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One Minute Review: The Grey

2012-01-27T18:38:00.000-06:00

The Grey is one of those films that could really go either way. It stars Liam Neeson, which is good. The trailer makes it look pretty cool. But it comes from the guy who made the recent A-Team movie, which does not bode well. Is it a throw-away action film, or is there some substance there? Luckily, the One Minute Review has the answers.

One Minute Review: The Artist

2012-01-20T21:52:00.002-06:00

A black and white silent film? Didn't we stop making those for a reason? What good could come out of that? Watch the One Minute Review to find out.

After Winter Conference

2012-01-20T00:26:00.001-06:00

This is the pastoral letter I just sent to my congregation. It is about the current mess in and around the Anglican Mission in the Americas.

Dear Church of the Redeemer,

Greetings to you. I hope this letter finds you well.

As you are probably aware, this has been a tumultuous time in the Anglican world. I have written three other updates which I hope you have already read. You can find them on our website. My first letter is here: http://tinyurl.com/7gb86aq My second letter is here: http://tinyurl.com/7kmcdfr My third letter is here http://tinyurl.com/7m3ru2p

Since I last wrote to you, I have been to the annual Anglican Mission (AMiA) Winter Conference. I was joined by our other pastors and three of our elders. The highlight of the event was Jenna Martin’s ordination to the deaconate! I don’t always enjoy the programs at these conferences, but I always enjoy seeing my fellow clergypersons from both North America and Africa. This year many of these friends were absent.

It was a pleasure to be with the clergy leaders of all the AMiA churches in our “Mid-South Network” (Middle and Eastern Tennessee). We had many good discussions. I was especially grateful to hear from Bishop Todd Hunter and Canon Ellis Brust. Bishop Todd was our bishop until his resignation from Rwanda, and I would love for him to be our bishop again in the near future. The best thing I experienced in that hotel was the discussion which took place between Bishop Todd and the Tennessee clergy.

Bishop Todd's humility and non-defensiveness were remarkable. When I asked him why he had resigned from Rwanda, he answered me that he had made a mistake. He did not know that his resignation would affect his relationship with our church. He expected that the bishops were simply going to move into another Anglican Province. He reminded us that he has only been an Anglican for a couple of years. He did not fully grasp the enormity of this move. He said these same things to the entire conference.

Bishop T.J. Johnston, our previous bishop, was also a humble and sensitive presence. He apologized to all of us, not for what he had done but for the pain that had been caused. He is leading an effort to negotiate with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). It is possible that these negotiations will lead to the AMiA coming under the oversight of ACNA. This is what I would most like to see happen.

Unfortunately, much of what was said by the leadership of the AMiA was not as helpful. From my personal perspective, I heard too much arrogance, fact spinning, and finger pointing. I would prefer not to give a laundry list of specific examples, as this is not beneficial to my soul. They explained to us that they intend to begin a “missionary society” that will possibly not be part of an Anglican Province. They did not tell us what a missionary society was, or why it should exist. At least one of the bishops questioned whether it was even necessary for the organization to remain Anglican at all.

Our Elders and Pastors have had serious conversations about the situation. We are not satisfied with the present circumstances. We don't believe that the AMiA has adequately addressed important questions. Redeemer is completely committed to remaining Anglican, and attached to an Anglican Province (or at least an emerging Province like the ACNA).

All that being said, we are still hopeful that the AMiA will find a satisfactory a resolution. We don't see the value in making any hasty decisions. While we are not currently governed by any AMiA bishop, we intend to retain our membership in the AMiA for now. However, we are also paying close attention to the guidance of our present bishop, Archbishop Rwaje and the bishops who did not leave Rwanda. Furthermore, we are in contact with bishops of the ACNA.

At this time we have not been officially offered an alternative structure. Some new structures are emerging, but nothing is in place quite yet. I expect that at some point Redeemer will be asked to make some important decisions regarding how we will relate to the wider Anglican Communion. At that time, I will make sure to give you whatever information I have.

I am still a priest of the Anglican Province of Rwanda. Danny Bryant is a deacon of Rwanda, and Jenna Martin is actually a deacon of the Anglican Church of Congo. Church of the Redeemer is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion by virtue of these connections. Archbishop Rwaje is our bishop.

Regardless of how we are connected to the Anglican Communion a year from now, I am certain that Redeemer will remain what it is today, a church that lives and proclaims Christ’s redeeming love. Our vision, our values, and our direction have not changed. I do not believe that this current mess was God’s best for his people. I believe it came from the sinfulness of men, though what those sins were and who committed them are not mine to know or judge. I do know that the Lord is still in the redemption business. I believe he will take this messy situation and bring forth something beautiful. I continue to hope that he will bring forth a more fully unified Anglican Church in this nation.

I call upon each of you to pray. Let’s kneel together in this season. Please pray for your pastors and elders. Please pray for the leaders of the AMiA, the ACNA, the Province of Rwanda, and all those affected by this situation. Pray that all of us would find resolution soon. Pray that the enemy of our souls would find no foothold. Pray that no further dishonor would come to the Name of Christ.

As I said in my previous letter, if you feel that you would like to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me and set up a meeting. There is a great deal of opinion and “information” on the internet. Feel free to explore that as much or as little as you like. I will do my very best to keep you informed as things develop.

May the Lord grant to us His peace, the peace that the world can’t give. The peace that we will never find in good circumstances, in happy climates, or in godly leaders. The peace that comes from Him alone.

My love and prayers are with you all,

The Reverend Thomas McKenzie
Pastor, Church of the Redeemer

Good Words from the Abbot

2012-01-12T14:33:00.002-06:00

Every week I eagerly await the regular letter from Abbot Phillip, the abbot of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This weeks letter was particularly helpful to me this morning, especially given the confusing and painful denominational meeting I am presently attending. I pass part of it on to you in hope that you will find it helpful.

The great challenge of monastic life is not the challenge of having a lot
of vocations, but the challenge of forming men so that they can use their
energies to seek the Lord. Very often men come to us with truly good
intentions and want to be formed to seek the Lord with all of their
energies. As the formation goes on, of course, most drop out.

As I look at society today, I wonder if we are teaching that we don\'t
have to change, but the world around us must change. If life is difficult,
then we must change something around us. It is rare to find the person who actually realizes that the greatest changes must be made within us and not outside of us.

A good way to discern how we make our decisions is simply to ask why we
did something. If the answer is generally because of outside factors, we must ask ourselves why that is. If the answer is usually that I did a
certain thing because it seemed the right thing to do, or because I was
trying to do what I thought that God wanted of me, then perhaps we are
getting closer to the maturity that God wants of us.

It is only when our hearts are still, at peace and without strong desire
that we can seek the will of the Lord. Throughout the history of spirituality, there have been many ways to find this inner peace where we can make good decisions. We each must find our own way to get there. There are some signposts that indicate whether we are there or not.

If I have anger in my heart, I am not there. If I have resentment in my
heart, I am not there. If I think that life has been unfair to me, I am
not there. If I think that I am misunderstood, then I am not there. If I think that others do not understand me, then I am not there. And so on.

Think back to Elijah the Prophet, who finally encounters the voice of God
in a soft, gentle breeze. Only when we have finally recognized to be still
and listen will God be able to speak to us. God comes in the silent
stillness of our hearts, God comes in the scent of light, God comes in
silent music. Normally only time can help us arrive at the inner silent
stillness of our hearts where encounter with God is possible. This is why
God invites us every day to spend time in quiet stillness, waiting for Him
to speak. If we never take the time, God can still surprise us because God
is always God.

The general principle, however, is that grace builds on nature. Thus we
must struggle with our own nature so that it is open to the workings of the
Lord. Another general principle is that emotions need to be guided by
reason and reason needs to be guided by faith.

Each of these principles seems straight forward and easy to understand.
But so often we want to be what we are not and strive to be different from
how we are created. Too often our emotions run our lives and we even
pretend that the emotions are not there.

It is always today that we can begin to cooperate more with the Lord. It
is today that we can take a few moments just to be still and listen. It is
surprising how much impact a few moments each day can have on our lives. We don't need to present to be spiritual giants, but rather we can be
ourselves, recognizing that always we are new born children.

Is there any clear result of all of this? No. Giving a small part of
each day to the Lord is not magic. We cannot control the Lord for He is
God. Yes our lives do change, just because we begin to make silent
stillness the inner heart of our daily lives. If we do this for enough
years, we might even see some changes. We have to remember always that it is God who seeks us and we are able to respond to His seeking. It is not we who will do great things for God, but perhaps God will do great things in us.

One Minute Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

2012-01-08T16:29:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my 900th blog post!

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The classic spy novel gets a modern version with an amazing cast. Will this thriller thrill you? Find out.

One Minute Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

2012-01-01T21:29:00.002-06:00

The sequel to Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes has received pretty bad reviews. Is it worth watching, or has all the fun run out at 331B Baker Street? The One Minute Review has the answer to this mystery.

One Minute Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2012-01-01T17:19:00.001-06:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the "feel bad movie of the season." But is it a bad movie? Or are the bad parts bad enough to make you stay away? Watch the OMR to find out.

One Minute Review: Mission Impossible, Ghost Protocol

2011-12-27T13:13:00.001-06:00

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check out the One Minute Review of Mission Impossible (4): Ghost Protocol.

One Minute Review: Tin Tin

2011-12-27T12:16:00.000-06:00

Tin Tin, the European boy wonder comes to America. Should you check out this adventure flick? The OMR knows for sure.

One Minute Review: Arthur Christmas

2011-12-26T18:24:00.001-06:00

Total throw away garbage or new Christmas classic? The One Minute Review knows for sure.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T15:11:00.002-06:00

Bless you all today.

Anticipation

2011-12-23T23:18:00.000-06:00

Let’s face it, today is the best part of this whole Christmas thing. Christmas Eve is way better than Christmas Day. Anticipation is almost always better than the thing anticipated. Most of the time, the wrapped present under the tree is far superior to the unwrapped thing we stuff in a drawer within a few days.
A wrapped present is a symbol of hope. An unwrapped present is an object that was manufactured at a factory in China. A wrapped present is mystery, an unwrapped present is utility. A wrapped present is joy while an unwrapped present is a mere commodity. When I look at those gifts shrouded in colorful paper and bows, I feel that I am catching a glimpse of heaven. Nothing you buy at the mall will ever compare with heaven; the gift you receive will never measure up to the hope that came before.

Now imagine if the gift really were better than the expectation. That would be miraculous. You think you are in for another pair of socks but there is that you really wanted. Heaven is like that. It is something we hope for, but it far surpasses the hope we have. In his Revelation St. John uses all kinds of images for heaven. He talks about gates made from pearl and streets paved with gold. The reality will be even greater. I am confident that the anticipation of the expectant Church will be far surpassed by the joy that is coming to her.

When Christ came as a baby, the angels sang his praises to a limited number of shepherds. When Christ returns, everything in heaven and on earth will sing his praise. No one will need to point the way to him, no one will need to seek him out. No one will miss that wonderful event, as most of the world missed his birth. Upon his return He will be as obvious as the Sun on a cloudless day, as loud as thunder that has come too close.

How we will greet Christ depends in part on how we live in the ongoing Advent season of our daily lives. If we are not watching, not waiting, then I expect we are in for a rude awakening. If we are waiting with fear, trying to make sure we are doing enough to earn his favor, I expect we will be in for disappointment as we see the last being made first. If we are waiting with hope, as a child looking on an unwrapped Christmas present, I believe that the joy we find will far exceed our expectations.

Today is Christmas Eve. This Advent is nearly over. The great Advent of our lives continues on, each and every day until all days finally end. Let’s welcome Christmas Day with joy this year. Let’s receive it as a beautiful gift. But let’s also keep our eyes open, for that final Gift will come when we least expect Him.

The Holy Family's Terrible Family

2011-12-22T23:44:00.000-06:00

Joseph and Mary came into a crowded Bethlehem. Men and women were there from all over the Jewish world. These crowds had come to register for the Roman census. The commonly told story says that, because of the numbers of people in town, there was no room for the holy family in the local hotels. Joseph went from door to door, searching valiantly for a place for his betrothed to give birth. Fortunately, a kindly innkeeper told them they could sleep with his animals. So he either placed them in a barn or a cave, depending on the version of the story. It is truly a lovely story, but there is a small problem. It isn’t exactly found in the Bible.

Luke’s Gospel tells us that “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guestroom available for them.” (Luke 2:6,7 TNIV) Many translations say “there was no room in the inn.” Those versions of the Bible are reading later Christmas stories into the text.

In Greek, the language of the New Testament, there is a perfectly good word for “inn.” That word is not found in this story. Rather, the writer says there was no “living space” available for them.” This phrase, “living space” refers to a room designated for humans in a home. In this culture, people kept both animals and people in the same house. After all, animals were wealth. To keep them out in a barn or a cave would have been both impractical and foolish, especially in a city. People had a room or two in their homes for their families as well as a room for the animals. Often this room was a step or two down from the rest of the dwelling.

Here is one possible scenario for how they ended up in the animals’ room. Joseph brings his young, pregnant fiancé to suburban Bethlehem. He is the distant relative from out in the sticks who has come into the “big city.” Somehow his live-in girlfriend has become pregnant. No one knows who the baby’s father is, though these two claim it is God. Joseph is poor, has a funny accent, and lives in an area known for mixed races and pagan worship. His family in Bethlehem share little more than his blood. They are of a higher and more pure class than he is. They don’t want to have anything to do with Joseph and his “lady.”

However, because of their honor they can’t let him sleep in the street. That just wouldn’t do, not in a culture so invested in hospitality. At the same time, they can’t have these people in their house. What to do? They put the country cousin and his girlfriend with the animals. Yes, they offered hospitality. But they also made sure that Joseph and Mary knew their place. Joseph is in no position to refuse.

This story won’t be shown in our church Christmas pageant. No one sings songs about Joseph’s family rejecting him. Of course, this is just one possibility. Perhaps the family house was just so crowded that there was literally nowhere else but with the animals. No one knows, and Luke does not bother to make things clear.

This might serve as a reminder that Christ was always an outsider. Though Son of God and King of the Universe, he was born to a lowly family in a lowly place. As John’s Gospel says “he came to that which was his own, but his own people did not receive him.” He was such an outcast that he wasn’t even born in a normal room. He was birthed among animals and laid in a feeding trough.

We may sometimes feel cast out. Perhaps you are the black sheep of your family. You feel rejected, like they would rather have you sleep in the garage. Perhaps you are the one looking down your nose at your relatives. You just can't bare the thought of those people coming into your home. In any case, it is important to remember that the One we are expecting comes to us through the lowest of places. He knows our suffering, and he commands us to receive the lowly in his Name.

Why We Worship This Sunday

2011-12-21T15:10:00.000-06:00

Redeemer (www.RedeemerNashville.net) will be gathering twice in worship this weekend. On Saturday night, we will have our traditional Midnight Mass. This service begins with special music at 10:00 p.m. The liturgy itself begins at approximately 10:30 p.m. Midnight Mass includes Holy Communion and our candlelight vigil. There will be no childcare.

On Sunday morning, we will offer one Christmas Sunday service at 10:00 a.m. Our normal 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services will be combined for this one service. There will be no childcare and no Sunday school.

I'd like to respond to two questions that some people have asked regarding our worship schedule. A couple of people have asked why we do not celebrate a service earlier in the day on Christmas Eve for older people and young families. We do not because in our tradition we always have a Christmas Day service. These Christmas Day services are appropriate for all ages; young families and older people are often in attendance. By keeping with this tradition we ensure that everyone is able to join us in worship on Christmas, even if they can not attend a late night service.

The second question is about having worship on Sunday morning. Some churches are not worshiping together this Sunday because they feel that Christmas morning is a time for families. In Anglicanism, Christmas Day is a feast of the Church. Many people are fond of saying "keep Christ in Christmas." They don't like "happy holidays" or "xmas." While I personally don't have a problem with these sayings, I understand the sentiment. If we wish to truly keep Christ in Christmas, I would say that the best way to do that is to make Christmas about worshiping him.

I would also like to say that Christians have met, when possible, for Word and Sacrament every Sunday morning for 2000 years. Each Sunday morning is a Feast of the Resurrection. This Sunday is no different just because it happens to fall on Christmas Day. So this Sunday we gather for two reasons: to celebrate the Incarnation and the Resurrection. If personally find this to be a compelling reason to at least offer the possibility of worshiping together on Sunday morning.

Finally and very importantly, let me remind you of Paul's words in Colossians 2:16-17: "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Some of you will not go to church on Saturday night or Sunday morning. Let no one judge you, and let none of us judge those who do not attend church. Let us not judge churches that chose not to meet. I do no think poorly of any person who wishes to stay at home on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and celebrate with their family. I do no judge or condemn them. Rather, I write to you today simply to explain why it is that in the Anglican tradition we do things the way we do.

Bless you all. Have a blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas,

The Reverend Thomas McKenzie

Blessed is He

2011-12-20T00:59:00.002-06:00

We know very little about Mary’s fiancé. He was quite possibly a woodworker. It is likely he is around 20 years old when we first meet him in Matthew’s Gospel. At this juncture in the story, Mary had become pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. She had immediately left town for three months. Now she has returned to Nazareth and it is obvious that she is going to have a baby. A close reading of the Bible reveals that it is possible Mary didn’t tell Joseph that she was pregnant or how it happened. He may have found out the same way everyone else had (by looking at her).
Regardless of how he found out, Joseph showed remarkable compassion and restraint. In those days an engagement was a legal contract. Joseph could have publicly humiliated Mary and her family. Some scholars say that he could have sued Mary’s father for allowing the girl to be “damaged.” However, the New Testament tells us “because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)

It was then that Joseph had his own conversation with an angel. The first chapter of Matthew’s gospel tells us about a dream he had in which God revealed that Mary’s pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit. The Bible then says that Joseph took Mary home with him, but they did not have sex until after she had given birth. (Matthew 1:24-25)

Joseph and Mary moved in together while she was pregnant. At that moment they were technically married according to custom. No ceremony is mentioned, just the fact of cohabitation. The other villagers assumed that the baby was his, or at least he would raise it has his own. In their eyes Joseph was at best immoral, at worst a fool.

Entitlement is the belief that you deserve things to go your way. God or the Universe or the Church or the Nation owe you something. When you don’t get what you want, you are angry and bitter. I believe entitlement is one of the most disastrous of spiritual sicknesses.

Joseph did not suffer from entitlement. When it seemed Mary had broken her contract, he decided to be merciful. When God told him he would have to raise a son who was not his, he gladly took Mary and the boy into his home. When Joseph is forced to go to Bethlehem, and then flee to Egypt, he moves forward in God’s plan with no recorded complaint. He is the model of a man who is not getting what he wants or what he ‘deserves,’ and yet is faithful to the Lord and to his family.

May God give us the grace to lay down our entitlements, like Joseph does. May God give that grace to all his Church in this Advent season.

Blessed is She

2011-12-17T21:51:00.000-06:00

Luke 1:26-38

The woman who would be called the Mother of God lived in a small town called Nazareth. Nazareth was part of an unimportant district known to the Romans simply as “the Circuit,” a word that comes to us as “Galilee.” I grew up in the West Texas Panhandle, also an unimportant district with lots of tiny towns. Some of these only have one traffic light or one restaurant (often a Dairy Queen). These towns are little more than wide spots in the road where a few shops and houses have been built near each other. We call them “one horse towns.” That’s what Nazareth was--a one horse town, a rest stop between other places. A tiny insignificant place inside a larger insignificant place.

We know that Mary was unmarried and a virgin. Scholars agree that she was around the age of 14. It is most likely that her engagement with Joseph was arranged by her parents. There would have been a combination of political, social, and economic reasons why he was chosen above other possible suitors. In their culture, Mary would be given over to Joseph along with some of her father’s possessions (a dowry) and she would become his wife. Being a wife was a great deal like being a piece of property. Mary would be expected to have children, care for her family, and engage in the life of the village as she had been trained and taught since childhood. There was no reason for Mary to believe her life would be any different from all the other women she saw around her and knew so well.

Mary’s life took an unexpected turn when an Angel came to her. We don’t know where this encounter happened, what time of day or night. We have no description of Gabriel or of Mary. We do know that this visit changed everything.

In just a few sentences in the Book of Luke, Mary reveals her distress, her fear, her astonishment, and her curiosity. She is a person just like us. When an angel from God tells her that she will give birth to a king who will reign forever, she focuses not on the brilliant future but the practical reality staring her in the face. She hasn’t had relations with a man. Every person who lives around animals (like girls in ancient small towns) knows exactly where babies come from. When the angel tells Mary that this will be the work of the Holy Spirit, Mary immediately gives herself over the God. She accepts that she will become pregnant without sex, and that this is the divine will.

I went to school in a small, religious town. In my high school we had a couple of girls who got pregnant and carried the baby to term. I saw how those girls suffered--the stares, the gossip, and the abandonment they must have experienced from former friends. As their pregnancies progressed, our public school wouldn’t even let them come to class. Instead, they received “tutoring” in their homes. I don’t believe any of these girls graduated.

Consider Mary’s situation. She lived in a society that was much more sexually conservative than ours. She lived in a tiny, close knit community. In our society we have credit scores and reputations and social standing acquired through education or wealth. These things tell other people who we are and what we are worth. In Mary’s society, they had “honor.” By being unmarried and pregnant, Mary had dishonored herself, her father, her family, and Joseph. She was in danger of losing everything. By becoming pregnant outside of her relationship with Joseph, there was a very real possibility that Mary would be driven out of her father’s house and left to wander. She could possibly end up in slavery or prostitution or both.

Mary accepted the angel’s message and took an enormous risk. She did this for her people and for us as well. She did it through the work of God’s grace. This was not her strength alone. Gabriel tells her that she has received grace (favor), and he’s right. Nonetheless, she cooperated in God’s work. As Advent begins to draw to a close and Christmas comes ever closer, I give thanks to God for the gift of Christ. I also give him thanks for the grace he gave that little Palestinian girl. She inspires me today to trust the Lord and let him take care of the outcomes.

If you are reading this as a note on facebook, may I recommend you visit www.ThomasMcKenzie.com for the full service version?

The Great AMEN

2011-12-16T23:19:00.000-06:00

I’m a huge fan of Handel’s Messiah. I’m especially fond of the tenor solos, and the Isaiah texts generally. The Hallelujah Chorus is, of course, a highlight. Whenever I hear the “Comfort me, my people,” I think about my own calling as a pastor. Of them all, my favorite part is the final chorus entitled "Worthy is the Lamb." It is taken from Revelation 12, and it says:

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen.”

It probably took you a few seconds to read those words. It takes a great deal longer to sing them. The Amens by themselves go on for quite some time. These Amens minister to my soul. Musically they are transcendent, though that is not why I love them so much. I love them because they remind me that Heaven itself says “Amen.” In other words, there is a final word to all that is taking place on earth, and that word belongs to God alone. Amen means that everything will come to a conclusion, that all that has gone before will be summed up. The eternal purpose of my life will be made known, and that purpose will rest entirely in the grace of Christ.

Right now, I need that Amen. I need a conclusion to my concerns, my worries, and my questions. I need God to have the final word on all that I am going through, both the good and the bad. I need my mind and heart to be reordered so that I can look into the Heavenly Throne Room and see the angels of God giving him glory and honor. I want my eyes off of myself and on Christ. I want to join with the four living creatures and sing a great ‘AMEN’ to those praises.

May God grant me and you an Advent in which we catch a glimpse of that Amen. May he open our hearts and minds and eyes and ears so that we may see that this Amen is coming in the future, and that it happening even now. Our God reigns now, and he will reign forever and ever. Amen.

The Christmastime Fast

2011-12-15T14:16:00.000-06:00

From Fr. Thomas

The prophet Isaiah writes,
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free; and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—;
when you see the naked, to clothe them; and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn; and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
--Isaiah 58:6-8

Advent is a season of fasting. All around us the World is shopping, eating, drinking, partying. Of course, so are we. We are celebrating, and why not? This is a great time of year to gather with friends and family, co-workers and fellow students. This is a season of good food and good times.

Still, the Church is called upon to fast. Does that mean we should avoid this year’s office party? Maybe, maybe not. That is up to you. Let me offer you this possibility.

In the Book of Isaiah, the Holy Spirit counsels us that fasting is not just about giving up food. It is also about sharing with the poor. In the secular world, the Christmas season is about buying and receiving, as well as giving to those we love. In the Church world, the Advent season is about supporting our fellow believers, giving to those who are in need, and even giving to those whom we don’t know as an act of Christian love.

This is a great time of year to make a special offering to your church. After all, the Bible tells us “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10). It is also a good time of year to give to organizations which focus on the poor. In yesterday’s meditation, I spoke about giving to World Vision or working with FAM. As a Pastor, I believe it is vital for you to give to their church. I also believe it is vital to care for the poor. How you do that is of much less interest to me than THAT you do it. In this season let’s remember to fast. Sometimes by not eating, sometimes by giving.

Let me end with this encouraging message I received from Bruce and Cindy Colville. They sold paper beads from Uganda last Sunday between services at our church. Here is their report:

“In keeping with our exhortations to give for the good, to those in need...in the name of Christ —
We sold, no let me change that, Redeemer Church GAVE $975.00 to the Uganda Orphan School in the sale of the paper beads. That is pretty awesome.

Cariana Nash, the young woman in Kampala, has a break-even with each child that needs to be sponsored or is attending the school. (Many of the kids have no support.) One child's school fees: a uniform (including socks plus a p.e. uniform), breakfast and lunch, necessary school supplies and some small portion toward salaries for teachers/staff, their rent, utilities, etc. is $35US per month. There are, of course, a lot of other expenses.

Seen another way, two children are fully provided for during this next school year...and then some because of Redeemer’s generosity. That is really awesome.”

Amen to that.

The Theme of Advent

2011-12-13T14:31:00.000-06:00

For many years, I have led a Bible study on Tuesdays at lunch time. This is an open group. Anyone is invited to come. I have several “regulars” and we often have visitors. In the past few months, the number of people coming has grown, which has been encouraging. We usually read and discuss a book of the Bible verse by verse.

As Advent was about to begin, I suggested we study Colossians. I said I thought that Colossians has a natural Advent theme. Today one of my regulars asked me a great question. She asked “why this book?” We’ve been reading it and studying it for a few weeks. What does this book have to say about Advent?

That was a great question, and one I had failed to address! I responded, and thought that this might make a good Advent meditation for all of us.

Colossians 1:13 says “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Compare that to the Collect for this week. “Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.”

Without Christ, we live under in the domain of darkness. As the Book of Colossians goes on, we see that this domain is multi-layered. We live under the dominion of Caesar, a false king. We live under the rule of the natural forces of the world. We live under philosophies and ideas; even the Law itself. We constantly have to prove ourselves to our rulers, whether they be good rulers (moral laws) or bad rulers (Caesar).

Christ didn’t come to destroy these rulers. Instead, he came to rescue us from their domination. He transferred us out of their authority and into his glorious kingdom. Do governments and natural rules and philosophies and moral codes still exist? Yes, of course. Are they sometimes good and helpful? Certainly? Do we now live under their control, seeking to do their will so as to acceptable to God? No, not at all.

This is the theme of Advent: the King is coming. He is not one of many kings, one of many rulers. He is the sole King, the only legitimate ruler. In his great might he comes among us. He rescues us from our sin. He even rescues us from our own self-righteousness.

Are we then free to act however we please? No, we are called to do right, to live good and godly lives. But how we act is not longer the foundation of who we are. Our identity is not found in my good or bad behavior. It is found in the triumph of Jesus on the cross.

When I do good, I belong to Jesus. When I sin, I belong to Jesus. When I disappoint someone, I still belong to Jesus. When they disappoint me, I still belong to Jesus. The King is coming, and has come. He is Lord of all whether we recognize him or not. Advent is, in part, about recognizing him.

One Minute Review: Melancholia

2011-12-09T17:56:00.000-06:00

If you knew that all life on earth was about to end, how would that make you feel? That's the essential question of Melancholia. But should you see the film? Check out the One Minute Review to find out.

Praying Shapes Believing

2011-12-09T00:06:00.000-06:00

By now, you have probably seen that there has been some unfortunate and painful things going on in the Anglican Mission (AMiA) this week. I don’t like seeing these problems. I find them disturbing, saddening, and maddening. Yet I am not surprised by them. Oh, I am surprised by the specific problems, but I am not surprised to see sin, misunderstanding, and possibly down right power politics in the Body of Christ. Why am I not surprised? Because I see these things in myself, in my own heart and soul.

I know that I am a sinner. Not a “sinner” in quotation marks. A real sinner, a person who was born sinful and who actualizes sin in my daily life. I also believe that human sinfulness is evenly distributed. Everyone I know is a sinner, just like me.

As a Christian I have somewhere to go with this reality. “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25) As I recognize the reality of my sinfulness, I am driven to give glory to God in Christ who alone sets me free.

As an Anglican, I have a way to live this out in worship. During the Advent season we begin our Eucharistic liturgies (our Communion services) with a reading of the Law. We then remember that we have broken the Law; we then pray a prayer of contrition. What a way to start a service near Christmas: “here is God’s Word, recognize that you have broken it, now repent!” But that is one way that we live out the Spirit's word to us in Romans. We look at reality square in the face and this drives us to our knees (literally).

Later in our liturgy we say this prayer “Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.” This is especially meaningful to me this week. Right now, in our part of Anglicanism, we are not united, we are not living together in love, and we are not revealing Christ’s glory in the world. So what do we do? Fix it? Cover it up? Make it go away? I hope not! Instead, we say “Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.” May we seek the Lord and his mercy. He is our only hope right now, as he has always been.

Later still, in the Great Thanksgiving, we say “Father, almighty and ever living God, at all times and in all places it is right to give you thanks and praise.” This is an important way to remember this reality. At all times, God is worthy. In all places, he deserves our praise. In all things, he deserves our thanks. Even when the people we rely on don’t seem to be holding it together very well. Even when things look pretty darn bad. Maybe especially then.

In Great Tradition churches we have a saying: Lex orandi, lex credendi. It means "the law of prayer is the law of belief.” Essentially, what we pray shapes what we believe. If being an Anglican means being part of our particular organization, this is not a good week to be an Anglican. But if it also means to be formed by the liturgy? Then I’m so grateful to be an Anglican, because in this tradition I have a wealth of resources to point both myself and my church to Jesus even in the midst of trying times. May we be shaped by our prayers this week, and may we find ourselves falling at the feet of the Coming King.

(Let me say I know that this whole Anglican conflict may not be of any interest to you. I hope that you might see this as an example of how, through worship, the Gospel becomes more relevant as we confront any difficulty in our lives).

A Pastoral Letter to My Congregation Regarding the AMiA

2011-12-08T17:54:00.002-06:00

Dear Church of the Redeemer

I hope that you are all having a blessed Advent season. For me, it has been both more difficult and more meaningful than I expected. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in daily worship, pastoral care, and written reflection with you all. I look forward to a continued holy Advent as well as the dawning of Christmas.

I’m writing to you all today to inform you that the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) has entered into a time of transition. For some of you who follow these things on the various Anglican websites, this will not be news to you. For most of you this may or may not be entirely interesting. I will do my best to explain a complex situation as briefly and directly as possible.

I must begin with some background. Church of the Redeemer joined the AMiA back in July of 2004, just as we were beginning as a church. The AMiA was a mission organization of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. The Archbishop of Rwanda was Emmanuel Kolini. He gave oversight to the AMiA. Bishop Chuck Murphy was the American leader of the AMiA and T.J. Johnston was our bishop.

During my years in the AMiA, it has changed in many ways. It has never been an organization that loved structure. As someone who is not entirely comfortable with change, I can tell you that I have not always enjoyed this element of the AMiA. I have however noticed that, generally speaking, these changes typically turned out for the better.

A couple of years ago another organization was birthed in the U.S. This was the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). I was there for the beginning of this group, as was the rest of the AMiA. The AMiA currently is a partner of the ACNA but we are not the same group. Redeemer is relationally connected with the ACNA while we have been happily part of the AMiA since our founding. My personal hope is that someday these organizations will be even more closely connected, if not one in the same.

Over the past few months, the top leadership of the AMiA (by which I mean Bishop Chuck Murphy in conjunction with the AMiA bishops and the bishops in Rwanda) have been discussing a change at the top level of the organization. Bishop Murphy and others have been considering the possibility of transitioning the AMiA from a Rwandan ministry to an international ministry under a panel of archbishops. This would mean the AMiA would be something church lawyers call a “mission society.”

Apparently this discussion unearthed a great deal of tensions at the bishop level. I have to honestly tell you that I was unaware of these tensions. These conflicts came to a sudden flashpoint a few days ago. Several letters were exchanged, charges were made, and poor communication abounded. Most of this played out on gossipy “Anglican” blogs and websites. The effect of all this was that most of the bishops in the Anglican Mission resigned from the House of Bishops of Rwanda. This includes Chuck Murphy, our former bishop T.J. Johnston, and our current bishop Todd Hunter.

There is a lot of talk about this on the internet right now. Rather than repeat all the ins-and-outs, let me recommend the best news story I have read: http://tinyurl.com/amiarwanda

So what about Church of the Redeemer? I think it is vital that our leadership not take any quick action. Jumping to conclusions based on incomplete facts has, in my opinion, been a leading cause of the current unpleasantness. The facts on the ground are changing very quickly. No one knows how any of this is going to ultimately shake out. Because all of this conflict is happening well above us in the hierarchy, I suggest that we all take on the Advent discipline of waiting and praying.

As of today, Church of the Redeemer is still a member of the Anglican Mission in the Americas. I am still a priest in good standing in the Anglican Province of Rwanda. Our bishop is still Todd Hunter. Any of that might change in the next few months, but that is where we are right now.

Three retired archbishops, Emmanuel Kolini of Rwanda and Moses Tay and Yong Ping Chung of Singapore have agreed to provide temporary oversight to the AMiA during this time of transition. I have been told by our bishop that within the next two weeks we can expect to see the AMiA once again in relationship with a province of the Anglican Communion. He has also told us that we can expect to get a full understanding of the next stage in the life of the AMiA at the Winter Conference (January 11-14 in Houston). Any of you are welcome to join our staff at Winter Conference, if you would like.

My recommendation to our Elders is that we take no action until after Winter Conference. It will be important for us to hear from the AMiA leadership. After all, God has given us our relationship with the AMiA for these years. If the AMiA ceases to be a legitimate option for Redeemer, then we may choose to continue on as a missionary congregation of Rwanda under a new bishop or we may choose to join the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).

I am a person who believes in Divine Providence. In other words, I believe that God is always at work, even in the midst of our sinfulness. I do not believe that this break from Rwanda has transpired in a good and godly way. I believe that bishops on all sides bare responsibility for this situation. But I also believe that God is in the redemption business. I have long hoped for an Anglican Province in this country that we can all be a part of. I have long believed that each nation should have its own Province, rather than one national church being in charge of another. While this is not the way I would have liked to see it happen, it may be that the Lord is bringing this vision to pass even in the middle of this mess. I truly hope it is.

Ultimately, it will be up to our Elders to decide how Redeemer will deal with the long term implications of this situation. So please pray for us. Pray also for Todd our bishop. In the mist of all of this, his wife is very ill and is having a serious surgery next week. Please pray for our Archbishop Rwaje, as well as Chuck Murphy and all the other bishops involved.

I wish I had more information at this moment, but unfortunately I don’t. I If you feel that you would like to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me and set up a meeting. I will do my very best to keep you, the congregation, informed as things develop.

Many blessings,

Fr. Thomas McKenzie
Pastor, Church of the Redeemer

M.E.'s Bible Verse

2011-12-06T00:03:00.000-06:00

I had a bout with anxiety today, and anxiety got in a few good punches. This is pretty typical for me. Something happens that makes me afraid, I worry about it, I feel stressed, then I figure out how to make it O.K. This process can happen in a few seconds. Sometimes it lasts much longer.

This time it took longer. An hour or two after that initial hit, I was still processing my fear. Then I remembered something M.E. Seckman told me on Sunday. I was visiting with her and Tom. We were talking about all sorts of things when she said "Philippians 4:6 is the first Bible verse I ever memorized." She then repeated it from memory. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." I told her "that's a good one." I thought I should remember that verse.

So there I was a day later, processing my fear, trying to figure out how I was going to fix my problem. Suddenly M.E.'s Bible verse came to mind. "Do not be anxious about anything." Well, that sounded good. But how? "In everything ... present your requests to God." So I did. I told God exactly what the problem is. I then told him specifically what I need. It wasn't very spiritual, in fact you might laugh if I told you what it is. I was direct and to the point. I then thanked him, as the verse also says to do. I thanked him for his goodness, his love, and his faithfulness.

You know what happened? I felt instantly better. I experienced a sense of peace about the problem, a peace I still have several hours later. Has God given me what (I think) I need? Nope, not yet. The issue is still there, and the solution is something I can not get for myself. The problem is not fixed and it didn't go away; but, I am not longer anxious. Why? Because the Lord is faithful. As I simply made my need known to him he freed me from my fear. That is the work of his Holy Spirit, a work for which I am grateful.

Tomorrow I will probably experience something that makes me afraid. I intend to remember M.E.'s Bible verse, Philippians 4:6. I am offering it to you to remember as well. Rather than be afraid, you and I can go to our Father who loves us. We can tell him what we need and therefore give our (false) control over to his real power.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

One Minute Review: The Muppets

2011-12-04T23:21:00.002-06:00

It's time to play the music
It's time to light the lights
But is it time to see the new Muppet movie?
The One Minute Review has all the answers.

God's Promises: An Advent Meditation

2011-12-03T22:20:00.000-06:00

In 2 Samuel 7:8-16, the Lord promises David that the throne of his kingdom will be established forever. God does put David’s son on the throne. Then he gives the throne to David’s grandson, his great-grandson, his great-great=grandson and on and on.
Eventually, though, the sins of David’s sons built up to the point that their nation was dismantled and their reign was over. Beginning with the deportation to Babylon, there was no descendent of David on the throne. For many generations there was no throne at all, just foreign rulers. Even when the Jews ruled themselves, their warlords were no longer the descendants of King David.

But God did not forget his promise. Jesus of Nazareth is of the bloodline of David. He came as ruler and even now he sits eternally enthroned. Jesus is Lord. In him God’s promises are fulfilled. None of David’s other offspring could even have imagined such a glorious throne.

The promise did not come the way that many would have hoped, and it didn’t come in a way that was personally satisfying to thousands upon thousands of people. Centuries passed in which it looked like God had forsaken his promise. Generations lived and died and did not see the promise fulfilled.

Advent is a time when we expect the fulfillment of God’s promises. God always keeps his word, but he doesn’t necessarily keep it according to our vision or our timing. He will do what he said he will do, but he may not do it the way we wish. He will provide for us, but maybe not give us what we want. He will save us, but may not make us feel good while he’s doing it. He will help us, but his help may bring us to some difficult places.

God does not promise instant anything. Advent is a time to be reminded of God’s promises, but it is also a time to be patient for them. Only by his grace will we be patient, because it is only in him and with his strength that we can hope to do any good thing. He is trustworthy to give us grace, and we must rely on that grace to stay peacefully expectant. He will fulfill his promises to his people and to his creation. And he will do it in his own time and in his own way.

Of Good Boys and Slaves

2011-12-02T08:40:00.003-06:00

Of Good Boys and Slaves
by Fr. Thomas McKenzie
On the occasion of the ordination of his friend Danny Bryant to the Sacred Order of Deacons
An Advent Meditation

Who is the coolest Star Wars character? I’m sure you know the answer. I imagine one could argue it’s Lando (because he’s played by Billy Dee Williams) or Boba Fett (because he’s so mysterious and owns a rocket backpack). But the obvious answer is Han Solo. The bad Good Guy, or good Bad guy, of the galaxy. The scoundrel, the pirate, the bad boy who ultimately wins the heart of the Princess.

When I was a child my favorite Star Wars character was Luke Skywalker. That’s embarrassing to admit, but it’s true. Why Luke and not Han? Because Luke was a good boy. I wanted to be a good boy. I was the first born, the mature one, the moral one who didn’t give mom and dad any trouble. At least until I became a teenager and repented. Luke was the incarnation of good-boy-ness.

Now that I’ve owned by good boy status, I hope it will not be insulting to say that Danny Bryant was a good boy, too. He and I both grew up desiring to be good, moral, and right. We both grew up in moralistic religions. Different religions, but legalistic nonetheless. While the Rules were quite different we both sought to obey them.

It is no wonder then that we both grew up to be pastors. The Pastorate is filled with grown up good boys and girls. It is no wonder that Wednesday night Danny was ordained a Deacon (he will be ordained priest in a few months). A deacon is someone called to serve others in the Church, especially the poor. What better job for a moral person than to be the servant of all?

It is somewhat surprising then to read the Gospel passage the bishop chose for the ordination service. Here is part of it.

Jesus said “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.” (Luke 12:35-37, NASB)

Do you see what happened there? It is easy to miss if you read it quickly. Jesus is telling us to be ready for his coming. He is the master, we are the slaves. We don’t know when he is coming. What happens when the master comes? He knocks on the door and finds the servants alert. Then the Master girds himself and serves the servants. The slaves recline at the table while the Lord waits on them.

The World and the Church don’t need good boys. They don’t need Luke Skywalkers. They don’t need Han Solos either. What the World and the Church need are sinners who will allow the Lord Jesus Christ to serve them.

Danny is not good enough to be a Deacon. I am not good enough to be a Priest. None of us are good enough to be Christians, the children of God, members of the New Covenant Community of the Church. Rather we are mere slaves who one day opened the door to find the Son of God standing there. It was he who came to us, who served us from the Manger to the Cross to the Empty Tomb. In his Ascension, his sending of the Holy Spirit, and in his promise to Return he serves us still.

The best Danny can hope to be is a sinner who, served by Christ and graced by the Spirit, might some days find the strength to serve others in Jesus’ Name. That’s all any of us can hope for. To be moved by the vast love of Jesus and perhaps to love someone else for his sake.

The Two Seasons

2011-11-30T23:04:00.001-06:00

Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”   --John 14:27 
There are two seasons taking place right now. Both are filled with hope and expectation. Both have music and candles and sparkling lights. Both seasons are building up to December 25th. One is the Holy Season of Advent, the other is the Christmas Shopping Season.

We live in both seasons at once, but they are not the same.   The Christmas Shopping Season is an anxious place. It is anxious because everything about it all depends on you. You have to buy the presents. You have to go to the party. You have to send the cards. You have to cook the food and hang the lights. You have to pay the bills. You have to make sure not to forget anyone. If you mess up, people will get their feelings hurt. Will you have enough time, enough energy, enough money?

Advent, on the other hand, is a peaceful place. It is peaceful because none of it depends on you. Christ came, and you can’t change that. Christ is coming again no matter what you do or don't do. You can participate by choosing to pray for his grace, by choosing to keep your eyes open. But whether choose to stay alert or not he is likely to interrupt your life.

You and I experience two seasons at once. We live in Advent and the Christmas Shopping Season. By God’s grace, we can focus on one more than another. We can set aside a little anxiety today and ask for a little more peace. We can choose to turn our attention to the coming Christ rather than the coming crisis, even just for a moment. Perhaps, a little at a time, we may find ourselves living for a minute or an hour or even a full day completely in the Holy Season.   

Henri Nouwen, one of my personal heroes, wrote a prayer that I would like to share with you. I commend it to your use in midst of these seasons.

  An Advent Prayer 
by Henri Nouwen

Lord Jesus, 
Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. 
We who have so much to do, seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. 
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. 
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. 
We whose hearts are heavy, seek the joy of your presence. 
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking light. 
To you we say,
Come Lord Jesus.... Amen.

One Minute Review: Hugo

2011-11-28T22:43:00.002-06:00

Martin Scorsese made a film based on a kids' book? Does anyone get capped? Will my five year old like it? Should I see it in 3D? All these answers, and more, are yours in the 3 and a half minute long One Minute Review!

One Minute Review: The Decendants

2011-11-28T18:32:00.001-06:00

George Clooney's small film about family/death/dysfunction is getting some serious Oscar buzz. What's the scoop? The One Minute Review has seen it, and is here to let you know.

My Favorite Collect

2011-11-28T08:00:00.002-06:00

A "collect" (pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable) is a short form of Christian prayer. It is written to be used in public worship, and has several traditional elements. In the Anglican Church, we are given a collect for each Sunday of the Church year. These are called the "Collect of the Day."

Since I was a child, my favorite has always been the Collect for the First Sunday in Advent. (And yes, I was the kind of kid who had a favorite Collect). It was written by the great Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer. It first appeared in the 1549 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. Here it is:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Advent is the first season of the Christian Year. It is the time in which the Church prepares for both the First Coming of Christ (the Incarnation) and also for the Second Coming (the End of the Age). Both Advents are written into this prayer. 'This mortal life in which Christ came to visit us in great humility" is his Incarnation. "The last day, when he shall come again" is his second coming.

The poetry of the prayer is based in part on the New Testament reading that was appointed for this day back in 1549. Romans 13:12 reads "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light."

The prayer weaves together the reading, as well as the meaning of the season. More importantly, it asks God for a two fold grace. We pray to put away the works of darkness. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we have no hope of leaving our bad behavior behind. We are naturally inclined toward darkness, toward hiding, toward dishonesty. Advent is a time of repentance, of turning aside from darkness.

We pray to put on the armor of light. Leaving aside darkness is crucial, but so is battling against evil. Christ calls us to join the struggle against the powers of this dark world (Ephesians 6:12) This requires the whole armor of God.

Both the First and Second Coming are about light coming into the world. So the prayer uses the imagery of light and darkness, as well as other poetic use of the English language like "this mortal life" vs "the life immortal." It is a beautiful, poetic prayer. It is a prayer that is centered in the Bible. It is also a prayer that opens us up to God's grace during this holy season. In the midst of all the shopping and driving and football and everything else that these last few days have been about, it is a door to the Reality of the season. I commend it to your use.

Familiar as the Moon

2011-11-27T08:23:00.000-06:00

Left His seamless robe behind
Woke up in a stable and cried

Lived and died and rose again
Savior for a guilty land

It's a story like a children's tune
It's grown familiar as the moon

(There’s Only One, written by Randall Goodgame, performed by Caedmon’s Call)

A few nights ago I was driving up Franklin Road with the top down. It was a clear, unseasonably warm November night. The moon, high and bright, seemed to chase me over the hilltops. My car stereo was cranked up loud; my iPod shuffled to Caedmon’s Call performing “There’s Only One Holy One.”

The story of Christ, summed up so beautifully in word and music, unearthed a surge of emotion. It started in my gut and welled up through my throat into my eyes.. Those true words “it’s a story like a children’s tune; it’s grown familiar as the moon” seemed to flow in me.

That moon--the one the band sang about, the one that chased me--is as ancient as anything I know. But the One who crafted it and set it spinning is more ancient still. His story was the first of stories, the one that started them all. All our stories, even the story of the moon, will culminate in his great ending. That great ending will be Christ’s Second Advent.

As far as I can tell, the Church has told the story of Advent for 1631 years. Surely we have told it for longer, since the earliest days of the Church. I mean that by about 380 A.D. the Latin speaking Church had begun to observe this time of preparation before the Christmas Festival.

Consider that for a moment. 1631 years. More than eighty generations of Christians gathering on Sundays, and throughout the week, telling again and again the story of the Second Coming of Christ.

Yes, I meant to say “the Second Coming.” For that is what Advent is about, at least in part, certainly in these early days of the season. But it’s Christmas time, why tell that terrifying story? When you’ve been waiting for something for a long time, it can be easy to forget what you are waiting for, or that you are waiting at all. When you’ve been waiting for Someone to come back for 380 years? 2000 years? It may be that you need to set aside some time to remind yourself.

The story we tell every Advent, like the story we tell every Sunday, is an old one. It is familiar like a children’s tune, like the moon. But it must be told again. We share the story of Advent every year at this time. We share it with the older generations as well as our children and grandchildren. We share it to remember Whom we are waiting for. We share it to remind one another to wait with hope. We share it because it is worth sharing, worth repeating, worth telling. As familiar as the story is, it is still true. And one day, one of these Advents will be the last one.

One Minute Review: J. Edgar

2011-11-11T17:58:00.001-06:00

Clint Eastwood directs the biopic of one of America's most enigmatic figures. With all the darkness that surrounded him in real life, can Leonardo DiCaprio shine some light on the man behind the name?

Oh, and something I didn't mention in the review: I have no idea why this film is rated R. Very little language (a couple of strong words), no nudity, and PG level violence. Not that she would like it, but I would take my 12 year old. (Since I wrote the post, a reader has reminded me that there is a scene in which people are heard being romantic, and another in which a man kisses another man).

The New One Minute Review Site

2011-11-10T09:36:00.002-06:00

is coming shortly

One Minute Review: Tower Heist

2011-11-04T18:09:00.000-05:00

Ben Stiller, Alan Alda, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni... the list of stars in this heist movie goes on and on. This film looks like Bernie Madoff meets Oceans 11 meets Night at the Museum. Does it live up to its possible genius, or does it disappoint like a ponzi scheme? The One Minute Review checked it out and gives you all the opinion stolen money can buy.

If you are reading this as a note on facebook, may I recommend you visit www.ThomasMcKenzie.com for the full service version?

One Minute Review: In Time

2011-11-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

A high concept sci-fi film from the man who gave us Gattaga and the Truman Show? Yes please! A movie in which Justin Timberlake is the old, ugly guy? Hmmm..., let me think about that one. Let the One Minute Review be your guide so you don't waste your ... time.

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One Minute Review: 50/50

2011-11-01T18:12:00.001-05:00

A half-baked comedy about a young guy with cancer? Does that sound fun? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. The One Minute Review will let you know what the chances are that you'll actually like this movie.

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A Mormon State of Mind

2011-10-08T16:55:00.001-05:00

I have Mormons on the brain.

I guess it all started a couple of months ago when my amazing wife took me to New York City to celebrate my 40th birthday. She surprised me by pulling out tickets to the multiple-Tony-award-winning "Book of Mormon." That was a crazy experience, and not just because we sat two rows behind Tom Brokaw.

That night I downloaded the soundtrack onto my iPod. There are a couple of the songs that I don't listen to because they are deeply blasphemous and the language is sickening, but many of the songs are terrific. The songs made me wonder about Mormonism in general, so I started reading the book "Under the Banner of Heaven." It is a terrific read, and is helpful in describing the history of the Latter Day Saints (LDS). I highly recommend it.

Then yesterday, the inevitable happened. The pastor of First Baptist in Dallas described the LDS as a cult. All hell broke out in the Situation Room. So now it's out there. Are the Mormons part of a cult?

"Cult" is a very hard word to define. My working definition is "a religious group formed around a central, charismatic figure. This figure claims to have special revelations from God. The group is very close knit, easy to join but hard to leave. The figure makes decisions which primarily benefit himself, but also benefit the group. Those outside the group are considered lost." By that definition Mormonism definitely started out as a cult.

All these years later, though, the LDS doesn't still share those characteristics. While it has a central leader, he is not the foundation of the group. Also, the leader's decisions seem to benefit the group but not necessarily himself. As a whole the group is just too large to be considered close knit. Leaving doesn't seem that difficult, any more than leaving any other religion.

The other question that is hanging out there is related to the first. Is the LDS church "Christian"? In order to answer that, one must ask what makes any denomination or sect "Christian." Because I am part of the Great Tradition I actually have a ready answer. Beginning in 325 and revised in 381, the Nicene Creed is the standard formulary of Christian doctrine. The Creed is firmly rooted in the Bible as well as orthodox Christian theology. It has been used for hundreds and hundreds of years to discern whether or not a sect was, at the most basic level, Christian.

Of course, the Nicene Creed is not the perfect arbiter of this question. It has nothing to say about practices or church discipline or worship or (most importantly) how we love one another. The Anglican Church developed a still flexible but more rigorous standard called the Chicago/Lambeth Quadrilateral which is more helpful. That said, I think it is fair to say that if a group does not hold to the tenets of the Nicene Creed that it is not "Christian" in the most basic, historic sense of the word.

There is no doubt that LDS theology is not in-line with the Nicene Creed. And I'm not even touching on the terribly odd pronouncements made by the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith in his lifetime, statements which the LDS later disavowed, pronouncements about the sanctity of polygamy, the inferiority of African people, or the assertion that Adam was the God and Father of Jesus. I'm talking about bare-bones official church doctrine.

You can compare these for yourself.
Here is the Nicene Creed: http://www.anglicansonline.org/basics/nicene.html
Here is the Chicago/Lambeth Quadrilateral: http://anglicansonline.org/basics/Chicago_Lambeth.html
Here is are the 13 Articles of Faith: http://mormon.org/articles-of-faith/

The Articles of Faith are especially interesting because they represent Joseph Smith's attempt to make his religion look as orthodox as possible. Look at the first Article: "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." Compare this to the Nicene Creed. The LDS do not teach the divinity of Jesus or of the Holy Spirit. Rather, they teach that these three exist. On the face of it, this first statement sounds like something Christians would say. We too believe in God the Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But we also believe these are the three persons of the Holy Trinity, that they are One God. Muslims would agree with the first of the Mormon 13 Articles (except they don't use the word "Father" for God). Is Islam Christian?

Look at the third article. "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." So we all may be saved because of Christ's Atonement, as long as we obey all the rules. This is in direct contradiction to the teaching that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.

Look at the eighth article. "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God." When is the Bible not properly translated? When it disagrees with the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is here put on the same level as the Bible, actually above it. Does that sound in the least bit like a Christian teaching?

I could do this all day with these 13 Articles. If we got into theological teachings not listed on the official website, things would get especially strange.

Is the Mormon religion Christian? No, it isn't. Mormons may be nice people, but they are not part of the Christian Church. It could be that individual Mormons may be Christians. I would never rule out our God's amazing ability to give his grace to anyone, anywhere! But to say that the LDS is a part of the Church is just not accurate.

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One Minute Review: The Ides of March

2011-10-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

Listen to this cast: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, and Jeffry Wright. Can you make a bad movie with those people? The One Minute Review has the answer.

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One Minute Review: Moneyball

2011-10-07T17:25:00.001-05:00

A baseball movie, an economics movie, a geek movie, or the Brad Pitt version of that Facebook movie? Guess you should watch the One Minute Review to find out.

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One Minute Review: Drive

2011-09-19T22:11:00.000-05:00

An action film that won a coveted "Best Director" Award at Cannes? Albert Brooks as a bad guy? What is happening here? Oh, so much is happening. Watch the One Minute Review to find out exactly what...

And remember to LIKE the One Minute Review on facebook: www.facebook.com/oneminutereview

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One Minute Review: Apollo 18

2011-09-09T23:05:00.002-05:00

The Blair Witch Project meets Apollo 13 meets a little bit of Transformers Dark of the Moon meets the One Minute Review. Looks pretty cool, but does it work? Well, find out.

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One Minute Review: The Debt

2011-09-09T17:12:00.000-05:00

A remake of an Israeli film, the Debt takes us back to the days when Mossad tracked Nazis all over the world. This new version also gives us Helen Mirren with a mysterious scar and the guy from Clash of the Titans. So, is it worth seeing? Watch the One Minute Review to find out.

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One Minute Review: Cowboys and Aliens

2011-08-24T10:06:00.004-05:00

Cowboys? Love 'em. Aliens? The greatest. Put them together? What could be better? Or did Hollywood screw this up? Find out.

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One Minute Review: The Help

2011-08-23T21:18:00.000-05:00

The best selling book has become a fairly controversial movie. Is it worth seeing? The OMR will give you five reasons why you should check out the Help, and maybe a few reasons why you shouldn't.

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One Minute Review: Captain America

2011-08-10T14:38:00.001-05:00

The First Avenger is the final film before The Avengers in 2012. Is it worth seeing, or should you just wait until next year. Find out here.

Go on over to facebook.com/oneminutereview and "like" us. It makes me feel good.

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One Minute Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part Two

2011-08-09T18:39:00.002-05:00

If you are a Harry Potter fan, then there is nothing I can really say to you. If you aren't, then check out the One Minute Review to help you decide if this is a film worth seeing.

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One Minute Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

2011-08-08T17:17:00.003-05:00

OK, let's get real. The Planet of the Apes franchise does not have a good track record. James Franco can choose some pretty bad roles. CGI animals look fake. So, this movie must be pretty bad, right? Maybe you should watch the One Minute Review, just to be sure.... (hint: you're wrong)

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40

2011-08-04T21:43:00.002-05:00

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lift me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song ...

--40, lyrics by King David, music by U2

Today I am 40 years old. My thirties are over. I'm halfway to dead, if I'm healthy (Psalm 90:10).

It is my custom on my birthday to consider those of greater fame whom I have now officially outlived. I don't do this as joke, but rather to honor some people who made great contributions at a younger age. I also do it to remind myself that I don't have all the time in the world, that my death draws ever nearer.

This is a particularly strange moment because I have now outlived two very important Americans: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Both men served as essential voices for their ethnic group and their generation, both of them had great impact on society through both their leadership and their faith, and both died younger than I am now. It is hard for me to believe that I have had more time on this earth than they had.

Here is the rest of my list of people who died at age 39.

Dennis Wilson, drummer
Anna Nicole Smith, model
Perry Moore, Executive Producer of the Chronicles of Narnia
Tim Smooth, Rapper
Simon Monjack, writer and producer, widower of Brittany Murphy
Donnie Carroll, the real life "Turtle" (as in "Entourage")
Mitch Mullany, comedian
Bernard T. Pietronico (pictured above) and 101 other 39 year-olds who were murdered by Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001.

"Blessed is he who keeps his death ever before his eyes." --Thomas a Kempis

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Two Cats Need a Home

2011-08-02T16:39:00.000-05:00

I have come into possession of two really cool cats, 5 year old brother and sister. Unfortunately, my daughter is allergic to them (something we didn't know when we agreed to take them in). We've had them for a couple of weeks but now it is clear that we need to find them a new home.

If you have been considering getting a pet for your family, this is your chance. I need to get them out of the house as soon as I can. Needless to say, they are free of charge and I will bring them to you.

One of them is very friendly and cuddly, the other is more shy. They are white with black spots, all shots up to date, both fixed, and declawed in the front. They are supposed to be kept indoors, and they come with cat carriers, a cat tower, dishes, water bowl, and litter box if you want them.

Please e-mail me directly at thomas.mckenzie AT yahoo.com

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Bad Reasons to Start a Church

2011-07-27T18:04:00.000-05:00

Almost everyone I hang out with is either a Christian or a spiritual person (many are both, of course). These people tend to have an understanding of the importance of the spiritual life in decision making. Sometimes their values are conflicted and confused, but they generally agree that the Transcendent has a place in human affairs. Because of this, my encounters with pure American secularism come either through strangers or institutions (stores, media, government, etc.). Several days ago, however, I had an encounter that broke this trend.

I was sitting with someone I’ve known for a long time, but not someone I see very often. We were at an event together. We sat at the same table for several minutes. At some point she asked how “the church” was going. I gave her a polite and positive reply. She then asked how many people we had. This is the question I tend to get from two types of people: a) those who have no idea what a church is like and simply don't know what to ask, and b) those who work for other churches and are interested in measuring their success against mine.

I told her our average Sunday attendance. I went on to tell her that we had helped start a new church south of us in the past several months and that there was a possibility we would help start another church in our area in the near future. I’m not sure why I felt that saying this was necessary; perhaps I was the one feeling competitive.

She asked me a surprising follow-up question. “Are you the boss of those other churches?” If you know about multi-site church structures, this might be a reasonable question. Given that she has no knowledge of this modern phenomenon I was taken aback. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Are you in charge of those churches, are they your franchises?” I told her that “no, they are not.” These churches are linked to us in our denomination, but they are not under our authority.

Then she asked the truly secular question. “Do you get more money by starting them?” I asked her to clarify. She went on to inquire as to whether there was a financial benefit to me personally or to my congregation from the starting of these churches.

When I told her there was not, she asked me “what do you get out of them?” I told her simply “nothing.” I went on to say that planting churches is difficult for the sending church. We lose money, time, energy, and people. I have to say good-bye to people I care about. Our church loses leadership, experience, expertise, and income. On the whole, the congregation suffers and receives no tangible reward.

“Then why would you do it?” she asked. It was at that moment I realized I was dealing with an entirely secular mindset. The only values she could understand were material: power and money. Would I be the boss?--would I have power. Would I/we get money? What would we get out of them? Control, dominance, riches, influence. These made sense to her. What other motivations could possibly exist?

I responded and said. “We do it because we believe that every person on earth should have the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ in the context of a healthy, God-focused community. Starting new churches is one of the best ways to achieve that goal.” That is not the only reason we start churches, and I’m not entirely sure it is the best reason (the glory of God is probably the best reason). But it is the reason I gave.

That ended the conversation, and she went back to the buffet table.

As I reflect on all of this, a couple of things come to mind. First, I am reminded that the secular narrative is alive and well. Believe it or not, when you hang out with spiritual people all the time this is something you can forget. Second, I am challenged with just how secular the church can sometimes be.

The questions she asked, the values that she apparently holds, are not just those of the atheist or agnostic. They are also the values I sometimes see expressed in the god-talk of the church-growth advocates, the conference speakers, the evangelicals, the emergent, and the church planters of every theological persuasion. I see these values in my own denomination, among my friends, and even in my own heart.

Ministry in the Name of Jesus should have nothing to do with the building up of a personal kingdom. Most of us know this. But the American secular narrative is so persuasive, so ubiquitous, that it can seep into all of us. I’m glad I had this conversation. It reminded me of what is true, what is good, and what is odious. Through prayerful reflection it has helped me to wrestle with the sin in my own heart. I pray that telling this story may help others as well.

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One Minute Review: Tree of Life

2011-07-01T19:50:00.000-05:00

The One Minute Review of Terrence Malick's Tree of Life. Enjoy.

One Minute Review: Tree of Life from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: X-Men: First Class

2011-07-01T19:48:00.000-05:00

The X-Men franchise throws its hat in the ring for this summer of comic book movies. Is it worth skipping Green Lantern for? Watch the One Minute Review to find out.

One Minute Review: X-Men: First Class from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Midnight in Paris

2011-07-01T19:26:00.000-05:00

Woody Allen. The name strikes fear into the hearts of movie goers. I know I have to go see his movie, but will it be any good? Genius, madness, annoyingness? What will I get?

The One Minute Review braved the Woody Allen crazy train to France and returns with the word on Midnight in Paris.

One Minute Review: Midnight in Paris from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Green Lantern

2011-06-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

DC Comics gets a chance to punch back at the Marvel Machine with this adaptation of the sci-fi super hero Green Lantern. A hero rises, a franchise is born? Or is it Fantastic Four all over again? The One Minute Review will let you know. And remember to "like" the OMR at www.Facebook.com/OneMinuteReview

One Minute Review: Green Lantern from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Super 8

2011-06-10T16:28:00.001-05:00

J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg have created a throwback to the days of E.T. and Close Encounters. The cast is largely made of unknown child actors (plus the young veteran Elle Fanning). The plot has been a state secret for years. So, is it worth watching this summer? Watch the One Minute Review and find out.

One Minute Review: Super 8 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Liturgical Worship Class Offered

2011-06-05T22:35:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Worship
Section One
June 28 and 29, 2011

Church of the Redeemer
920 Caldwell Lane
Nashville, TN 37204

Schedule
Class begins at 9 a.m.
Breaks for lunch at noon
Resumes at 1 p.m.
Ends at 4 p.m.

Registration is required
This course is offered free of charge
A $50 donation to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund would be appreciated, if it would not be a financial burden to you. You can give this on the first day, if you would like.
Registration is due on June 23rd.
To register, send an e-mail to Fr. Thomas McKenzie at thomas@redeemernashville.net
Tell me your name, cell phone, and e-mail
If you are on facebook, send me a link to your profile. We will have a facebook group for the class so that we can connect before, during, and after the class.

Traveling
If you don’t live in Nashville, we can make hotel arrangements for you. We can get you $65 per room per night at a local hotel. We could find a family for you to stay with, though availability will be limited. When you register, please inform us if you need help finding a place to stay.

Who should come?
The class is especially for those interested in planning and leading worship in the Anglican tradition. The newly ordained or those in the ordination process, as well as members of church staff will find this class beneficial.

Purpose
The purpose of this class is to introduce students to liturgical worship, especially Holy Eucharist. Students will be introduced to

Concise overview of the history of Christian worship.
Theology of liturgy, and the Eucharistic liturgy in particular.
Physical space and objects used in worship.
The Prayer Book tradition.
Planning Eucharistic worship.
The influence of the Church Calendar and Lectionary on worship preparation.
The homily as an element of worship.
The practical aspects of leading worship in this tradition.

What is not covered.
Given that this class is only 12 hours long, we will not be able to cover important liturgical topics such as baptism, weddings, funerals, morning and evening prayer, and special services (Christmas Eve, Holy Week, etc.). If this class goes well, I would like to offer a class on these topics in the future as Liturgical Worship Section Two.

What to bring.
You will want to take notes for this class. So bring a paper notebook or a laptop computer, or both. During the class, I’m going to provide some digital documents which I expect you will find quite valuable. You will not need a copy of the Book of Common Prayer, 1979, but if you have one of your own you will be able to make notes in it, if you like.

Library Recommendation
Here are some books that all Anglican clergy and would-be clergy should read and own. They will aid you greatly in your life/role as a priest in the Anglican Church. I do not expect you to read these before the class, but the more you do read the more you will get out of what we do. The books with the asterisk are the most essential.

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 *
The Book of Common Prayer, 1662
Lesser Feasts and Fasts
The Book of Occasional Services
The Hymnal 1982
Prayer Book Rubrics Expanded, Byron Stuhlman
A Priest's Handbook, Dennis Michno *
A Dictionary for Episcopalians, John N. Wall *
Worship Without Words, Patricia Klein
The Study of Liturgy, Edited by Jones, Wainwright, Yarnold and Bradshaw
Ancient Future Faith, Robert Webber

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Desert Diary, Part 10

2011-06-03T21:33:00.002-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 10: Laura.

Desert Diary, Part 10 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 9

2011-05-31T10:45:00.002-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 9: Finally Here.

Desert Diary, Part 9 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 8

2011-05-30T16:33:00.002-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 8: Boredom.

Desert Diary, Part 8 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 7

2011-05-25T07:13:00.000-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 7: Stations of the Cross.

Desert Diary, Part 7 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 6

2011-05-24T08:54:00.000-05:00

"Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 6: Tired. This is where it starts getting personal."

Desert Diary, Part 6 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 5

2011-05-22T23:37:00.000-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 5: The Pillar of Fire. Yes, this is when things take a turn for the strange.

Desert Diary, Part 5 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides

2011-05-20T16:07:00.000-05:00

Disney has brought back Captain Jack Sparrow without some of the dead weight of the original trilogy. Are we glad that Johnny Depp sailed again, or will "On Stranger Tides" remind us of that horrible fourth Indiana Jones movie? The One Minute Review has navigated the treacherous waters and returned to tell the tale. Avast!

One Minute Review: Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 4

2011-05-20T13:36:00.002-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 4: Arriving at the Monastery

Desert Diary, Part 4 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 3

2011-05-19T07:12:00.001-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 3: from Santa Fe to the Monastery. This one features "This Road" by Jars of Clay.

Desert Diary, Part 3 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, Part 2

2011-05-18T14:35:00.000-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. Follow my journey here. This is episode 2: the road to Santa Fe.

Desert Diary 2 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Desert Diary, part 1

2011-05-17T07:15:00.000-05:00

Every year I go to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This year, I'm video blogging my experiences. First up: "the night before."

Desert Diary 1 from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Thor

2011-05-08T16:14:00.000-05:00

A Norse god becomes a comic book character who becomes a movie. Thor, seriously? Does any good thing come from Asgard? The One Minute Review has the answer.

Remember, you can sign up for the video or audio podcast versions of the One Minute Review by going to the iTunes store and searching "One Minute Review." Also, remember to "like" the OMR at facebook.com/oneminutereview

One Minute Review: Thor from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Into the Desert

2011-05-07T19:17:00.000-05:00

Early on Monday morning, I am getting on a plane for New Mexico. I will be spending the week at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. This will be my tenth annual trip.

As usual, I have mixed emotions about going. On one hand, it's so awesome. I get to spend a lot of time by myself in a place that I love. I will be praying, reading, working, chanting, hiking, and spending some quality non-verbal time with the monks. On the other hand, it is pretty scary. I will be isolated from all the people and things that usually fill my time. There is no electricity in the guest area, no phones, no cell service, no internet. I also make the choice to bring very little with me. I won't have a computer or ipod touch or DVD player or any of those things I can waste a lot of time with.

I will miss my family, Laura especially and the girls of course. I will feel alone (sometimes I travel with a friend, but this year I am not).

This year I am doing something different. I am going to video blog the experience. Usually I take a camera and take pictures of things. This year I'm bringing my little video camera to record my experiences. Those blog posts will then appear here on this blog, and on facebook, over the following couple of weeks.

Voices are louder in the desert. They have so much less to compete with. They echo among the cliffs. They fly unfettered over the barren landscape. God's voice is louder. Satan's voice is louder. The voices in my head are louder. Pray for me, that I might here the first voice loudest of all.

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One Minute Review: Soul Surfer

2011-05-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

A girl loses her arm and critics pan her movie. Will the Reverend Thomas McKenzie join the bashing of this film, or is this actually a movie worth watching. Watch the LONGEST one minute review ever, and enjoy.

One Minute Review: Soul Surfer from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Win Win

2011-05-05T08:52:00.000-05:00

Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan team up with director Thomas McCarthy and a teenage wrestler to make a small but entertaining film about family, sport, and bad decisions. The One Minute Review encourages you to keep your eyes out for this Win Winner.

One Minute Review: Win Win from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Gods and Men

2011-05-05T08:48:00.000-05:00

I love monks, I love North Africa, and I love the Merovingian. Put them all together in a pot, cook them up, and you get Gods and Men. Did I love this French stew? Find out.

One Minute Review: Gods and Men from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Good, Evil, and More Evil

2011-05-02T15:50:00.001-05:00

In this world, many of us want to have the choice between good and evil. The best thing is, we think, the good thing. Unfortunately, this fallen world is more broken than we sometimes give it credit for. It has been my Christian experience that many times our choice is between evil and more evil. Sometimes the best thing is the least evil thing.

Osama bin Laden was shot by American military men. Is the death of any person ever purely good? No. Death is the enemy of life. The defeat of death is one of the reasons Christ died and was raised to life again.

In that context, the death of Osama bin Laden was the best thing that could have happened. It was the least evil of all possible evils.

Osama was a human being, a human who was the mastermind behind the slaughter of people he had never met, including his fellow Muslims. He had committed these crimes in the past, and (from all we can gather) he intended to commit these crimes well into the future. If he had not been stopped he would surely have killed more people. Unfortunately, more people may still be killed in his name.

Osama was not just a human being, he was a brand. His brand stands for something, or stood for something. It stood for nihilistic mayhem. The only way for his brand to be ultimately damaged or discredited was for him to die. Even his capture would have led to the expansion of his brand. Perhaps his death will, also. We cannot know all the consequences. I believe that without his death more people would certainly die in his name, with his money, and through his creative planning.

Osama had declared war on a foreign nation, the United States. He had acted in that war. He had drawn first blood, and second and third and …. He had sought this war out. He died fighting in his war, the war that he called for.

Some would like to have seen Osama repent. I think that would have been great. If he had turned himself in, given up his ways and preached peace, that would have been awesome. However, he has had a long time to make that decision. He gave no indication of changing. Does anyone really think that was going to happen? Let’s take repentance off the table as a reasonable possibility.

I would argue that Osama’s death is the best possible scenario, given the circumstances. It was the least evil of all the outcomes. Was it good, in the sense of pure and perfect? No. But compared to all the other things that might have happened, it was for the best.

Some of my Christian friends have been upset by the celebratory outbursts that came when it was revealed that Osama had been killed. I understand that. At the same time, I would challenge them to ask themselves this question: what is the appropriate response to an action which, while not purely good, brings justice and prevents further evil? Is sadness at his death appropriate? Perhaps. But where is our sadness for all the other people who died on May 1st? Why are we not constantly tweeting about the horrors of cancer, crime and car accidents?

I would suggest that joy is a reasonable and fit emotion for a Christian to experience when he sees an evil institution fall. That joy may be wrapped up in anger over what has past. It may be kin to sadness or fear or hurt. It may even be tainted by bloodlust and revenge (certainly not Christian virtues). On this side of heaven, our joy is never pure. I wish it could be, and I'm glad it will be.

When I learned that Osama was dead, I found myself shocked, relieved, and joyful. I also experienced some of the anger that has lived with me since the attack on the U.S.S. Cole and, of course, 9/11. I sat with my wife and children and I cried. I cried for all the victims, for all the fear I experienced on that day almost a decade ago, and for joy for those whom Osama could now never touch. I am glad that he can no longer plot something that may kill my daughters. I’m glad that, should another attack come, at least he won’t have the pleasure of rejoicing over it. Yes, I'm glad he's dead.

Some of my feelings and words about this event come from my anger at what Osama did and how he made me feel. While my anger at Osama is not pure, it is real, it is human, and it may even be a little bit Christian. Perhaps I do hate what is evil while I’m doing my best to cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)

I would ask my Christian friends to do this: why don’t we experience our emotions and let others experience theirs? Let’s not sin against one another by either attacking or judging one another. Some of the things I said on twitter last night were coming from a place of anger and judgment. Sadly, I was way more judgmental and sinful in my heart than I was on twitter. I’m sorry for that, and I apologize to anyone that I hurt or made to feel judged. I would, and will, apologize to you directly if you will let me know who you are. I actually do want everyone to be free to experience this the way they need to experience it.

Let’s live in this moment. Then, in a few weeks or months, once we have some distance, let’s have a theological conversation about good and evil. Right now, while emotions are high, may not be the best time. In the meantime, let’s pray for one another and for our world. Let’s pray for those who are celebrating and those who are protesting. Let's pray that, for once, violence may not beget more violence. Let’s pray for our own hearts, that we might be useful to the Lord and filled with his love and mercy.

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A Time of Shadows

2011-04-20T11:43:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the Wednesday night of Holy Week. In the Anglican world, this often means it is time for Tenebrae (a Latin word meaning "shadows" or "darkness").

Tenebrae is a traditional service that comes from the Benedictine monasteries of Europe. It is a time of experiencing the last week in Christ's life through psalms, lessons, prayers, and gathering darkness. The centerpiece of the service is a gathering of fifteen candles which are snuffed out, one by one, as the service goes on. This increases the physical darkness, while also symbolizing Jesus' life ebbing away.

A few years ago as I was sitting in our church's traditional Tenebrae, I was impressed by the beauty of it, but also felt myself stifled by the droning boredom. On one hand, boredom is not something I think the Church should avoid. Sometimes it is a necessary corrective to the frenetic activity of the modern world. At the same time, it just seemed like something was really off.

Two years ago, I presented an utterly different kind of Tenebrae service. It has the same basic structure of the traditional one. It still has a pattern of psalms and teachings, arranged in the normal way. We still douse candles in the same order, while bringing one back at the end to symbolize the Resurrection. However, this Tenebrae is based in a multi-media demonstration which includes music, sound, recorded preaching out-takes, images, video, and still photography.

The first year I led this service, people were totally surprised and I got a heap of positive feedback. Last year, the service was very well attended and, once again, the feedback was great. This year, the pattern is the same but I have brought in many new voices, images, etc.

Here is what I love about this service: unlike most everything else we do, it is non-narrative and basically non-verbal. It is an intuitive journey into the storm of hope and rejection that is Holy Week. Most everyone will find something offensive in it, most everyone will find something moving in it. I can imagine people from a wide variety of backgrounds having a positive experience in this service.

Here is what I don't love about this service: unlike most everything else we do, it is non-narrative and basically non-verbal. It invites a sort of viewer-response experience that may not be helpful. It assumes a lot. It leaves so much room for interpretation that people may not hear the message I am trying to convey (in that way, it is more a work of art than a liturgy of the Church).

Most of all, I don't like that it requires an enormous video screen. I hate video screens in churches. There, I said it. I feel that the screen invites worship to be a media event rather than a community sacrifice. This Tenebrae is totally dependent on that screen.

So, tonight we are having our third annual non-traditional Tenebrae. I expect everyone who comes will get something out of it. I hope that people will leave their little ones in the childcare area, because some of it is too intense for kids. I myself will probably sit there and shed some tears. And I will pray that I don't sit there the whole time and judge what I'm doing. I would like to enter in to this service and not over-analyze.

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One Minute Review: Hanna

2011-04-14T21:27:00.002-05:00

Saoirse Ronan stars as the scariest home-schooled kid in history. Is she worth watching? Thomas McKenzie of the One Minute Review will let you now.

One Minute Review: Hanna from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Source Code

2011-04-07T19:30:00.000-05:00

In order to solve a mystery, Jake Gyllenhaal continually relives the last 8 minutes of another man's life. In order to save you some time and money, Thomas McKenzie watched all 93 minutes of Source Code. Who got the better deal? Watch the review to find out.

One Minute Review: Source Code from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Sucker Punch

2011-04-07T19:18:00.000-05:00

Zack Snyder’s newest film is getting Last Airbender-type trashed in the press. Is it as bad as they say? The One Minute Review knows, and is talking about it.

One Minute Review: Sucker Punch from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Universalism, Rob Bell, and all that

2011-03-31T15:18:00.001-05:00

Today I was asked a question on facebook. "Let me ask you plainly: In your understanding, can an orthodox Christian be a universalist?" I took some time writing out my answer. I offer it to you now in order to further the present discussion.

The Fifth Ecumenical Council declared Origen's doctrine of apokatastasis (universal salvation based on the atoning work of Christ for all people) to be heresy. Therefore, this belief is by definition not "orthodox."

The notion is either unsupported or denied directly throughout Holy Scripture. There are some Bible passages that may be used to make an argument for universalism, but these passages have to be isolated and manipulated while vast amounts of Scripture have to be ignored in order to make the case.

I am not going to get too excited about an individual Christian's personal belief about this. If someone personally thinks that universalism is something they are in to, I don't judge them for that. I disagree with them, and I would be willing in some circumstances to have that discussion, but I don't hold it against them personally. It is, after all, a belief that normally emerges from compassion, not from hate. I don't believe that such a belief will cause one to be outside of God's love or salvation, though I do think it will negatively impact a person's discipleship. It is wrong-headed, and reveals a fairly selective understanding of the Faith.

I do believe that a church, denomination, or leader who teaches universalism should be challenged and rebuked. If a universalist were an ordained leader in my body and I were their bishop, I would discipline them.

While a lot of the vitriol against Rob Bell has been pretty gross, there is nothing wrong with sharp criticism. St. Paul said he wished the legalists would emasculate themselves while trying to perform circumcision. (Galatians 5:12) That's pretty nasty.

I don't like the way Rob Bell and some of his followers have been talked to in this present debate. Love is the Christian's most important virtue, even in our disagreements. However, I would dare to say that heresy is much worse than strong language. Heresy, as Bishop Allison rightly said, is cruel. And, yes, I believe that universalism is heresy.

If I could take a moment and talk about Rob Bell directly. I think that the essential problem with Rob Bell is this. He sets up an essentially universalistic theological idea, and then defends it by basically saying that if God isn't like this then God isn't good. His use of the Bible is sloppy and his conclusions about salvation are not faithful to the text of scripture nor the history of Christian theology. Worse than all that, though, is that he sets himself up as God's judge. God defines what is good, not Rob Bell or anyone else. His arrogance in judging God, more even than his highly selective reading of scripture, reveals his heart. His most odious heresy is not, in my opinion, his universalism. It is his idolatry of himself.

So, can an orthodox Christian be a universalist? There are Christians who are universalists. However, that belief is not orthodox. In order for a Christian to fully embrace orthodoxy, they would need to abandon that belief. Further, a church body or leader who teaches universalism has moved into heresy and should be corrected.

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Happy Campers

2011-03-21T22:50:00.000-05:00

My daughters have been pressuring me to take them camping for months. We went for the first time well over a year ago and they loved it. Since then I have wanted to take them, but there is always some reason not to go. I'm pleased to say that I finally set those reasons aside and made plans to take them into the woods.

A few weeks ago, their school had its annual auction fundraiser. I bid on, and "won," $250 worth of camping supply rental from REI. I worked out a deal with my girls that each of them got to choose one friend to go with them for 48 hours over Spring Break. The girls would all sleep in the REI tent and use the rented gear, I would use my old stuff in my own tent.

They each found a good friend who's parents didn't have other plans, so on Thursday off we went. It was quite an adventure. We had wanted to camp near Monteagle, but ended up at the Old Stone Fort (long story). It was a perfect place to be, and the weather was amazing.

Everyone thought I was kind of nuts to live in tents with 9-11 year old girls, but they were awesome and we had a great time.

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One Minute Review: The Adjustment Bureau

2011-03-06T17:05:00.002-06:00

Matt Damon's newest film looks so cool. It's advertised "as mind bending as Inception." Is it? The One Minute Review will let you know.

One Minute Review: The Adjustment Bureau from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Unknown

2011-03-06T17:04:00.002-06:00

Liam Neeson in a Taken-Bourne-North by Northwest film? Yes, please. Unless it isn't as good as it looks. Oh, please be as good as it looks. Find out here.

One Minute Review: Unknown from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: The Eagle

2011-03-06T17:03:00.002-06:00

The One Minute Review went back to ancient Britain with the Roman legions in "The Eagle." Should you join us?

One Minute Review: The Eagle from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Rango

2011-03-05T19:06:00.001-06:00

Johnny Depp stars as a little lizard in a big western. Did it work? Should you take your kids. Watch the One Minute Review and find out.

One Minute Review: Rango from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Anglican Way: Anglicans are on a Mission

2011-02-25T17:33:00.002-06:00

The fifth in my five part teaching series: the Anglican Way. In this one, I discuss the mission of the Anglican Church, the face of world-wide Anglicanism, and try to figure out why some parts of the Anglican church are dying.

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One Minute Review: I Am Number Four

2011-02-19T15:19:00.000-06:00

Yes, I saw this film. Now you can watch my review. Though I am not nearly as pretty as the people in the movie.

One Minute Review: I Am Number Four from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Anglicans are charismatic

2011-02-17T20:46:00.001-06:00

Last night I taught: "Anglicans are charismatic" Hear it here: http://ow.ly/3YBWh or watch it here: http://ow.ly/3YIcR

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One Minute Review: Justin Bieber in Never Say Never

2011-02-15T21:11:00.000-06:00

Yes, I took 4 tween-aged girls to see Justin Bieber's Never Say Never. Yes, I came home with a splitting headache. But I did learn some things.

One Minute Review: Justin Bieber Movie from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Rabbit Hole

2011-02-04T22:33:00.000-06:00

Another indie film about a marriage on the rocks. And this one comes with a dead child. Are you going to cry your eyes out? Watch the One Minute Review for the answer.

One Minute Review: Rabbit Hole from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: Blue Valentine

2011-02-04T21:52:00.000-06:00

An indie film about a marriage totally falling apart? Does that sound like fun? Maybe it is worth seeing, but you'll never know until you watch the One Minute Review.

One Minute Review: Blue Valentine from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Love Nashville

2011-01-30T16:48:00.000-06:00

Today, my church began a new campaign called "Love Nashville." It comes out of a belief that Jesus loves us, Jesus loves the world, and Jesus calls us to love the world in his Name.

The first part of the campaign is prayer. I'm calling our church to a four week season of prayer. We are asking the Lord two questions: How are you calling me to love my neighbors in the Name of Jesus? How are you calling Redeemer to love Nashville in the Name of Jesus in 2011?

If you want to learn more, or if you would like to join us, go to our new website: www.LoveNashville.net

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Anglican Way: Part Two

2011-01-27T22:22:00.000-06:00

Last night I taught: "Anglicans are evangelical" Hear it here: http://tinyurl.com/4of3q9v or watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/4w5ydaf

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Anglican Way: Part One

2011-01-20T17:14:00.002-06:00

Last night, I taught the first in a multi-part series on "The Anglican Way of Being Christian." You can get the audio podcast of that teaching here: http://redeemernashville.libsyn.com/anglican-way-one-2011

You can also watch it below. Enjoy.

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One Minute Review: The Green Hornet

2011-01-14T17:17:00.002-06:00

The One Minute Review has heroically seen the Green Hornet for you. Whatever your expectations are, lower them. And watch the review before watching this movie.

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Ten Books Worth Studying

2011-01-09T14:58:00.000-06:00

Today I preached about Romans 12:2a: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Once I get the sermon on-line, I will post a link here.

In that sermon, I talked about the spiritual discipline of study. While I believe that Christians should first and foremost study the Bible, I also think that there are biblically based books that are also deserving of study. Here is a list of ten of those books. None of these are particularly difficult to read, and there is something somewhat basic about each of them. But I have found each of them to be helpful for me, and for other Christians.

Ten Books Worth Studying (alphabetical by author)

assembled by Fr. Thomas McKenzie

The Cost of Dicipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Devotional Classics, edited by Richard Foster
Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning
Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
The Cross of Christ, John Stott
Ancient-Future Faith, Robert Webber
Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright

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Top Ten Films of 2010

2011-01-08T18:36:00.000-06:00

Here they are, my favorite 10 films of 2010, listed in order from best to least best. I put this list together by going back through my One Minute Reviews and listening to how I responded at the time. So, yes I saw Winter's Bone and Black Swan. But, no I didn't see Waiting for Superman.

I liked each of these films very much. It was not hard to come up with my top ten, but it was very difficult to put them in order. There wasn't an "eleventh" film that I wished I could have included. At the same time, there wasn't one of these films that I totally fell in love with (as there was back in both 2009 and 2008).

Frankly, I'm just excited that I liked ten of the movies I saw this year enough to put them on this list. Not so long ago (October), I was afraid I wouldn't even have a top five. But thank God and Hollywood for Oscar season!

Once the Oscar nominees come out, I'll give you my Oscar picks and misses, but for now...

Top Ten Films of 2010

True Grit
Toy Story 3
The Fighter
Inception
127 Hours
Let Me In
The King's Speech
The Social Network
Never Let Me Go
Shutter Island

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One Minute Review: Country Strong

2011-01-08T12:56:00.000-06:00

How could I not love a Nashville movie? And how could I not love Gwyneth Paltrow after her awesome turn on Glee? But did that translate into loving this film?

One Minute Review: Country Strong from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: The King's Speech

2011-01-08T12:53:00.000-06:00

An Oscar darling is born out of this story of honor, duty, and redemption. But is it any fun to watch? The One Minute Review has seen the King and lived to tell the tale.

One Minute Review: The King's Speech from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Epiphany

2011-01-06T07:25:00.000-06:00

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. This is the day that commemorates the revelation of the Messiah of Israel to the Gentiles. Isaiah prophesied "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Is. 60:3) Abraham was told that "all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you" (Gen. 12:3b).

These promises, and many others like them, began to be fulfilled when the magi found the Child Christ, gave him gifts, and worshiped him (Matthew 2:11). From that moment on, the light of Christ has been made manifest to all people. We are the inheritors of that light, and so we set aside a day (January 6th) and an entire season of the Church year (Epiphany) in order to celebrate God's grace in revealing himself to all of us.

At Church of the Redeemer, we celebrate the Epiphany by burning our natural Christmas trees on the church property. We do this for two reasons. First, Christmas trees used in our homes are liturgical items. Like all items used in worship (robes, candles, Bibles), when they are not longer needed they should be burned rather than discarded. Second, Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Light into the world (John 1:1-14), and this light begins with the Nativity. So the light of the fire in the cold darkness reminds us of the coming of the Son of God into the world.

All people are invited to join us. It lasts less than an hour, and is worth coming for the spectacle alone. We start at 6 p.m., 920 Caldwell Lane, 37204.

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One Minute Review: Black Swan

2010-12-30T18:32:00.001-06:00

So, you want to go see "Black Swan." Maybe you should check out the One Minute Review first. Just sayin'.

One Minute Review: Black Swan from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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One Minute Review: The Fighter

2010-12-30T17:54:00.000-06:00

Did someone say Oscar? Add this one to your short list, but watch out for the body blows.

One Minute Review: The Fighter from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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