One commentator has said, "No other nation keeps as good track of its sins as Israel!"
Psalm 106, appointed for today's Morning Prayer, begins, "Praise the Lord, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good..." and then proceeds to list our forebears' sins of the Exodus and the Wilderness wanderings.
Taking miracles for granted
forgetting God's many kindnesses
rebelling by the Red Sea
not waiting for God's counsel,
they craved and craved
and tested him
He gave them what they craved BUT
Shriveled up their souls.
We ourselves are well acquainted with these sins and shrivelings. When I fall away, I feel a wasting away of heart and soul, (as the Israelites were "wasting" or "crushed" in v. 43). The remedy is METANOIA, turning to God and
remembering the miracles God has shown
returning to the ways I know are right
waiting in confidence for God to act
appreciating the miracles God has already done for me.
Remember us, O God, in Your great hesed. Save us from shriveling ungenerous dried up unloving smallness of heart. "Save us... and gather us..." that we may praise You (v. 47).
Amen
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
There is a God (gene)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/weekinreview/12wade.html?_r=1&ref=weekinreview
The New York Times published research that human brains seem to be wired for worship as we are also wired for language.
Oh, if scientists discover God, that proves it!!
Well of course all the research proves, if it proves anything, is that worship is part of our human equipment. Religion confers an evolutionary benefit for survival of societies, say the theorists. Religion made people sacrifice for their kindred, religion made people sacrifice their lives in war. Rulers coopted religion as part of their authority. Vespasian's last words were "Drat! I'm becoming a god!"
It's hard to think of a way to comment on this from my point of view which is that there is true relgion and false religion. The earliest discoveries show floors for large communal dancing as early as 7,000 B.C. How long did those societies survive, but never mind. The quest for ecstasy by 20th century evolved to large dancing floors of rock concerts. Religious impulses call us to the civil rights movement, as religious impulses fuel Islamic fundamentalists.
As William James said, in the deepest region of our soul "seraph and serpent abide side by side." God, help us!
I
The New York Times published research that human brains seem to be wired for worship as we are also wired for language.
Oh, if scientists discover God, that proves it!!
Well of course all the research proves, if it proves anything, is that worship is part of our human equipment. Religion confers an evolutionary benefit for survival of societies, say the theorists. Religion made people sacrifice for their kindred, religion made people sacrifice their lives in war. Rulers coopted religion as part of their authority. Vespasian's last words were "Drat! I'm becoming a god!"
It's hard to think of a way to comment on this from my point of view which is that there is true relgion and false religion. The earliest discoveries show floors for large communal dancing as early as 7,000 B.C. How long did those societies survive, but never mind. The quest for ecstasy by 20th century evolved to large dancing floors of rock concerts. Religious impulses call us to the civil rights movement, as religious impulses fuel Islamic fundamentalists.
As William James said, in the deepest region of our soul "seraph and serpent abide side by side." God, help us!
I
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