Scripture Text (NRSV)
12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your
people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has
never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that
time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in
the book.
12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky,
and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and
ever.
Comments:
To quote Gene Autry's song, I'm back in the saddle again. Due to some
rather bazaare events, I have been without an appointment since June.
Next Sunday will be my first Sunday at a new appointment. Due to that
circumstance, I feel more than the normal amount of pressure to make a
good first impression. I have chosen the Daniel passage because it
puts our temporal concerns in the perspective of eternal and even
ultimate resolutions in which God's will is the final word. Without
being presumptive about God's final word and will, I wish to engage
both myself and the congregation in a time of seeking God's will that
(somehow and somewhere in the bounds of God's grace) this
pastor-parish arrangement can fit into a greater scheme of the Kingdom
of God coming on earth. Other than the obvious request for prayer, do
you have any insights that relate to this specific circumstance?
Hi there to the Gene Autry fan. I am an old guy (50) who just obtained
his MSW and will resume seminary training in Jan of 2000. Since you
are back in the saddle you need to look forward to a round-up (smile).
Either a youth ministry or outreach but get the congregation to be
rededicated to God's salvation plan. People are saved from their
anxieties and other sins so God can do God's work through people.I
won't say more since I feel you know the rest.AndI'll pray for you.
To the unnamed first poster seeking insights:
May God bless you on your new appointment.
I became pastor of this church (it is a Southern Baptist church) "out
of the pew," so to speak, so I have no insights into your point of
view. I do, however, have some thoughts as one who has had three
pastors come into our church from "outside."
Our first pastor was from Texas (I'm in Wisconsin) and he brought a
lot of "Texas" thinking with him. This was at times refreshing and at
other times a struggle. I would say we struck a balance which may be
what you must do. Learn the culture you are in, but never give up your
own. You are there for an eternal purpose (as you have indicated) and
God does know what He's doing with you. He has not just sent you to
that church, but He has sent YOU to that church because you have
unique gifts that the church needs. So learn where they are coming
from, certainly, but never lose where you have come from. Strike that
balance.
One interesting sidelight. The pastor from Texas and I were opposites
in so many ways. I was his music director. I loved "high church." He
hated it. I was into Advent, Lent, etc., and he had no clue what those
things were about. He was wise enough, however, to take the gifts I
had and the things I knew and use them. He also was wise enough to be
teachable and he came to love the things Wisconsinites love. So... we
ended up blending and he said he'd never had a finer music director. I
know that to this day, I've never known a finer pastor or a more
powerful visionary. I would not be pastoring today were it not for
him.
In short... do you believe you are "God's gift to that church?"
Surprise - you are!
JG in WI
The book of Daniel represents a kind of literature called
"apocalyptic," which is full of bizarre visions, strange symbolism,
and supernatural happenings. Arising during times of great
persecution, apocalyptic literature employs a vivid language that
prevents outsiders to the faith from understanding its content.
Overall, it is concerned with God's revelation about the end-time and
the coming kingdom of God, when God will vindicate the righteous who
have been persecuted.
I'm seeing three possible points.
1) Those who are written
2) Those who are wakened
3) Those who are wise
JG in WI
