tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40396405558622615112024-02-22T02:05:41.590-05:00Notes From the BalconyJohn Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-79147075799541989762008-09-05T22:06:00.003-04:002008-09-06T10:23:19.222-04:00Community Organizing Recently a colleague of mine pointed out that in the coverage of the Republican convention, how utterly homogeneous it appeared. Actually, one explanation is that all those Blacks, Latinos, Asians and youth are all there, it is just that perverse liberal media that keeps the cameras from revealing their presence. I did see two black men and one black woman. There was one Asian man but I John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-89258368479074234772008-07-11T20:08:00.008-04:002008-07-12T10:53:31.735-04:00Olympic TrialsDoes Wesley’s notion of going on to perfection include taking three-tenths of a second off my 50 meter freestyle personal best time? The drama that went on in Omaha during this past two week period of Olympic swimming trials is ridiculous. Because of the inherent inequality present in the challenge of becoming an Olympic team swimmer – i.e. the competition only comes every four years, there are John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-79427095102115814992008-05-06T16:04:00.003-04:002008-05-09T20:19:54.546-04:00Standing for the GospelSo does your congregation stand for the reading of the Gospel? A friend who knows that I am interested in this subject put me on to this wonderful video. Enjoy! They do! Now most of us Methodists don’t do a formal “Gospel Procession” as part of our worship, although they do one at Duke Chapel each Sunday morning. Most of us are Episcopal light (as in not heavy, as opposed to dark!) At the John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-47871969404071318692008-03-14T23:48:00.004-04:002008-03-14T23:53:57.395-04:00A ParableThe advent of the American Idol Top 12 and the first season when selections from the Lennon-McCartney songbook are available for performance, reminded me of a parable. There once was a young man named Paul, who played his guitar backwards. He fingered his chords with his right hand and strummed the strings with his left. Many, who saw him, said that this was wrong. It says in the instruction John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-89573380004002999942008-03-01T08:46:00.005-05:002008-03-01T08:59:36.758-05:00Being Honest About the Bible, Pt 4 - Reliable SourcesReliable SourcesI think I got my first personal copy of the Bible when I was in fourth grade. I still have it although now the copy generally sits on a shelf. It served me well through high school. In college I bought my first Oxford annotated. Later, I was introduced to JB Phillips translation and somewhere in those years I first met Clarence Jordon and his Cotton Patch renditions of the GospelsJohn Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-86912361378718522752008-02-23T09:25:00.003-05:002008-02-23T09:46:49.410-05:00Being Honest About the Bible, Pt. 3 - One Book, Two Views In my second post in this series, I mentioned that the late Yale historian, Jaroslav Pelikan’s title question, Whose Bible Is It, could be taken in more than one way. In that post, I tried to begin an initial conversation about the differences between the Christian Old Testament and the Jewish Tanakh, especially focusing on the question of hermeneutics (i.e interpretation for those of you John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-34254483986402052372008-02-23T09:15:00.002-05:002008-02-23T09:44:37.570-05:00Being Honest About The Bible, Pt. 2 - Two BooksTwo Books Now that my family castle lies mostly abandoned except for occasional visits from my sons, I have created what I call a shrine room. Hindu friends know well what I am talking about as their homes all have one even if it is only a closet. This room is a special place for meditation, contemplation and prayer. In mine, there is a Cross surrounded by candles onJohn Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-63748129967471363692008-02-16T06:02:00.007-05:002008-02-18T01:41:26.016-05:00Being Honest About Scripture, Pt.1 - IronyThe Irony of ScriptureSeveral pastors who have gone on to their reward are sitting around the local watering hole in heaven. Yes, this is not a baptismal font. It is a watering hole. It is heaven after all. They are commiserating about some of their tougher assignments as clergy in divisive congregations. The apostle Paul is standing nearby and he has been eavesdropping. He joins the conversationJohn Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-61344513975726505892007-12-31T04:32:00.001-05:002007-12-31T16:17:21.799-05:00One last look at Nativities...Thanks to Jay Vorhees for this clip. Well, we have one more day! I hope you holidays have been holy days (i.e. special, set apart). Tomorrow we start all over again.Grace and Peace,Johndel.icio.us John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-73269012370114899222007-12-31T04:14:00.001-05:002007-12-31T04:36:14.203-05:00I Am Emergent? What's That? What's your theological worldview?created with QuizFarm.com You scored as Emergent/PostmodernYou are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-3564638692769644132007-12-29T07:13:00.001-05:002007-12-29T07:26:16.608-05:00Which Theologian Do You Sound Like? Which theologian are you?created with QuizFarm.com You scored as Jürgen MoltmannThe problem of evil is central to your thought, and only a crucified God can show that God is not indifferent to human suffering. Christian discipleship means identifying with suffering but also anticipating the new creation of all things that God will bring about. Friedrich Schleiermacher 87%Jürgen John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-33315624675331960022007-12-24T20:15:00.000-05:002007-12-25T01:01:38.170-05:00The Three Nativities, Pt. 8 - A Universal LoveFired Ceramics - From PeruThis Post May Load Slowly Because of Size - Please Be PatientDear Friends, Colleagues, and Family, I hope you get the chance to attend some sort of Christmas nativity pageant tonight, even if it is only to drive through an outside re-enactment. As a family, we are scattered this holiday. Matt is here in Atlanta, but will return to work in LaGrange very soon. Tim John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-72032378494300503712007-12-24T01:41:00.000-05:002007-12-24T01:56:41.954-05:00The Three Nativities, Pt. 7 - The Nativity in a New Key As I write this next to last essay on the Nativity stories, I wanted to express my deep thanks for your patience as I have blogged with you through this Advent season. I have learned a lot and your comments both public and private have been extremely helpful. I do want to sneak up a bit on the present topic about transposing our story into a new key. So please bear with me if I chase a couple ofJohn Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-29451254532408874502007-12-23T06:40:00.000-05:002007-12-23T10:32:54.564-05:00The Three Nativites, Pt. 6 - Light Incarnate The third nativity of our Three Nativities blends familiar elements from both of our biblical accounts and often adds additional touches from a variety of other sources. At Glenn Memorial church where our family gathers, those who can, we will have two wise women and just one wise man. I learned a long time ago when the United Methodist Women speak, one does well to John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-39082165305764060372007-12-19T05:04:00.000-05:002007-12-19T05:30:04.215-05:00The Three Nativities, Pt 5 - Luke and the Shepherds Luke’s nativity materials come embedded in a larger narrative describing not only key moments in the early years of Jesus, but also of John, who will be called the Baptist This larger scheme not only juxtaposes John and Jesus, but Elizabeth (with Zechariah) and Mary. While Matthew’s tale highlights the righteousness of Joseph, Luke celebrates Mary’s willingness to submit and John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-41940793156821520802007-12-15T23:54:00.000-05:002007-12-16T00:07:44.256-05:00The Three Nativities, Pt. 4 - Matthew and IllegitimacyIn the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-8922129017702215962007-12-15T23:38:00.000-05:002007-12-16T00:05:23.892-05:00The Three Nativities. Pt. 3 - Matthew and GospelNow the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-69978027346210681512007-12-11T04:25:00.000-05:002007-12-11T05:08:08.610-05:00The Three Nativities, Pt.2 - Lineages So this week’s Bible quiz question is “Who was the grandfather of Jesus?” Raymond E. Brown poses this puzzle as part of his discussion of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus as he compares it with a very different listing of ancestors found in the Gospel of Luke. Brown’s landmark study, The Birth of the Messiah (New York: Random House, 1993) is a foundational commentary for anyone John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-28890994200174856792007-12-04T23:52:00.000-05:002007-12-05T00:02:25.515-05:00An Open Letter to My Jewish Friends25 Kislev, sunset Dear Friends, This evening, I see the first candle of eight to be progressively lit with the shamash over the next several days glowing in your front window. If I understand correctly, these are holy candles not to be confused with light that illumines space for reading or family celebrations. They symbolize the spirit of liberation and trust in G-d. Each successive John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-2363691561851830442007-12-03T06:41:00.000-05:002007-12-03T07:06:36.658-05:00The Three Nativites Pt. 1 Christmas Eve is but a short time away. Our family’s decorations, which center on a collection of some 55 nativity sets gathered from around the world, sets the stage for the anticipated holiday festivities. While it is still advent, I want to take some time this year and reflect on what I have come to talk about as the Three Nativities. In separate posts, I will share my thoughts John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-17993678902936600942007-11-02T21:34:00.000-04:002007-11-03T05:57:15.308-04:00For ALL the SaintsThis coming Sunday congregations will celebrate the “Community of Saints” who have gone on before us and who stand now as beacons showing the way for our own journeys of faith and proclamation. There will be hymns marking these words and deeds. There will be rituals memorializing congregational members who have died during the previous 12 months. And many of us whose closest loved ones have John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-52443431936526515462007-10-23T00:33:00.000-04:002007-10-23T00:37:09.956-04:00Of Kilts and Burgundy RobesIt’s the bad joke of the week…. It seems that the Dalai Lama came to the White House last week. He knocked on the door and was met by George Bush. W took one look and said, “You’re early, wait here. I’ll go get some candy.” Hmmm… It’s the bad joke of the week because, while Bush and I disagree about nearly everything, especially disconcerting is the repeated justification of torture that John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-32716801731048984862007-10-18T21:06:00.001-04:002007-10-18T21:12:36.908-04:00Ann Coulter on Judaism - Right!So must we say anything else? But of course, is she saying anything that is not being said one way or another in lots of evangelical and fundamentalist settings.Why is this woman still on TV?John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-50215520228095012007-10-05T20:18:00.000-04:002007-10-06T08:04:01.338-04:00Thinking Outside the Box of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.Sometimes it takes thinking outside of the box, moving beyond the traditional lines, or what other metaphor you prefer to describe finding a solution that is more both/and than either/or. There are several issues facing the United Methodist church that make the creation of alternate solutions imperative if we are going to maintain our unity (and effectiveness) as a denomination. One might think John Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4039640555862261511.post-35622789228653777642007-09-30T22:54:00.001-04:002007-09-30T23:06:46.153-04:00Be Thou My VisionSometimes YouTube can have precious gifts. This week I need this. My youngest son just let me know that a fellow swimmer and friend of his has passed......In memory of Jeff AndersonPeace,JohnThanks to RevGal's blog ring for the connectionJohn Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030741092000188820noreply@blogger.com0