Luci Shaw

This next Friday, November 7th, Luci Shaw, Christian poet and personal hero, will be honoring us with her presence. She will be talking about the Incarnation/Advent and reading some of her poems. I have heard her speak a number of times and have always been drawn in by her soft-spoken wisdom. We are in for an amazing treat!

See you next Friday!

Chelle

"Like all art, poems are only hints and guesses that draw our attention to something larger."
Luci Shaw

What is Due?

OK, this post is about your assignments.

First, the final exam is canceled. Sooooo, take a gigantic red pen and cross it out on your syllabus (though not on your computer screen). That should be very satisfying!!

Second, you are still responsible for 8 journal entries. One of those entries (any one of them) should interact in one way or another with both The Return of the Prodigal Son (Nouwen) and The Shack (Young). You are not obligated to do more work, just that one entry should interact with these two books: two different articulations of God's love.

Third, if you have not started on your research paper, you should. (I know, I am a nag.)

Fourth, due December 12th, 2008 is a signed & #'ed (pages that is) bibliography. Be honest about what you have actually read.

Finally, remember that there is a quiz on Saturday morning. "Name that Heresy!!"

My office hours continue to be on Tuesday afternoons. I'm very friendly and I don't bite...most of the time.... Come talk with me if you have any questions. If you can't come in on Tuesdays, just write me an email and we can work out a time.

Peace,
Chelle

Readings for November 7th & 8th, 2008

Hello to you all,

I just wanted to confirm with you the readings for the next class session of the term. There are three categories of readings: 1) required, 2) highly recommended, 3) and recommended. Obviously, you are only obligated to read the first category, but you really should at least glance at the second category. The third category of reading will just help you in general. We will be having an in-class discussion about The Return of the Prodigal Son and The Shack on Saturday (or Friday!), be prepared.

Required Reading:
Richard Bauckham, The Crucified God.
Henri Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son.
Quash and Ward, Heresies and How to Avoid Them: Forward, Prologue, chapters 2, 5 & 10 PLUS one other chapter of your choice (the book is on reserve in the library).
N.T. Wright, "The Biblical Formation of a Doctrine of Christ."
William Young, The Shack.

Highly Recommended:
Luci Shaw, Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation. (On reserve in the library. There is also a selection on google books.)
Kathleen Norris, "A Word Made Flesh: Incarnational Language and the Writer," (on the e-reserve).

Recommended:
Gregory of Nyssa, "To Ablabius," (on the e-reserve).
Yeago, "The New Testament and the Nicene Dogma," (on the e-reserve).

Happy Reading!!

-Chelle

Wesley Quote from Brent Johnson's Talk on Worship

John Wesley

on

Unity and Diversity within the Body of Christ

From Wesley’s 52 Standard Sermons

Though we have different opinions and worship styles, can’t we still be united? Though we don’t think the same, can’t we love the same? Can’t we be of one heart even when we’re not of one opinion? Of course we can. All of God’s children can unite even though we have small differences. While we disagree, we can still encourage each other in love and good deeds.

My question is this: “Is your heart right, like mine is right with yours?” Most importantly: Is your heart right with God? Do you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord? Do you show your love by your actions? If so, let’s all say, “Yes!” If that is what you want, then your heart is right, and my heart is right there with you.

If so, then take my hand. I’m not saying, “Agree with me.” That’s not necessary. I don’t expect it and I don’t even want it. Nor am I saying, “I will agree with your opinions.” I don’t. I don’t mean “Worship like me” or “I will worship like you.” No. Hold on to what you believe pleases God and I will do the same.

What I’m saying is, First, love me affectionately, as a friend closer than a brother or sister, as a fellow child of God, a fellow-citizen of heaven, a fellow-soldier in the same battle serving the same Lord and leader, our Savior. Love me as a companion in, and heir of the Kingdom of God.

Secondly, pray for me. Wrestle with God for me, that He would continue His work in my life, making me more like Jesus.

Thirdly, challenge me to love and do good works. Yes, prod and provoke me when I seem to be doing my will rather than God’s.

Lastly, don’t just love me with your words, but with your actions, authentically and sincerely. As much as you can (while still keeping your own opinions and worship styles), join with me in God’s work, and let us go on hand in hand.

Potluck??

Hey, should we have a potluck lunch on Saturday November 8th? It is the last day of the class. What do you think?

-chelle

Power Point Slides, October 17th, 2008

Here are the slides from the lectures on Friday October 17th, 2008:

• Biblical Personhood
• Personhood and Participation

-Chelle

This Weekend: October 17th & 18th, 2008

Hello!!

I am looking forward to this weekend. We have a couple of guest lecturers coming to the class.

On Friday we will be discussing what it means to be a 'person'. We'll explore this first through the lens of liturgy, especially lament. I have asked a good friend of mine, Brent Johnson, to come in and talk with us. He is a worship pastor at Warm Beach Free Methodist Church up in Stanwood, WA. We'll do a little talking and a little bit of singing along the way. After the morning session, we'll move on to talk about the concept of participation. By the end of the day, we may even do something creative or arty. You never know.

On Saturday, Dr. Matt Jenson from Biola University will be with us to talk about humanity and sin. (See his book: The Gravity of Sin.) It should be a good but intense day of teaching and discussion. We'll end with a question and answer time.

So, please read and be prepared to engage this weekend. And don't forget the quiz at 10AM sharp on Friday!!

Peace,
Chelle

In Search of the Trinity

I was looking back over some of my notes today and found the first use of the concept of "triad".

Theophilus of Antioch (180 AD), in his To Autolycus, discusses the shape of God's creative activity as Father, Logos and Sophia. Here is a quote:

• "He is God, who heals and gives life through Logos and Sophia. God made everything through Logos and Sophia, but by his Logos the heavens were made firm and by his Spirit all their power [Ps 32:6]." Theolophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolycum, tr. by Robert M. Grant, Oxford: Claredon Press, 1970, I.7.
  

In another place, he says:

• "the three days prior to the luminaries are types of the triad of God and his Logos and his Sophia. In the forth place is man, who is in need of light--so that there might be God, Logos, Sophia, Man." (the footnote to this: "This 'triad' is not precisely the Trinity, since in Theolophilus' mind man can be added to it.") Theolophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolycum, tr. by Robert M. Grant, Oxford: Claredon Press, 1970, II.15.
  

Though this is not a perfect articulation of trinitarian theology, you can see how Theolophilus is attempting to put words and concepts to something that was already believed in early Christendom.

Another source of early trinitarian thought is Irenaeus of Lyon (125-203). He also talks about God creating through the Logos and Wisdom (Sophia), but more specifically talks about the Son and the Holy Spirit as the two hands of the Father:

• "It was not angels...who made us, nor who formed us, neither had angels power to make an image of God, nor any one else, except the Word of the Lord, nor any Power remotely distant from the Father of all things. For God did not stand in need of these [beings], in order to the accomplishing of what He had Himself determined with Himself beforehand should be done, as if He did not possess His own hands. For with Him were always present the Word and Wisdom, the Son and the Spirit, by whom and in whom, freely and spontaneously, He made all things..." Ireneaus, "Against Heresies," in Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, Edinburgh: T&T Clark; Eerdmans, 1996, Book IV: chapter XX.1.

Well, I hope that gets you thinking or at least answers some of your questions about early sources of trinitarian language and theology.

Peace,
Chelle

Questions

There were a couple of questions submitted to the "question pot" during our class time last weekend that I wanted to share with all of you. I think that they are very good questions, even if they are difficult to answer properly.

So, here you go:

1) "Was Jesus fully human before his earthly birth? Was flesh and blood part of his particularity in the Trinitarian relationship? If not, the what was his particularity within the Trinity?"

• We'll talk about this question during the final weekend of the class. Are there any other questions along these lines that I can address as I prepare for the final weekend of class?
  

2) "It seems that if God is a Trinity and Jesus repeatedly proclaims that his purpose is to point to God the Father, do you think modern/post-modern Christianity over emphasizes our focus on Christ? For example, even St. Patrick's prayer was all about Christ's presence with us, but would it not really be the Holy Spirit's presence we should be praying for, since it is the Holy Spirit who actually resides in us. Does Christ actually reside in us?"

• Again, we'll talk about this a bit the final weekend of class. Who is Christ for us and in us? Paul talks of us being "in Christ" but what does that really mean? Any thoughts?
  

3) "Bob Ekblad talks about hearing the Holy Spirit and learning to "listen" to his leading. Is this really possible? Can we "hear" God's voice?"

• This would be a great discussion question. What do you think? Obviously Bob believes this.
  

These are all excellent questions! Keep asking and discussing!!

Peace,
Chelle

Power Point Slides, October 8 & 9, 2008

For any of you that are interested, here are links to the power point slides from this weekend:

What is Theology?

Trinity and Perichoresis

The Trinitarian Shape of Creation

Please let me know if you have trouble opening these ppts.

Peace,
Chelle

Revised Syllabus

Hey everyone,

You'll find a copy of the revised syllabus online. Don't worry, not much has changed. It is just a little more 'filled out' with names of the guest speakers, etc.

You'll get a hard copy of the syllabus on the first day of class, this Friday. We'll talk through any changes at that time.

Peace,
Chelle (aka Dr. Stearns)