Have you seen the Disney animated feature “Brother Bear?”
If it weren’t for my recent transformation into a “Grandpa,” I probably wouldn’t have.
Now that I’m somebody’s “Grampa” I’m seein’ a lot of fascinating stuff.
Can you believe I’d never seen “Lady and the Tramp”? We’ll I hadn’t. That is until Marissa and Maddie showed up at our door with a DVD of it. Got me all choked up. I’m a sap when it comes to dog stories.
This “Brother Bear” isn’t among the better stories Marissa and Maddie have brought for me to see. They didn’t seem all that thrilled about it either. Marissa – five – preferred Shrek. Maddie – 3 – seemed more into princesses. Samuel, our three-year-old Grandson from England, got me into “Nemo.” Oh he loved Nemo. I think we saw it a dozen times while he was here.
But “Brother Bear” intrigued me. There is something in the spirituality of the natives, who are the human characters in the story, that has profound significance I think.
Some reviewers with a Christian worldview were concerned about these things. I’m not. Don’t get me wrong. I have no illusions that the bear and I are brothers in the same sense that our Sons are. One reviewer thinks we are. They – this is a reviewing Team – write, “This message of the connections that link us to others, even across species lines, is not new to Native Americans. They have been trying to get it across to other cultures for centuries.” My immediate response is to suggest that these reviewers visit the “Head-smashed-in Buffalo Jump” in Southern Alberta, Canada. Here they will quickly recognize that, though the natives of North America held the Buffalo, and other animals, in the highest regard they were in no way confused about who was ultimately “the greater” and “the lesser.”
The Buffalo and the Bear and other species of animal were valuable to Native Americans. They revered them and sought a respectful co-existence. But they did not hesitate, when the time for replenishment of food supplies came ‘round, to run a whole herd of Buffalo off a cliff for a mass butchering.
What I see in Brother Bear is the suggestion that love seeks to enter into the experience of another in ways that will enrich both loved and lover. I see the writers even toying with the idea that this is true whether he/she/it is one of us or not. The more subtle, and much more important, suggestion is that all life will be better for any attempt at love in the end.
I resonate with that. We don’t need to adopt the ancient myths that assume a solidarity with other species and ignores the superiority of humans. We must, though, recognize that the desire for cosmic harmony is not just wishful thinking; the desperate, futile imaginings of people caught in a very complex web of darkness, fear, and alienation.
The “totem” which makes a fearsome creature into a symbol of love, in this movie, is reminiscent of practices observed in many earlier civilizations. Peoples across the world and spanning many centuries of human existence came to believe that such a thing could really happen. Fearsome things, even gods, could be reconciled with their human counterparts. Man and bear could live together in harmony.
Christians believe this. In fact we believe it more profoundly than people of any other faith.
We, who embrace Jesus as the exclusive hope of all humankind, and “the whole creation” for that matter, must not forget that many of the great truths we’ve learned at the feet of our Master are also available to people who’ve never heard of Jesus. We have been taught repeatedly, in the Bible, that things about God can be learned simply by observing what he has made. People from primitive civilizations learned most, if not all, they know about the Divine in that way. And the mythical elements in “Brother Bear” tell us that somehow, in their meditations on these things in the natural world, they have come to believe that it would be a noble and good thing for a superior being to bring love, the most powerful force in the universe, to a lesser life form. Do we, who’ve had the privilege of sitting at the feet of the Master, believe such things happen? Other civilizations do. They even have myths about gods becoming human; gods dieing for some higher purpose.
Are you getting it? Don’t we followers of Jesus believe such things actually do happen? Our faith is founded on the fact that the one true God became a man. That he entered the human experience with what some felt was reckless abandon; “scandalous.” We further believe that he called what he was doing “love.” He said it was the most important; most powerful thing he could give us. We believe this God/man has lifted – is lifting – us humans, and the entire cosmos, up to a higher life form by doing so. He is empowering us to love with the kind of love he demonstrated in assuming the form of one of us. He is making it possible for us to fulfill the longing of all living things even the “cosmos” itself. An early Christian writer exulted in the incredible possibilities. “The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” (See the Bible … New Testament … Letter to Romans … chapter 8 … verses 22 – 25 … THE MESSAGE version.)
The empty cross, once an embarrassing disgrace to our race, now the grandest of all symbols, is a reminder that when contemplation of God’s world moves someone to believe that cosmic harmony – the final reconciliation of all reality - is possible, they are not deluded or deceived. They have discovered in the nuances of this world the love, which is its Creator’s nature. Seeing and understanding what took place on that cross they will finally know that the reconciliation they’ve come to expect is the very reason our God became a man.
What a “teachable moment” for our kids … and grandkids! Especially at this Season when, once again, we celebrate the birth of this GOD who became … A MAN!
Monday, November 29, 2004
11.25.04
It’s Thanksgiving Weekend 2004. Quite late in the Weekend I must admit. Still I cannot let the clock run off the closing hours of this final day without some sort of public acknowledgement of the abundance I and those I love enjoy.
Our lives truly have been full. We really do enjoy the status of “highly favored.” Our God continues to reveal himself to us in more and more profound ways. We are routinely enriched with deeper and ever more enlightening knowledge of him. His purposes for our race seem clearer and clearer to us. Our Family is growing and giving us much joy. We are being challenged and are growing professionally. Our circle of influence is expanding. New friendships are being formed regularly.
Jesus said, “This is life! More and better life than anything humans can imagine. This is life that exceeds the bounds of mortality. Knowing you Father God. Knowing me the rescuer; the consummate human being whom you have personally sent, from beyond time, into time and space, where, for now, all humans live.” I take that to mean that the greatest achievement in this life we live is to know God. Any insight our Father provides into his nature and ways is invaluable to me. So I am especially thankful this Weekend for three insights he is making more and more clear to me as this year progresses.
The first is a statement Dallas Willard makes in his book, “The Divine Conspiracy.” It is nothing new. I have quite likely claimed more than once to believe it myself. These days, though, it has become the stuff of conviction. Willard says that we must come, “to the point,” as apprentices of Jesus the supreme Teacher, “where (we) dearly love and constantly delight in that ‘heavenly Father’ made real to earth in Jesus and are quite certain that there is no ‘catch,’ no limit to the goodness of his intentions or to his power to carry them out.” We probably all agree that this is something we ought to have believed early in our faith journey. Now though I’m beginning to get it. To believe that our God is a “heavenly Father,” of the kind Jesus talked about incessantly while he was here, and portrayed so poignantly in the story of the Prodigal, means we believe he is good. We are convinced he desires nothing but “good” for us and has all the power necessary to insure it will be so.
The second insight I’m grateful for is one I’ve held onto for a long time. Jesus said it. St. John records it in the 10th chapter of his biography. It’s part of the 10th verse of that chapter. THE MESSAGE interpretation of it is especially clear. “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” “They,” of course are you and I. It is readily apparent how closely this assertion of Jesus and the statement Willard has made are to each other. In short they insist that, regardless of how it may appear, our life, under the rule of the God we see most completely in Jesus, will be supremely right for us. Do we really believe this?
The third insight comes from the writings of Isaiah. One of the most articulate of the Hebrew prophets whose words are recorded in the Judeo Christian Scriptures, Isaiah is bringing a Divine scolding to Israel for their incorrigible insistence on managing their own destiny. He summarizes God’s alternative for them this way. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength … .” (Isaiah 30:15)
As I’ve engaged in thoughtful meditation on these three insights over the past year the message becomes increasingly pointed. God, our Supreme Sovereign is determined that we experience nothing but well being. Any need we may have to qualify or modify that idea is presumptive. Much like a nation, that has been assured of his protection, running out and finding alliances with other nations they believe to be more powerful and therefore able to insure their security. Repenting of such arrogance and resting in his assurances will lead to our deliverance from any evil real or imagined. Choosing to cease resisting or protesting and waiting quietly we find a new strength and courage emerging. “Those persons who wait on God,” really do find, “their strength being renewed in ever increasing degrees.”
Of all the things I am thankful for today, these insights are at the top of the list.
Hot on the heels of my gratitude for this growing intimacy with Father God is heart swelling thankfulness for Family. Shirley, my Wife of nearly 37 years, is not only the most important human being in my life. She is the most devoted, loving, and giving person I’ve ever known. We’ve come through some very dense and dark woods this year. We’ve stumbled into most of them because of choices I have made. She has walked through every valley and over every treacherous mountain with me. When it has been appropriate she has challenged my decisions and insisted on changes where changes need to be made. I do not always feel worthy of her loyalty. But she offers it tirelessly. I thank God for my Wife. And together we thank God for our three Sons, their Wives, and their kids. This year two new Grandkids came into our lives. Ethan was born on March 22. Jonah came along 3 months and 8 days later. Sitting around the Thanksgiving table in our youngest Son’s Home this past Thursday our only regret was that our England contingent, the Jim Denison Jr. Family, was missing. Knowing they are carrying out the mission our Lord has for them in this season of their lives softens the “missing them” enough to make it tolerable.
This has been a year of professional growth for us as well. With the onset of 2004 we entered the second year of life without a formal assignment. The obvious first implication of that for us was the absence of a contract and assured income. Our belief in God’s best intentions for us was tested as week after week obligations piled up with no idea of how they would be met. Repeatedly we submitted resumes, wrote letters of intent, telephoned contact people we thought might have leads for us, and stormed the gates of heaven pleading for guidance to our Father’s next assignment. While this search was going on a small group of friends with whom we’ve met for the past nearly 10 years kept pushing us to establish an independent organization through which to continue our work. Mel & Marcia, Larry & Carol, we thank our Lord for you guys!
Reluctantly we began the process of gathering a group of people who would become our Board of Directors and assist in the launching and initial support for this ministry. We first made our proposal to eight men. After they had prayerfully pondered our proposal for one month I personally met with them to discuss our proposal. Seven of them, and one of their wives, agreed to become the Board of Directors for destiny:Life! This Team has provided literally thousands of dollars worth of legal, marketing, advertising, and web design services as well as several thousand dollars in support. They are developing an expanding support base. They have given us invaluable prayer support. They are providing a level of accountability that we are finding immeasurably helpful. Mel, Larry, JT, Tim, Gene, Steve, Denny & Jill, we are thanking God for you daily and especially on this Thanksgiving Weekend.
“destiny:Life!” has already enlarged the scope of our influence. Our parish is now, literally, international. This past Summer I was privileged to speak at a Family Camp in North Central Ontario, Canada. The Severn Bridge Camp is located within an easy day’s drive of my boyhood home. Being there among the lush forests of maple, oak, elm, and conifer, mineral rich rock formations jutting randomly out of the soil, I felt as if I’d come home. Scores of new friendships were formed during the 12 days I was there. And I am confident our Lord used my efforts to enrich their lives just as they did mine. Shirley and I, together, returned to South Eastern Ontario in late August to work in a Youth Camp where I have spoken every third year since 1987. Few things I do are more rewarding than working at Echo Lake Camp. This year was no exception. Anyone who fears the future of the modern West needs only to be around the kids we hung out with for that week to have their hope in our Young and their capacity to make our world a better place under the Lordship of Jesus Christ restored. Just two Weekends ago Shirley and I conducted a Marriage Conference near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. We presented a view of Christian Marriage that we believe puts this primary relationship back on the level our Lord intended when he first established it. “A Covenant of Intimacy: Jesus’ Design for Your Marriage,” is a medium we intend to use in a variety of venues over the next several years. Our aim is to demonstrate how, in this aspect of our life together Jesus really does offer us something, “more and better than (we’ve) ever dreamed.” In Pennsylvania November 12 – 14 we experienced just how powerfully that can be accomplished. And we are thankful.
Much remains to be accomplished through “destiny:Life!” but we are trusting our Lord to empower every aspect of what it is and will become in the days, and months, and years ahead.
We are, of all people, most richly blessed. In the words of a guest speaker we heard at Church on the Way a few weeks ago, we are, “Wonderfully well, and blessed, and highly favored of the Lord!”
Our gratitude, this Thanksgiving 2004, is passionately and profoundly felt!
Our lives truly have been full. We really do enjoy the status of “highly favored.” Our God continues to reveal himself to us in more and more profound ways. We are routinely enriched with deeper and ever more enlightening knowledge of him. His purposes for our race seem clearer and clearer to us. Our Family is growing and giving us much joy. We are being challenged and are growing professionally. Our circle of influence is expanding. New friendships are being formed regularly.
Jesus said, “This is life! More and better life than anything humans can imagine. This is life that exceeds the bounds of mortality. Knowing you Father God. Knowing me the rescuer; the consummate human being whom you have personally sent, from beyond time, into time and space, where, for now, all humans live.” I take that to mean that the greatest achievement in this life we live is to know God. Any insight our Father provides into his nature and ways is invaluable to me. So I am especially thankful this Weekend for three insights he is making more and more clear to me as this year progresses.
The first is a statement Dallas Willard makes in his book, “The Divine Conspiracy.” It is nothing new. I have quite likely claimed more than once to believe it myself. These days, though, it has become the stuff of conviction. Willard says that we must come, “to the point,” as apprentices of Jesus the supreme Teacher, “where (we) dearly love and constantly delight in that ‘heavenly Father’ made real to earth in Jesus and are quite certain that there is no ‘catch,’ no limit to the goodness of his intentions or to his power to carry them out.” We probably all agree that this is something we ought to have believed early in our faith journey. Now though I’m beginning to get it. To believe that our God is a “heavenly Father,” of the kind Jesus talked about incessantly while he was here, and portrayed so poignantly in the story of the Prodigal, means we believe he is good. We are convinced he desires nothing but “good” for us and has all the power necessary to insure it will be so.
The second insight I’m grateful for is one I’ve held onto for a long time. Jesus said it. St. John records it in the 10th chapter of his biography. It’s part of the 10th verse of that chapter. THE MESSAGE interpretation of it is especially clear. “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” “They,” of course are you and I. It is readily apparent how closely this assertion of Jesus and the statement Willard has made are to each other. In short they insist that, regardless of how it may appear, our life, under the rule of the God we see most completely in Jesus, will be supremely right for us. Do we really believe this?
The third insight comes from the writings of Isaiah. One of the most articulate of the Hebrew prophets whose words are recorded in the Judeo Christian Scriptures, Isaiah is bringing a Divine scolding to Israel for their incorrigible insistence on managing their own destiny. He summarizes God’s alternative for them this way. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength … .” (Isaiah 30:15)
As I’ve engaged in thoughtful meditation on these three insights over the past year the message becomes increasingly pointed. God, our Supreme Sovereign is determined that we experience nothing but well being. Any need we may have to qualify or modify that idea is presumptive. Much like a nation, that has been assured of his protection, running out and finding alliances with other nations they believe to be more powerful and therefore able to insure their security. Repenting of such arrogance and resting in his assurances will lead to our deliverance from any evil real or imagined. Choosing to cease resisting or protesting and waiting quietly we find a new strength and courage emerging. “Those persons who wait on God,” really do find, “their strength being renewed in ever increasing degrees.”
Of all the things I am thankful for today, these insights are at the top of the list.
Hot on the heels of my gratitude for this growing intimacy with Father God is heart swelling thankfulness for Family. Shirley, my Wife of nearly 37 years, is not only the most important human being in my life. She is the most devoted, loving, and giving person I’ve ever known. We’ve come through some very dense and dark woods this year. We’ve stumbled into most of them because of choices I have made. She has walked through every valley and over every treacherous mountain with me. When it has been appropriate she has challenged my decisions and insisted on changes where changes need to be made. I do not always feel worthy of her loyalty. But she offers it tirelessly. I thank God for my Wife. And together we thank God for our three Sons, their Wives, and their kids. This year two new Grandkids came into our lives. Ethan was born on March 22. Jonah came along 3 months and 8 days later. Sitting around the Thanksgiving table in our youngest Son’s Home this past Thursday our only regret was that our England contingent, the Jim Denison Jr. Family, was missing. Knowing they are carrying out the mission our Lord has for them in this season of their lives softens the “missing them” enough to make it tolerable.
This has been a year of professional growth for us as well. With the onset of 2004 we entered the second year of life without a formal assignment. The obvious first implication of that for us was the absence of a contract and assured income. Our belief in God’s best intentions for us was tested as week after week obligations piled up with no idea of how they would be met. Repeatedly we submitted resumes, wrote letters of intent, telephoned contact people we thought might have leads for us, and stormed the gates of heaven pleading for guidance to our Father’s next assignment. While this search was going on a small group of friends with whom we’ve met for the past nearly 10 years kept pushing us to establish an independent organization through which to continue our work. Mel & Marcia, Larry & Carol, we thank our Lord for you guys!
Reluctantly we began the process of gathering a group of people who would become our Board of Directors and assist in the launching and initial support for this ministry. We first made our proposal to eight men. After they had prayerfully pondered our proposal for one month I personally met with them to discuss our proposal. Seven of them, and one of their wives, agreed to become the Board of Directors for destiny:Life! This Team has provided literally thousands of dollars worth of legal, marketing, advertising, and web design services as well as several thousand dollars in support. They are developing an expanding support base. They have given us invaluable prayer support. They are providing a level of accountability that we are finding immeasurably helpful. Mel, Larry, JT, Tim, Gene, Steve, Denny & Jill, we are thanking God for you daily and especially on this Thanksgiving Weekend.
“destiny:Life!” has already enlarged the scope of our influence. Our parish is now, literally, international. This past Summer I was privileged to speak at a Family Camp in North Central Ontario, Canada. The Severn Bridge Camp is located within an easy day’s drive of my boyhood home. Being there among the lush forests of maple, oak, elm, and conifer, mineral rich rock formations jutting randomly out of the soil, I felt as if I’d come home. Scores of new friendships were formed during the 12 days I was there. And I am confident our Lord used my efforts to enrich their lives just as they did mine. Shirley and I, together, returned to South Eastern Ontario in late August to work in a Youth Camp where I have spoken every third year since 1987. Few things I do are more rewarding than working at Echo Lake Camp. This year was no exception. Anyone who fears the future of the modern West needs only to be around the kids we hung out with for that week to have their hope in our Young and their capacity to make our world a better place under the Lordship of Jesus Christ restored. Just two Weekends ago Shirley and I conducted a Marriage Conference near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. We presented a view of Christian Marriage that we believe puts this primary relationship back on the level our Lord intended when he first established it. “A Covenant of Intimacy: Jesus’ Design for Your Marriage,” is a medium we intend to use in a variety of venues over the next several years. Our aim is to demonstrate how, in this aspect of our life together Jesus really does offer us something, “more and better than (we’ve) ever dreamed.” In Pennsylvania November 12 – 14 we experienced just how powerfully that can be accomplished. And we are thankful.
Much remains to be accomplished through “destiny:Life!” but we are trusting our Lord to empower every aspect of what it is and will become in the days, and months, and years ahead.
We are, of all people, most richly blessed. In the words of a guest speaker we heard at Church on the Way a few weeks ago, we are, “Wonderfully well, and blessed, and highly favored of the Lord!”
Our gratitude, this Thanksgiving 2004, is passionately and profoundly felt!
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