an unlikely pastor
19 posts
John-unlikely-pastor - John - Tumblr Blog
If you'd like to, reblog this post if you're a practicing Christian
#bonhoeffer
#letters from #prison page 193
Our ‘Protestant’ (not Lutheran) Prussian world has been so dominated by the four mandates that the sphere of freedom has receded into the background. I wonder whether it is possible (it almost seems so today) to regain the idea of the church as providing an understanding of the area of freedom (art, education,
friendship, play)
…
Who is there, for instance, in our times, who can devote himself with an easy mind to music, friendship, games, or happiness? Surely not the ‘ethical’ man, but only the Christian.
Just because friendship belongs to this sphere of freedom (‘of the Christian man’?!)
23 January 1944 Tegel #prison
Bonhoeffer,
“…misery, suffering, poverty, loneliness, helplessness, and guilt mean something quite different in the eyes of God from what they mean in the judgment of man, that God will approach where men turn away, that Christ was born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn - these are things that a prisoner can understand better than other people; for him they really are glad tidings, and that faith gives him a part in the communion of saints…”
Letters from Prison
17 December 1943
What signs do we see of Jesus coming reign?
Consider:
“Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.”
Mark 9:7-8 NRSV
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.”
Romans 12:15-17 NET
My dad died on Christmas Eve just after 10pm
Praying for peace and justice takes faith.
The sunk cost fallacy helps me understand other people’s decision making.
https://hbr.org/2021/07/how-susceptible-are-you-to-the-sunk-cost-fallacy
Mohammad Hosseini was one of the innocent protestors who was executed recently. His lawyer, Ali Sharif Zadeh, who voiced concerns over his safety and described how Mohammad was tortured, is now accused of propaganda against the regime. Apparently, when he was interrogated, the Islamic Republic claimed that Mohammad Hosseini was not tortured and Ali Sharif Zadeh’s claims were therefore propaganda against the regime.
The Islamic Republic has a long history of arresting human rights lawyers.
DONT FORGET ABOUT IRAN
Dont forget about Jina amini (mahsa amini)
Dont forget about Nika Shakarami
Dont forget about Fereshteh Ahmadi
Dont forget about about Sarina Esmailzadeh
Dont forget about Farideh Moradkhani
Dont forget about Armita Abbasi
Dont forget about Soheyla Hejab
Dont forget about Amir Nasr-Azadani
Dont forget about Saeed Shirazi
Dont forget about Taraneh Alidoosti
Dont forget about Elnaz Rekabi
Dont forget about Mohammad Mehdi Karami
Dont forget about Majidreza Rahnavard
Dont forget about Mohsen Shekari
Dont forget about Baluch people
Dont forget about Kurd people
Dont forget about Iranian women
Dont forget about LGBTQ Iranians
Dont forget about the voices of Iran here on tumblr
Dont forget about disabled and elderly Iranians
Dont forget about the famlies who were seprated and/or lost loved ones
Dont forget about the protestors who died throughout the past three months
Dont forget about the innocent victims who were slaughtered under the regime for the past 44 years
DONT FORGET!!! NEVER FORGET WOMAN LIFE AND FREEDOM
“The #people walking in #darkness have seen a #great #light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has #dawned.”
#Isaiah 9:2 NIV
2000 years ago preacher named Paul spoke to a church in Corinth. Corinth was located West of Athens. It was at the heart of so much life in what we today call the Greek islands. Corinth was a seaport a cosmopolitan city, and a trading center that pulled in commerce from all over the Mediterranean world—and beyond.
Paul was writing to a very new church in this city; he was writing to a church that he loved--that means he was writing to people he loved because deep down the church has always been people gathered together around the good news of Jesus. Paul was writing to this church who he loved; writing to these people he loved as they were quarrelling with one another.
There have been divisions in the church for 2000 years. Paul understood this; he knew the divisions. And Paul appealed to these brothers and sisters to see themselves not as separate parties in conflict but to see themselves as God's people.
Over 20 something years of ministry I have found numerous ways that people can divide one person from another. People can fight about politics; people can joke about sports teams; I can make fun of people from Nebraska. Sometimes the divisions are small and frivolous; but sometimes the divisions are so significant and the passion behind them so strong the people feel they must take a stand and they must speak out about somebody else.
Paul appealed to this church to see their unity in Jesus--especially in the cross of Jesus Christ. There is something that feels intentionally countercultural in Paul's direction. In our time, when media companies make great profits by dividing people into ideological silos, Paul's invitation to find a common identity in Jesus crucified and risen matters most of all. The real source of the church's identity and the only real power we have he is declaring resurrection and inviting people to live in the light of the resurrection not at a future time but today.
Peace to you, John
Faith is a living, daring #confidence in #God's #grace so #certain that you could stake your live on it one thousand times.
-Martin Luther
Entertaining Angels?
It’s been said, by more than one person, that humility and hospitality are basic Christian virtues. Luke tells us Jesus spoke about humility and hospitality while eating with a Pharisee one Sabbath day. (look up Luke 14:1-14)
The meal started with what feels like an interruption. A man showed up with legs swollen with edema. Jesus asked the Pharisees, who watched him closely, if it was right to heal on the sabbath. The Pharisees sat silent. Jesus healed the man. He sent him on his way. Now with all eyes Jesus he told a parable about a feast. He encouraged people to take the lowest seat—that they might be honored later Next He told the people they should give banquets for people who could never repay.
Jesus words about being humble and serving those who can’t echo with other parts of scripture. Jesus talked about the least of these. Prophets like Moses, Isaiah, Malachi called for care the widows, orphans, and aliens. Jesus tells us to care for the least of these and to welcomes strangers. Hospitality is deeply spiritual—because we are caring for Jesus when we care for the least of these. The writer to the Hebrews says We may be even entertaining angels when we welcome in strangers. Luke up Hebrews 13:2.
“Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?””
Luke 10:25-29 NRSV https://bible.com/bible/2016/luk.10.25-29.NRSV
