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What Would Empathy Civilisation Mean for Loving Our Neighbors – Weekly Video

Todd Littleton — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:29:26 +0000

Too often questions that emerge between science and theology sidetrack the occasions where there is agreement. In this week’s weekly video, see the right sidebar, the question of soft-wired human tendencies seem strikingly similar to the aim Jesus pointed at in exhibiting what Willard describes as the most fully human person to ever live.

Some will see in this move, unfortunately, a derision of Jesus’ divinity. That is a mistake. If, as Peter noted, Jesus has left us an example that we should walk in, it seems then we should consider Jesus’ Way an aim for our own embodiment. The video need to stir debate as to the “methodology” of human origin. See the recent discussion over at JesusCreed. Here the intent is to say that if correct, then what is the way forward for a transformative move in our global world? Certainly we should recapture the empathy expressed in the very real person of Jesus.

Seems at this point it would open up some great conversations for discussing the nature of the Good News in a global context. What are your thoughts?

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We Need a Few Good People – Weekly Video

Todd Littleton — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:30:42 +0000

“You can’t handle the truth!” Saturday I watched A Few Good Men. Again. Some youngsters have a crush on Justin Bieber. I like Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon, and Kiefer Sutherland. There are not a few poignant scenes. Aside from provoking Colonel Jessup (Nicholson) to declare Lieutenant Kaffee (Cruise) could not handle the truth, there is a scene where Cruise and Moore are debating how to manage Kaffee’s (Cruise’s) new case. In a fever pitch of emotion trying to make his point, Cruise tells Moore, “I only believe what I can prove.” Moore had just told Cruise she believed in the innocence of the accused but had no proof. Classic. (My weekly video in the right sidebar on the home page offers another important clip that forms seed for this post.)

How do we proceed? Many people we encounter outside the Church, and make no mistake inside the Church, look for some kind of verification – either affirmation or a falsification. We in the Church have become very adept at shouting our affirmations. But, we seem to be singing in a barrel on many occasions. My last, admittedly snarky, post raised the question in a different way. At its heart I rejected the idea that any kind of transformation comes in a system where figure heads speak for the majority from a distance, detached and disconnected.

Our theological impulses must derive from a well thought out understanding of our own humanity, presence, embodiment. In short, we must do more than refer to the Incarnation in our Creeds and Confessions. We don’t quite know what to do with it. Skeptics just dismiss it as part of our mythos. And why not when it seems to have little real footing in the day to day, Monday to Monday living out of our faith. Incidents reported like the CNN piece that provoked my snark do little more than give a public forum to disseminate the idea that we do not think nearly as deeply as we pretend. See Ben Witherington III’s response here.

Back to Reiner’s work. The verdict is in. The worst possible scenario – dishonorable discharge. Pfc. Dawson had already noted he would rather sit in jail than face the prospect of “dis-honor.” In this final scene young Pfc. Downey attempts to figure out what the ruling means. He contends he was doing what soldiers do – follow orders. He insisted he had done nothing wrong. He followed the code. Pfc. Dawson turns to let him know the wrong was in following a code that superseded their commitment to fight for those who could not fight for themselves, the code. We have but one. Live in the Way of Jesus.

I could not help to see this latest news out of techno-church a colossal adventure in missing the Incarnation. You see it is not about presentation but presence – yours and mine with others who get bypassed on the way to spending others hard earned dollars for a way to extend an unreal presence. And, in our world it is the how of our presence and the what of our action that communicates the presence of Jesus.

Father Richard Rohr offers a way to think about the depths of living an embodied life in the Way of Jesus. Rather than look for the least possible cost and the path of least resistance in the codes we opt for rather than choosing “the” code. He suggests what he sees as the most radical of Jesus’ teachings (“the” code”).

Question of the Day:
Do we really want our leaders
to love our enemies?
The greatest and the summit of Jesus’ commandments and the most radical of all of his teachings is, “You must love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). How many of us love other people who kick us around or those who make it hard for us? Do we even know how to do this? Is it something we desire to do? Let’s admit that our culture sees this as weak, capitulating, soft, dangerous, and “effeminate” for men—and is even seen this way by many women. Christian countries have never been known for obeying this commandment, to my knowledge. In fact, you would never be elected or admired if you even talked this way. We have a problem here.

We do not really like or understand love as Jesus teaches it. As Fr. Zossima says in Dostoevsky’s, The Brothers Karamazov: “Love in practice is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams. It may very well kill you.”

~Richard Rohr
June 2010

Now, if we want to take embodiment, presence, our humanity seriously then we must conclude with Dawson, we have been fighting for the wrong people. Rather than fight for ourselves and putting ourselves out there for ourselves, we would more closely follow the Way of Jesus by putting ourselves out there fighting for others – those who cannot fight for themselves. This is a job sans holograms.

Out of the Mouth of Bob’s (Hyatt) Babe

Todd Littleton — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:07:34 +0000

I am glad Bob found his keyboard. It is not that he lost it really. But, it has been sparingly used until lately. We have not had a four year-old around our house in quite a long time. In a little more than four years we will enjoy the brisk little feet of a grand-daughter that age. Until then I will vicariously remember the fun and wit of those little ones. Here is a recent offering from Bob’s keyboard in concert with the wit and wisdom of his Jane.

“Thank You for all we do for You.”
by bobhyatt
My four year-old daughter Jane is a theologian of surprising insight. Case in point- her reworking of familiar prayers into postmodern homages to man’s insatiable desire to control the divine.

For example, her rendering of the Lord’s Prayer (this is actually how she prays it):

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be my name

My kingdom come

My will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some evil… ”

And so on.

Brilliant!

Also, last night’s dinner prayer was especially penetrating: “Dear Jesus, thank You for this food and also for all we do for You…”

In all seriousness, I think more often than we’d like to admit, even if it doesn’t come out consciously, this is still our attitude, isn’t it?

Weekly Video – Jeremy Begbie

Todd Littleton — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:39:06 +0000

In the first sidebar to the right you will find a regular feature – Weekly Video. Each week I post a video that has intrigued me for one reason or another. It may be the music of a newly discovered artist or group. Sometimes the video is a clip from a favorite author or friend. Other occasions I find something provocative that stirs the imagination.

This week’s video is of Jeremy Begbie on Theology Through the Arts. I first heard Begbie this past April at the Wheaton Theology Conference. One of my favorite presentations was given by Jeremy Begbie. If you have not heard that talk, I would suggest visiting the Wheaton website and take a listen. Watch the video and be intrigued by the imagination of Jeremy Begbie.

Pampered Bed & Bath – A Little Ad Love

Todd Littleton — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:44:12 +0000

A little ad love for my friend Marty and his wife Sonya. Yesterday Sonja launched Pampered Bed & Bath. Here is how Sonya introduces her new business,

This store is a dream that has been a long time coming. My name is Sonya Duren. As the owner of Pampered Bed and Bath, my goal is to bring you an assortment of organic and natural products that will make your family’s bedding and bath a restful retreat in our sometimes, crazy, busy lives!

If you are inclined to spend time online shopping, then give Pampered Bed & Bath a look. See if some of the certified “organic” items would be just the products you might have an interest in.

Joshua Case(s) the Oil Spill Around the Table

Todd Littleton — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:34:48 +0000

Theology student, golfer, and competing podcaster Joshua Case is joined by Julia Clawson, Ben Lowe, and Tom Sine discussing the nearly month old offshore pipeline disaster. I describe the event that way as it just does not make much sense to me to refer to thousands of gallons a day as a “spill.”

Central to this podcast episode – “What should Christians think, say, and do in relationship to such a disaster?” As Tom Sine points out in the course of the discussion, Christians have learned to mobilize to help in the face of natural disasters – Katrina, tsunamis, earthquakes and floods. But, what are we to do when the drama unfolds miles from the shore.

Ben Lowe and Julia Clawson remind us that while finger waving goes on in Washington, we who are so dependent upon petroleum products bear some responsibility as we sate our appetite for more and better.

Tom Sine contends we must really re-think our eschatology to include the redeeming of all things – including Creation.

Take some time and go give the podcast a listen. Likely there will be something to provoke you to thinking – or should!

You Can’t Tripp N.T. Wright

Todd Littleton — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:35:31 +0000

My friends Tripp and Chad interviewed Bishop Tom for their renowned podcast. After responding to the work of other theologians, academics, etc, Wright discusses his newest book, After You Believe. In Tripps humorous idiomatic expression, the interview is full of nuggets of goodness. Take a listen. What do you think?

Reverse Mentoring? What about Reverse Learning? Adora Thinks So

Todd Littleton — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:30:09 +0000

Brad sent me a link to this TED video. Once you get past the reality Adora is 12 years old, you will still be enamored with her grasp of what it would mean to learn from each other. What do you think?

Civility Whether Online or In Realtime

Todd Littleton — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:07:07 +0000

Pastor Paul Burleson takes the occasion to point out just how conversations may devolve from what gift they could be to mutual understanding into a diatribe against another person. We are always in need of good illustrations of how these kinds of experiences may be handled. Recently it was affirming to witness Richard Hays and N.T. Wright embrace despite something of a rift that occurred in their responses to one another over their academic pursuits.

In this post Paul lifts out an event on Scot McKnight’s blog. The subject was being debated and turned uncharitable. Scot stepped in to do what he has suggested has been missing from Christian discussions – a mild but firm rebuke that aims to bring the tone back to a place of mutual help and conversation.

Too often the aim becomes “winning” so that everyone “loses.” If we followed Scot’s illustration we may find relationships win even when our personal sensibilities seem at irreconcilable odds.

An Appeal for a Friend

Todd Littleton — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:03:28 +0000

Rick never asks anyone to do what he himself is not willing to do. He taught me this as I served with him in my first vocational staff position. Over the years he has assisted countless people because he positioned himself financially to be prepared to help. Once again Rick is inviting others to do what he himself has done. I re-post his recent appeal as an illustration. Should you take believe it something you would do, know this, Rick would never ask anyone to do what he has not done.

Missionary Couple Needs Financial Help
by rick davis

I just don’t know any other way to say it. A missionary couple in Montana needs some financial help.

Alan and Sarah Damron are in Haugan, Montana,where they live and from where they work to start and restart evangelical churches. The NAMB recognizes their work but they must raise their support.

Understand I have known Alan and Sarah since college days. Alan and I drove back and forth to seminary in my 1973 Ford Pinto with the optional exploding rear end (the Pinto, not Alan. Although….)

Alan recently had hip replacement surgery. For those who remember Alan, yes, you are right, it was a pretty good size hip. He had complications. Now, they are down about $14,000 more out of pocket.

Hurrah for health care reform.

I send money every few weeks to them, above the tithe and all, to support their ministry. I am going to write another check tomorrow and send it along to them.

Frankly, I am worried about Alan’s health and their financial condition.

I would ask all the Howard Payne people who read this, and all others, to send a check for any amount to:

New Day Network Ministry

PO Box 420013

Haugan, Montana 59842

Please respond to this ministry need today.

The opinions expressed here are mine alone. I get nothing from soliciting funds for any ministry mentioned here. I know of the ministry personally and vouch for it or it does not go on this blog-site.