Monthly Archives: November 2016

I’ve been ready a bit about adoption in the Roman era – the time of Christ.

Both encouraging and discriminating.  And a bit confusing in relation to the Biblical concept of adoption.

The Roman practice was basically a male thing amongst the upper class.  Females were not often adopted.  Men were adopted for their ability to provide leadership and to network relational support from rivals or supporters.  This was not about making up for being childless – adoption was more about having to deal with the inadequate children you already had.

In other words, adoption was a power play in many cases.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around most Roman adoptions (at least those of the upper class).  A rich man would choose his protege/successor – then adopt them so that they inherited the business.  Not his children, but his adopted son/daughter would be the major beneficiaries.

Which brings me to my internal discussion points – that which goes on in my head. 

If God adopted the Jewish nation (Abraham) as his protege (Romans 9:4), and then God set the Jewish nation aside because of their disobedience (Paul actually argues in Romans that only the true followers were the adopted ones, the rest of the branch has been cut off from God, and Christians grafted in), and now Christians (particularly Gentile Christians) are the adopted ones, how does that work?

Because of our own inabilities/sin, does God chose not to adopt us?  Is the blanket covering of Jesus (his righteousness) given to his followers, in order that they might be considered as adopted children?   Are we adopted into “Christ”, who was himself the epitome of faithfulness within the line of Abraham?    Technically, is Christ the one who is adopted and we are merely subsumed in that adoption?  What does it mean to be a fellow heir with Christ?

And so the questions go on in my head.  Maybe I’ll have a few more (OK, I’m sure I’ll have a few more).  Such is the conundrum of spending time reading the Bible.

I was asked to prepare a blessing for the first meeting of our newly elected Town Council.  Below is the text of the prayer:

Town Council Blessing

Kindersley Council Chamber

November 14, 2016 – 5:00 pm

Heavenly Father,

We ask for your blessings to fall upon this chamber in which we stand.

We ask for your blessing of health, strength and clarity for these members who will sacrifice of their time and energy.

Give this council a strong sense of purpose. Bless our elected officials with the absence of gloom and doom, discontent and discouragement.

Protect the Mayor and his fellow council members from pride and self-interest. May generosity replace greed. May wisdom and prudence prevail. May the good of the community always be the driving force of planning and development.

Bless their thoughts with:

• visions of aid for the poor and unfortunate,

• strategies for the health and welfare of the community,

• cooperative opportunities with those who have available means.

May each one be equipped with wisdom, charity, ability and the will, as manifested in Jesus Christ, to spread love and compassion throughout our community of Kindersley.

AMEN

As I was riding my exercise bike Friday morning.  A fly alighted on the window.

The sun was shining brightly.  His wings were shaded at the tips and his body was shimmering.  In an attempt to reach the outdoors, he flew in and out, hitting the window, then backing out, then taking another run at freedom.

I was close enough that I could see details I had never observed before.  He appeared to have only four legs as he skittered across the window.  When he stopped for a second, I counted six legs.  His wings were serrated with black stripes.  His quick strides were coordinated and quick.

This was the beauty of the morning.

To see with new eyes what is too soon mundane. 

I must admit that I’m still the optimist and idealist.  I like to think culture is an open venue for God’s kingdom – all we need to do is get out there and spread the Word. 

I’m not as inclined to be an isolationist creating my own subculture in some far off place.  I like the idea of a subculture (a true sub-culture that is part of the dominant culture, but totally holy in relation to that culture) that seeps into the cracks and crevices of those around me.

I used to think it would be a warm day in the netherworld when I would say I was getting old.  Now, I have no choice, but hopefully in my choices I’m still wanting to open myself up to God’s kingdom come – which means reexamining old views of how I thought God’s kingdom had to come, and looking for the new wine of God’s kingdom.

Interestingly this does not arise from a recent election in the United States.  This arises from a desire to be sure my own heart is not becoming hardened or fossilized.  Fear can freeze us, frenzy can destroy our environment, and freedom can elude us.  But we are called to love, joy and peace. 

May Jesus lead me securely in his path, with greater reaches of risk and reward!!