrances to the Convention Center. Central Lutheran is in the ELCA. One of tier banners says "Welcome Presbyterian Church General Assembly Our full communion Partner". They also claim to have the largest traditional Lutheran worship space in North America. It is worth a visit. It was open for viewing and meditation. I drove down town and I parked in the Central Lutheran Church parking lot which I later found out is the low cost place to park and it is across the street from the Minneapolis Convention Center which is the meeting site for the General Assembly. I checked in with the volunteer coordinator. She issued me a badge which allows me to view all events and activities during the General Assembly (GA). I worked an information booth from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We had receivers and ear phones so that people could get real time translations into Spanish and Korean. The PCUSA must have many members who speak those languages. We were asked many times about places to dine locally. The convention center is about 2 blocks from several eateries. Page 2 Six people were placed in nomination for the position of Moderator. That person will lead our denomination for the next 2 years. It was a rainbow group including-blacks, whites, Hispanic, Korean and a pastor from our presbytery. Normally there are fewer people who stand for the office. I went out for supper after the nominations. There was a 90 minute question and answer session. It took 4 ballots to get a new moderator who immediately takes office. This felt like the political conventions that I remember from the 1960's. I went out for supper and as I returned, I met the Stated Clerk from the San Diego Presbytery. She was returning to her hotel to watch the activity as I returned to the convention center. She was an observer and she could not vote. She has known Rev. Phil Weiler for several years. The balloting was done by computer. First there were test questions such as "Did you eat supper?" Each delegate had 15 seconds to record an answer. The results were tabulated and displayed within seconds after the end of voting. The results were displayed on screens throughout the convention center and in the meeting room. The only people who had a good view of the podium were those in the rows nearest the speakers. The best views were on the screens similar to what is done at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Two Harbors. I left about 10:00 p.m., went to my motel and went to bed. The voting was done about 10:45 p.m. after ballots. Sunday 4 July I got up at 5:45 a.m. for "work". For the first time in many years I would be getting up at this time to be to work 6 days in a row. I needed to be at the convention center by 7:30 a.m. to get instructions on how to serve communion to the up to 8000 people expected to attend. I parked at the Hyatt Hotel which has a skywalk to the convention center as the low cost place on Sundays. The skywalk was handy because it was raining this morning. Logically First Lutheran needs their lot for Sunday worship. Page 3 The worship area was divided up into sections. I was in a section that had seats in retractable bleachers. I was assigned a group of 5 rows between 2 aisles. I started with the bottom row. Another person was at the other end received the tray and cup and moved them to the next row. Basically like we collect the offering. I started the tray with the bread and it was passed from one person to the next and then the other person moved things to the next row. After the bread was 3 persons down, I started the cup on its way. We got to our locations and our 2 captains checked to make sure that all of her areas of responsibility were covered. Our captains are in charge of about 20 people who were serving. The bleachers had 15 rows of seats. So, there were 2 other groups with us to cover all 15 rows. The trays for holding the bread and the cups for the grape juice were made by an artist in Wisconsin for this GA. I had served communion at the General Assembly when it was in Milwaukee in 1992. I do not remember anything special about the trays or cups. There was also great concern about gluten(sp?) allergies. There was a container of gluten free bread on each tray. There were also stations for those who had extreme allergies. Again I do non remember any concern in 1992. We used the intinction method. The service lasted 2 hours. I went out once for a rest room stop. Many people-particulary those with small children took breaks. Again the screens in the worship area were set up similar to Emmanuel Lutheran in Two Harbors. The service began with a "Sage Ceremony" similar to the one done for the first time in Milwaukee in 1992. English was the main language of the service although parts of the service such as the institution of the elements for communion was done in English, Spanish, and Korean. The person who gave the sermon was the outgoing moderator. The theme of this General Assembly is water because the Presbytery of Northern Waters with Lake Superior and the Presbytery on the Twin Cities on the Mississippi river are the host presbyteries and the Red River of the North also being part of Minnesota. For the first time at a General Assembly, an infant was baptized. This done in keeping with the water theme. The communion servers also collected the offering. After the offering, the baskets went to a security guard. The serving of communion went well. I did not spill the grape juice and I did not drop the tray of bread. That is always one of my worries. Page 4 I stayed at the convention center for an hour or two to look at the booths. I also bought some books. They will eventually end up in the Church Library. Then I went back to my hotel to sleep for 2 hours. Up again at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow to be at Westminster Church at 7:00 a.m. I will help man an information booth there until 11:00 a.m. each day through Friday. That will be my routine for the week. The Presbytery has one of the communion serving sets. Perhaps we could borrow it once to use for communion at the United Church. I watched the fireworks with family in downtown Minneapolis. It was a spectacular 25 minutes long. I waited about 45 minutes for traffic to clear out ahd then I drove back to my Motel. Monday, 5 July I was up at 5:45 a.m. Then I drove to the convention. I got off at 11th street and I had to thread my way through much street construction. I parked at the Central Lutheran Lot for $6.00. I was at Westminster Presbyterian Church for work at 7:00 p.m. I was assigned to the Nicolette Mall entrance. I greeted people as they entered the narthex of the Church. Some people wanted to look at the sanctuary. Most wanted to go to Calvin's Cafe for breakfast. I ate there for $10.00 during a break. It was busy from my start until about 8:30 a.m. which was the end of breakfast service. It was quiet for the rest of the morning until the end of my shift at 11:00 a.m. I went out for a bike ride. Bike riding is easier in Minneapolis than in Two Harbors because it is flatter. In Two Harbors, it seems like any travel is up steep hills much of the time. I helped a relative install some cabinets in his condo. Then I went back to General Assembly and I served at the information booth again. Some of the same people who were there on Saturday were also also there on Monday. I returned to my motel and I had supper and I went to bed. Page 5 Tuesday, 6 July Again up at 5:45 and I headed to the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Central Lutheran Church parking structure is very convenient. I did my 4 hour shift from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Westminster. After "work" I went to the trolly and I rode it from downtown out to the Mall of America. It was a $1.75 trip. I went both ways during the allotted time. I bought my ticket before I got on the train and nobody checked it as I got on. I thought that it was odd. About 3 stops into the trip, the transit police came onto our car and checked our tickets. A person near me did not have a ticket. He had tried to get a free ride several times before I gathered from the conversation with police. He did get a ticket from the police. I suspect that his ticket cost more than mine. I also went up into the Foshey Tower. The top level is a small museum and then I went up to the observation level. It was the tallest building in downtown Minneapolis for 40 years. Now it is hidden among the many taller buildings. I did look at some of the General Assembly Activity. I went back to my motel and i rested for the evening. Trivia: Who or what brought forth live in the sea and vegetation on the land? Look in Genesis Ch 1. Wednesday, 7 July My travel to downtown Minneapolis from the motel has now become “routine”. I was asked to usher at the Wednesday worship service at Westminster. So, I was wearing a suite and tie. The service started at 9:00 a.m. and it went until 10:30. I helped collect the offering. Other people served communion to the 1500 people at the service. Walter Mondale gave a welcome. He is a member of that church. After my GA work for the day, I changed into Tee shirt and shorts and i helped a relative continue to assemble new cabinets in the condo. I traveled by bike from the convention center to the condo. It was raining when we finished. So, I got a ride back to the parking ramp. Page 6 We had a Presbytery of Northern Waters dinner at a downtown restaurant at 5:15 p.m. Dee Talley who was my pastor in MIlwaukee for several years was there. I have not seen him in 3-4 years. He is a representative of the Presbytery of Milwaukee. Arlon Talley, Dee’s brother, was also there. He served as pastor in Calumet for several years. Hi is now in California. The evening session of GA started at 7:30 p.m. So, most people left by 7:00 to get back to the meetings. I picked up some friends in a southeast suburb and took them to the train depot. They were going to Seattle and then take a cruise up to Skagway, Alaska. Thursday, 8 July I had a routine morning and then I went back to my motel for a time. I had “coffee” with the son of one cousin. It was a fun conversation. I had the evening meal with another cousin. Friday, 9 July I had another routine morning. I left at 10:30 a.m. and I headed for home. tag:www.ucth.org,2010://13.2373 2010-05-31T16:11:21Z 2010-05-19T17:18:22Z

We are moving quickly into a time of year where almost everything is festooned in red, white, and blue. As the weather gets warmer something patriotic stirs within and we begin to show our colors. Memorial Day is followed shortly...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com We are moving quickly into a time of year where almost everything is festooned in red, white, and blue. As the weather gets warmer something patriotic stirs within and we begin to show our colors. Memorial Day is followed shortly by Flag Day. Flag Day leads quickly to Independence Day. We are treated to parades and speeches and fireworks and air shows and other expressions of our national identity. With July 4 falling on a Sunday this year we get into the sticky and interesting issue of how much our patriotic fervor should be expressed in our churches. Is it appropriate to display the American flag in the sanctuary? Is it advisable to include the Pledge of Allegiance in a service of worship? Where does one draw the line? One of the joys of this country is a guarantee that the government does not establish any particular religion or denomination as a national (or state) religion. We are free to choose how to worship with our own conscience. Our churches and places of worship are not supported by the state in any way. And this is just because the church is bigger than any one nationality. Christianity knows no national distinction. As Paul said, in Christ we are neither Jew nor Greek. Likewise, as Paul said, we hold our citizenship in heaven. And if we are citizens of this heavenly kingdom, we are sojourners here on earth. Churches are, thus, embassies scattered around the globe. As ambassadors, we have a diplomatic duty to engage the culture in which we serve. We admire, partake, observe, and enjoy. We honor the things in the culture which are honorable. But, that said, we worship God alone. Worship is our sacrifice of praise to the most high, not to earthly allegiances, no matter how important. Our ambassadorial duties to be engaged in the cultures in which we've been placed do not abrogate our primary allegiance to God. In some ways we must guard against "going native." Now, this being said, expect to see me at patriotic concerts by our fabulous Town Band. Watch for me at the fireworks shows saying "ooh" and "ahh." Expect to see me with my hat over my heart at a baseball game when we sing the National Anthem. But also expect me at worship to be proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, hope of the world, and healer of the nations. In Christ, Pastor Lawrence]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2151 2010-03-30T16:10:50Z 2010-03-30T18:04:10Z

Email - pastor@ucth.org Pastor Lawrence has been the pastor of United Church of Two Harbors since August 1, 2003. He has a passion for preaching, teaching, organizing worship, the sacraments, social justice, and youth ministry. He's known for his...

Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org Email - pastor@ucth.org Pastor Lawrence has been the pastor of United Church of Two Harbors since August 1, 2003. He has a passion for preaching, teaching, organizing worship, the sacraments, social justice, and youth ministry. He's known for his very personal preaching without the use of notes. He has a special interest in Taizé worship services and labyrinth prayer. Influential thinkers and writers for him have been Philip Berrigan (a native of Two Harbors), Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Dorothy Day, Jacques Ellul, Anne Lamott, CS Lewis, Martin Luther, JRR Tolkien, and Walter Wink. He graduated with honors in New Testament Studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and he has a special interest in the epistles of Paul.]]> Wapakoneta, Ohio and went to college at Purdue University where he earned a degree in Philosophy with minors in Physics, Mathematics, and Religious Studies. He is active in local theater as a writer, director, and actor. Most recently he played the part of the Mayor in "The Government Inspector" (2010) and he will be playing Dr. Gibbs in "Our Town" in June of 2010. He is best known locally for portraying Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" at the Duluth Playhouse (2001). He also has written several scripts performed at Renegade Comedy Theater and Rubber Chicken Theater. Ministry History Creative Arts Coordinator - Wesley Foundation at Purdue - 1990-1993 Pastor - Mount Gilboa UMC - Fowler, Indiana - 1993-1994 Pastor - Francesville & Medaryville UMCs - Indiana - 1994-1997 Associate Pastor - Crescent Avenue UMC - Fort Wayne, Indiana - 1997-1998 Ordained - Deacon's Orders - North Indiana Conference - 1997 Graduated - MDiv - Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary - Evanston, Illinois - 1997 Pastor - Epworth & St. Paul UMCs - Fort Wayne, Indiana - 1998-2000 Ordained - Elder's Orders - North Indiana Conference - 1999 Associate Pastor - Trinity UMC - Huntington, Indiana - 2000 Youth Minister - Chester Park & Hope UMCs - Duluth, Minnesota - 2001-2003 Pastor - Presbyterian Pioneer Parish - Douglas County, Wisconsin - 2001-2003 Moved Orders to Presbyterian Church (USA) - 2003 Pastor - United Church of Two Harbors - Two Harbors, Minnesota - 2003-Present ]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2009://13.2363 2009-12-01T13:25:44Z 2009-12-04T13:28:34Z

The other day while walking through Two Harbors I spotted a sticker in the back window of a car. It was what is commonly called the "peace symbol." This symbol actually got its start as a symbol for Nuclear Disarmament,...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com The other day while walking through Two Harbors I spotted a sticker in the back window of a car. It was what is commonly called the "peace symbol." This symbol actually got its start as a symbol for Nuclear Disarmament, formed by combining the semaphore for "N" and "D." It's not a very old symbol, as symbols go, celebrating its 52nd birthday this coming February. Written around this symbol were the words "Peace through Superior Firepower." We are moving into the season where we celebrate angels singing over the plains "Peace on Earth" but I'm reminded by this sticker that peace can mean a lot of things. So the question of the moment for me is, what kind of peace? For many the only imaginable peace is a peace that must be enforced by the threat of force. Some people hope for a Pax Americana harkening back to the Pax Romana, a period of some 200 years where Rome was the world's sole superpower and dominated all of the lesser forces into submission. This created a period of time where aqueducts and roads were built and commerce flowed freely around the Mediterranean. Likewise some hope that America, as a sole superpower, can by threat of arms create a world where infrastructure can flourish and economic forces can create wealth, if not for all, at least for some. It was exactly this "peace" into which Jesus was born. This "peace" was really no peace at all. Otherwise, why would the angels hope for peace? This peace by brute force was simply domination in order to bring order, and that order was called "peace." But the peace the angels proclaimed was not this kind of peace at all. Nor was it some kind of idyllic cessation of hostility among nations and people. It was a peace between God and humanity. For we were and have been at war with God, in big and small ways. We declared the war when we, in the guise of Adam and Eve, tried to become gods ourselves. And that's been the struggle ever since. In this ongoing conflict God declared an amnesty in the person of Jesus Christ and called us to lay down arms and stop our warring ways, because the war wasn't hurting God, it was hurting ourselves and each other and creation itself. We needed a different way, a different peace. So, this Christmas, let us know peace. Let us know peace on Earth and celebrate God's goodwill to all. ]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2009://13.2361 2009-09-08T13:22:10Z 2009-09-08T16:17:23Z

We're in the midst of a communication revolution and you are a part of it. Over the summer I polled you on how you use media in your daily life and we got great feedback and fascinating results. Of those...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com We're in the midst of a communication revolution and you are a part of it. Over the summer I polled you on how you use media in your daily life and we got great feedback and fascinating results. Of those who responded here are some interesting statistics:

• 90% of you receive the Lighthouse and, of those, 71% read it cover to cover every month. The most valued parts of the newsletter by readers are the Calendar of Events, this essay, and the Thank Yous, Birthdays, and Hospitalizations page.
• Reading the local paper is a pastime of people over 40. People under 40 rarely read newspapers.
• More than anything else (Television, Radio, Newspapers, etc.) you check your email daily and 77% of you have high speed internet at home.
• 35% of you have a Facebook account and, of respondents in their 20s, 100% have Facebook accounts.

So, given all this, here are some things we've done:

• We are going to start emailing out announcements on a weekly basis on Thursday mornings. If you aren't getting these emails, write Jan at ucth@ucth.org and let her know you want to be included.
• We have started a Facebook page at facebook.ucth.org and I encourage you to become a "fan."

The wonderful thing about this form of communication is that is driven by you. I don't want to talk to you; I want to talk with you. Already on our Facebook page we have polls, discussion topics, videos, pictures, and so on, and you can comment on any of these. You can leave messages on our Facebook wall and share what you are thinking. The internet can be a place where we can stay in communication all week long and, I'm grateful to note, that several of our young adults who have grown up in the church but now live in far flung places have joined the site so that they can stay connected to their home church. So, let's have a conversation and be reminded that the body of Christ is much bigger than those who gather in a sanctuary on a Sunday morning. Yours, Pastor Lawrence ]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2009://13.2350 2009-04-23T15:34:43Z 2009-04-23T20:28:26Z

The automobile industry in this country has been called unresponsive to the needs of the common person, out of touch with societal trends, and uncaring about global changes. As a result the industry is suffering mightily and is quickly trying...

Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org The automobile industry in this country has been called unresponsive to the needs of the common person, out of touch with societal trends, and uncaring about global changes. As a result the industry is suffering mightily and is quickly trying to retool to respond to the needs of a changing world. Likewise, I've heard the same arguments over the last 20 years about the church and, let's face it, the church is suffering as well. Maybe both deservedly so. So, what can the church learn from Detroit's collapse? While the analogy isn't perfect, let me suggest a few things. Refocus Mission - The auto industry is desperately heading back to the drawing board and asking itself key questions about its mission. In other words, what are we meant to do? Often success breeds complacency and we can get focused on irrelevancies that take our focus off our core mission. A few years ago here at United Church we started using our Mission Statement in every publication and at every service of worship and at every council meetings so that by now, hopefully, everyone in our church, young and old, have committed it to memory. What are we about? We are about welcoming all people and nurturing followers of Jesus Christ. Reconsider Distribution - One of the things that is much talked about is how Detroit distributes its product and how it relates directly, or indirectly, with the consumer. In the same way I think the church needs to rethink how we relate to people. Our old model, and Detroit's old model, is that the people come to us and their choices are limited. In today's world the people don't need to come to us and the amount of information they have is great. The church, like Detroit, needs to reorient to a much more savvy and less beholden public. Brand Loyalty is Nonexistent - In the past there were Ford families or Chrysler families who would only buy a particular brand of car. They were fiercely loyal to that company and would extol its virtues. Now people will buy cars based on their circumstantial needs without regard to the brand. Likewise denominational loyalty no longer holds sway in today's world and that's just a fact. Just because you grew up in a United Methodist home does not guarantee that you won't go to a Pentecostal church later in life. Loyalty must be earned and people look at congregations on a case to case basis. Churches whining about this fact changes nothing and, actually, there is a great opportunity here. Economies of Scale vs. Changing Consumer Need - Detroit made it big using assembly lines and creating economies of scale to drive down costs. The problem is that the consumer's need is not always met by this cookie cutter approach and it made Detroit very slow to respond to the changing world around them. In the same way churches need to be nimble and ready to respond quickly. This, actually, is where the church, especially small and midsized churches, like our own, has a perceived advantage. The church works on a decentralized model where each congregation is given quite a bit of autonomy within our basic guidelines. This should mean that every congregation is free to adapt and change to its context. The challenge is sharing these innovations to other congregations to spark creativity and renewal. The good news is that this is happening and, largely because of the internet, there is more peer to peer sharing of innovations within the church than ever before. This is truly an exciting chapter in church history. These are four parallels, in an admittedly imperfect analogy, that I could think of right off the top of my head. What are some that you see? How do you think the church can learn from other circumstances in the world today? Where does the analogy break down for you? Let me know. Leave a comment. Peace, Pastor Lawrence]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2009://13.2340 2009-03-01T21:27:29Z 2009-03-10T21:32:42Z

Thinking theologically doesn't come naturally. It takes work. A few weeks ago, around the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin, I decided to lead our Confirmation Class in a theological discussion of the theory of evolution. It's unfortunate, really,...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com Thinking theologically doesn't come naturally. It takes work. A few weeks ago, around the bicentennial of the birth of Charles Darwin, I decided to lead our Confirmation Class in a theological discussion of the theory of evolution. It's unfortunate, really, that much of what we learn of argument comes from television pundits who characterize dialogue as two people who take opposing points of view and then go at it for 6 minutes at a time, taking breaks for the network to sell you soap or beer. I'm hoping that we can teach our children that true argument is not about defending positions, but about a shared search for the truth. To guide our discussion I employed Wesley's Quadrilateral of Scripture, Tradition, Experience, and Reason. As stated in the Book of Discipline: "Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. Scripture is primary, revealing the Word of God 'so far as it is necessary for our salvation.'" So we started with Scripture and read the first account of creation, found in Genesis 1. We recognized that the purpose of this text was not so much to describe physical creation, as the creation it describes is significantly different from the world as we know and perceive it, but to state in unambiguous terms that God creates and what God creates is blessed and called "good." We then turned to Tradition, looking at the teachings of the church. We looked particularly at the official teachings of the Presbyterian Church (USA)... "Our responsibility as Christians is to deal seriously with the theories and findings of all scientific endeavors, evolution included, and to enter into open dialogue with responsible persons involved in scientific tasks about the achievement, failures and limits of their activities and of ours... Unless it is clearly necessary to uphold a basic Biblical doctrine, the Church is not called upon and should carefully refrain from either affirming or denying the theory of evolution. We conclude that the true relation between the evolutionary theory and the Bible is that of non-contradiction." and of the United Methodist Church... "We recognize science as a legitimate interpretation of God’s natural world. We affirm the validity of the claims of science in describing the natural world, although we preclude science from making authoritative claims about theological issues." The we turned to our own Experience and what Reason tells us. We talked about the Scientific Method and how we use our senses and our logic to interpret the world around us. I was grateful to have Roger Anderson present to talk about his own journey as a teacher of science and a person of faith and how he sees these pursuits as not only compatible, but complimentary. We did not all agree in our discussion about what to think about evolution, but what I hope we learned by our discussion is that neither science nor theology have anything to fear from the truth. Out of human hubris the church insisted for centuries that the earth was the center of the cosmos and used the creation story to support the claim, but now we commonly accept that the earth is not a flat disc under a dome through which the planets and stars process, but a smallish planet that hurtles around a nuclear furnace on the edge of a galaxy that is only one among innumerable galaxies. Does this impoverish our theology? Not in the least. It enriches it because it reminds us that we are but a small part of a much larger cosmos. The Bible is not a book of science. It does not do a good job of describing the physical world. But it does do an amazing job describing our spiritual reality. We are created by God and we are blessed to live in a world that has been lovingly prepared. We have responsibilities as keepers of the garden. We are wonderfully and fearfully made.]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2009://13.2324 2009-01-01T18:20:46Z 2008-12-27T18:26:09Z

This month our country will participate in our quadrennial rite of inauguration. And while our eyes may be glued on the television with pictures coming from Washington D. C. and live-blogging on the internet, we probably should all just...

Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org This month our country will participate in our quadrennial rite of inauguration. And while our eyes may be glued on the television with pictures coming from Washington D. C. and live-blogging on the internet, we probably should all just take a step outside and look to the skies. The word "inauguration," after all, comes from the word "augur" and augurs were ancient Roman priests. They were consulted when any important matters of state were to be decided - going to war, business deals, treaties, or electing new leaders. And augurs got their cues by studying the flight patterns of birds. Historians have noted how corrupt the augurs probably were. Uncannily, birds seemed to cooperate with whoever gave the augurs the nicest donations. But, still, as we inaugurate a new leader I think it's important to look skyward. And if we did look skyward, what signs would we see? • Migration patterns altered by climate change. • Bird species going extinct at the rate of 10 a year. • Air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, and ground pollution all heavily impacting avian life. • Natural habitats and nesting grounds being destroyed. What signs, indeed? As a wise man once said, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." One of the huge differences between ancient and contemporary cultures is how human-centered we are. No doubt it will be the human story that plays large on Inauguration Day. But ancient cultures, which we scoff at for being superstitious or unscientific, at least understood that we as human beings took our place among many creatures in the cosmos, though, perhaps, our impact is inordinately large. So I pray for our new president because the signs of the birds do not bode well for us. If we are to take our stewardship of all creation seriously, we must look to the skies, to the waters, to the pastures, and to the woods. We must hear what the birds are telling us about who we are and where we are going. So this Inauguration Day please look skyward and pray.]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2325 2008-12-01T18:27:05Z 2008-12-27T18:46:31Z

Call me "Pollyanna" but I think that, maybe, just maybe, a tanking economy may be the best thing to happen to Christmas in years. Just today I got two emails from church members about how they are approaching Christmas differently...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com Make your own gifts. You don't have to be crafty. How about compiling a small book of your own recipes? Or maybe you could record some poems or readings on tape or CD to give to friends. Instead of a gift exchange with friends, how about setting up a cookie exchange? Give yourself. How about giving coupon for babysitting or leaf raking or snow shoveling? Instead of a gift certificate, how about an invitation to come over for a meal? If you are skilled in an area, offer to give a tutorial! Volunteer. Help out as a family or group of friends at our local food shelf or CHUM or Damiano or Neighbor to Neighbor. There are plenty of organizations that run on the work of volunteers and doing it as a group is great fun. Donate. So, with all that money you are saving from not buying gifts, why not find some causes worth supporting? One of my favorites is Heifer International (last year I gave a goat in the name of my nephews and nieces) but there are other great causes as well such as not for profit arts organizations which provide for the community year round. Now, you may be saying to yourself, "But my kid/friend/parent/significant other is expecting a gift! Why mess up his or her Christmas?" Well, first, I'm not saying don't give gifts. I think we should give gifts, but be more conscientious about our gift giving. Second, expectations can be altered. As my family of origin started to grow we agreed that buying a gift for everyone just wasn't practical, so we agreed on a gift exchange with a limit on how much we could spend on the gift put in the exchange ($10). Part of the fun became finding interesting gifts under that limit that we thought would be of interest to our family. Third, ask yourself what really made Christmases past meaningful and focus on those things. I'm betting that on reflection most people won't list gifts among those things. Though I really, really loved this big box of legos I got when I was 9. Gosh, I loved those legos. But, really, what made those legos really fun was playing with them with my brother and my friends. So, please, have yourself a merry little Christmas! Let's set out to enjoy the season.]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2326 2008-10-01T18:31:48Z 2008-12-27T18:34:53Z

The term "moral hazard" has been bandied about much in the news of late and, if you haven't been hiding under a rock for the last two weeks, you'll know why. "Moral hazard" refers to economists' fears that an overly...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." May you know grace in your life and may you respond in grace.]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2327 2008-09-01T18:37:45Z 2008-12-27T18:42:40Z

Recently I was asked by a colleague to describe my process of how I prepare to preach. A lot of people have asked me this and I thought I might let you in on some trade secrets with the hope...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com Recently I was asked by a colleague to describe my process of how I prepare to preach. A lot of people have asked me this and I thought I might let you in on some trade secrets with the hope it might help you in relating to scripture. First of all I see my role as a preacher is to be a scout, an explorer. I live my life out on the spiritual edge and bring back weekly reports. If I'm not pushing the boundaries I'm not doing my job. I start working on a sermon about 8-10 weeks ahead. I pray over the scriptures for the day. Find what piques my interest or aggravates me or even angers me, and then focus on that passage or sentence or word. It's the grain of sand in the oyster that makes the pearl. I preach toward my own salvation. I start working on an outline and then attune myself to all I hear and see around me and start plugging in examples from the world around me - news, magazine articles, blogs, television, movies, conversations - everything is grist for the mill. I bounce ideas of colleagues in text study groups. I belong to two, one that meets weekly and one that meets twice a month. This is invaluable because they often point out flaws or gaps in my thoughts or resources I should look at. I draft the sermon, still in outline form, the week ahead, plugging in and moving around pieces and throwing out bits that distract from the main point. I want the sermon to be able to be expressed in one big idea; one simple, easy to carry, take home sentence. If an 8 year old of average intelligence can't get that basic thesis I've probably failed. I prayerfully read over the outline in quiet solitude Sunday morning before I get bombarded by everyone, then I throw the outline away. I pray with my liturgist and give myself over to the worshipping community. I try not to think about the sermon after this point until I preach. Often there are little changes in the sermon based on what I hear in the prayers of the community. I pray this prayer before I start any sermon - "Eternal God, be as the farmer and our hearts the earth. Open up our hard hearts with your plow called 'truth' and plant there within the seed which is your Word. And over time, over seasons of sun and rain and frost and snow, may our hearts bear forth a harvest of your love. Amen." Why? Because I always do it, that's why. It's important for me to have something that grounds me before I launch into the sermon and this prayer has proven to be it over the years. I preach. I try to maintain eye contact. I try to have no notes. Occasionally, if there is a long passage or poem or quote I want to make sure to quote directly, I will have that with me, but that is rare. I move and try to use the space to help tell the sermon. Often if I making a distinction I will physically make one space represent one person, area, idea, way of being, and another the counter-example. For example: if I'm preaching on Judah and Israel I might make the left part of the sanctuary represent Judah, and the right represent Israel. I have a conversation. If I ask questions I try not to make them rhetorical questions but actually include and incorporate the congregation into the sermon. I have fun. If I'm not enjoying the sermon you probably aren't either. I debrief with someone I trust, usually my kids. I ask what they heard, what they saw. I ask them to summarize the sermon for me. Obviously this process means I'm working on 8-10 sermons at the same time. That's how I roll. As of the middle of August I'm just starting to look at November and I've got my topics picked through the end of October. This can be disconcerting for some people but it's exhilarating for me. So, that's how I prepare. Now you know. ]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2291 2008-07-08T17:51:46Z 2008-07-08T17:54:47Z

I just purchased a new house or, rather, a new mortgage. I tell my kids that I own 3% of this house and it's whatever 3% I'm in, so if you want to be in the house that we own,...

Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org I just purchased a new house or, rather, a new mortgage. I tell my kids that I own 3% of this house and it's whatever 3% I'm in, so if you want to be in the house that we own, you have to stay within the same 45 square feet that I'm in. Packing and unpacking, as anyone who moves can tell you, is a real spiritual experience. You pick up hundreds of objects - from teaspoons to sofas, from toothbrushes to a ceramic spoonrest made by your son - and you have to ask yourself, each time you pick up an object, "Do I keep this? Do I give it away? Do I throw it away? Does this thing have a place in my life? Do I value it?" More often than not a kind of ownership inertia sets in. "I've moved this object for the last four moves so I might as well move it again." But I tried this time to be really intentional about what I moved and why. A new house means a new opportunity to organize my life. It's both daunting and exhilarating. As I was moving into my new abode (with many thanks to those people out there who helped me move) a scripture came to me over and over again in a way I'd never heard it before. In Revelation 21 as the nations enter the New Jerusalem, which has descended pristine and pure from the sky, the writer mentions that "nothing unclean will enter it." That it will always remain pristine and pure. And I want my new house to be like that. Oh, how I long for it to be like that. But I already know, as much as I want to, it will not be so. There will be mud and there will be messes. There will be clutter and there will be chaos. In spite of my best intentions, my house will not be spotless. And, eventually, like the way of all flesh it will pass away, by cataclysm or natural decay. I was reminded of that too when I signed my insurance papers. That said, I don't think it's a bad impulse to be mindful of what we bring into our houses. The things we keep, the stuff we store, say much about us. To paraphrase the recently deceased comedian, George Carlin, what is a house if it's not a place for our stuff? And the stuff we keep says as much about us as the stuff we leave behind.]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2328 2008-07-01T18:44:01Z 2008-12-27T18:45:31Z

An old homiletics professor of mine once said, "Never repeat for emphasis. Never repeat for emphasis." The fact is repetition is one of the best ways to get something into your deep memory. When I go to visit elderly people...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com Never repeat for emphasis." The fact is repetition is one of the best ways to get something into your deep memory. When I go to visit elderly people who have lost most of their memory and are largely incommunicative the sure way to get them talking is to pray the Lord's Prayer. Suddenly silence turns to prayer as their lips move in synch with those old familiar words and I can feel a spark present. Repetition of our prayers and liturgy also has an impact on the young. About four years ago when Bernick's Pepsi workers were on strike Emma was wondering why I wouldn't buy Pepsi products. I tried to explain, as best I could to a 9 year old, about workers' rights and the power of collective bargaining where individuals might fail, but the whole can stand together. To which she said, "Oh, sort of like 'we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.'" I blinked and said, "You've been paying attention." "Well," she said, "you say it ALL the time." Of course, I don't say it ALL the time. Only when we are celebrating communion. But those ideas in the prayers of the church that are repeated often enough start to grow roots in our psyche and we can't help but make connections. We start to see the world around us through the lens of our repeated prayers and scriptures. It is meaningful to me when, at the close of communion, we pray... "We thank you, Lord, for this holy mystery in which you have give yourself for us. Now send us forward, in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others." I think about that a lot. God gives completely to us - body, life, blood, spirit - and so in the face of this complete and utter giving of self we are compelled to do likewise. It's like breathing. God gives. We receive. We give. The cycle goes on. What prayer or scripture that we repeat has found its way into your heart and soul? How has it changed you? If you could commit one or two prayers or passages of scripture to memory what would they be?]]> tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2281 2008-05-29T01:43:27Z 2008-05-29T01:44:16Z

The United Methodist Church met in General Conference this past month as they do every four years and I was looking over their list of items passed and not. As United Methodists we will have a new hymnal as of...

Lawrence Lee http://ucth.org The United Methodist Church met in General Conference this past month as they do every four years and I was looking over their list of items passed and not. As United Methodists we will have a new hymnal as of 2013. We won't be changing any of our language on the inclusion (or exclusion) of gays and lesbians. We are seeking full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Probationary clergy will now be called provisional clergy. And so on. But what caught my eye was a change to what we pledge when we become members of the church. The formula, for the last 70 some years, has been that we pledge to support the church through our "prayers, presence, gifts, and service." New members now will also be asked to pledge their "witness" as well. "Witness" is a loaded term for most people, burdened with images of street corner preachers or overwrought emotional testimonies at revival meetings. It's an unfortunate association because the act of bearing witness is a very simple one - if you know the truth, speak up. I think of a witness called to give testimony in court. As a witness your duty is fairly simple and straight forward - tell the truth to the best of your ability. In the New Testament followers of Jesus are called repeatedly to "bear witness" to what they have seen. They point is, again, to tell the truth they have seen to the best of their ability. I'm glad for this change because it reminds us that we are all responsible to bear witness to the truth and that everyone's faith journey is different. Sometimes, because our journeys are so different, we are shy to speak up about our experience because we are under the mistaken impression that different is wrong. But we need to bear witness so that we can learn from each others' experiences. It is how we see the work of the Spirit in our midst. Sometimes people discount their own experience because it doesn't seem as dramatic or engaging as other people's experiences, but that is far from the truth. What is "ordinary" is often the most extraordinary thing. Everyone has a story to tell. Also, the act of bearing witness means that we have to keep our eyes open to the world around us. We need to look for where God is operating in our midst. If we are going to witness to God's moving we need to be sensitive to it. This isn't simply the job of clergy or the "professional religious" but the job of every baptized Christian. We all need to bear witness to the truth. Also, bearing witness to the truth means we can't turn a blind eye to injustice or evil either. We are called to speak up. So I'm thankful to the General Conference for this change and pray that we will move into a mode of faithful witness to the truth. tag:www.ucth.org,2008://13.2271 2008-05-10T16:06:04Z 2008-05-11T13:29:05Z

United Church just finished its nine month journey through the New Testament reading a chapter a day. Now for the quiz! See how well you can do against this 40 question quiz. Correct answers are below in red. 1) How...

ironic1 http://ironic1.com are below in red. 1) How many books are there in the New Testament? a. 27 b. 33 c. 4 d. more and more every year 2) The author of most of the books in the New Testament is… a. Jesus b. Peter c. Paul d. Billy Graham 3) The books that record the life and teachings of Jesus are known as… a. the Annals b. the Dead Sea Scrolls c. the Chronicles d. the Gospels 4) The book of Acts… a. records stories of Jesus’ youth b. contains short plays about Jesus c. records the stories of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection d. records the story of Jesus trial and crucifixion from the point of view of Pontius Pilate 5) Mark… a. is the shortest of the gospels b. is commonly accepted as the earliest written gospel c. has two endings d. all of the above 6) Paul’s conversion from persecutor of the church to apostle is recorded in… a. Luke b. 1 Paul c. Revelation d. Acts 7) Apocalypse in the Greek literally means.. a. catastrophe or destruction b. revelation or unveiling c. divine wrath d. dance music with marimbas 8) The earliest written book in the New Testament was likely… a. Matthew b. Isaiah c. Acts d. 1 Thessalonians 9) Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels because… a. they were discovered near Synopsis, Greece b. they were the earliest gospels c. they are similar d. they all contain a synopsis of the Old Testament at the beginning 10) The number of books written by Jesus in the New Testament is… a. 0 b. 1 c. 4 d. 27 11) The Epistles... a. is the anglicized version of the word “apostles” b. are letters c. are the books in the New Testament that are not the Gospels d. is the Greek word for the Gospels 12) The books of the New Testament are all generally believed to be written… a. by Paul or followers of Paul b. in Greece c. between 45 and 140 AD d. in Aramaic before they were translated into Latin 13) The New Testament as it is (books and order) has existed since approximately… a. 110 AD b. 367 AD c. 733 AD d. 1821 AD 14) Matthew is unique because… a. it is the only Gospel to record Jesus’ genealogy b. of the story of the Wise Men bringing gifts to Jesus c. it doesn’t list the names of the disciples d. all of the above 15) Mark is notable because… a. its repeated use of the phrase “kai euthos” (“and immediately”) b. it was the only gospel not to be written by one of the 12 Disciples c. it has Jesus being born in Nazareth instead of Bethlehem d. all of the above 16) Luke has more of these than any other gospel… a. chapters b. parables c. disciples d. all of the above 17) John is unique because… a. it contains multiple visits to Jerusalem by Jesus b. there are no parables c. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet d. all of the above 18) Acts is believed to be written… a. by Paul b. before any of the Gospels c. by the writer of Luke d. by a woman 19) In Romans, Paul… a. compares the Gentiles to a branch grafted onto an olive tree b. argues that God has not rejected the Jewish people c. asks for support for a trip to Spain d. all of the above 20) Arguably the best known passage from 1 Corinthians is… a. a chapter about the nature of love often read at weddings b. the story of Jesus’ birth c. the story of Paul cheating at a dice game d. none of the above 21) In 2 Corinthians Paul compares his own imperfections in proclaiming the Gospel as… a. yeast in the bread b. a thorn in his side c. a treasure buried in a field d. a clay jar containing a treasure 22) Galatians was written… a. to ask for money b. by Peter to Paul who was in Gaul c. against those who taught that Gentiles had to be circumcised to become Christians d. none of the above 23) Ephesians… a. uses a metaphor of putting on armor to describe Christian readiness b. instructs slaves to obey their masters c. instructs wives to obey their husbands d. all of the above 24) Philippians… a. was written to Philip of Rome b. contains a recipe for bean soup c. contains what is thought to be an early hymn that begins “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” d. none of the above 25) 1 Thessalonians is… a. the first of Paul’s letters b. concerned with those Christians who have died c. instructs believers to “pray without ceasing” d. all of the above 26) 2 Thessalonians was written… a. before 1 Thessalonians b. apparently because the Thessalonians didn’t understand the first letter c. in response to 1 Peter d. none of the above 27) In 1 Timothy, Paul… a. tells Timothy not to let people put him down just because he’s a youth b. instructs bishops and church leaders to have no more than one wife c. forbids women to have authority over a man d. all of the above 28) In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of… a. not being able to grow a beard b. his body c. making a money by preaching d. suffering for the sake of the Gospel 29) In Titus, Paul… a. reveals the name of Jesus’ wife b. asks Titus to prepare a room for him c. is concerned that some preachers are calling Cretans liars and gluttons d. none of the above 30) Philemon is written… a. to the church at Philemon b. by Philemon, a tax collector c. about the first Olympics d. to the master of a runaway slave 31) Hebrews describes Jesus as… a. the pioneer and perfecter of our faith b. a high priest c. as co-creator of the world d. all of the above 32) James contains the phrase… a. “faith without works is dead” b. “the Lord helps those who help themselves” c. “you’ve got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them” d. “love is never having to say you’re sorry” 33) 1 Peter describes Christ as… a. a cornerstone b. a stone which the builders rejected c. a stumbling block d. all of the above 34) 2 Peter contains a description of this event in Jesus’ life… a. Birth b. Baptism c. Transfiguration d. Ascension 35) 1 John says that… a. God is light b. God is love c. no one has ever seen God d. all of the above 36) 2 John is addressed to… a. the elect lady and her children b. Paul in Rome c. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue d. those who follow Christ 37) Most scholars think 3 John was written… a. by the same John who wrote the Gospel of John b. by the same John who wrote Revelation c. by Paul d. before 1 & 2 John 38) Jude refers to this archangel fighting with the devil… a. Gabriel b. Uriel c. Raphael d. Michael 39) Revelation is written to churches in seven cities in Asia Minor including... a. Moscow b. Paris c. Jerusalem d. Philadelphia 40) Revelation was written by John of Patmos. Patmos is… a. a city in Asia Minor b. John’s father c. a prison island d. none of the above]]> Here are the answers. Don't read any further if you don't want to know. 1) How many books are there in the New Testament? a. 27 b. 33 c. 4 d. more and more every year 2) The author of most of the books in the New Testament is… a. Jesus b. Peter c. Paul d. Billy Graham 3) The books that record the life and teachings of Jesus are known as… a. the Annals b. the Dead Sea Scrolls c. the Chronicles d. the Gospels 4) The book of Acts… a. records stories of Jesus’ youth b. contains short plays about Jesus c. records the stories of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection d. records the story of Jesus trial and crucifixion from the point of view of Pontius Pilate 5) Mark... a. is the shortest of the gospels b. is commonly accepted as the earliest written gospel c. has two endings d. all of the above 6) Paul’s conversion from persecutor of the church to apostle is recorded in… a. Luke b. 1 Paul c. Revelation d. Acts 7) Apocalypse in the Greek literally means.. a. catastrophe or destruction b. revelation or unveiling c. divine wrath d. dance music with marimbas 8) The earliest written book in the New Testament was likely… a. Matthew b. Isaiah c. Acts d. 1 Thessalonians 9) Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels because… a. they were discovered near Synopsis, Greece b. they were the earliest gospels c. they are similar d. they all contain a synopsis of the Old Testament at the beginning 10) The number of books written by Jesus in the New Testament is… a. 0 b. 1 c. 4 d. 27 11) The Epistles… a. is the anglicized version of the word “apostles” b. are letters c. are the books in the New Testament that are not the Gospels d. is the Greek word for the Gospels 12) The books of the New Testament are all generally believed to be written… a. by Paul or followers of Paul b. in Greece c. between 45 and 140 AD d. in Aramaic before they were translated into Latin 13) The New Testament as it is (books and order) has existed since approximately… a. 110 AD b. 367 AD c. 733 AD d. 1821 AD 14) Matthew is unique because… a. it is the only Gospel to record Jesus’ genealogy b. of the story of the Wise Men bringing gifts to Jesus c. it doesn’t list the names of the disciples d. all of the above 15) Mark is notable because… a. its repeated use of the phrase “kai euthos” (“and immediately”) b. it was the only gospel not to be written by one of the 12 Disciples c. it has Jesus being born in Nazareth instead of Bethlehem d. all of the above 16) Luke has more of these than any other gospel… a. chapters b. parables c. disciples d. all of the above 17) John is unique because… a. it contains multiple visits to Jerusalem by Jesus b. there are no parables c. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet d. all of the above 18) Acts is believed to be written… a. by Paul b. before any of the Gospels c. by the writer of Luke d. by a woman 19) In Romans, Paul… a. compares the Gentiles to a branch grafted onto an olive tree b. argues that God has not rejected the Jewish people c. asks for support for a trip to Spain d. all of the above 20) Arguably the best known passage from 1 Corinthians is… a. a chapter about the nature of love often read at weddings b. the story of Jesus’ birth c. the story of Paul cheating at a dice game d. none of the above 21) In 2 Corinthians Paul compares his own imperfections in proclaiming the Gospel as… a. yeast in the bread b. a thorn in his side c. a treasure buried in a field d. a clay jar containing a treasure 22) Galatians was written… a. to ask for money b. by Peter to Paul who was in Gaul c. against those who taught that Gentiles had to be circumcised to become Christians d. none of the above 23) Ephesians… a. uses a metaphor of putting on armor to describe Christian readiness b. instructs slaves to obey their masters c. instructs wives to obey their husbands d. all of the above 24) Philippians… a. was written to Philip of Rome b. contains a recipe for bean soup c. contains what is thought to be an early hymn that begins “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” d. none of the above 25) 1 Thessalonians is… a. the first of Paul’s letters b. concerned with those Christians who have died c. instructs believers to “pray without ceasing” d. all of the above 26) 2 Thessalonians was written… a. before 1 Thessalonians b. apparently because the Thessalonians didn’t understand the first letter c. in response to 1 Peter d. none of the above 27) In 1 Timothy, Paul… a. tells Timothy not to let people put him down just because he’s a youth b. instructs bishops and church leaders to have no more than one wife c. forbids women to have authority over a man d. all of the above 28) In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of… a. not being able to grow a beard b. his body c. making a money by preaching d. suffering for the sake of the Gospel 29) In Titus, Paul… a. reveals the name of Jesus’ wife b. asks Titus to prepare a room for him c. is concerned that some preachers are calling Cretans liars and gluttons d. none of the above 30) Philemon is written… a. to the church at Philemon b. by Philemon, a tax collector c. about the first Olympics d. to the master of a runaway slave 31) Hebrews describes Jesus as… a. the pioneer and perfecter of our faith b. a high priest c. as co-creator of the world d. all of the above 32) James contains the phrase… a. “faith without works is dead” b. “the Lord helps those who help themselves” c. “you’ve got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them” d. “love is never having to say you’re sorry” 33) 1 Peter describes Christ as… a. a cornerstone b. a stone which the builders rejected c. a stumbling block d. all of the above 34) 2 Peter contains a description of this event in Jesus’ life… a. Birth b. Baptism c. Transfiguration d. Ascension 35) 1 John says that… a. God is light b. God is love c. no one has ever seen God d. all of the above 36) 2 John is addressed to… a. the elect lady and her children b. Paul in Rome c. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue d. those who follow Christ 37) Most scholars think 3 John was written… a. by the same John who wrote the Gospel of John b. by the same John who wrote Revelation c. by Paul d. before 1 & 2 John 38) Jude refers to this archangel fighting with the devil… a. Gabriel b. Uriel c. Raphael d. Michael 39) Revelation is written to churches in seven cities in Asia Minor including... a. Moscow b. Paris c. Jerusalem d. Philadelphia 40) Revelation was written by John of Patmos. Patmos is… a. a city in Asia Minor b. John’s father c. a prison island d. none of the above]]>