New Year,

 

I put this blog, “thegodimage.com,” together to invite people into the Jesus story that has so empowered my inner hope and reservoirs of inspiration. I’m inviting you to join me as I spend 2016 contemplating and practicing the teachings of Jesus. The call to action is to contemplate the teachings of this man that hailed from Nazareth, a po-dunk town on the edges of the empire, and to try to contemplate and practice his teachings. I believe that practicing his teachings will bring us closer to the path of love and justice he laid out and ultimately can bring us to union with God and neighbor. I invite Atheist, Muslims, Agnostics, Hedonist, Christians, Yogis, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Hindus, Buddhist, and Nudists a like to just try on these teachings like a coat and see how they fit in 2016. We are all invited to the table of grace and Jesus promises his followers that their lives will be grounded if they don’t merely listen, but practice these teachings.

I gave myself permission to take a long break from church. I wanted to understand the inner turmoil and angst I experienced due to my involvement in Christian church and have some time to reflect. I discovered that I spend a lot of time trying to be moral, or to posses systematic answers, and that many others including myself do not feel these endeavors where bringing them a closeness with their creator they may have believed it would. During this time I have read many books and learned a lot about contemplation. I also had a fun question surface during this season and I have posed many people I connect with that are interested in the Jesus story, “What is one of your favorite Jesus teachings and why?” I have asked this question often over the past two years to stingers and friends a like and discovered that many people, know very few of his teachings or the stories he told. In 2016, I invite you to journey with me, as I put forward a teaching of Jesus to contemplate and to try to practice. I pray that this process will be rewarding, life giving and ultimately bring each of us closer to the Spirit. Stay tuned… teaching one is on the way…

I was having lunch with my cousin and felt so moved as I herd the verses of this classic Christmas song bouncing off the walls of a Thai restaurant. The next morning I looked up the words and listened to Dustin Kensure’s rendition of it and put it on repeat. The power of the words where so inspiring and currently relevant. “In Roquemaure at the end of the year 1843, the church organ was recently renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest asked Cappeau, native from this town, to write a Christmas poem. Cappeau did it, although being a professed anticlerical and atheist.”^[1]Wikipedia I was moved that an atheist had penned these words I hold sacred. There is an invitation to us to be open to more people than those we agree with. Its amazing how limitless our creator is and how his music is realized in all his sons and daughters. I hope you consider sitting with this poem over the next few days. Let the truth of a 19^th century atheist penetrate your heart and draw you into the spirit of God. I dig this irony!

 

O Holy Night Placide Cappeau and John Sullivan Dwight

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from the Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.