Fall Alive in the Story of Creation Winter Alive in the Adventure of Jesus Spring Alive in a Global Uprising Summer Alive in the Spirit of God

1. Awe and Wonder Genesis 1 “The first and greatest surprise— a miracle, really— is this: that anything exists at all, and that we get to be part of it. Ripe peach, crisp apple, tall mountain, bright leaves, sparkling water, flying flock, flickering flame, and you and me… here, now!” (Kindle Locations 200-202)

“It Was Early” - Mary Oliver

2. Being Human Genesis 2 If we name some parts of God’s good creation “not-so-good”, we are tempted to treat them not-so-well. This is what humanity is forbidden to do in Genesis 2.

From Carry on Warrior, Glennon Doyle Melton: “We do not care if you are the smartest or fastest or coolest or funniest…. We send you to school to practice being brave and kind…. Just be grateful and kind and brave. That’s all you ever need to be.” (123)

A World of Meaning John 1 “In Genesis, we are guided to look for the pattern, meaning, wisdom, and logic of God woven into galaxies, planets, forests, fields, plants, animals, you, and me. In John’s gospel, we are inspired to look for the pattern in a poor man traveling across the land with a band of students and friends, telling stories, confronting injustice, helping people in need.” (13)

John 1 The Word Became Flesh 1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. …

14 … And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (NRSV) The Message: 14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

“If we want to know what God is like and what the universe is about, we should pay attention to the logic, meaning, wisdom, and patterns found in the life of Jesus. He communicated the logos, or logic , of God in his teachings. He lived the logos, or pattern, of God in his life. He showed the logos, or essence, of God in the way he treated others.

“From his birth to his death and beyond, John believes, Jesus translates the logic or meaning or pattern or heart of God into terms we humans can understand: skin and bone, muscle and breath, nerve and action.” (12-13)

Make a list. Pick a Gospel: Matthew Mark Luke or John What is one thing Jesus does? OR What is one thing Jesus says? in each chapter.

For example, I chose Mark because it is the shortest. Jesus started his public ministry AFTER John was arrested. Brave! He spoke to the deeper needs in people, not just the ones evident on the surface. He didn’t hide from the Serious Religious, but went about his healing work openly. He taught by using stories. He engaged scary people, whose suffering was really obvious and even obnoxious.

Jesus didn’t hide even after John the Baptist was killed. Jesus continues to respond graciously to the demented/tormented. He is generous to those who really want to learn from him. He leaves beauty and radiant spiritual experience to engage again with the terribly troubled.

He’d rather play with kids than discuss theology with the Serious Religious. He chooses a ridiculous animal to ride into Jerusalem for Passover week. The Serious Religious provoke him constantly. He is willing to respond rather than just ignore them. He is clear, truthful, direct. He anticipates how terrible the trouble will be for his followers and warns them.

14. He receives a generous gift graciously. He doesn’t defend himself before Pilate, and is crucified. He leaves the tomb, and visits obscure people. (Mary Magdalene, two followers out for a walk, and later, the 11) Is there a pattern? Does it look like the patterns we recognized in Genesis??

Creation is good. Jesus comes as a creature, to walk in creation with us.

Creation is good. Jesus comes as a creature, to walk in creation with us. Jesus is kind and brave and generous when he engages with those his culture has determined to be the “not-so-good”, who are being treated “not-so-well”.

Creation is good. Jesus comes as a creature, to walk in creation with us. Jesus is kind and brave and generous when he engages with those his culture has determined to be the “not-so-good”, who are being treated “not-so-well”. Jesus challenges the limited thinking of the Serious Religious to help them become kinder, braver and more generous.

This is how God works in the world This is how God works in the world. This is how God still works in the world. This is how God wants US to work in the world.