VEDIC

The people who moved into Northern India around 1500 b.c. were Aryans, also referred to as Vedic people. Their culture was Vedic and their language was Vedic Sanskrit, which is related to other Indo-European languages including Greek and Latin among others. Indo-European speakers had a common linguistic origin known by scholars as Proto-Indo-European or PIE. The years following the Aryan migration are shrouded by a lack of substantial archeological artifacts but there are a few things we do know.

By 800 bc the Aryans ruled in most of northern India, occasionally fighting among themselves or with the peoples of the land they were settling. As they slowly moved south and east along the Ganges River Basin their lifestyle evolved from a semi-nomadic way of life to an agrarian way of life. Their social and political structures evolved as well. Instead of a warrior leading a tribe, with a tribal assembly as a check on his power, an Aryan chieftain ruled over territory, with its society divided into family units like clans. This societal shift was the beginning of the caste system. The four castes that emerged from this era were the Brahmans (priests), the Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), the Vaisyas (merchants, farmers, and traders), and the Sudras (artisans, laborers, and servants). More on that in a later post.

By about the 7th century bc territories combined and grew, giving rise to larger kingdoms that stretched from what is now Afghanistan to the state of Bihar. By the 6th century bc, Indian civilization was firmly centered in the eastern region of the subcontinent, and certain tribal leaders or chieftains became increasingly powerful. The Kingdom of Magadha conquered and absorbed neighboring kingdoms, giving rise to India’s first empire. At the head of the Magadha state was a hereditary monarch in charge of a centralized administration. This empire continued to expand, extending in the 4th century bc into central India and as far as the eastern coast.

Hinduism continued to evolve as well. While the Aryan people settled in the Ganges River Basin, they encountered people groups and assimilated their culture and religious practices into their own. Reform schools of Hinduism emerged, challenging the orthodox practices of the Vedic tradition and presenting alternative worldviews.

One of those schools was led by a discontented Hindu prince by the name of Siddhartha Gautama, later known as Buddah.

MOTHER

I have a mother-in-law who is a mother, a sister who is a mother, a mother who is a mother, and a wife who is a mother. They each bring their own identity to - "mother". They each show in their own way what it is to be a mom. Here are some reflections:

My Mother-in-Law: I suppose not everyone can say nice things about their in-laws without lying. Fortunately for me I can say nice things and be honest. Maria is one of the rare ones who is at good listener and easy to talk to, but is also easy to listen to. Maria is a great cook which I am thankful for because it rubbed off on her daughter, my wife. Maria also watches over Samuel three days every two weeks which is a huge sacrifice on her part and is a huge help to us. She says she does not mind and, well, I believe her because, look at the little guy she is watching for that time. She loves the outdoors and is very active which has also rubbed of on her daughter:) Maria is selfless and giving.

My Sister: Okay so as a kid one of her nicknames was "tiny tornado" that gives you an idea as to how her two daughters, my two nieces, like to play. Brooke loves to play with her kids, record them when they do silly things and then post the video to face book. Brooke walks side by side with with her kids. She is the kind of mom who would get out the coloring books for her kids and instead of using it to keep them occupied, she would grab some crayons and start coloring with them. Brooke always wants to spend time with her kids.

My mother: Well, I moved out of the house a while back, but being away for years now I look back and see a few things that I really appreciate. I appreciated the way the house smelled around the big family holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I appreciated the way the house was decorated (even though we all participated mom was the director of decorations) I appreciated the way my mom would wait on us when we were sick. I still remember getting the small 13inch black and white T.V. for the day when I was home sick. It was a great excuse to watch all the junk on T.V. when I was not really allowed to. I appreciate that my mom chauffeured me around to Soccer, little league baseball, football, and church events. Those are just a few reasons, but altogether she is the reason I have warm and loving feelings and thoughts when I think of the word "mother".

My Wife: So... I am not exactly sure how she does it, but this woman has super powers to rival those of Superman. She gave birth to an amazing baby boy, and six weeks later went back to work to help cover some bills, and was back to work full-time in three months. Working minimum forty hours per week, while at the same time keeping track of a quickly growing bundle of energy who is our son, is a feat of epic proportions. Not only that, but her occasional "experiments" in the kitchen end up like four course works of art - Picasso on a plate!

Her water broke while she was helping that cable guys set up internet in her office... yeah, she was helping them; she gave birth to a baby with no pain medication! In the middle of a snowstorm she straps on our son in a baby carrier and decides to see if she wants to pick up snowshoeing by throwing on my snowshoes and slogging through two feet of snow (while I was shoveling out the car). She decides that snowshoeing is not for her so instead picks up cross-country skiing. The name Sara means princess, but she is really more of a warrior princess. Probably the biggest deal about this new mom; the reason she is a warrior princess, is that she puts up with me and my nutty schedule. I am telling you... super powers...

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers in my life. We would not be here if it were not for you...

JUSTICE Part 2 of 2

Most of us would say that we want justice for the wrongs that we have endured. Justice is one of those American values that we aspire to maintain. When the towers fell on September 11th and we soon discovered who was responsible, we felt emboldened and righteous as we sought the one responsible and those who were helping him. We were fighting for the great American value of Justice.

If you read through Bible you will find many stories of people who fought for justice after experiencing injustice. One the most unique stories is the story of God fighting for justice. In all the reading I have done in Hinduism and Buddhism in the last year and a half as well as some of the Greek and Roman mythology I have not come across anything like it.

I was recently reading how, in ancient near eastern culture, when a criminal was caught, the punishment that was agreed upon by village elders was equal and opposite to the crime. One example I came across was that if a man were to punch a pregnant woman in the stomach and she were to lose her child as a result, the punishment would not be for that man to be killed, but for one of his children to be killed.

In those times, much of the economy was based on your name, your reputation. To defame the character and reputation of a man would be to destroy his standing in the community, no one would interact with him. It was as serious as committing murder today.

A name or reputation was extremely valuable in that culture; If you did not have your name you did not have anything. Why do you think the third of the ten commandments is not to take God's name in vain. He does not want his name associated with anything that is not from Him. Our sin is like defaming or slandering God's name and thereby Him. Not living to the standards of holiness that God has established is like saying, "to me, God is dead" or "to me, God does not exist". An equal and opposite punishment for that? Paul really meant it when he said, "The wages of sin is death." (Rom 6:23)

We have no hope of ever living up to that standard; our lives will be a hopeless mess of falling short. When justice is served on us it means death. We have committed injustice (some of us have committed lots of injustice;-) against God; God in turn seeks and renders justice. But this is where the story takes a turn for the unbelievable.

At the moment when injustice becomes justified by death we notice that we are not the ones who have died. Instead, the one who was wronged is the who has died and served the full sentence with his own life. You and I, though we perpetrated injustice, do not pay for our injustice with our death. God pays for our injustice against him by accepting our punishment on himself and once the criteria for justice has been met he gives us credit for justice being served. This means, innocence by association. (When we draw close to God he draws close to us.)

Most Americans feel that justice has been served for 9/11 now that Osama bin Laden is dead. And even according to his own beliefs justice has been served. I've got to admit, I'm really grateful that God's justice works differently than American justice...

Just a Meandering Thought...

JUSTICE Part 1 of 2

Most of us would say that justice is a good thing; it is one of the values that make America, America. We want justice to be served. When we are wronged or a crime is committed what we want is justice. We want someone to be responsible for the wrongs, the injustices. Then we fight for justice. That is who we are as Americans.

When the towers fell on September 11th, 2001, the entire nation reeled at the massive injustice that had been brought to our soil. We grieved, we searched, we pulled away rubble, we sifted through ashes. Even if we did not personally know someone who died, we still somehow felt the gaping hole. In the days following we learned who was responsible and soon we were in the fight - for justice.

The last ten years will likely go down in the history books as a decade that America sought closure and justice. For the lives that were taken from us, we wanted justice; for the hearts that were broken for their loss, we wanted justice; for the nation that was attacked, we wanted justice; for the memories that were seared into our souls of two towers burning and collapsing, we wanted justice. On May 1st, 2011 justice was served with an American bullet (66 years to the day after Hitler died from his own bullet).

It has been said that justice is about giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. To the 2992 people who died in the attacks (minus the perpetrators) our voice on your behalf has been heard. We never forgot you. We all wanted justice for those who lost their lives. Yet if we were to receive justice ourselves for even the little things we have done we might think twice. Justice is a liberating event when you are the one wronged.

2000 years ago justice of a different kind was served with a cross and some nails. But you and I don't get justice, instead we get mercy. We don't get what we deserve, we get what He paid for. Because God never forgot or abandoned us. He hears the voice of those who call to him. I know this for sure, God is present in the places where injustice happens - to comfort those who have to walk that road. He sticks around to see that justice happens. Whether it is justice he accomplishes on our behalf, or just his presence in the stairwells of collapsing towers, God does not leave us but gives a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.

Just a Meandering Thought...

VEDAS

Hinduism is one of the oldest if not thee oldest of the worlds great religions. There is speculation that Hinduism traces back thousands of years before Christ, perhaps as far back as 7000b.c. There is not a whole lot of concrete evidence to support these early development theories. We do get substantial evidence of early Hinduism with the coming of the Indo-Aryan people to the Indian Subcontinent (check out posts "Foundations part 1 & 2").

Around 1500bc the Vedic culture including its religion began to exert some influence in the fading Indus River Civilization. The early Vedic religion was an animistic religion centered around sacrifices and sharing the sacrificial meal with each other and with the many gods. Elaborate sacrifices were offered to different Vedic gods or devas and forms of these rituals continue to this day.

The Vedic deities of the Indo-Aryans bare many similarities to those of the pagan and animistic deities of early Western Europe. One of the Vedic gods, the sky god Indra, comes from the same root word as Zeus. The Vedic religion was based on the strong oral tradition of the Aryans and was was later written down in the Rig Vedas.

The Vedas are the holy books of the Hindus, the earliest of which are the Rig Vedas which were written around 1200b.c. to 1000b.c. They were composed in Vedic Sanskrit and make up the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. The Rig Vedas are a compilation of the oral traditions of the Vedic people. They are a written record of hymns and songs to the earth and celebrations and sacrifices to their gods who were anthropomorphism's of forces in nature. A more philosophical focus began to develop around 700 BC, with the Upanishads and development of the Vedanta philosophy. More on these later.

The Rig Vedas include their own account of the creation of the world. Prajapati, who is the first god, was sacrificed to himself by younger gods and out of his body the whole universe was made. Each of Prajapati's body parts turned into different groups of people. From this the Indian people thought of themselves as belonging to one of the four castes. So it would seem the whole caste system has its roots with the Aryan people even though it is deeply embedded in the Hindu worldview.

COMMISSION

Yesterday morning Gordon Conwell held a commissioning service for all the students who will be going overseas this summer. It was in some ways a typical chapel service but there were some elements that distinguished it from others. There was a guy on a guitar who led the songs and a girl on a piano, along with a back up singer to harmonize with the guy on the guitar. There was a podium where people stood to say important words; there were students and faculty in the pews, though with it being at the end of the semester there were not as many as there are at the beginning of the semester.

One member of each team headed overseas got up to briefly share about where they will be going and what they will be doing. Afterward a faculty member came to the platform and put a hand on the shoulder of the team members and prayed. This is the commissioning. It seemed like a symbolic event with little consequence until I began to think about why we even have a commissioning service. The answer lies in the word COMMISSION.

The "CO" in COmmission suggests that I am not alone. There is someone with me as I go. In the commissioning service a faculty member stood next to me, demonstrating symbolically that I am not alone. For all those who are supporting me whether in prayer or financially you are standing with me as I go. Matthew 28:19-20 is the passage of scripture that is usually called the great commission. The last sentence in that passage says, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." That sentence is why we call it the Great COmmission. Jesus said that he is with us.

The "MISSION" in comMISSION tells us that there is something that we need to do. There is a task to accomplish, a goal to work towards, a road to travel. My mission this summer is to teach and mentor students at New Theological College and their satellite schools, to serve in the orphanages in the nearby cities, and to perhaps speak at a local Indian church or two. I have been told that the best thing I can offer the people is myself. This is my mission.

So as I share myself with the people I meet; as I walk the road of mission I do not do it alone. I have been CO-MISSIONED. There are faculty, family and friends, who stand with me in prayer and who contribute to get me there. Most importantly Jesus is with me always. I do not accomplish a single task that He is not a part of or the driving force behind.

Incidentally, Jesus was commissioned too. John the Baptist performed a symbolic ceremony which inaugurated Jesus into his official ministry. Jesus was not alone; besides the twelve disciples he had regular conversation with his "sending institution" - God the Father. Stands to reason that if Jesus did that way it is probably not a bad way to do it. Seems like "CO" anything is a better way.

Just a meandering thought...

RESURRECTION

Some random thoughts about Easter & Resurrection:

1. Jesus told Martha that he was The Resurrection before he was raised from the dead. He gives himself a title that is a verb but here expressed as a noun - The Resurrection. You could say it this way: Jesus is the one who is raising from the dead. So for Jesus raising from the dead is not something he does it is something he is...
2. The disciples who had followed Jesus for three years were, I am sure, a little disappointed, shocked, discouraged, maybe a little angry, maybe they felt betrayed. Jesus talked about a coming Kingdom for three years but on the Saturday after the crucifixion his lifeless body was laying on a cold slab of rock. The cold slab seems dark and hopeless but it is not quite the end of the story; there is more to come...
3. Jesus cannot be resurrected if he does not die. There is no victory without at least the risk of defeat.
4. In every competition there are winners and losers. The cliche is that Jesus won and sin lost, but the way it plays out, we actually get the credit for the "W" in a "competition" that we simply were not good enough to win on our own. Death gets the "L" because even though we still sin we do not still die...
5. Martha knew that her brother Lazarus would eventually raise from the dead; she did not realize that new life was possible while she was standing there in front of her brother's grave.
6. There were a lot of bodies in graves as Jesus stood there with Martha, the only one who walked out of his grave was the one who knew Jesus.
7. Death was the ultimate proof that Jesus is the resurrection. You can claim to be the president all day, but it is only seen to be true if the military moves when you give the orders, or they ask for your signature on a piece of legislation. Any others are posers and fakes.
   

The resurrection did not just change the world it changed the lives of the people who experienced it. Their experience with The Resurrection propelled them to share their experience with others because it changed their lives and it was too good not to share. It has continued to change the lives of people who are willing to get close enough to Jesus to hear him call their name.

Just a Meandering Thought...