Quote from Josef Albers

Reading Color (from Josef Albers' Interaction of Color, p. 5)

[C]lear reading [of color] depends upon the recognition of context.

In musical compositions,
so long as we hear merely single tones, we do not hear music.
Hearing music depends on the recognition of the in-between of the tones,
of their placing and of their spacing.

In writing, a knowledge of spelling has nothing to do with an understanding of poetry.

Equally, a factual identification of colors within a given painting
has nothing to do with a sensitive seeing
nor with an understanding of the color action within a painting.

Our concern is the interaction of color; that is, seeing
what happens between colors.

Quote from Rothko

Regarding Beauty (from Mark Rothko’s The Artists Reality: Philosophies of Art, pp. 64-65.)

Like the old ideal of God, the abstraction itself in its nakedness is never directly apprehensible to us. As in the case of God, we can know its manifestations only through works, which, while never completely revealing the total abstraction in the round, symbolize it by manifestation of different faces of itself in works of art. Therefore, to feel beauty is to participate in the abstraction itself through a particular agency. In a sense, this is a reflection of the infiniteness of reality. For should we know the appearance of the abstraction itself, we would constantly reproduce only its image. As it is, we have the exhibition of the infinite variety of its inexhaustible facets, for which we should be thankful.

Let us consider the case of our relationship to our friends. We love them with a common love because we all participate in the common prototype of humanity, but because each human being is a new and different manifestation of this prototype we want to know more about each one. Yet we should not be able to enjoy our friends at all if they could not be referred to the common prototype, for through the recognition of this identity with the prototype are we able to make sensible observations of differences.

Due Dates!!!

I have had a couple of students ask, "When is this or that due?"

• Research paper: Due December 5th by 5PM.
• Journal: Due December 5th by 5PM.
• Signed and page numbered Bibliography (which just shows what you read for the class [how many pages, etc.]): Due December 12th by 5PM.
• Make-up Assignments: Due December 12th by 5PM.

Peace,
Dr. Chelle

Mary Poem

Here is Patrica Clemens Repikoff's Mary poem:

MARY OF NAZARETH

I am mystery,

rebel,

mother,

refugee,

a voice crying out compassion

in the face of cruelty,

human misery.

I am Mary of Nazareth,

I sing my reckless trust,

my ache,

confusion.

Mine are the dirges any mother sings

whose child is cut

down too young.

I sing

of dashed dreams

that turned to diamonds.

I was young and hopeful,

the future danced in my eyes!

I always had a wild streak

(some said

I was a rebel),

My head uncovered,

my hair flying,

I ran

through the streets

with friends.

My voice carried

loudest

they said.

I did not always

heed the Law,

or my parents,

or anyone else.

I sometimes spoke

out.

I asked the why of things.

I was silenced.,

but never

for long,

because

a restlessness ran through me.

It seemed I wanted more from life

than most.

The longing wouldn’t go away.

They hoped that Joseph would

tame my restless spirit

with domestic dreams, a family future

I accepted,

but secretly,

I tucked away

my restlessness

in the corner of my heart

far from

the eyes of anyone.

Yet, God spied my hidden treasure, and smiling,

asked if I’d dare bring

that MORE in me to life,

new life,

for all like me

who dream for more than Law.

I swallowed hard, but

I

said

YES!

I surrendered to birth

a bigger dream

than hearts could capture then.

I said YES

to birthing MYSTERY

midst the darkness.

My YES blasted walls

of Law and custom.

It brought talk,

sniping,

pointing fingers,

stones,

as I walked

pregnant with MYSTERY,

God’s dream.

I remember…

that dark night,

NO’S

slamming in my face,

locked doors,

far from family,

my body bursting

I gave birth

to MYSTERY shining

on a bed of straw

midst blood and tears,

beggar’s breath,

shepherd’s sighs.

Yes, I remember…

hot sand, night chills,

running, foreign lands,

fleeing, strange streets,

fugitives, Herod’s cold cruelty.

But, I do remember warmer days,

watching my boy grow.

I saw myself in him.

I wondered who he might become.

I loved his fire,

his integrity, his joy.

And as he grew, I saw

his YES,

His YES to God and

no one else!

I was afraid.

Mother love could not last longer.

He was a young man

with the future in his eyes, and

compassion in his arms!

I let him go.

I let him go into his YES,

into streets,

salons,

and synagogues,

open arms of prostitutes and beggars, and

Into the slippery hands of hypocrites!

I am a martyr’s mother.

I let him go into his YES.

I let him go into God’s arms.

GOD’S ARMS BECAME A CROSS!

And my YES

hung limp

on the tree—

a last

lifeless

leaf.

I cried all martyrs’ mothers’ tears.

I wailed the death of dreams and hoping.

I moaned my flesh and blood

martyr-child snatched

too young

from the nest!

WHERE ARE YOU NOW GOD?

WHO ARE YOU

TO LET GO OF

YOUR PEARL

SO EASILY?

WHAT KIND OF CRUEL GOD

ARE YOU

THAT SNUFFS OUT

YOUR OWN DREAM?

HE GAVE YOU EVERYTHING,

YOU GAVE HIM DEATH!

SCORPIONS!

SNAKES!

YOU GAVE US STONES, NOT BREAD!

But, I remember…

how there was new

breath

and wind

and blessing.

how God

breathed

into our empty.

Death couldn’t hide,

Death couldn’t hold our YES!

YES! there was breath

and bread

and blessing!

YES! An empty tomb! YES!

bread broken and blessed on a road! YES!

ARMS OPENED

AND HEARTS BURNING

WITHIN US! YES!

There is breath

and wind

and blessing! YES!

He lives!

among us!

I birthed a bigger dream

more than our hearts

could contain,

more truth than death’s arms could bear!

Dreams lie waiting hidden

in you hearts to be born again

carried to all who long like us for MORE.

My sisters, my brothers,

carry them, bear them.

Bring them to YES!

Bring them to birth

midst the darkness!

By Patricia Clemens Repikoff

From DASHED DREAMS AND DIAMOND

Quiz on November 8th, 2008

I have had a few questions about what will be on the quiz on this coming Saturday. I don't want to give too much away, but I don't want to trick you either.

SOOOO ... you are responsible for the chapters in the Quash/Ward book on heresies, which include Adoptionism, Doceticism and Gnosticism. The required chapters are on mhgs.edu (the e-reserve), but you are also suppose to read one other chapter. I would suggest you choose one of the following: chapter 1 (Arianism, which we have discussed in class, so it is fair game), chapter 3 (Nestorianism, which is on the vocab list, so it is fair game) or chapter 9 (Pelagianism, just good to know, and may make an appearance on the quiz).

You are also responsible for all the heresies included in the vocab list: pantheism, modalism, pluralism (in some forms) and tritheism. You might also want to be familiar with the definition of heresy itself (always useful).

Remember, you can always study with other people in the class (either in person or over email). Split up the work. Have each person research one or two heresies and give a report to the group. And, always have a dictionary to hand so that you can look up specifics.

Bonne chance!

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)

Welcome to Theology I: Contructing the what???

Greetings Theology students!

There is a serious desire here at Mars Hill Graduate School to be integrative, so that no discipline stands separate from another, or separate from the purpose or meaning behind, or toward, which we are attempting to learn – for the healing and life of the world God so loves. To that end, it will be expected that you become familiar with some of the ‘terms of art’ that allow us to speak among ourselves in ways that enable serious conversation. Just as some of you are required to memorize terms in the DSM-IV to enable you to use certain terms to speak of a whole cluster of ideas (symptoms, pathologies, diagnoses, treatment), so too you will be asked to learn some terms that allow us to use one word (e.g., soteriology) rather than 27 words about all the implications of and meanings of ‘salvation’. So you will be quizzed so that you will be able to actually begin to use these terms.

You will also be quizzed on certain readings. To try to enter into a conversation, remember what’s been said, what you think about it, what questions you have, etc., when you only have one brief encounter, and then are asked to articulate that person’s thought carefully and charitably, is really hard work. Regular engagement is so much better. Since this term we don’t have that regular engagement in class, the quizzes will help you to read/listen more carefully to these conversation partners so you can represent them well (a critical step to authentic engagement, but not one that is practiced much at present).

We’re reading Newbigin first, a churchman who also happens to think who God is and who we are really matters, in every conceivable way and context - that there is splitting between ethics, the movement toward wholeness, God and our talk/life/understanding of God (theology). He will help you take steps to being more clear about the cultural worldview that has you, hook, line and sinker, and is reeling you in to be conditioned about how you are ‘allowed’ to think theologically. He will call you to resist (something you’re good at!). I pray that you resist the real enemy; real evil seldom wears its name on its sleeve. If it’s too obvious, something might be done about it, or we’d have to acknowledge our complicity. So be open to undergoing the reconciliation of your minds (metanoia – repentance, alternative reality) so that you participate in the real, every day, reconciliation that is the future Kingdom in the present.

We will have a couple of essay exams where you get to put some pieces together and see what the picture actually looks like and tell it in your own words. We are not interested in ‘right answers’ spit back to us. We want to know if you can authentically witness to what is the heart of the only good news there is for the world – that it/we are beloved by God, here’s how we know, and here’s the difference God can make when released among his people. (NOT the difference one’s knowledge about God can make.)

You will write a paper, you will read a lot, you will talk among yourselves and with Dr. Stearns (as well as various other guests), you will wrestle, pray, wonder, want to quit, get excited, and all the other stuff of learning as a community and as a unique person. You come embedded in a story. It’s our hope that we see our personal and corporate story(ies) weave together.

May the Presence of God, the Spirit of the Father and the Son, rest upon and in you all, giving you your lives back by drawing you further into the Triune communion, and empowering you to be the place where God’s Presence dwells uniquely in the world for its healing, justice, beauty and final restoration.

On behalf of Dr. Stearns & myself (you're TA), welcome!

"Real names tell you the story of the things they belong to . . . " - Treebeard

The First Class

Hello!

The first class of the Theological Mosaic is fast approaching. You should all be in reading groups, busily discussing Newbigin and Hauerwas.

I wanted to encourage you all to be on time, if not a bit early, to the first session. We will start off the class with our first guest speaker. Dr. Bob Ekblad (from The People's Seminary and Tierra Nueva up in Burlington, WA) will be addressing the class. I am excited about what he will bring to the overall dynamic of the class. He is a theologian who has pursued his theological education in the midst of solidarity and ministry to poor. Theology for him is 'hands on' and it shapes and informs the work that he does. Come prepared to be challenged and awakened by his vision and passion for those who seem utterly lost within our culture. His books include Reading the Bible with the Damned and A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom.

I look forward to meeting you all next Friday!
Peace,
Chelle

PS Since the readings for the class are a bit in flux I thought that I would post the reading required for the first weekend of class. (This is in addition to the Newbigin and Hauerwas that you are discussing in your reading groups.) Check the school website (e-reserve) for copies of the articles:

Gordon Fee, "On Being a Trinitarian Christian" (e-reserve)
Colin Gunton, The Christian Faith, Part I
Colin Gunton, "Trinity, Ontology and Anthropology" (e-reserve)

Welcome to Theological Mosaic

Hello MHGS Students!!

Welcome to the class entitled "The Theological Mosaic". I think that this will be an exciting year. We will have a number of guest lecturers throughout the course of the class, so it should be, if nothing else, an amazingly diverse discussion about God, tradition, humanity, redemption, the church, etc. You know, all the little things.

Here are the dates of the class (all are on a Friday and Saturday), so that you can put them on your calendars:

Fall 2008:
Oct. 3-4
Oct. 17-18
Nov. 7-8

Spring 2009:
Jan. 23-24
Feb. 20-21
March 13-14

(Let me know ASAP if you will miss any class times. Just so you know, you can only miss three hours of class time and still pass the class.)

You'll find the syllabus for the class online on the Mars Hill website. I will post any and all changes to the syllabus, reading assignments, etc. on this blog. (I will also announce any changes in class.)

I look forward to meeting all of you soon.

Peace,
Chelle (aka Dr. Stearns)