Breakfast at Sally's ... One

The Sunday evening Home Group is reading "Breakfast at Sally's" and discussing it when we gather. Our first conversation is this Sunday, December 6, 2009. We will be discussing the first two chapters. If you haven't gotten the book yet, you can pick one up at the parsonage.
This is a story that, in the words of author Richard LeMieux, is "98 Proof". 98% true. Some names have been changed, and chronologies adjusted "to make the story more accessible".
The first character we meet is "C". And the location for the opening scene is "Sally's" - a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Bremerton, Washington. C will serve as Richard's spiritual guide, mentor of the road, "angel".
"Sally's" is a place where "just about every age and nationality is represented ..." It is also a place where human need lands with a vengeance - people who are clinically depressed, mentally ill, physically damaged, emotionally scarred.
The second most important character we encounter is Willow - Richard's Bichon Frise "wonder dog". Willow will be the source of unconditional love that carries 59 year-old Richard through some of the darkest moments of his experience of homelessness. Some questions and ideas we will be discussing this Sunday include:

1. What if our church looked like Sally's in terms of the mix of race, culture, need, talent?
2. What is your individual unspoken judgment of poverty and people who are poor?
3. What is our corporate unspoken judgment of people who are poor?
4. C quotes Martin Luther King (Page 40): "We all have a task and let us do it with a sense of divine dissatisfaction. Let us be dissatisfied as long as we have a wealth of creeds and poverty of deeds." What is "divine dissatisfaction"? How does it manifest itself in our church?
5. What do you think of C's pondering regarding Christ's coming again (Page 41) - "Would he be white, black, Asian, look like Saddam Hussein instead of Keven Costner or Tom Cruise? What if he didn't fit our image of him? What if he was bald? or gay?" Which of these images do you find most disconcerting? Why?
6. C quotes Steinbeck saying an author's relationship to society is to be its watchdog. Writers should satirize its silliness, attack its injustices, stigmatize its faults." (Page 43.) Would you agree or disagree? Why?
7. We will explore in some depth the first three full paragraphs on Page 40.

I look forward to our conversation at Jen and Steve's this coming Sunday at 7.

For April 26 Home Group Conversation ...

It's a bit late to be posting ... but here goes!

First, a couple loose ends from the April 5 conversation. What do we make of these comments by Papa to Mack on Page 189 (191):

Faith does not grow in the house of certainty. (Page 189 [191])
People are tenacious when it comes to the treasure of their imaginary independence.

These lines are from Chapter 13 - which is aptly called A Meeting of Hearts. There is so much to reflect on here. Papa says of Jesus: In him ... our purpose and your destiny are forever linked. (Page 192 [193].)

And another line on Page 190 [192]: I understand how difficult it is for you, so lost in your perceptions of reality and yet so sure of your own judgments, to even begin to perceive, let alone imagine, who real love and goodness are.

As we head into Chapter 14, some other interesting questions begin to emerge. For example:

• How do you detect the presence and/or guidance of the Holy Spirit? (195 [197].)
• Paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions. (197 [199].)
• Which do you tend to be more comfortable with - rules, or relationships? (197-199 [199-201].)
• Those who are afraid of freedom are those who cannot trust us (the Trinity) to live in them. (203 [205].)
• Complete the sentence: God is ________________ .
• What expectations has God placed on you? (206 [208].)
  

Chapter 15 is called "A Festival of Friends". It is a verbal painting of reconciliation. We'll talk about it next time, if you would like . . .

For April 5 Home Group

For our conversation on Sunday evening, April 5, we are heading into chapters 12 and 13 of The Shack. We learn the identity of the "woman" Mack had encountered in chapter 11. You could read the first four chapters of the Book of Proverbs - be especially attentive to Proverbs 1:20. Now, for some questions to consider in preparation for Sunday evening:

1. What is the author telling us about his understanding of God the Father, God the Spirit, and "Wisdom"? Recalling our conversation from March 29 about the "economic" and "essential" trinity, how is William Young balancing the "functional" and "relational" aspects of the third person of the trinity?
2. What is "reality"? (See page 172 [174].)
3. Grief is an extremely powerful human emotion, one that we often try to control or hold in. Mack's tears (sobs) of grief are different this time (page 173 [175]) - each sob bringing relief. What was different? What needs to be different?
4. What does it mean for you to "live loved"? (Page 175 [177].)
5. It's a rather scathing indictment of the church that we read on pages 177-182 [179-184]. And some interesting thoughts on "heaven". We will talk about the difference between an "institution" and a "relationship". What do you think about the statement Jesus makes on page 179 [181]: "I'm not too big on religion."?
6. "God has time to catch a few rays?" says Mack on page 183 [185]. To which God responds: "Mack, you have no idea what I'm doing right now." What thoughts or feelings does that line conjure up in you?
7. Page 185 [187]: God notes that people - especially religious people - play Jesus and God against each other. When they want people to do what they think is right, they need a stern God. When they need forgiveness, they run to Jesus. Do you agree with that assessment? Why? or Why not?

Two other lines we will discuss:

1. Faith does not grow in the house of certainty. (Page 189 [191].)
2. You asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully: through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world. (Page 191 [193].)
   

You can begin the "conversation" below - feel free to share your comments and I'll do my best to respond. I'm looking forward to our time together on Sunday evening.

Imagination and Relationships . . .

Here is the information for our conversation Sunday evening - and I do apologize for getting it to you so late!

The focal point for our conversation this week is based on The Shack - Chapters 10 and 11. We will be talking about imagination, contingencies, repentance, judgment, substitutionary atonement, and universal salvation. Here are some questions to ponder:

1. How does "imagination" manifest itself in you? Jesus links imagination, power and wisdom together. Why? (Page 141-142 [143-144].)
2. Jesus says to Mack (Page 142 [144]): You try and play God, imagining the evil that you fear becoming reality, and then you try and make plans and contingencies to avoid what you fear. What do you think he is talking about?
3. In what might be called "classic trinitarian theology", we commonly speak of the "essential" trinity and the "economic" trinity. The essential trinity has to do with relationships; the economic trinity has to do with function. What are the functions of the different persons of the trinity? Does William Young favor one dimension of the trinity over the other? (Correct answer: Yes!) Which one? And why? (Pages 145-148 [147-150].)
4. On Page 147 [149] Jesus defines "repentance". What is his definition?
5. How would you feel about being the judge over the people of the world? What would be your criteria for condemning someone? (Pages 158-159 [160-161].)
6. How does the woman define "judgment"? (Page 169 [171].) What is your assessment of her definition?
7. On Page 163 [165], the woman leads Mack to the point where he articulates what is known as the "doctrine of substitutionary atonement". What is that doctrine, and how does he get there?
8. From the perspective of the conversation between the woman and Mack (Pages 164ff [166ff]), who will receive "justice", and who will receive "mercy"?

Once again we find ourselves in the midst of some profound theological principles, introduced throughout the narrative of the story. I look forward to our conversation on Sunday evening! Feel free to comment below - to begin the conversation.

Chain of Command . . .

For our conversation regarding The Shack for March 22, let's consider the following . . .

One of the things Jesus confronted over and over again had to do with his authority: What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this? So ask the people in John 2:18 after Jesus has "cleansed" the temple. If you look on pages 122-127 (124-129) you will find an extended conversation between Mack and the Trinity. Some questions to ponder:

• What is "authority", and how does one acquire it?
• How do we square God's goodness with the pervasive evil in our world?
• Put another way: "Papa" says to Mack: The real underlying flaw in your life, Mackenzie, is that you don't think that I am good. How is God's goodness related to our trust in God?

There are several issues Sarayu takes up with Mack in Chapter 9 on pages 128-138 (130-140). For example:

• What's the difference between a "mess" and a "fractal"? (For more on fractals see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal.)
• Are there instances you can point to in which you chose the "ravaged path of independence"?
• What is meant by the phrase (page 132 [134]): For any created being, autonomy is lunacy.
• How certain can we be that something is "good"?
• What "rights" do we have before God?
• Is there a difference between being "protected" and being "loved"?

As you read ahead in the book, don't hesitate to bring up topics or questions that occur to you. You can post questions and comments and begin the conversation prior to our gathering on Sunday. I look forward to coming together again . . .

A Limited God . . .

Some thoughts as we prepare for our Home Group Conversation on March 15. . .

What do you make of the quote at the beginning of Chapter 6? No matter what God's power may be, the first aspect of God is never that of the absolute Master, the Almighty. It is that of the God who puts himself on our human level and limits himself.

We are looking at Chapters 6 through 9 this week. Some questions to ponder:

• Page 92 (94) at the bottom - we quickly learn something about "life", and about the nature of God. Two words - what are they? (Where does "freedom" happen?)
  
• "Papa" expresses a willingness to "mix metaphors" in order to "help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning." (Page 93 [95].) Is it possible for us to overcome our "visuals"? (You can also look at the middle paragraph of Page 98 [100].)
  
• Page 94 (96) - What do you think about the statement from God: "I am not interested in prisoners."?
• What do you make of the statement on Page 100 [102]: "Jesus, as a human being, had no power within himself to heal anyone."
• "Limitations" come up several times (Page 100 [1-2] and 106 [108]). What are God's limitations? What are ours?
• Elousia - This is a reference to the development of the Doctrine of the Trinity. If you get the chance you might take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homoousian. We will talk more about this on Sunday evening. (See also Page 124 [126].)
  
• Papa tells Mack: It's not my purpose to punish it (sin); it's my joy to cure it. Does this square with what Scriptures say of "God's wrath"?

While the story flows along and many of the concepts of the book seem simplistic, underlying the dialogue we find there are some intricate theological concepts. You can appreciate the story without knowledge of the development of these concepts; but it behooves us to take a look at the undertow of complexity that is the inspiration for what we tend to take for granted.

Feel free to share your thoughts with us by writing your comments ... I'm looking forward to our conversation!

Suddenly Penetrated by Unexpected Joy ...

Sunday evening, March 8, we have our second conversation on The Shack. Read Pages 29-32, and you might want to review Chapters 3 & 4 as well.

We will spend part of the evening talking about a line on Page 65 - "Life would never be normal again, not that any time is really ever normal. It would be so empty without his Missy."

What's your definition of "normal"? Do you ever worry about anything in particular happening that would make you feel as Mack did after the abduction & murder of Missy? If you haven't had the experience yourself, perhaps you know of someone whose life was completely upended by some tragedy?

But what we really want to get to on Sunday evening is Mack going to the Shack - some things to think about:

1. Would you have taken the gun? What might the "gun" represent?
   
2. Do you ever hedge your bets when it comes to your faith in God?
3. The questions Mack asks on page 78 - Have they already been asked elsewhere in the story? (There is a correct answer to this question, Jennifer!)
4. Have you ever given advice to someone, knowing full well that you would not follow it yourself?
5. What is the nature of a "spiritual experience"? (Page 81.) How do we discern the difference between psychosis and spiritual experience?
6. Can you think of any more beautiful words, when spoken from the heart, than these: "My, my, my how I do love you!"?

How important is the "set-up" - how necessary is it - in order for us to come to a deep, inescapable experience of the divine?

Feel free to begin the conversation by sharing any comments you may have. I look forward to our conversation on Sunday evening! God bless you.