Joshua 24:1-25
Proper 27 (32) - Year A
Proper 16 (21) - Year B
I do wish this lection had continued to verse 28. Then we would have heard about a stone that heard everything that G*D had said to the people.
Every General Conference there are huge volumes of verbatim from the floor. Toting them around is like carrying a stone. In them we hear everything that people say to justify themselves. Included in those volumes are sermons that are preached. (Supposedly these contain what G*D is saying to the General Conference delegates. My experience is that there is a huge disconnect between the sermons and the actions of the delegates. The sermons run up against predetermined bias and fade away before an amen is heard.)
It is as though Joshua really understood us.
“Choose this day!”
“OK, we choose G*D.”
“You’re not up to that promise.”
“Yes we are.”
“We’ll see.”
I’d like to have stones piled up in a place of worship so the stones can clearly hear the prayers and scripture and preaching and music of worship. Then, at the end of time together, dismiss the people (along with a listening stone given to them) each to their own “heritage” or “ministry”. The instructions would be to carry the stone with them during the week and to regularly take it out and listen to what it heard during worship. May we remember and be glad.
Every General Conference there are huge volumes of verbatim from the floor. Toting them around is like carrying a stone. In them we hear everything that people say to justify themselves. Included in those volumes are sermons that are preached. (Supposedly these contain what G*D is saying to the General Conference delegates. My experience is that there is a huge disconnect between the sermons and the actions of the delegates. The sermons run up against predetermined bias and fade away before an amen is heard.)
As found in Wrestling Year A: Connecting Sunday Readings with Lived Experience
One of the issues at hand is how much we build our relationship to GOD on past events. In Joshua's recounting of the Israelite history and the people's shorter version we hear about some of the highlights of past relationships. This leads to the middle of verse 18 and that powerful word, "therefore."
Folks are caught in a lot of therefores. When they remember they are very, very good and when they don't they are horrid. Folks are caught without their therefores.
This may be part of the choice Joshua is talking about. Chose to remember and move on. Choose to remember and not repeat. Choose to remember how surprising the past was and choose to be ready to be surprised again.
When we can remember the marvel of the moments of coming through, not just the fact of coming through, we are able to shift into an active anticipation of the future and a willingness to be present to the present. This is really a different orientation than remembering and therefore-ing.
In light of another conversation from Ephesians 5 we may need to also look at the word "serve" in this verse. What does it mean to submit to, to serve, to mutually love and respect GOD's next encounter with us when we so easily get caught in only justifying our obedience, service, etc. on the basis of what we have so far encountered.
How does this play with the John passage about difficult teachings and choosing to leave or affirm? What does the congregation where you are need to wrestle with? Past therefores or present service or future surprises or ...?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/august2003.html
The presence of G*D will be like Joshua calling everyone to a covenant service. They came and heard Joshua recite a condensed version of the courting process.
In most crowds gathered by decree there will be folks more into the process than others just walking through the motions.
Joshua did his best to put the deal in very stark terms. “Serve your above recounted process and lift your lamp high” (when you see lighters or illuminated cell phones at a concert, know this is an ancient act updated through technology). Or, “Serve those dim-wicks around you.”
And so we go into an extension of the previously condensed recounting of the courting process. Joshua says, “Oh, you’re excited now, but don’t let your enthusiasm wane or your wick be too short. If you fall away after this rally, you will find yourself trimmed but not relit.
So they all agreed to be light holders. Of course if you pay attention for any length of time after this, it is clear that the covenant made between unequals failed.
Whether with others or not, a challenge before us is not a lock-step “yes” so easily gotten in a time of transition and stress. Rather it is two questions of commitment: 1) what/whom do you find worthy to engage, worship, and 2) to what/whom are you a witness and will you do so. These keep us awake.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/11/joshua-241-3a-14-25.html
If you had to choose between grandeur or protection, which would it be? The grandness of Solomon's over-the-top prayer and grandiose temple is a wonder to behold. It inspires awe. Is that a desired dwelling place for more than a moment?
Joshua's recounting of a journey from nowhere to a particular somewhere and the interpreted protection that took in the face of enslavers and people already living where we claimed we were to live and were, thus, by definition, our enemies. It inspires awe. Is this a desired dwelling place for generations?
Where is G*D's dwelling place? Temple or Promised Land? Prayer or Journey?
- - - - - - -
we image G*D's armor
as being fit for us to wear
forgetting David trying
to wear Saul's helmet and shieldwhat arrogance we have
to be able to bear up
under the weight of armor
umpteen times too bigsuch armor can at best
be worn by a whole community
and even then turns to pride
claiming god on our sidewhat armor is there
against spiritual forces
a Maginot line
against flanking tanksparticipate in prayer
for all saints of every stripe
share life and lives
be bread for one anothertrust not in more arms
trust arms more
which may embrace
with shorthand's - amore
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html
I do wish this lection had continued to verse 29. Then we would have heard about the stone that heard everything that GOD had said to the people.
Every General Conference there are huge volumes of verbatim from the floor. Toting them around is like carrying a stone. In them we hear everything that the people say to justify themselves. Included in those volumes are sermons that are preached. (Supposedly these contain what GOD is saying to the General Conference delegates. My experience is that there is a huge disconnect between the sermons and the actions of the delegates. The sermons run up against predetermined bias and fade away before an amen is heard.)
It is as though Joshua really understood us.
"Choose this day!"
"OK, we choose GOD."
"You're not up to that promise."
"Yes we are."
"We'll see."
I'd like to have stones piled up in the place of worship so the stones can clearly hear the prayers and scripture and preaching and music of worship. Then, at the end of time together, dismiss the people (along with a listening stone given to them) each to their own "heritage" or "ministry." The instructions would be to carry the stone with them this week and to regularly take it out and listen to what it heard during worship. May we remember and be glad.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/november2002.html
Joshua set a choice before the people. Follow the Lord and me or get your own leadership together.
As with most crowds they fall back on remembering the best of their heritage so they won't have to change in the present. There were victories along the way (and their subsequent creeds) that were recounted. Conveniently forgotten were the difficulties along the way. To avoid having to really make a choice the folks only remembered the victories and said, "Us, too."
Joshua caught this wavering and pressed on to issues of jealousy and not-forgiven to test this one-sided response.
The crowd, as with most crowds, didn't really address this but simply affirmed that they were up to whatever was needed. Anyone here heard yourself or someone else being quite positive when it came to changing a habit. We are so full of big-talk.
Joshua eventually says, "We'll see. Your real intentions will be witnessed to by your actions". Then comes a test of intentions - actually putting down a crutch you have been using and picking up a new orientation that needs living. This same test is still being put to us. Will we actually live as big as our talk? Well?
Amos shifts the imagery from material idols to the idolatry of worshipful praise. Again the test is put. We talk about justice as if it is a light mist and righteousness as though trickling down were sufficient when what is needed is a deluge and a flood. Will we actually live as big as our talk? Well?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/november2005.html
Wisdom requires decisions made in the moment, in this day. To wait for more information is not as wise as acting on what is now known and adding to what is known as we go along and making appropriate corrections, including recantations, to and of prior decisions.
What do you know of "bridegroom" behavior? How do you then plan and decide about their inconstancy?
What do you know of "bridegroom" forgiveness? How does this change your plans and decisions?
What do you know of "bridegroom" justice and righteous? Does this confirm or change your plans based on what you know about the forgiveness of same?
- - - - - - -
alas for you
who desire the day to come
without having made
the needed decisions of this dayto desire without planning
is driving without
seatbelt or helmet
damn sillyto desire without deciding
is counting chickens
before they are hatched
worthlessno amount of ritual
incantation or sacrifice
will atone for innocent desire
noneplan for extravagant justice
decide for expansive righteousness
for this is saving music to the ear
beautiful
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html
The long journey is nearly over.
Waiting for relief – along comes Joseph and his dreams –
Crowned by power – enter a long time of slave discipline –
Reborn through a Reed Sea – learning after Spirit learning –Advent – Christmas – Epiphany – Lent – Easter – Pentecost.
Here is Joshua, a transitional figure, moving folks back into another cycle that will end with being puffed up at court and lost in exile.
In the midst of such turning and turning, never quite right, where do we place our bet? Is it with eternal protection? With revenge when protection breaks down? On holiness codes jealously enforced? With promises of the past, threats of today, fears of tomorrow?
Is this the best we can do, recycle our lowest common denominator? If so, we might wonder where on the wheel we find ourselves today and whether we are heading fast to the ground to be ground into the ground by the weight of the wheel. Hope is not our way out of this, but it can encourage us to always appreciate the wisdom of the wilderness.
Today is an election day. Is it the end-all and be-all and answer-all? No. But it will give us a gauge of how soon a next needed revolution will arrive – later or sooner.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
The presence of G*D will be like Joshua calling everyone to a covenant service. They came and heard Joshua recite a condensed version of the courting process.
In most crowds gathered by decree there will be folks more into the process than others just walking through the motions.
Joshua did his best to put the deal in very stark terms. “Serve your above recounted process and lift your lamp high” (when you see lighters or illuminated cell phones at a concert, know this is an ancient act updated through technology). Or, “Serve those dim-wicks around you.”
And so we go into an extension of the previously condensed recounting of the courting process. Joshua says, “Oh, you’re excited now, but don’t let your enthusiasm wane or your wick be too short. If you fall away after this rally, you will find yourself trimmed but not relit.
So they all agreed to be light holders. Of course if you pay attention for any length of time after this, it is clear that the covenant made between unequals failed.
Whether with others or not, a challenge before us is not a lock-step “yes” so easily gotten in a time of transition and stress. Rather it is two questions of commitment: 1) what/whom do you find worthy to engage, worship, and 2) to what/whom are you a witness and will you do so. These keep us awake.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/11/joshua-241-3a-14-25.html
If you read the elided section you will find out the reason for the "therefore" in verse 14.
It turns out that the reason we are to revere some Lord is that they are the uber-colonialist that justifies our own tendencies in that direction. Choose to follow a Lord that provides you with privilege or a Lord that doesn't? Is that a question or just a set-up? Well?
Given the "Therefore" it is no surprise that the "So" is, we choose privilege.
How is it any different in your particular congregation? What benefits the most or the richest is the choice to make. The rest is disposable. All we are really interested in is the degree of discrimination we can comfortably live with.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2014/11/joshua-241-3a-15-25.html