Re: Dumb Question

[Rob Hanks]

Hi Tom and All, I'm not good at diving into a question without some thought first but I'm having a diving kind of afternoon avoiding the work I should be doing... ahead of a rugby-a-thon this evening!!   I'm responding because I'm also preaching a couple of times in the weeks ahead and I'm starting to think about those opportunities and wanting to say something of substance...   Here's my 'brainstorm', I reserve the right to be wrong and to change my mind... # When invited to think of a phrase about Jesus recently I described him as a 'compelling bugger' meaning that there was/is something about him, his values and stories that compels my interest # I reckon I've gotten onboard with a few causes, ideas, people, plans and made plenty of stuff ups but kept on when the bigger picture still made sense # I reckon they 'got' bits of it and stuffed up other bits #I ask the question... how are we the same as them/how are we different? #What agendas did they have in following... many I'm sure... just as not everyone at a Mif\dnight Oil gig used to get the lyric or the stance, but just liked the driving rock and a few beers, or thought Peter Garrett was an interesting dancer?? #What is the storyteller trying to say by highlighting the 'they didn't get it ' stuff? or the 'hardship'. There's a theory in youth and young adult ministry about 'cheap grace' and I first read this from David Ng 'Youth in the Community of Disciples' where if something is too easy it isn't worth the effort or the commitment or anything.... but if its costly and clear or 'real' then the cost is part of the deal..... do we today have it too easy to understand what they saw in this 'movement they joined' and this bloke they heard, saw, were with etc?   Anyhow.... I'll get back to my magazine writing now!!   Rob If this email relates to work matters its contents are confidential and intended for the recipient only. Using information in any other context may be a breach of privacy legislation.   Midnight Oil 1976-2002 "Failure requires no preparation" The Sandman ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Stuart To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 3:23 PM Subject: Dumb Question We have been ploughing through some of the most difficult gospel passages in the lectionary (or at least it seems like it) over past weeks, or even months.  The disciples never get it right.  People leaving Jesus.  Everyone is saying it is too hard.  The only one’s who do any good are those who are blind, stony cold broke, or in some other way totally marginalised (you can’t just put yourself there … not that I would want to).   So here is my dumb question:  If no one understood Jesus, and when they did they realised they could not live the sort of life Jesus demanded, why did anyone keep following him?   When I’ve preached over past weeks, if I preach to a traditional group, at the end of the service they shake my hand and say, “Nice service!” and I know they have been thinking about lunch.  When I preach to a more engaged group quite a few of them get defensive … and I’m trying to duck for cover behind the text itself (sort of, “I didn’t write this stuff!”)   Seriously, why did they keep following him?   Okay, dumb question but if someone has a view on this I’m all ears (well eyes maybe).   Tom   [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.milman.uniting.com.au Ph: 6862 5502  Mobile: 0427 625 502 14 Bushman St Parkes NSW 2870   'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable'. I prefer to die living than to live dying! "War is a poor chisel with which to carve out the future." - Martin Luther King, Jr   Psalm 5: 11 "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them,  that those who love your name may rejoice in you. "   I've stopped 255 spam messages. You can too! One month FREE spam protection at www.cloudmark.com

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