Often people are attracted to performances based upon the popularity of the performers, or the authors. (My wife’s father enjoyed David Baldacci, James Patterson, Danielle Steele, etc.). A good writer wants to remove his/her personality and have us to focus on the story.
The Gospel according to Luke is unique in several ways:
• His is the only Gospel account with a sequel, the Acts of the Apostles—the Harry Potter books are a contemporary example of this style of writing.
• His prologue is called exordium, a literary device used by Greek writers.
• The Lukan style of writing is more sophisticated, demonstrating a respected use of the Greek language.
It is held that Luke was the last of the Gospel accounts written. Each Gospel appears to have a distinct purpose, and, when combined to one story, gives us a wonderful story of God’s activity in the world.
• Mark’s theme is the Suffering Servant
• John’s theme is the deity of Jesus
• Matthew’s theme is to show that the prophecy of the Messiah came to fruition in Jesus
• Luke emphasizes the humanity of Jesus
Why was Luke inspired to write script for Theophilus? Who was this individual? We know he was a real purpose; however, we only have some theories about him. First, the name Theophilus means “loved by God,” with a connotation of “friend of God.”
• Theophilus was possibly a Roman officer or high-ranking official in the Roman government.
• Theophilus was a wealthy and influential man in the city of Antioch.
• Theophilus was is that he was the Jewish high priest named Theophilus ben Ananus.
• Theophilus is that he was the Roman lawyer who defended Paul during his trial in Rome.
When reading Luke, you quickly discover he is not writing a fictional script. Luke wrote his book from the perspective of history. As he wrote, he was mindful of First Century of Palestine/Israel. The context typical helps us understand a play or movie—such as
• THE LORD OF THE FLIES,
Golding decided to write this masterpiece because he wanted to portray how evil human nature is. Also, he based the settings after serving as a British Navy during World War II. There were several other reasons why Golding wrote Lord of Flies. He was terrified by what he had witnessed how humans have the capacity to harm their fellow species. Through the years in serving the British Navy, Golding realized and saw and learned how human nature menacing and full of savagery: he also realized that the good people can still turn to become the villain. In Lord of Flies, Piggy and Ralph were involved with the killing of their fellow group mate, Simon, by joining the ‘dance ritual’ just as Jack and his group.
• A MAN CALLED PETER
This is the story of another man called Peter---Peter Marshall---a Scottish-born minister who became the chaplain of the U.S. Senate.
• BAMBOO IN WINTER
With memories of Tiananmen Square burning in her mind, a young woman edges toward a decision for Christ as she listens to the preacher's life-changing message---a decision that could have dangerous consequences. But in this atheistic communist society, the consequences of such a decision can be devastating.
• BORN AGAIN - STORY OF CHUCK COLSON
As President Richard Nixon's Special Counsel, Chuck Colson had power, prestige, and his own office in the White House. After Watergate he was left with a prison record...and a strong faith.
In this major motion picture, Colson pleads guilty to Watergate-related charges and is sent to prison. The experience leaves him radically changed, and he decides to establish Prison Fellowship - a ministry that now reaches around the world.
I find the parallel between the context of Israel then and America very interesting. It illustrates the deep desire for the Messiah to come then and believers longing for the return of the Messiah.
Let’s suppose you want to write a review of a of the Christmas story. What do you need to observe in order to write a good review? Following are some suggested guidelines:
• Plot: What is the story about? Was it believable? Interesting? Thought-provoking? How was the climax revealed? How did the setting affect the story?
• Themes and Tone: What was the central goal of the story? Was it made to entertain, educate, or bring awareness to an issue? Was there any strong impression the movie made on you? Did any symbolism come into play?
• Acting and Characters: Did you like how the characters were portrayed? Did the acting support the characters, and help them come to life? Did the characters display complex personalities or were they stereotypes? Were there characters that embodied certain archetypes to enhance or diminish the film?
• Production Design: Did the sets feel lived-in and believable to the story or characters? Were the costumes suitable for the characters or story? Did the created environments heighten the atmosphere?
• Special Effects: Were the special effects believable? Did they align with the era and tone of the story? Were the effects overboard or too subtle? Did they integrate well to the purpose of the story?
• Dialogue: Were the conversations believable or necessary? Did the dialogue bring context for understanding the purpose of the story? Did the words match the tone of the Christmas story according to the Gospel? Did the personality of Mary connect with your spirit?
ARE YOU READY TO PUT ON MODONNA’S SHAWL?
(Bring out shawl, hold it up, and place it on the bench.)
I am not talking about the contemporary Madonna, the “Queen of Pop.” I am talking about a very young lady excited about her future. She has giggled while talking to her friends about Joseph. She tells them about him, to include some of his quirks.
You are a teenager madly in love. As I often do when thinking about my courtship with Janet, you are excited about getting married; however, you are faithful to God and have taken great pride in remaining pure.
However, those hopes and dreams abruptly change. It is the sixth month of the Jewish calendar, Elul—during the season of the waning of summer. There are no Hebrew festivals during this month. God chose this time to send one of his angels, Gabriel, to whisper to you his plan. This servant of God is the same angel that was sent several times to bring important messages.
Daniel 8:16-17 (MSG)
16-17 “Then I heard a man’s voice from over by the Ulai Canal calling out, ‘Gabriel, tell this man what is going on. Explain the vision to him.’ He came up to me, but when he got close, I became terrified and fell face down on the ground.
Daniel 9:21-23 (MSG)
20-21 “While I was pouring out my heart, baring my sins and the sins of my people Israel, praying my life out before my GOD, interceding for the holy mountain of my God—while I was absorbed in this praying, the humanlike Gabriel, the one I had seen in an earlier vision, approached me, flying in like a bird about the time of evening worship.
22-23 “He stood before me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come to make things plain to you. You had no sooner started your prayer when the answer was given. And now I’m here to deliver the answer to you. You are much loved! So, listen carefully to the answer, the plain meaning of what is revealed:
You are praying. Praying that God will bless you. Praying that God help you in assuming the role of a wife, in the best of Jewish custom. Praying that God will give you a child, one born into the lineage of King David.
All of a sudden you are overwhelmed by what is happening. He is right there! Gabriel, the angel you have heard about! Gabriel, his stature elicits fear; however, he begins with words of comfort, he stands as in the presence of God. He is highly favored by God.
Good morning! What do you mean? Can’t you see my heart pounding? I am having a panic attack and you say, “Good morning.”
Ok, now that I have calmed down, you tell me, “Mary, you have nothing to fear.” Are you talking about I shouldn’t be fearful of you? Wait a minute, you are known to tell people some astonishing things. Ok, God has a surprise for me. Is God going to bless me as I continue my wedding plans? Will my rich uncle die and leave me his fortune?
Before you proceed, I feel like I better sit down. Ok, tell me about this surprise. That is not a 10, on a scale of 1-10. I anticipated having a son. I think the name Jesus is an honorable name, it reminds me of Joshua.
Wait, I got lost in my thinking. It sounds like I need to listen carefully to what you said, will you repeat it. Mary, your son…
…will be great,
be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
no end, ever, to his kingdom.”
Wow, you say. Are you saying this will happen before I get married? Gabriel confirms this.
34 You ask, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”
35 Gabriel has an answer. You notice that his voice has a sense of certainty about it. His words transcend even Gabriel. As never before, you realize your prayer level has gone to a level never realized before. Your mind becomes open to what Gabriel is saying, fully realizing his words are God’s Word. You listen as he continues.
35 The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.
36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”
The only thing you can do is bow before Gabriel, in utterance reverence to God. He has spoken and awaits your response.
How do you respond? Do your giggles when thinking of marriage to Joseph turn to expressions of acceptance and joy?
The words of Isaiah, as the angel spoke to him, ((Isaiah 6:8))Allow me to lead you in your response, to give you words that express your decision. ((Have everyone respond)),
Yes, I see it all now:
I’m the Lord’s maid (servant), ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.
You raise your head as Gabriel exits the stage. You are alone. Now, you are left with all sorts of questions and thoughts. Gabriel had not told you how to face each scenario you are thinking about.
• How do you explain being pregnant to Joseph? You are very aware of Jewish law. You realize that Joseph has the responsibility and right to divorce you.
• If he does, will you be scorned and rejected like those who have leprosy?
• Will it be like you are wearing a scarlet letter of “A” everywhere you go?
• What will your friends think as they go on with their wedding plans? You realize none of them will want you in the wedding party.
• What will I feel, sense, at the moment when I become pregnant?
Yet, you stand with determination, “No reserve, No Remorse, No Regret.” This moment, standing right there, is a monumental spiritual experience. Little do you realize you will often rely upon this moment many times in days ahead. You will need God to empower you.
You lift your arms toward the heaven. You cry out, God I need you. Give me what I will need once this goes public and into a future where I am uncertain what it will bring to me. To endure the temptation to have doubt and question what I know, now, is your Word. You continue to pray,
Heavenly father, I can’t do this on my own. I can’t do it by myself. If your will is to be done in me and through me, I realize it can be accomplished only by your power. As I share my story with Joseph, our families, Jewish leaders, and my friends, give them attentive ears and spirits open to your divine purpose through the pre-birth of your son and what that will involve and mean for future generations.
You feel a need to visit your cousin, you need someone to talk with. Someone who will not judge you. You go to Zechariah’s house. As with your spirit, Elizabeth is deeply moved as you tell her what happened—you can only wonder about her response. You can see her baby bump, you wonder if her baby is playing the drums to The Drummer Boy. Your spirit finds companion
39-45 Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
You’re so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!
Wow! Wow! The words of your cousin resonate in the core of your being.
Your friends begin to giggle for a different reason. You are the talk of the town. When you look at your plans for the wedding you struggle with your thoughts, thoughts that border on feelings of humiliation and inner contentment.
Yet, you cradle your womb and you have a heavenly smile on your face. Three phrases have inspired that heavenly smile,
No Remorse! No Retreat! No Regret
It is now time to talk with Joseph. How will he respond? Will you see anger as his face turns red? Will he simply spit on the ground, give you a glaring look? With a broken heart, will you see him walk away, with drooped shoulder and, as his head rhythmically shaking his head? With a mixture of tears and sweat, will you hear his words build in (((((((((((((((, “Why? Why? Why me God?
As you approach Joseph, you trust he believes you as you tell him about the words of the angel. You see him rushing toward you, dancing like Happy Feet. “Mary! Mary, you will not believe this. I had the most incredible dream. Two hearts joined together by the touch of God
As you exit the stage, as the people from your town jeer. The boys make degrading comments and gestures. The young women laugh and mimic a young woman pulling off her engagement ring and throwing it to the ground. As you walk by the religious leaders, they stand there with crossed arms and scorn on their face. Yet, Joseph is holding your hand, it feels like God is beside you. Your heart feels warm with peace resonating through your whole body; your goose bumps tingle. Your thoughts are captured in a song. No Turning Back.
Laying Mary’s shawl on the bench, symbolizing stepping out of the scene. I speak to the people, in real time.
Creation Spirituality derives from the oldest tradition in the Bible (the J source) and it is the Wisdom Tradition in the Hebrew Bible–the tradition that scholars agree was the tradition of the historical Jesus. Thus, creation spirituality brings together the root sources of Christian spirituality (along with other world traditions), those being 1) the historical Jesus and 2) the Cosmic Christ. These represent the prophetic and the mystical roots of Christianity.
Matthew Fox writes about what he calls Four Spiritual Pathways:
• The via positivia: about the experience of divinity as light—what in the Greek theological tradition is called the cataphatic divinity, being drawn to the light. This is the experience of beauty, of grace, and of joy, and of wonder and delight and awe.
• The via negativia: This is divinity as darkness. Matthew Fox said, “It's the path of silence, the path of meditation, calming the reptilian brain, but it's also the path of emptying, being emptied. I mean how can you have mindfulness without mind emptiness? There's an emptying that has to go on in order to refill, if you will, the mind and our consciousness. Then there's also the suffering, because suffering is one of the avenues of emptying and being filled up anew. A journey into the hidden or covered-up areas of our life.
• The via creativa: This is where the via positivia and via negativia come together and the creative hand of God creates things like a burning bush, a hand writing on a tablet, a virgin birth, the resurrection, etc. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century said, "The same spirit that hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation hovers over the mind of the artist at work.“
• The via transformativia: To understand this dimension we could ask, “What is the motivating principle that motivates persons to humbly work the first 3 steps? I submit to you it is the compassionate justice. We need the via transformativia path based upon the justice of God; on our own we stand outside the justice of God.
Our inner work can be understood as a four-fold journey involving:
– awe, delight, amazement (known as the Via Positiva)
– uncertainty, darkness, suffering, letting go (Via Negativa)
– birthing, creativity, passion (Via Creativa)
– justice, healing, celebration (Via Transformativa)
We weave through these paths like a spiral danced, not a ladder climbed.
Our response:
1. Do we live by faith, realizing we can’t live as if we can manage every aspect of life? Do we trust God’s faithfulness through the good and not so good days?
2. Does our faith reflect openness to great possibilities, believing God uses ordinary people like us? Believing we too are “highly favored”
Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV)
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
3. Do we live with creativia faith—faith that lives with a paint brush in hand. It’s where our brush strokes on the canvas are made by our hand; however, they are divinely inspired. We start painting, while uncertain what the final tapestry will look like. Creativia is proactively living while reaching forward in great expectation. We cannot set still, start painting
The Day of the LORD
28 “And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Never stop dreaming! Never stop reaching! Never stop painting! Your portrait should transcend what you see in the mirror today. Step into the unknown!
