God So Loved

Work in progress....I need to photograph a crown of thorns myself to make it right...but wanted to share the concept.

The World Beloved

There is an unusual Mass composed by Carol Barnett with libretto by Marisha Chamberlain that I was privileged to sing last weekend. It is a Bluegrass Mass, an oxymoron at first glance, but brilliantly crafted. The music moves gracefully from the classic Mass feel to the joyousness of Bluegrass harmonies and rhythms. The more we rehearsed it, the more I came to love it and appreciate the tremendous talent of the composer and lyricist.

Part of the power of the piece comes from the way Chamberlain compiled the texts. Her theme came from 1 John 4:7-21:    

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

     This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 


      God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.


       We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

The Mass opens with a theme that resurges four more times in movements 5, 8, and 12:

They say God loved the world so dear

He set aside His crown

And cloaked Himself in human shape;

They say that He came down,

And dwelt awhile among us here.

He came on down.

 

Simple words. Profound thought.

 


It takes me to Philippians 2:5-11

...Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

From Kyrie to Benediction, this Mass celebrates the magnificent love of God, who, out of love for us, became one of us, in order that we may have fellowship with Him.
 

It is more than my puny mind can comprehend, but I am grateful for His great love.

Photoshop Elements Play

One of my groups has a black/white digital challenge this week. Here is my contribution:

Cobb Symphony offers Bluegrass Mass, savors classic symphonies | accessAtlanta

Cobb Symphony offers Bluegrass Mass, savors classic symphonies accessAtlanta

Just shut up and sing

Ai yi yi--these last weeks have been a tempest of debate, discussion, and determination to be RIGHT. And for once, I haven't been on one side or the other (well, mostly.)  My World Lit class has had a excellent adventure through Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey. Wilder wrote the book as he struggled with th will of God and the love of God. How can a loving God allow bad things to happen to seemingly good people? Are people predestined for suffering or does God allow it for an unseen purpose or as a test of faith? They are familiar questions almost 100 years after the book won a Pulitzer Prize. And the answers are just as unclear.

Of course, this was a perfect opportunity to teach these 15-16 year olds about Joseph Arminius and John Calvin---and the two opposing schools of thought named for them. As we talked, we found that the class had a couple of "hard core" Calvinists and a couple of equally adamant Arminians. The rest of the class settled in the middle---liking the security of salvation Calvinism teaches, but the free will expressed by Arminians. Socrates would have enjoyed the energetic discussions of the class, and my job as facilitator of learning was made easier by these kids who took on the challenges of the material with wisdom beyond their years. But it was exhausting!  In the end, we had to agree that both Calvinists and Arminians are Biblical in their views, and that God, being sovereign and outside of time and space, can both pre-determine and allow free will. We don't have to understand it. As long as we, as believers, are unified on the essentials of the faith (deity of Christ, literal death for sin, literal resurrection for glory, impending return to reign), then we don't have to agree about the rest. (In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. Attributed to Augustine, but probably much older.)

The emotional fatigue certainly had an effect on me as I interacted with some adults who want to be RIGHT at any cost. Normally I can smile and nod ("bless your heart") but this week, the relentless corrections got to me and drove me to tears. Of course, the inciting event ended quickly and relationship restored within hours; it still affected my demeanor for a bit.

World events, from teacher protests in Wisconsin to chaotic revolutions throughout the Middle East (nothing new, but fiery this week) just added to my view of the world as a place where no one really wants peace, but wants only to be RIGHT--and won't be satisfied until everyone agrees.  No one will admit to being wrong, and no one is willing to back down or, heaven forbid, compromise on the non-essentials. What a selfish world.  Years ago Coca Cola wanted to buy the world a Coke to promote harmony. I don't think a carbonated beverage has that kind of power, but music certainly does.

If believers of different perspectives on the methods of salvation can join together and sing in unity to worship the Holy God, is it too much to ask of the rest of the world to look at the essentials of every conflict and then just shut up and sing? What a lovely thing it would be....

In Memory of Celeste Streutker

One year ago on Valentine's Day, friends lost their first born daughter in a horrific auto accident. On this day, in honor of Celeste and her family, please drive extra carefully and pray for families who have lost loved ones so unexpectedly.



Textures to share

My blog-buddy, Elizabeth Golden inspired me to share a few textures with my art friends. Use these in YOUR work, if you like. (and I'd love to see what you do....)

More 2010 layouts

A Few More Miles

For some reason this song just resonates with me today, particulary these lyrics:

And I'm gonna press to the end

I intend to finish strong and then

I'll see God's face - the One that I adore

We only have a few more miles to go

It's a live performance, and full of emotion:

Not much time to decide

The prophets have all prophesied

We only have a few more miles to go

The news says it's all going wrong

But it's news that I've know all along

We only have a few more miles to go

Despite the confusion I see

The promises He gave are my guarantee

We're not alone

We're on our way home

We only have a few more miles to go

Sometimes I want to give up

Don't want to drink from this cup

We only have a few more miles to go

But I'm here to win come what may

I'd have it no other way

We only have a few more miles to go

And I'm gonna press to the end

I intend to finish strong and then

I'll see God's face - the One that I adore

We only have a few more miles to go

[Bridge:]

No more trouble where I'm going

That's the place where I belong

And there's a joy that comes from knowing

I can leave these cares behind

When I finally reach my home

the question

How will you glorify ME with your choices today?

That's the question that keeps me on my toes...because every choice I make is a reflection of my relationship with Jesus, and when I choose to glorify Him in everything I do in working out my calling, that is WORSHIP!