This Side of the Pulpit

Post Edited: Man in "Vegetative State" Answers "Yes" and "No" Questions (http://bit.ly/dhava9) http://bit.ly/dhava9 # 2010/02/05
New post: Man in "Vegetative State" Answers "Yes" and "Now" Questions (http://bit.ly/dhava9) http://bit.ly/dhava9 # 2010/02/05
New post: Lost (and Found--at least for Sayid. Or Maybe Not) (http://bit.ly/9l4Zez) http://bit.ly/9l4Zez # 2010/02/03
New post: Pre-Lent Has Begun (http://bit.ly/bYohFz) http://bit.ly/bYohFz # 2010/02/01
New post: Today's To-Do (http://bit.ly/9NKzZC) http://bit.ly/9NKzZC # 2010/01/27

Man in “Vegetative State” Answers “Yes” and “No” Questions

In a study that challenges the diagnosis of vegetative state, doctors found that the brain of a seemingly unconscious, vegetative man responded to yes-or-no questions in the same fashion as an alert, conscious person. This discovery not only complicates the medical definition of consciousness, but seems to call into question centuries of philosophy dealing with the nature of life and the self. Here’s the story

If this pans out it doesn’t take a genius to see that it will revolutionize medical ethics. Lord help us!

Lost (and Found–at least for Sayid. Or Maybe Not)

For you non-Lost viewers I will not bore you with a long post, but will give a few spoilers on last night’s episode. Be warned.

One thing I enjoy about Lost is the amalgamation of spiritual references the show does not shy away from. No, Otten would not endorse it. It is not a Christian allegory and borrows heavily from science, paganism and so forth.

But Christian themes abound. Sayid had a sort of baptism last night, which actually killed him…until he rose again. The connection with Romans 6 was pretty apparent to me. Then there is the tension between Jacob and Ben. Jacob was a god to Ben, and when he lost faith because Jacob wasn’t responding, “killed him.” Redemption and change is a major theme of the show. I suspect the developments with the dual-Universes depicted last night will highlight that, along with the exploration of our free will. (And no, it is not a Lutheran version of free will, but we can all get over it).

Ok. These brief and shallow thoughts are over now. If you really want to read about all the spiritual and literary connections in the series, I recommend reading Doc Jensen at Entertainment Weekly

Pre-Lent Has Begun

We’ve entered the season of Pre-Lent, for those of you who don’t follow Vatican II. In other words, Lent begins in sixteen days and now is the time to begin preparing for that. Preparing to prepare for Easter, if you want to think of it that way.

So how do you prepare for Lent?

First, remember that repentance, prayer, fasting and charity are not optional for Christians. We do not earn favor with God for doing these things, but our Lord says that these are what his disciples do. Even though we should be doing these things all the time, in Lent we ramp them up or do these things more intentionally.

Second, get ready now. Pray and consider how you are going to incorporate more fasting and prayer into your day. Take stock of your time and activities and figure out what you can change. In my case, I’ve been wasting a little too much time on the computer in the evenings and not doing things I want/should be doing.

Third, prepare for the Fast, which in the Western Tradition is basically 1.5 meals per day (1/4 breakfast, 1/4 lunch, 1 full supper, no meat on Wednesdays and Fridays). Giving up certain luxuries and bad habits is also good. But whatever you plan, talk to your pastor first. He can provide some guidance. Don’t do too much; don’t try it all this year, but do a little more than last year. If you plan on giving up things, begin weaning yourself now. It will be easier when Ash Wednesday arrives.

You get the idea. Pre-Lent is a gift for the church. Use it.

Today’s To-Do

God is good and merciful and does not treat us as we deserve.

Repeat as necessary several times an hour.

Romans, Justification and Talents

We’re studying Romans in my adult Bible study. We’re about four chapters in and have stalled out a little, due to the very insightful comments and questions I’ve been getting.

But yesterday was a kind of watershed event for me. The questions raised really got me thinking on the nature of faith and our response in a way I’ve never experienced before. Here’s an example:

At the seminary Prof. Eickmann said ths gospel is like a man walking down the street. A stranger comes up and hands over a check in the amount of $2 million. The man must now deposit the check, having faith that it is good and use the money, or the man must decide that it is a hoax and throw the check away. But as the check is genuine, we can say that the man is a millionaire, even if he never deposits the check. Likewise, God has given us forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death is for all. But salvation is a matter of trusting this grace of God–depositing it, as it were.

So. Yesterday discussion flowered out of this “parable” and I began to wonder about some of the implications of this, and as it relates to Christ’s parable of the talents.

My questions for you:

1. Is this parable/analogy accurate?

2. What implications do you see from this?

3. How does it affect justification?

Box of Wine + Microwave= Exploding Things

Because sometimes a video of someone destroying their kitchen is what eases the pain:

Must Read on Worship

My friend and colleague Mason Beecroft apparently gave the most controversial presentation at the recent LCMS Theological Convocation on Worship. Doesn’t surprise me. He’s a great guy (this is not a non-sequitur).

So what did he say? What was the problem? His conclusion was nothing radical. Every congregation ought to use the LSB, i.e., the hymnal and liturgy from the most recent service book published.

But the how and the why is what rubbed many the wrong way. He is sacramental. He is pre-modern. He believes what the Lord says in a way that frustrates the neo-literalist, historical-grammatical fundamentalists, evangelical practicalists in our midst.

Ignore that last sentence if you don’t know what it means. But do read what Pr. Beecroft posted today. Here’s an excerpt:

[So who decides?] This question was pervasive at the LCMS Model Theological Conference, “Toward a Theology of Worship…,” which was held this past week in St. Louis. As the discussion turned toward issues of style, rite, ceremony, form and liturgy appropriate to our sacramental confession, this typical response came often, “So who decides what is appropriate? Or reverent? Or sacramental?” The underlying assumption, of course, is that it is all, or largely, in the eye of the beholder. What is appropriate, reverent, and sacramental for one person, may not be appropriate, reverent, and sacramental for another. Thus, the predominant factor for making such determinations is cultural context. The most important consideration is how to communicate the idea of the Gospel to modern (post-modern) people.

Orwell Was only 25 Years Off

This article

And this one, which provides some more editorial comment.

The Children’s Secretary set out £400million plans to put 20,000 problem families under 24-hour CCTV super-vision in their own homes.

They will be monitored to ensure that children attend school, go to bed on time and eat proper meals.

Private security guards will also be sent round to carry out home checks, while parents will be given help to combat drug and alcohol addiction.

This has got to be a hoax. Please, Good Lord, make it be a hoax.

HT: Hollywood

John 2:1-11 Sermon in Wordle

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I think Facebook and text messaging is ruinging ruining my blogging and thinking skills.

And typing skills.

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