The Rabbi

At semester's end
let's review one more time the
greatest commandment, this time
through the eyes of St. John

Moses penned: "But you shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am yhwh"
given in opposition to taking vengeance or
bearing a grudge against another Israelite (Lev 19:18)

Twice during his account of the upper room discourse,
John has Jesus restate the Mosaic admonition "you shall love one another," but then
classify it as a "new commandment" by adding
"as I have loved you"

this love for one another should be the distinguishing characteristic
of (what would become) Christianity.

It is fascinating that in the initial telling, Peter interrupts boldly claiming
that "I love you as you love me"; "I will lay down my life for you"
Amazingly he does! But first God had other plans for Peter,
he had to shepherd the sheep for about 30 years before
God would give him the privilege of "loving" as Jesus loved.

In the second telling Jesus elevates his, now 11, disciples from the
status of servants to that of friends.
This small group had been reactors, disciples
now they were to be actors those who made decisions,
the leaders and interpreters of what would grow into the church

(I wonder if in our 2-4 years together,
I have prepared you to the point that you now may go out to lead others,
educating the deprived flock, along Jesus' path?)

Now in his first epistle, John takes hold of what Jesus borrowed from Moses, and
by word and deed had advanced to a higher standard
(the good Samaritan aptly illustrates the point--all are
neighbors one does not have opportunity to pick or choose),
and applies it to his own community.

All biblical authors concur, neither Israel's God,
nor the triune version of the church, conceived of an academic "theology,"
rather their religion(s) integrated the mysterious into life, real life.

For example, my eyes fall upon 1J2:6
"the one who says he abides in Him
ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked"
We could spend a good week of class time developing a theology of "abides in him" (God the father)--
whatever that means, I do not know,
but John wrote to counter those who claimed to understand the theology,
but whose behavior gave little evidence to the fact

In the words of James,
don't tell me you are a Christian,
if you don't walk as Jesus

So I read about Hillary, how can I not check out Barack? Interesting guy. Hillary may not be authentic, but does Barack have the stuff to run the world? One thing Mendell presented that intregued me was Obama's desire to get opposite opinions toward a mutual agreement. Easy to say, simple to right, but that is the only way to do business with substantive result, unless one takes the fundamentalist approach that dispossess of those in the opposite party. Gaining mutual trust, an necessary but perhaps unrealistic goal, any other options?

Not much else to say, time matures, was Kennedy the exception?

Four weeks worth of reading during lunch occupies a lot of valuable time; Roper's analysis was worth the read. The ancients Egyptians impress, such national focus, engineering-scientific sense coupled with seat-of-the-pants construction modifications anchored with a religious purpose builds pyramids of a magnitude inconceivable to mere mortals. No wonder so much quasi science/religious investigation and proposal has been engendered by the magnificent pyramid at Giza.

A fascinating read, especially for a self-professed evangelical. After reading Shorris, I will stick with my definition of what I am, not that of the norm. This personally haunting book only confirms my own thoughts developed over the years. Shorris writes of a movement not social, not political, lacking appellation, but mostly religious that he fears could someday come to power in the USA, bringing with it disasters unimagined. His book traces the growth of the movement against the backdrop of the founding of our country, which are not unlike what many believe coincident.

The movement he discusses is the neo-conservation political and religious evangelical union that has by its very nature defined right versus wrong. Shorris laments over what would happen, if the movement gained political control, to those who are in the "wrong." This Shorris contrasts to the dialogical approach of the founding fathers. Difficult decisions can only be made when all parties sit to work out a compromise to some degree beneficial to all.

Here I stop with Shorris to throw in my own thoughts. Not much do the New Testament writers provide on government during the time between Jesus’ two advents, other than that the Christian community must submit to its dictates while praying for its function as societal peace keeper. Ancient Israel failed as a theocratic nation, the church was not established to take its place, rather to function more on an enlightened patriarchal, community level. Only when Jesus returns will the divinely established monarchy work. The question that demands consideration is whether an evangelical government in the USA would be good for the country? Any thoughts?

Never tried that before but I am sticking these two excellent works side by side to see what comes out. Luntz is a dream, just keep him in his context, using the right word to best convey the desire message, and this book is well worth the read. It may be worth buying just to copy and convey to my students his "ten rules of effective language," but then his motto: "it's not what you say, but what people hear," if given thought would help anyone wanting to be an effective/affective communicator.

But what intrigues is Luntz's work with the Republican party, or the democrats when they want to listen to his advice, with developing the exact words/wording to convey the desired message. Today sound bites win elections, but hardly solve problems. Just consider much of what comes out of Washington: real work is compromise, popular vote getting requires making certain pledges of what one "believes" or not. Life demands far more than simplistic one liners.

Luntz knows of what he advocates, since we have lost the capacity to process large amounts of data give it to them in ways they can manage. But what if that just is not good enough to get the (more complex) job done? I find myself in between, present the bible simply so they can understand, but just how small do I make my god in so doing? A puzzle!

I, Jeremiah, see, feel their approach

Even the 400's daughters suffer, no survivors
even well-tended fruit trees besiegers cast against the walls
war outside, but perversity within I warn: G-d leaves; they come
so routine
his name falls on deaf, rebellious ears

Regardless I speak, as it comes over me
the delivering hand, smites its own

yhwh's chosen leaders lie and cheat
"peace," the people listening syncretize without shame

Moses' path becomes Frost's
heartless sacrifices blinds
worse than the horde
rumors terrify

I assess G-d's people
in the smelter
valueless dregs

I, Jeremiah, love G-d

Barna needs data; any right doing?
none? but they swear loyalty

But G-d these are the uneducated--how can you judge ignorance?
to those in the know,
all chose to go another way
I get discouraged, yhwh incredulous
He will spare for less than Sodom or Gomorrah
they arrogantly trust him
their rhetoricians' proofs lie on yesterday's facts

I, Jeremiah, have been charged with words from the inferno
I unleash the horde of Mordor
The Khan's cavalry swarms as Joel's locusts
until only Isaiah's stump remains

I, Jeremiah, fear yhwh
that is why I do what I do
regardless of how painful
as for G-d's people
whose eyes don't see,
whose ears don't hear
do you not tremble in your creator's presence?

his blessings provide
your sins reject

the rich get richer, the poor get poorer
so who steals from whom?
G-d knows, they don't

As bad as that is
religious spokesmen vocalize pseudo-torah
substituting gain for god
the crowd's ears itch
the black gate opens

I, Jeremiah, speak as G-d's watchman

Repent, Israel, the standard algorithm
put off, all off, swear allegiance
practice truth, justice, righteousness
always has worded, always will
few avail themselves of the opportunity

Judah doesn't
yhwh demands all, Jerusalem gives less
remainder brings the curse
drought, pestilence, finally the pale horse
he has left, his journey is long
weep for your sons, wail for your daughters
unimaginable rapine, unbearable grief
the leaders, our brave leaders melt

"liar"
(where that came from I do not know)
but I accused G-d of deception
compassion, grace, slow to anger, abounding in love and truth
this is the G-d of Moses and Samuel, David and Solomon, Ike and Mike
but his own prophets cry "peace"
the Babylonian menace has been defeated (Carchemesh 609)
it's fact
who is right, I or they, we both can't be?

then night comes--vision or dream, who knows?
my body writhes in panic
martial sounds
am I the only one who hears?

Judah does not
in their wisdom, they do evil

it's as if eternity past lies
before me--tohu vavohu (formless and void)
hills frightened, all gone, smoldering destruction

Jerusalem the whore prepares for work
clients become predators
she cries, no one hears
not even yhwh

any future lies on G-d keeping his promise

I, Jeremiah, hate this job

I, Jeremiah, am learning to feel like G-d

a marriage metaphor, a people (once) loved
gone a whoring, often
anywhere, all know, no shame
but you turn to your first love when trouble arrives

he will take
me back, he always has, he always will

Consider Israel
G-d loved, Israel harlot-ed
nothing worked so exile, divorce
and now Judah sells herself as Israel never did
I cry with G-d, perhaps for him, jilted twice
does G-d exist if he has no people?
He does (vicariously in me)

G-d sends me, I speak
for him, my eyes are not his
my heart is not his, but my
mouth is his mouth--my G-d who am I to do that for you?

how I loved them
sure they compromised
all do
it's really not that bad
slowly they left me for another

So what does he say to me?
go
call them back
so I do...reluctantly

look, think, consider what he offers
all that you ever could want
you can have it now,
you, don't? why?
me?
don't blame me!

I give myself
I am persecuted
But they don't hear, they don't listen
they are unwilling to let go, other gods
it's always about other gods

I, Jeremiah, wait
with G-d
their voice fades
they will never return

G-d how much longer must I walk so
70 x 7? my soul G-d
just who are you?
who do you want me to be?

I, Jeremiah, still
love G-d, they don't
why? whatever has he not done for them?
the priest, the judge, the prophet
shepherds lead yhwh's people astray
substitute one god for another
wood or stone, gods?
yet these attract
many are seduced
by what?

just compare
yhwh provides from his fount
living water (J4)
they reject, digging instead cisterns
these leak

G-d
how can they not see?
do they not hear?

it is the draw of the prostitute
but worse--not hidden, not at night
rather in the open on every hill, in every valley
passions unleashed
adultery inevitable
Baal your god

Yet you say
we are innocent
we serve yhwh

who retorts
I burn with jealousy
I tolerate no competitors
to worship me requires that
you worship no other
options do not exist

you are helpless
none can save you
other than me
I will wait...

My name is Peter
I am in Rome
tomorrow is my day

If you have the time, I have little left
let me relate three events that brought me here
my denial, his resurrection, and his call

Three years but I never got it
it is really rather simple from this side
then, hardly,
in spite of what he said
we always thought otherwise
the Day of the LORD came
God's judgment of mankind, more than Israel
It's just that he hit him, not us

I loved him--what he said, how he touched, with whom he spoke
no one ever did it like he did
so when they came I defended, I attacked
he reproved, he restored, he surrendered
I followed

I was recognized by a girl; I was afraid
(aren't you ever afraid?) they probably would hurt, hurt me
I lied, but I stayed

It happened again, this time I swore
I am not one of them; I could not leave

My tongue gave me away
All I wanted to do was see what happened to him
my impetuousness took control--I DENIED him!

The rooster crowed, instinctively I looked at him, he at me
his eyes burned through me, but
they were not angry,
they were sad,
they cut deep
my soul hurt beyond belief
never would I forget those eyes
I could not be consoled
eventually I saw him die, from a distance

Three days later three ladies told of his disappearance
I ran, I went in, it wasn't ransacked but neatly departed
I was amazed, I doubted, how could this be true?

if it was, what would he say to me?

As you know, it turned out to be true
I dreaded meeting him, would he ask?

A few weeks later, in my venue he showed up
we ate breakfast, it was good, so was the conversation,
I almost forgot, he didn't

Then he asked
how could I say that I still loved him,
when I had previously denied him
I wanted to die, he commanded service, leadership nonetheless

he asked again, I still couldn't go back to where we once were
he wanted me to lead his people
what could I say?

Finally, he met me where I was
we agreed

So that's my story
I am to die tomorrow, he told me that too
Punishment you ask? No, he has given me the opportunity
to atone for those terrible words I spoke many years ago

Thank you Jesus, I love you

Dear Jesus, I love you so

I finally understand, I am who I am
yet you call, you provide, you sustain
my life is bliss, though troubles persist
I feel your pain, as mine disappears
I can almost see you, today's problems fade
Your cross is mine

But it's my friends, those I love
those who have not known you as I
they love you from afar

Identification brings the sword, must it always?
you have called, you have promised
it's living in between that hurts, but you have provided

All they have from you, from me
are mere words--are they enough?
your requirements demand--all or nothing
your love provides--more than needed

If they only can realize, what they were
compared to what they have
tangible? if abuse is a
benefit, they are blessed

Jesus, return soon, deliver them

I have, I am, I will

O God, the father of my Jesus
is that enough for them?
to these commands:
good for evil; love your neighbor;
submit; be humble, they aspire
but they are just now understanding
the cost

who I was, cannot be
who you are, must be me

Is their pride so deeply entrenched
as mine was? If so, let me suffer
for their failures. What draws me closer, I'm afraid
may drive them away

Jesus, I pray for them, that they may be as we are
until then, forgive them, as you have me