Two Thoughts

I have two thoughts this week. One of them is a little late, and the other is more current.

First of all, we discussed the ten commandments at church, and I have been fascinated recently with what is commonly called commandment II (there are differing opinions as to how to count the ten commandments. That is another post). We are to have no idols or graven images of God. There has never been a time on Earth when we've had more "idols" and images.

Some religious sects take this quite far, believing that no living thing should ever appear in a picture.

I actually have come up with an interesting twist on the commandment: Remember, God is dynamic! In other words, God is changing. An image may show one "aspect" of God. Yet, there is not an image that can replace God. If we see a picture of Jesus, are we not tempted then to think of Jesus as one thing and not another? What if my picture of Jesus was of a large, dark skinned man with tattoos? Or a woman with missing teeth and a mohawk?

We think of God's grace being like that movie we saw last week. We see it in a happy news story.

There is nothing wrong with this as long as we remember God may have no teeth. God may decide to be the smelly bum on the street corner. Grace can come in many packages. If we think we "know" what it looks like, then we are going to miss it.

Reactions? Thoughts? Do you have an image of Jesus that you like?

Ok, this is getting long, I'll do #2 quick, and leave it open:

#2. Light Out for Earth tonight! 8:30-9:30PM I think, if I remember right.
What does God want us to do about the environment? Why?


Ok, this is done.

Bring a friend along, share this blog, hope we have church in the morning and travel safely there through the snow!

-Michael